All posts by h716a5.icu

Kylian Mbappe could feature for France against the Netherlands despite a broken nose, as the Real Madrid superstar teased his imminent return.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Mbappe suffered a broken nose against AustriaCould still play against the NetherlandsHowever, France have a few other injury concernsWHAT HAPPENED?

The forward had to undergo further tests on Wednesday on his broken nose to determine the real extent of his injury after Didier Deschamps revealed that he would have to undergo surgery. However, Mbappe was back for the Les Bleus' training session on Wednesday, according to although he did an individual routineMoreover, Mbappe himself and the official French national team posted on social media to tease that the 2018 World Cup winner might be available for the crucial match against the Dutch on Friday.

AdvertisementWHAT MBAPPE SAID

Mbappe shared two pictures on Instagram with a caption that read: "Without risks there are no victories."

Meanwhile, the French national team also put out a tweet with an hourglass emoji and a picture of Mbappe sitting in the middle of the pitch.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Theo Hernandez, the 26-year-old AC Milan left-back, missed Wednesday's training session due to muscle pain in his gluteal region. Hernandez has been training separately from the rest of the squad, focusing on his fitness by working on a bike. This development raises questions about his availability for France’s upcoming match against the Netherlands.

If he is unable to recover in time for the match against the Netherlands, Deschamps has a couple of options. Ferland Mendy, the Real Madrid left-back, is a likely candidate to step into the starting line-up. Additionally, Deschamps could consider Eduardo Camavinga, another Real Madrid player, who has been deployed at left-back on occasion despite being primarily a midfielder.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Hernandez is not the only player under an injury cloud. Reports from indicate that both William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano, who played pivotal roles in France’s 1-0 victory over Austria, also missed training due to muscular pain. Saliba, 23, who earned his first major tournament start, has quickly become a crucial component of the French defence, partnering effectively with Upamecano. The absence of these two central defenders from training just days before a crucial match is a significant concern for Deschamps. In a piece of positive news for the French camp, veteran striker Olivier Giroud has returned to training after missing Tuesday’s session due to a minor injury.

Fell’s first red-ball ton since recovering from testicular cancer paves way for 78-run win

ECB Reporters Network18-Aug-2020Tom Fell surely possesses a unique perspective on playing cricket and it was a day for him to cherish deeply as his first red-ball hundred since beginning treatment for testicular cancer in 2015 helped his side to a second Bob Willis Trophy victory as Worcestershire beat Northamptonshire by 78 runs at Wantage Road.His unbeaten 110 allowed Worcestershire to declare on the final morning and set Northamptonshire 263 in 68 overs. It was easily defended as the hosts were bowled out for 184.Fell was a rising star at New Road and as 21-year-old in 2015 made 1127 first-class runs at 42. But the hundred he made against Middlesex that September was his last until now. Cancer cruelly halted his career progress but here was evidence that he still has much to give the game.It was a touching moment when he took his overnight 81 to a sixth first-class century, nudging his 205th delivery to long leg off Gareth Berg. There was visible emotion on the visitors’ balcony.And no doubt scenes of joy inside the dressing room after Worcestershire completed victory to keep up their challenge for a place in the Bob Willis Trophy final. After a poor 2019 in the County Championship, the Worcester boys are again happy in red-ball cricket.After Fell reached his hundred, the flare immediately went up and he and Ed Barnard launched 29 in two overs before the declaration came, Worcestershire no doubt mindful after running out of time against Glamorgan last week.The target offered hope for Northamptonshire and they began brightly. Ricardo Vasconcelos cut two boundaries, flicked another and beautifully drove Brett D’Oliveira for another four to leave an exciting finish in prospect.Tom Fell raises his bat for his hundred•Getty ImagesThe hosts were going very well at 48 without loss but it was quickly ruined by their latest collapse at they lost 3 for 7 in 10 balls.Both openers fell in identical fashion. But both decisions against Ben Curran, to Joe Leach for 17, and Vasconcelos, to Josh Tongue for 31, appeared to have some doubt with balls from right-arm over to left-handers that didn’t significantly straighten. There was only bemusement, though, as Alex Wakely played a back-foot block and somehow lobbed Tongue to mid-on.Charlie Thurston nicked behind a brisk Barnard away-swinger soon after. Richard Levi then tried to turn Dillon Pennington to leg and got a leading edge to point where Barnard to a good catch diving forward. Pennington struck again before tea as Saif Zaib wafted outside off and edged behind.With their top order having failed for a sixth consecutive innings, Northamptonshire went down swinging in the final session. Berg cut Leach for four but was bowled driving at Tongue. Adam Rossington pulled two boundaries and advanced at Leach to lift him over mid-on. He skewed another four over the slips cordon but eventually skied a catch to Cox off Leach.The fun continued as Nathan Buck struck three sixes – Leach over midwicket, Pennington and Barnard over long-on, the latter after a sashay down the wicket.Buck’s unbeaten 24 was the innings’ third-highest score and Northamptonshire took only four points from the game and have very little to show for their three matches so far. Good job they declared their intention to use the Bob Willis Trophy as a development competition before the season began.The late hitting did save them from consecutive defeats by a three-figure margin but as Barnard took out Jack White’s off stump to finish the game, it completed another disappointing week for a county who made much progress in 2019.

