Quakes coach says MLS an option for Messi
Lionel Messi is out of his contract with FC Barcelona this summer. Could the international soccer superstar come to the United States to play for a Major League Soccer club next? Messi, after all, recently expressed interest in coming stateside.
San Jose Earthquakes coach Matias Almeyda thinks MLS is a perfect next step for the 33-yearold six-time Ballon d’Or winner. With an MLS team, Messi and his family can get some relative privacy.
“Do you know why I think it’s a good idea? Because the U.S. is a big country,” Almeyda said in an interview with 90min, a soccer news platform. “It has 350 million inhabitants, I think. The stars here can walk in peace in the street. Each person who wants a life can enjoy what he likes (and) will live a different life.”
Almeyda, like Messi, was born in Argentina and represented the country in two World Cups in 1998 and 2002. He played six years in Argentina for River Plate with European stops at Sevilla, Lazio, Parma and Inter Milan. After retirement, Almeyda went into coaching and eventually came to San Jose as the Quakes head coach in 2018, and led the team to the playoffs in 2020.
He’s seen first-hand the benefits a star player can have away from Europe. Almeyda says Messi will be able to walk in public with his family without a fan and media mob following them. He can lead a more normal life outside of fame’s harshest spotlight.
“I think that all the play
ers who want to live a normal life,” Almeyda said. “That don’t want to get ahead of the line in the supermarket because they are famous, or don’t want to go to the bank and get ahead of the line.
“In that way, you turn to be a normal human again. All the players that want to be normal pick this place.” WEST HAM 1, EVERTON 0 » Tomas Soucek scored the first English Premier League goal of 2021 as West Ham beat Everton.
Soucek struck for the visitors in the 86th minute to end Everton’s streak of four league wins.
MAN UNITED BEATS VILLA » Manchester United went level on points with league leader Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. The win was secured by Bruno Fernandes scoring his ninth spotkick since making his debut 11 months ago.
College football
NO. 11 GEORGIA 24, NO. 6 CIN
CINNATI 21 » Jack Podlesny kicked a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, and No. 11 Georgia handed No. 6 Cincinnati its only loss of the season with a dramatic 24-21 victory in the Peach Bowl on Friday.
Cincinnati (9-1, No. 8
CFP) was motivated to use the Peach Bowl to gain national respect. Georgia (8-2, No. 9 CFP) won despite running for only 45 yards.
NO. 14 NORTHWESTERN 35, AUBURN 19 » Peyton Ramsey threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 14 Northwestern’s defense made it stand up in a victory over Auburn in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.
BYU QUARTERBACK WILSON ENTERING NFL DRAFT » BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is entering the NFL draft.
Wilson passed for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns with three interceptions this season as a junior to help the Cougars finish 11-1.
College basketball
NO. 1 STANFORD ROUTS NO. 6
ARIZONA 81-54, WIN STREAK HITS 8 » Haley Jones had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Lexie Hull added 13 points and top-ranked Stanford overwhelmed No. 6 Arizona early.
MARQUETTE WOMEN’S HOOPS ON PAUSE » Marquette women’s basketball has paused activities because of a positive COVID-19 test.
Marquette owns a 6-1 record with five straight wins.