Morocco will try to keep its improbable underdog run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup alive on Saturday against Portugal. Morocco topped a group with Croatia and...
PSG's Nasser Al-Khelaifi Confident in Keeping Lionel Messi, Eyes Marcus Rashford
Dec 9, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 13: Lionel Messi of Paris Saint Germain runs in the field during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AJ Auxerre at Parc des Princes on November 13, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is due for a new contract, and while there has been speculation about his potential departure from Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, team president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is confident he will remain with the club beyond 2023.
"He's very happy, you can see that with the national team. If a player's not happy you will see their performance not good for the national team. He performed fantastic this season for us, he's scored a lot of goals and assists for the national team and for the club.
"So what we agreed together—that after the World Cup, [we] sit down together. But both sides—our side of the club and him—are very happy, so we will talk after the World Cup."
In addition to re-signing Messi, PSG has also been listed as a possible destination for Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, whose contract with the Premier League side expires after the 2022-23 season.
Al-Khelaifi addressed the possibility of adding Rashford on a free transfer, and he was candid in his response:
"He's another player that is really amazing. And for free? To have Rashford for free, every club would run after him, definitely. We're not hiding it, we spoke before and ... [there was] interest. But the moment was not a good moment for both sides. Maybe, summer, why not?
"Today if he's a free agent of course we can talk to him directly but we are not going to talk to him now. Let him focus on the World Cup. Then after in January, hopefully, if we're interested we will talk to him."
Messi joined PSG ahead of the 2021-22 season. In 26 Ligue 1 games last year, he notched six goals and 14 assists. Before heading to the World Cup this year, the Argentine enjoyed a much better start to the 2022-23 campaign, notching seven goals and 10 assists in 13 games.
Before signing with PSG, Messi had spent the first 17 years of his career with La Liga side Barcelona, where he established himself as one of the best players in the world. He would have remained with the club, but it was unable to re-sign him because of financial issues.
A November report indicated that Messi was going to leave PSG to sign with Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, but ESPN reported that he had not agreed to join the team owned by David Beckham.
As for Rashford, he has spent the first eight seasons of his career with Manchester United. Before joining England for the World Cup, he posted four goals and two assists in 14 Premier League games.
Rashford's best season came in 2019-20, when he scored 17 goals and had seven assists in 31 league matches.
PSG have also expressed interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Al-Khelaifi's team is sitting in first place in Ligue 1 with a 13-2-0 record. Adding either Rashford or Bellingham to a squad that already includes Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar might make them even more dangerous but could lead to problems fitting so many stars on to the teamsheet.
Portugal Denies Rumor Cristiano Ronaldo Wants to Leave World Cup Before Quarterfinal
Dec 8, 2022
LUSAIL, QATAR - DECEMBER 06: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Portugal and Switzerland at Lusail Stadium on December 6, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
The Portuguese Football Federation has denied reports that Cristiano Ronaldo planned to leave the national team after learning he was out of the starting lineup in the round of 16.
"News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach," the organization said in a statement, via the Guardian. "The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the national team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team during the internship in Qatar."
Santos dropped Ronaldo as a starter for the match against Switzerland, which Portugal won 6-1. Portuguese newspaper Record (h/t Oli Gamp of the Daily Mail) reported the veteran responded by holding tense talks with Santos and wanted to leave the team before the end of the World Cup.
The national team says that is not the case and that Ronaldo has an "unquestionable degree of commitment to the national team."
Ronaldo started each of the three group-stage matches for Portugal, scoring one goal on a penalty kick. The squad had two wins and a loss, scoring six goals while winning the group.
Santos opted for a different lineup in the round of 16, replacing the 37-year-old striker with 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos. The decision paid off as Ramos tallied a hat trick in a dominant victory as Portugal reached the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo was subbed on in the 73rd minute but did not score.
Though Portugal denies the rumors that surround Ronaldo, he has had conflicts with his coaches in recent months.