Liverpool have made some high-profile signings this summer as they look to defend their Premier League title and now appear close to completing another statement deal, according to Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool still have plenty to spend this window

Despite spending big on Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong among others, Liverpool still have plenty of room to bring in reinforcements under Arne Slot and plan to have a strong end to the window after making significant early progress.

Addressing their financial reality, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has praised the Reds’ ‘Moneyball’ approach that has allowed them to flex their muscles on the market this summer.

He stated: “Liverpool have been outside the top-10 spenders on player signings since 2019, but their model is a classic case of being smarter rather than bigger.

“Liverpool’s model has been to ignore the noise and only buy a player if they truly improve the squad. It’s a Moneyball, external, more analytical approach. Chief executive Michael Edwards does a brilliant job and he never buys players because of external pressure. He doesn’t get jittery when fans call for more signings.”

With that in mind, Liverpool have Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on their radar if Real Madrid star Rodrygo is unattainable, providing evidence that they have several targets in the pipeline that could become the latest in a long line of high-value arrivals at Anfield.

£11m-a-year Brazilian star now "open" to move as Liverpool commence talks

Another boost for the Reds.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 18, 2025

Of course, departures such as Darwin Nunez potentially sealing a move to Napoli or an alternative destination alongside speculation over Luis Diaz will only create room for new additions, especially within their forward line.

Taking that into account, Liverpool are now on the verge of sealing a deal for one of Europe’s rising stars amid recent developments coming out of Anfield.

Sky Sports: Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool considered a "done deal"

Sky Sport journalist Plettenberg has now confirmed Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool have reached a “full agreement” over an impending Anfield transfer for striker Hugo Ekitike.

Now considered to be a “done deal” after the Bundesliga outfit accepted a bid of £82.3 million with add-ons included, the France Under-21 international is set for a medical at the Premier League champions and will sign a deal running until 2031.

Compared to Kylian Mbappe by Wesley Sneijder, Ekitike registered 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances last term as his side secured qualification for the Champions League.

Following Liverpool’s prolonged search for a number nine, Slot finally appears to have found his new striker and supporters will be waiting with anticipation in the hope that his medical concludes with no final hitches.

Wout Weghorst could reportedly escape Championship grind with Burnley as he could see himself playing top-flight football again after Euro heroics.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Weghorst scored the winner against Poland Striker unwilling to play second-division football Might get his wish granted in the transfer window WHAT HAPPENED?

Weghorst recently grabbed headlines with his crucial goal for the Netherlands in their 2-1 victory over Poland in Hamburg. Coming on as a late substitute, he scored within two minutes, demonstrating his knack for making an immediate impact – reminiscent of his dramatic double against Argentina in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, which forced the match into extra time.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Weghorst is being monitored by Ajax and could submit a bid for the striker who has one year remaining on his contract with Burnley, having joined the club from Wolfsburg in January 2022. The player is keen for a transfer away from Turf Moor as he does not want to play second-division football in the Championship and a move to the Eredivisie will be a welcome change for the Dutch goalscorer.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ajax endured a challenging season, finishing fifth in the Eredivisie, a staggering 35 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven. The club is now focused on revamping its squad while also managing its wage bill. Key players like Steven Bergwijn, Chuba Akpom, and Brian Brobbey have been linked with potential moves away from Ajax, creating an opportunity for Weghorst to step in and win over the fans from the opening matchday of the 2024-25 season.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WEGHORST?

