This was supposed to be about Thierry Henry making his emotional return to Arsenal. But instead the 22-year-old who has been called the best player ever will take centre stage tonight.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta made the outrageous claim about Lionel Messi, the precocious Argentinian forward and former classmate of Cesc Fabregas.
Messi and Fabregas played in the same youth team at Barcelona before, at 16, the Spaniard left his boyhood heroes to join Arsenal where he has gone on to become captain and star player.
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But Messi has blossomed at Barcelona and this season has hit new heights, being crowned World Player of the Year.
His brilliant recent performances have brought him eight goals in his last three starts. That is why Henry will get a hero’s reception on his homecoming tonight, but all eyes will be on the player expected to be the big star of this summer’s World Cup and held up to be a name as big as Pele, Maradona and Cruyff in the future.
The only problem for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is he believes Laporta’s claim has come too soon. Guardiola said last night: “He is only 22, and handles the pressure well. “But it was wrong to say that at this stage. He is too young to describe him as the best player ever. Over time, he can get even better and prove that.
“I’m sure that when he finishes his career he will be one of the best players in the world. Absolutely." Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic added: “Leo is a fantastic player. Everyone who loves football or even those who don’t understand football will think he’s a great player.
“He has already won everything and can get better. “The biggest threat to him is the motivation and whether he can keep going and improving at the highest level.” Messi will have even more pressure on his shoulders as Barcelona will be without key midfielder Andres Iniesta whose hamstring injury may also rule him out of the return leg next week.
However, even the absence of Iniesta will not guarantee former Arsenal captain Henry a starting place for Barcelona. In fact, Spain under-21 star Pedro is expected to start with Henry left on the bench. Guardiola hinted as much, adding: “He is a player who still has Arsenal in his heart but we’ll have to see who plays. It’s more important we do a good job for the club.
“He’s returning home but winning is the most important thing.“Titi has a lot of experience, he’s an exceptional player. He’s used to playing in big games. He is the best player to have played at Arsenal, scored more than 100 goals and he’s a special player.”
But while Guardiola was rich in his praise for Henry, that was nothing compared to his admiration for Arsene Wenger. Ex-Spain and Barca midfielder Guardiola spent time at Arsenal’s training ground, learning from Wenger earlier in his career. Guardiola insisted he was one of the best coaches in the world – but warned that Barcelona will leave emotion behind and says they are going on all-out attack.
Guardiola said: “Mr Wenger is one of the best coaches in the world, and has won many, many titles.
“He’s changed the mentality of this club and is the reason why people around the world respect and admire him and Arsenal. They are a phenomenal team.
“We all know that scoring an away goal is very important for the away leg so we will have attacking intentions. We will also defend well, but we will try to score – that’s our main idea.” Cesc Fabregas is the big concern for with Wenger naming a 19-man squad with youngster Craig Eastmond on standby for the bench.
Samir Nasri will step in for Fabregas if he does not make it with Tomas Rosicky ready to, slot in on the right.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has ended David Beckham’s two-year reign as the best-paid player in world football, according to France Football magazine’s annual ‘rich list’.
Argentinean forward Messi, who scored a second successive La Liga hat-trick in Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday, has estimated annual earnings of €33 million, ahead of Beckham (€30.4 million) in second and Cristiano Ronaldo in third (€30 million).
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho tops the manager’s rich list with €13 million per year, ahead of Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini with €12 million.
According to France Football, Messi’s annual wage is made up of a €10 million basic salary, €4 million in bonuses and €19 million from personal endorsements which include Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Gillette, Gatorade, Konami, Air Europa, Telefonica/Movistar, SportCenter/ESPN, Damm, Danone, Lody For Men, Storkman, Repsol YPF, SanDisk and Mirage/Seiko.
Despite suffering a slight drop in income from the 2009 list, Beckham places in the top two of footballers’ earnings for the ninth consecutive time. Part of Beckham’s salary decrease is due to the fall in value of the dollar.
David Beckham will miss the World Cup and most if not all the Los Angeles Galaxy season after tearing his left Achilles' tendon Sunday while playing for AC Milan.
His international career for England is all but over. It remains to be seen how much he'll have left for the Galaxy and Major League Soccer.
"He will miss the World Cup for sure," a person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. The person said it was likely the 34-year-old midfielder will play again.