The superstar was visibly frustrated when he was subbed off in the 65th minute in the 2-1 loss to South Korea in the group stage.
"I didn't like it. Didn't like it at all," Santos said of Ronaldo's reaction after the match. "From there, it's things you sort out internally."
Manchester United also terminated his contract by mutual agreement during the World Cup after he criticized club manager Erik ten Hag in an interview with Piers Morgan.
Portugal will hope Ronaldo and the rest of the team can focus on the task at hand when they face Morocco on Saturday.
Lionel Messi's quest for his elusive World Cup victory continues on Friday inside the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Messi and Argentina take on the Netherlands in the...
Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird Announce Launch of Production Company 'A Touch More'
Dec 7, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 05: Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird attend the 2022 Moet & Chandon Holiday Celebration at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are launching a production company with the hope of providing a larger platform to underrepresented communities.
The couple revealed the launch of the production company A Touch More during an interview with Angelique Jackson of Variety.
"As athletes, we know how powerful our platforms are and the impact we can have on the world," Bird and Rapinoe said in a statement. "A Touch More is a manifestation of our values, and our desire to bring to the surface stories of those who shape and move culture forward. We're incredibly excited for some of the projects we have in the works and can’t wait to share more about this next chapter."
Jackson noted they said they are launching the company to "'bring a touch more understanding, connection, entertainment and conversation to the evolving media landscape' by amplifying narratives around identity, activism and underrepresented communities, including LGBTQ people, POC and women."
Using their voices for positive change is nothing new for Bird and Rapinoe.
Bird was among the WNBA players who wore messages on their jerseys and warm-ups supporting Black Lives Matter while playing inside the WNBA bubble in 2020, while Rapinoe has been at the forefront of the fight for equal pay in women's soccer.
They are also among the best athletes in the history of their respective sports.
Rapinoe has won two World Cups and an Olympic gold medal, while Bird is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA champion.
Report: Gregg Berhalter Set to Discuss New USMNT Contract After 2022 World Cup Loss
Dec 7, 2022
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 03: A dejected Gregg Berhalter the head coach / manager of United States of America at full time during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
United States men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter will "begin discussions on a new contract" with the U.S. Soccer Federation following his team's trip to the World Cup round of 16, according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN.
Carlisle noted Berhalter has also shown interest in leading a European club, but the USSF is "prepared to begin talks" on a new deal.
The 49-year-old's current contract expires at the end of the year.
Berhalter was initially hired by the national team in December 2018, leading the squad to titles in the 2021 Gold Cup and 2020 Nations League. The team qualified for the World Cup after missing the event in 2018, advancing out of the group stage that also contained England, Wales and Iran.
Berhalter's experience with the national team also features 44 caps as a player, earning roster spots on the World Cup teams in both 2002 and 2006.
Despite his successes, the coach has faced significant criticism from fans over his roster selection and tactics, including during the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in Saturday's knockout round.
Productive strikers Ricardo Pepi and Jordan Pefok were left off the roster, while promising attacker Giovani Reyna saw limited playing time during the tournament as the United States scored just three goals in four matches.
The squad also finished behind both Canada and Mexico in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, only beating Costa Rica for the final guaranteed spot on goal differential.
There will be significant pressure on whoever is leading the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup, with the country co-hosting the event alongside Mexico and Canada. The team is likely guaranteed a spot as a host, but expectations will be high to make a deep run with key players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie entering their prime.
Coaches leading the national team during a second cycle have also not fared well for the U.S. squad. Bruce Arena is the only U.S. coach to make the World Cup twice, but the 2006 team finished last in its group after advancing to the quarterfinal four years earlier. Jürgen Klinsmann was fired during qualifying of his second cycle as the squad failed to reach the 2018 World Cup.
Berhalter has a 37-11-12 record during his time with the national team, having also coached the Columbus Crew in the MLS and Hammarby in Sweden. His brother, Jay Berhalter, was the USSF's chief commercial officer when he was hired but has since left to become an executive VP at MLS.