Weghorst will look to continue his rich vein of form in Euro 2024 which will further boost his stock. He will be back in action against France on June 21 in their second group stage match.

In an attempt to finally get their summer transfer business underway, Fulham are now reportedly set to make a formal approach to sign a Premier League rival.

Fulham get pre-season underway

Their summer business may not be underway just yet, but Fulham have officially commenced their pre-season schedule. The Cottagers most recently defeated West Bromwich Albion courtesy of Emile Smith Rowe’s effort and are set to travel to Portugal, where they will square off against Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.

Meanwhile, the most important business at Craven Cottage so far this summer has come internally. Having managed to keep hold of Marco Silva at the end of last season, the West London club have since announced new deals for captain Tom Cairney and young star Josh King. Cairney was one who looked particularly likely to leave, before putting pen to paper to end any speculation.

The experienced midfielder told Fulham’s official website after the news of his deal was revealed: “I’m happy to sign for another year at this amazing football club, I’m delighted. It feels brilliant. It feels right. It’s always been home.

“I’ve fully enjoyed the last three years in the Premier League, contributing on and off the pitch, and I just want to help take this Club as far as I can. I’ll always try and do that.”

Muniz replacement: Fulham now make approach to sign £25m "top striker"

The Cottagers have now made contact over a deal for a centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Jul 9, 2025

The focus for Fulham should now turn towards summer arrivals. As impressive as Silva’s side were last season – finishing as high as 11th – they’ll have their sights set on breaking into the top-half for the first time in two seasons when the next campaign gets underway.

It looks as though things are now finally beginning to emerge on that front too, with one Premier League rival now in Fulham’s sights.

Fulham set to make first Dewsbury-Hall approach

According to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, Fulham are expected to make a formal approach for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall if they believe that a deal is viable with London rivals Chelsea. The midfielder has struggled for minutes ever since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but could now cross the divide to get back to his best.

Despite a frustrating first season in the Premier League, Dewsbury-Hall still managed five goals and four assists in all competitions and even earned the praise of Enzo Maresca along the way.

The Chelsea boss told reporters: “I am very happy for Kiernan. He is now much better compared to the start of the season, probably because he is understanding his role. He is working very well every day in training, even if he doesn’t get many minutes in the Premier League.

“It’s not easy to work every day with the same intention, but he is working fantastic. He showed how important he can be for us, and hopefully he can be even more important from now on.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has billed himself as a “complete player” that has a few things to “perfect”, with the 39-year-old icon explaining his longevity.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Spent two decades at the very topWon countless trophies along the wayContinues to break records & make historyGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The evergreen Al-Nassr and Portugal forward has been at the top of his game for over 20 years now, having earned a move to Manchester United and his big break back in 2003. Since then he was won trophies in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia – including five Ballons d’Or – with countless records broken along the way.

AdvertisementWHAT RONALDO SAID

Ronaldo is assured of a standing among the all-time greats and has told UEFA’s of the goals that he now sets after seemingly hitting every possible target: “Year after year, we're always trying to improve certain things. There's always room for improvement. I think I am a complete player, but there are always things I can perfect. And, with age, there are things we weren't so good at in the past, and we start losing some abilities, so it's important to try and adapt. That's the key word. If a player wants to have longevity, they need to have a strong adaptability and the characteristics for that adaptation. That's what I tried to do. It's no coincidence that I have been playing for 20 years at the highest level, and maintaining that performance is very hard. Only with a lot of dedication and hard work can we achieve those numbers.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

CR7 has already become the first man to appear at five European Championships, with that record about to be enhanced when gracing Euro 2024. He added on rewriting the history books on a regular basis: “I'm proud to be the first player to play in six EURO tournaments. I'm thrilled about it as it shows the longevity of my career. However, it's merely a chapter in what Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved in football. I'm happy and I feel privileged to be here to help the national team achieve its goals and, of course, try to go on and win it, which is our primary goal.”

WHAT NEXT?

Portugal have the talent and squad depth to suggest that they can stake a claim for another continental crown in Germany this summer, with it yet to be determined how prominently – despite being captain of his country – Ronaldo will figure having previously spent time on the bench at the 2022 World Cup.