Beckham was injured without getting hit during AC Milan's 1-0 Italian League win over visiting Chievo Verona. With only a few minutes remaining and the score 0-0, Beckham was by himself with the ball at his feet, shifted his weight and reached a hand down to his left heel. Beckham then stood up and snapped his wrists like he was breaking a twig in half in a gesture to show the AC Milan bench he knew the tendon was broken.
Visibly in pain and in tears, Beckham went to the sideline for medical attention, leaving Milan a man short because all three substitutes had been used. "He felt the muscle begin to come up, which is a typical symptom when you break an Achilles' tendon," Milan coach Leonardo told Sky. "This is a real blow."
Sky reported that Beckham said, 'It's broken, it's broken," when he came off. Club physician Jean Pierre Meersseman told Italy's Sky TV that Beckham will fly to Finland, where he will be treated by specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.
"He'll go to Finland tomorrow and will be operated on probably tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday morning," Meersseman said. While Beckham has not been a starter for England in recent matches, he was likely to make the World Cup roster as a reserve and looked forward to the high-profile June 12 matchup against the United States — and Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan. Although no longer a top player, Beckham was still useful for his free kicks and crosses, especially when England needed second-half goals.
And for many, he was the most-known soccer player in the world, a fashion icon with a celebrity wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. A 2002 movie was even named after him, "Bend it Like Beckham." The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was on his second loan stint to AC Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy as he looked to boost his chances of making England coach Fabio Capello's 23-man World Cup roster. With no chance to play in the World Cup, his international career is likely over after 17 goals and 115 appearances, second in English history behind only goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125 matches from 1970-90.
Beckham was England's captain from November 2000 through the 2006 World Cup. He was due back with the Galaxy after the World Cup. "He'll probably be out for five or six months," AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani told Sky. "I saw him really suffering. In the changing room I hugged him and told him that if he wants he can join us next year, too."
It was yet another blow for Major League Soccer, already facing the threat of a players' strike ahead of the season opener on March 25. Beckham is the league's highest-paid player with a $32.5 million, five-year contract and its biggest draw. "We just received the information about David's unfortunate injury," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "We wish him a speedy recovery."
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said it was too early to tell exactly how long Beckham will be out. He didn't want to discuss the impact the injury would have on Los Angeles' season. He wouldn't blame the injury on the loan.
"Players get hurt whether they're on loan or not," he said. "Injuries are unfortunately part of the game."
Capello and his England assistant Franco Baldini spoke with Beckham on the telephone to offer best wishes, according to British news agency The Press Association.
In April 2002, Beckham broke a bone in his left foot during a European Champions League game against Spain's Deportivo La Coruna. His injury and recovery were front-page news to fixated England fans.
England fell short in the 2002 World Cup and yet again in 2006, still hoping for its first title since 1966. Beckham returned Sunday to AC Milan's starting lineup after a reserve-appearance in Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League loss at Manchester United, his first match at Old Trafford against his old club since he left after the 2002-03 season. Beckham was treated Sunday for a deep cut to his right cheek following a collision early in the first half.
With the game scoreless, Beckham nearly scored in the 84th, but Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino stopped his close-range effort. "Beckham came here because he wanted to help Milan return to the top and he was looking to get a jersey for the national team and participate in the World Cup," Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta said. "If other victories come, there will surely be a dedication for David Beckham."
Real Madrid is selling fewer replica jerseys than Chelsea or Liverpool, and attendances at its home stadium the Santiago Bernabeu have fallen 7.8 per cent on last season.
And last night's Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon means it loses the chance to win up to $82 million in prize money, sponsorships and other revenue, according to Simon Chadwick, professor of sports business strategy and marketing at CoventryUniversityBusinessSchool in England.
“Many people would have legitimate concerns the club will be unable to generate an acceptable return on their player- investment strategy,” Chadwick said, as reported by Bloomberg. It “would seriously undermine Real Madrid’s business model.”
According to SportBusiness, Real Madrid generated more revenue than any other European club in 2007-08, the latest season for which figures are available.
However the falling attendance figures show it is not immune to the effects of recession. Amid a 19.5 percent unemployment rate in Spain, during the country's worst recession in 60 years, average attendances at the Bernabeu have fallen to 67,461 this season, from 73,157 last season. Adidas said that the lower jersey sales at Real than at Chelsea and Liverpool are partly because there is a bigger culture of replica-jersey purchases among English fans than their Spanish counterparts
Soccer World Cup organizers have warned that close to 40,000 prostitutes may enter South Africa during the mega event.
The authorities, at a meeting of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, feared local children would also be targeted by drug and prostitution underworld. The threat is even more serious as World Cup takes place during a four-week national school holiday.
