Maradona slams Messi’s ‘staged’ change of heart
Argentina legend Diego Maradona on Thursday criticized compatriot Lionel Messi, suggesting the Barcelona star’s retirement from international soccer and subsequent change of heart was “staged”.
“I don’t know whether this was staged to make us understand that he’d lost three finals, but we never lost by big margins,” Maradona said during a radio interview in Buenos Aires.
Messi announced his retirement from international soccer after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties in June, with the Barcelona forward crucially misfiring in the shoot-out.
“This is the end for me with the national team, it’s not for me,” Messi said at the time.
“I think it’s best for everyone, for me and for many people who want it. The choice for me is over, it is a decision.”
The defeat came after Argentina lost the 2015 Copa America final to the same opponent and the 2014 World Cup final to Germany.
Maradona believes Messi spoke too rashly and upset many people in Argentina with his comments.
“He got annoyed for nothing. He wasn’t to blame for the defeat, others were. So why did he announce his retirement?” said Maradona.
“He spoke too quickly, made everyone hold their breath (on a potential return),” added the star of the Argentina squad that won the 1986 World Cup.
Earlier this month, the 29-year-old Messi confirmed he would rejoin the national team after being convinced by new coach Edgar Bauza to make a comeback.
“A lot of things were going through my head the day of the final, and I really thought about stopping, but I love my country,” Messi said in announcing his return.
He is set to return to the fold when Argentina plays World Cup qualifiers at home to Uruguay and away to Venezuela on Sept 1 and 6.
350th La Liga game
Messi, set to captain Barcelona for the second week in a row with Andres Iniesta sidelined due to a knee injury, will make his 350th La Liga appearance on Sunday.
Barca will attempt to give Luis Enrique his 100th victory in his 125th game when it visits Athletic Bilbao.
A former Barca player, the 46-year-old Enrique led the team to a La Liga, King’s Cup and Champions League treble in his first year in charge and to the domestic double last season.
Barca opened the campaign with a 5-0 aggregate triumph over Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup and a 6-2 victory over Real Betis.
“We are the team to beat,” Barcelona defender Gerard Pique told Marca. “We’ve got a very competitive squad and we’re going to try and win titles as we have done in recent years.”
Barcelona has won five and lost one of its last 10 league games at Bilbao.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has recovered from a knee problem and is expected to start in goal. New Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen could be on the bench in Bilbao.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in Portugal’s Euro 2016 final victory over France when his team plays host to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award on Thursday after winning both last season’s Champions League and Euro 2016 with Portugal.
Ronaldo, 31, received the accolade for the second time in his career after finishing ahead of Real teammate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.
“I’m obviously delighted to receive this award, it’s been an incredible season. But these two other players deserve it as well,” said Ronaldo, who also won the award in 2013-14.
Ronaldo struck the winning spot kick as Real claimed a record 11th European Cup title, beating city rival Atletico on penalties in May, before leading his country to Euro 2016 glory.
He scored three goals en route to the final of the tournament to equal France’s Michel Platini’s record of nine goals in the European Championship finals.
The award was voted on by journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations.
Norway striker Ada Hegerberg won the women’s award, ahead of France’s Amandine Henry and Dzsenifer Marozsan of Germany, after helping Lyon lift the Women’s Champions League trophy in addition to the French league and cup double.