A new football style team manager will take overall charge of all aspects of the team, appointing coaching staff and captains

Liam Brickhill04-Aug-2019Ottis Gibson will not be South Africa’s coach for the team’s tour of India starting in September, with his tenure coming to an end and CSA not giving him an extension, while also announcing sweeping changes to the way the national men’s team will be run.A statement released by CSA suggested that an interim captain could be named for the tour of India, which means South Africa could also be preparing to not have Faf du Plessis continue as captain in all three formats. Du Plessis, incidentally, was named one of CSA’s Cricketers of the Year at an awards ceremony on Saturday night.As part of the restructure, a new football-style team manager will take overall charge of all aspects of the team, appointing coaching staff and captains. The coaches, medical staff, and the administrative staff will all report directly to the manager, who in turn will report to the director of cricket, working under the chief executive.The CSA board of directors approved the new structure at its meeting last week. The restructure includes the appointment of the position of director of cricket. Cricket South Africa’s manager of cricket pathways, Corrie van Zyl, will assume the position of acting director of cricket until the position is filled formally. This effectively means that all cricketing decisions within the system will be managed by van Zyl in the foreseeable future. In the meantime, CSA will advertise the positions of director of cricket, team manager and convener of selectors.

@MrODGibson gonna miss you coach. Have spent a lot of time together over the last 18 months and you become a friend of mine. You are a great man . Thank you for everything that you have done. We appreciate you. pic.twitter.com/Y0f5iyJzum

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) August 4, 2019

Gibson’s is not the only high-profile exit from the camp. Dr Mohammed Moosajee, whose tenure comes to an end in September too, expressed his wish to not be considered for another term as team manager and team doctor, which the board accepted, bringing an end his 16-year involvement with South Africa.”I would like to thank Ottis Gibson, other members of the team’s current senior management, and our long-serving team manager, Dr Moosajee, for their national service to South African cricket,” CSA chief executive Thabang Moroe said. “I must stress that the new structure was not a rash decision. It was taken after much deliberation by the Board, taking all the factors into consideration about the current state of our cricket and also the plan that we need to get to within the timelines we have set.”This change will herald an exciting new era for SA cricket and will bring us into line with best practice in professional sport.”Also on the way out is Linda Zondi, the convener of selectors. Zondi, who was part of the selection panel that picked the Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2014, had been a selector since 2013, becoming convener in 2015. Media manager Lerato Malekutu has also resigned her position after nine years in a media role within the team.The reshuffle will also affect assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa, and batting and fielding coaches Dale Benkenstein and Justin Ontong respectively, with CSA announcing that members of team management, including the various assistant coaches, will not be retained as part of the new plan.