"It's horrific and very concerning. Money talks, and if you're a sex worker then there is going to be money in South Africa in 2010," the New York Daily News quoted Davis Bayever, South Africa's deputy chair of the country's Central Drug Authority, as saying.
He added: "There is no doubt that they will be targeted to become prostitutes. Children from poor rural families will be given a carrot by criminals who tell them they will have a job if they come to the big city."
However, as a preventive measure to stop influx of prostitutes, strict passport checks, screening, and profiling will take place at the borders.
It is believed that 16 percent of the population is living with HIV in South Africa.
A UN human rights expert blamed football's World Cup and the Olympic Games for forcing thousands out of their homes, as host cities sought "beautification" often at the expense of poor residents.
Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had recently taken steps to try to protect housing during the bidding process for the 2016 Games.
In contrast, world football's governing body FIFA appeared to have done little to address housing concerns and had shunned UN queries since 2005, she added. "I urge FIFA to open up, to be more transparent," Rolnik told journalists.
According to AFP, the UN expert acknowledged that the Olympics had brought redevelopment and created subsidised housing in some instances, notably in Athens and Moscow.
But sporting mega events often started off with evictions and local authorities rarely allowed the poor to return, Rolnik said in a report.
"Very rarely does the majority of the new housing stock go to those who need it the most," she told journalists.
The UN expert warned in a report that the economic benefits of staging such events are not spread evenly, as cities gave priority to "beautification over the needs of local residents".
She highlighted the removal of 20,000 people from the Joe Slovo settlement in Cape Town to make way for rental housing for this year's World Cup in South Africa, saying they were moved to "impoverished areas".
"All the commitments for affordable housing were left behind and were not prioritised," as 2010 World Cup stadium projects fell behind schedule, said Rolnik.
With the Vancouver Olympics, local authorities squeezed housing plans as they ran into financing problems, she added.
In Britain, 400 people were forced out of the Clays Lane estate, which was demolished to make way for the 2012 Olympic Park in east London.
The report noted that several thousand athlete lodgings in London are subsequently meant to be turned into affordable housing.
Rolnik also cited evictions in Barcelona prior to the 2002 Olympic Games, in Beijing before the 2008 Games, and of 35,000 families in New Delhi before this year's Commonwealth Games in October, as well as pressure on the homeless in Atlanta (1996), Seoul (1988) and Vancouver.
FIFA 2010 World Cup hosts, South Africa, have taken a squad of 29 predominantly local-based players on a month-long tour of Brazil to prepare them for the June tournament.
Ranked 81st in the world, Bafana Bafana are considered to be one of the weakest among Africa’s six representatives for the world’s biggest soccer showpiece, which begins on June 11.
In a bid to achieve his difficult contractual task of taking the hosts to their first ever appearance in the second round, Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira decided to take the Bafana players to a tour of his native country, where he hopes to instil soccer basics and add some Brazilian flare into their style of play.
As most European leagues have reached their home straight, Parreira named only two foreign-based players into his provisional squad on Thursday, barely 24 hours after he had seen his charges grind to a disappointing 1-1 draw with lowly Namibia at Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium.
According to The Zimbabwean, Bafana will camp in Brazil – playing friendly matches against some of that country’s top sides, for close to a month, after which they will hold another training camp in Germany early next month.
“I do not want to be disrespectful to small sides, but we badly need to play big sides like Denmark and Argentina to gauge our progress,” said Parreira late last week. “After Brazil and the camp in Germany, we will have a stronger base, be fitter and much better prepared than we were against Namibia where I had one day to work with the squad.”
After play four training games against Brazilian club sides, Bafana will meet Paraguay, whom they beat 3-0 on home soil in 2008.
The Brazilian, who won the 1994 World Cup and reached the 2002 quarterfinals while still coaching Brazil, is optimistic of realising an improved performance from the South Africans after the tour.
“The camp in Brazil was not easy to organise, but it will lay the foundation for our World Cup preparations,” he said.“I did the same with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the past and the camps were all successful.” “You cannot walk into a supermarket and buy experience. This is the only way — going to Brazil and Germany and learning.” Parreira said his philosophy was simple: “I want Bafana to learn to play it simple. We need to give a face and identity to South African soccer.”
Drawn in Group A, Bafana open the World Cup with a tough game against Mexico at the SoccerCity stadium, in Johannesburg on June 11. They will also have to go past Uruguay and France before they progress to the second round.