News from around the counties in the 2019 Championship season

David Hopps27-Jun-2019Assumptions that Reece Topley’s cricketing career is over appear to be premature. There is at least a possibility that he will revive his professional career with Sussex in this summer’s Vitality Blast as he tries to pull off a remarkable recovery against the odds.Topley has suffered four stress fractures to his back in recent years (two separate breaks that then reoccurred) and has not bowled a ball in competitive cricket since last July but following brief periods training with the Melbourne Renegades and Middlesex, he has pitched up at Hove.”Reece has had some injury issues over the last 12 months and there was no guarantee that he’d ever play again,” said Sussex’s head coach, Jason Gillespie. “So we came to an arrangement whereby, with no pressure at all, he could come here, do some training and build his bowling back up.”We’ve got the gym and we’ve got medical support and we said that if he was in a position to play some cricket later in the summer then we would explore that possibility. It’s very early days, he’s just building himself up and he’s going to play a little bit of club cricket but if he’s fit and firing, we know what a fine bowler he is.”Topley is a free agent since leaving Hampshire after playing only 21 games in three years. Just to fulfil even a white-ball contract last season he had to inject a hormone in his stomach daily and once a month had an anaesthetic in his spine. But England Lions still took a look at him before he broke down and his 10 ODIs and six T20s for England are a reminder of his potential.Sussex have kept faith with another left-arm quick, Tymal Mills despite a back condition that restricts him to T20 only. Mills’ life was changed with a £1.4m IPL deal with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017, but he went unsold in the subsequent seasons and had a disappointing Blast campaign in 2018, taking only seven wickets in nine matches.***Another player once billed as possessing England potential has an uncertain future, at 27. Less than three months ago, Adam Riley was talking optimistically about how the retirement of James Tredwell and flatter Division One surfaces might give his offspin more of an opportunity at Kent. But after taking only two expensive wickets in two Championship matches, he has left the county by mutual consent.Riley was mentioned in despatches in the general panic about English spin-bowling resources when Graeme Swann abruptly retired during the 2012-13 Ashes series. He broke through as Kent’s first-choice spinner in four-day cricket in 2014, taking 48 wickets in 15 County Championship appearances, and made his England Lions debut against South Africa A in Bloemfontein in February 2015.But England spin specialists tried to quicken his pace through the air and he was plagued by attempts to tweak his action.***Surrey’s Tasmanian head coach Michael di Venuto was flummoxed briefly at a members’ forum this week when he was asked whether Jason Roy should open for England in the Ashes. “Do you want the answer from me as Jason’s coach or from an Australian point of view?” he replied.That answer pretty much gave away his thoughts, but di Venuto proceeded to articulate them anyway. “If I was England, and I am certainly not, I think the captain [Joe Root] should put his hand up and bat at No 3 and Jason would be a very good No 4 in Test cricket,” he said.”I get where they are coming from – he is an exceptionally talented cricketer – but opening in Test cricket is extremely different to opening in one-day cricket. People make the comparison with David Warner, when Warner has been opening all his life. Jason is a middle-order player.”Di Venuto thinks England should heed what he described as “the Aaron Finch experiment.” Finch, who will return to Surrey for the Blast this season, underlined his quality as a white-ball opener on Tuesday with his World Cup hundred against England. But he averaged a modest 27.80 in five Tests going in first against Pakistan and India last winter.”The results could be the same,” Di Venuto warned. He would certainly be surprised if both Roy and Finch, whose World Cup form has also encouraged Ashes speculation, won the opportunity to open the innings when August comes around***This should have been the summer that Joe Clarke’s transfer to a big county helped him catch England’s eye ahead of the Ashes. Instead he has three ducks in his last four games and a top score of 29 in that time and Nottinghamshire are adrift at the foot of Division One without a Championship win for a year.The fallout is still evident after a court case in which Alex Hepburn, a former Worcestershire team-mate, was found guilty of oral rape and jailed for five years in April. Clarke was not on trial, and neither was another former Worcestershire batsman, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, but they were both named at Worcester Crown Court as fellow members of a WhatsApp messaging group which boasted about sexual conquests. The judge called the sexual contest “pathetic, sexist and foul”.Now the ECB has charged both Clarke and Kohler-Cadmore with bringing the game into disrepute, and England are in no rush to forgive.There is always a question about when it is appropriate for a sport’s governing body to play the role of moral arbiter. But sports stars are role models whether they want to be or not and the ego-centric environment of professional sport clearly needs an element of intervention. Few will chide the ECB for taking this particular matter further and for the players to understand that would be a further stage towards redemption.***Warwickshire will feel they deserve a good result against Essex next month after long hours spent finding a venue for the Championship fixture between the sides. Ironically, the outcome announced this week of switching home and away meetings was their first-choice solution when a clash of scheduling with the World Cup became apparent last year.Edgbaston will host a World Cup semi-final on July 11 and it is reserve venue for the final three days later, meaning the Essex game from July 13-16 must be staged elsewhere. Warwickshire were told initially that a swap with Essex was not possible and even asked about giving up reserve status for the final on the basis that it almost certainly won’t be needed.Eventually, they chose Worcester as an alternative home, only for the latest heavy flooding of New Road to leave the ground unfit. So, with no other plausible option, what might well be viewed the best solution will prevail after all: July 13-16 at Chelmsford, September 10-13 at Edgbaston. Assuming, that is, Chelmsford avoids fire, plague or pestilence over the next three weeks.Meanwhile, Surrey have reiterated their position to the ECB that The Oval should be used for part of the county’s 50-over competition next season, even though it is a venue for The Hundred in the same calendar block. “We will make sure we are not thrown out for the entire time period,” Richard Gould, the chief executive, said.

Sarina Wiegman's side fell short at St James' Park on Friday as Elisa De Almeida and Marie-Antoinette Katoto punished poor set piece defending

Perhaps England should've known it wouldn't be their day against France on Friday when Mary Earps suffered what appeared to be a hip injury with less than 45 seconds on the clock. A simple passing motion left the Lionesses' No.1 wincing in pain and though their fortunes briefly improved when Beth Mead put them ahead at St James' Park, an eventual 2-1 defeat to Les Bleues was the result of a disappointing display.

Things just didn't click for Sarina Wiegman's side in this match. There were nice moments, such as Mead's composed finish and a shot of hers later in the first half which forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into a sublime stop, but there were too few of these. There were no huge defensive errors that cost them, either, in what was just a flat performance. Instead, it was an inability to defend set pieces that hurt the Lionesses.

There was little they could do about Elisa De Almeida's stunning volley from a first half corner, except perhaps avoid conceding the dead ball situation, but failure to clear their lines from another in the second period was damaging and eventually led to Marie-Antoinette Katoto's skillful, sweeping finish. This was only England's first defeat in seven games, and first in the qualifying for Euro 2025, but after a draw against Sweden at Wembley in their first game in this competition, it leaves them third in a group of four ahead of a very difficult return game with the French on Tuesday.

GOAL rates the Lionesses' players from St James' Park…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Mary Earps (N/A):

Limped off with what looked to be a hip injury after only eight minutes.

Lucy Bronze (6/10):

Got forward plenty and linked up well with Mead down the right to cause France problems. Not troubled much defensively.

Millie Bright (5/10):

Looked rusty here despite ending the season with Chelsea having looked more match fit after so long on the sidelines.

Leah Williamson (6/10):

Superb pass to Toone to start the attack for the first goal.

Jess Carter (6/10):

Solid in her defensive work, especially given she was up against two sublime wingers. Like Bronze, wasn't troubled too much.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Keira Walsh (6/10):

Near faultless in possession.

Georgia Stanway (5/10):

Didn't get on the ball as much as usual and lacked incision when she did.

Ella Toone (5/10):

Did well to pick up a nice pocket of space in the build-up to Mead's opener, though was relatively quiet for large spells.

GettyAttack

Beth Mead (7/10):

Great composure with the finish that broke the deadlock and was so close to a second, too, but for an excellent Peyraud-Magnin save.

Alessia Russo (5/10):

Looked lively despite her recent long-haul post-season trip with Arsenal but didn't have her shooting boots on.

Lauren Hemp (7/10):

Always an outlet down the left and was often England's most creative player.

GettySubs & Manager

Hannah Hampton (7/10):

Had to take Earps' place early on and didn't put a foot wrong despite the goals. Made an exceptional save to deny Lakrar in the first half.

Chloe Kelly (N/A):

Had a good chance moments after coming on with 10 minutes to go, but couldn't connect properly from close range.

Fran Kirby (N/A):

Looked lively off the bench, though didn't have a lot of time to make an impact.

Sarina Wiegman (4/10):

Made her substitutions far too late. The game was already crying out for a change when the hour mark came along and yet it wasn't until the 80th minute that Wiegman turned to her bench, after France had taken the lead.

Frustrated fans in Canada have taken to altering Messi shirts to “Lionel Missing” after seeing the Inter Miami superstar sit out a trip to Vancouver.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Argentine sat out trip to CanadaLocals left disappointedWorkload being managed carefullyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Whitecaps shifted over 50,000 tickets for an eagerly-anticipated encounter that was expected to see eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi take to the field. He was, however, to play no part in a 2-1 win for the Herons.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

That is because he was left back in Florida, alongside fellow former Barcelona stars Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets. Inter Miami are having to manage his workload carefully, as the Argentine prepares to turn 37, but his absence from any fixture hits supporters and promoters hard.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowDID YOU KNOW?

Vancouver natives were clearly disappointed at missing out on the chance to watch the all-time great in action, with a number of Inter Miami jerseys being tweaked to hammer home the fact that Messi was “missing”.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

It is not the first time that Messi’s absence has caused controversy – as a political storm was sparked in Hong Kong during pre-season – and will not be the last, as he remains tied to a contract through 2025. He is, however, expected to be back in action on Wednesday when Inter Miami play host to Atlanta United.