Israel, Iran exchange airstrikes in unprecedented escalation, sparking fears of regional war    Rock Developments to launch new 17-feddan residential project in New Heliopolis    Madinet Masr, Waheej sign MoU to drive strategic expansion in Saudi Arabia    EHA, Konecta explore strategic partnership in digital transformation, smart healthcare    Egyptian ministers highlight youth role in shaping health policy at Senate simulation meeting    Egypt signs $1.6bn in energy deals with private sector, partners    Pakistani, Turkish leaders condemn Israeli strikes, call for UN action    Egypt to offer 1st airport for private management by end of '25 – PM    Egypt's President stresses need to halt military actions in call with Cypriot counterpart    Scatec signs power purchase deal for 900 MW wind project in Egypt's Ras Shukeir    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    EGX starts Sunday trade in negative territory    Environment Minister chairs closing session on Mediterranean Sea protection at UN Ocean Conference    Egypt nuclear authority: No radiation rise amid regional unrest    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Egypt slams Israeli strike on Iran, warns of regional chaos    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    US Senate clears over $3b in arms sales to Qatar, UAE    Egypt discusses urgent population, development plan with WB    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt, Serbia explore cultural cooperation in heritage, tourism    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Messi pays tribute to Maradona in Barcelona's rout over Osasuna
Published in Ahram Online on 29 - 11 - 2020

Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona by stripping off his Barcelona top to reveal a shirt for the fallen Argentine great after he scored the final goal in a 4-0 rout of Osasuna on Sunday.
Messi celebrated his powerful strike from outside the box by taking off Barcelona's blue-and-burgundy to reveal the red-and-black of Maradona's shirt from his stint at Newell's Old Boys. Messi then blew a kiss with both hands to the sky as he looked upward.
``It was a great moment,'' said Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman. ``First, for the goal that Leo scored and then for the gesture he had for the death of Diego Maradona. He had surely been thinking of what he would do. For me, it was a great moment in every way.''
Messi played for Newell's before he joined Barcelona at age 13. Maradona played five matches for Newell's in 1994 near the end of his glorious playing career that made him a legend in his home country.
Messi had kept his head bowed during the minute of silence before kickoff in the Spanish league game at the empty Camp Nou for Maradona, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday at age 60. Maradona played for Barcelona from 1982-84.
``We have lost Diego, a world idol,'' Barcelona's Brazil forward Philippe Coutinho said. ``Everyone admired him and we will all miss him. (Messi's) tribute was beautiful.''
Coutinho also scored for Barcelona, along with Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann.
The win was only Barcelona's second in seven league matches. But the victory for Koeman's side may have come at the price of losing yet another defender.
Clement Lenglet hurt his lower right leg when it was unintentionally knocked by an Osasuna player in the second half. He had to be helped off by two team doctors. Barcelona was already without three other central defenders due to injury and right back Sergi Roberto.
Barcelona finished the match with midfielder Frenkie de Jong in the center of its defense alongside reserve team player Oscar Mingueza in his second game for the senior squad.
Koeman said it appears the injury to Lenglet is ``not serious'' but that he would undergo a medical exam on Monday.
Considered by many as the best of his generation of football players, Messi has been judged, especially back home, by how his career compares to that of Maradona.
Messi shares the lower center of gravity, the supreme dribbling skills and the ability to score eye-popping goals as Argentina's other great No. 10. But while his life focused on football and family has kept him well clear of the addictions that ruined Maradona's health, Messi has never been able to reproduce the 1986 World Cup trophy Maradona led his country to, coming closest in 2014 when a Messi-led Argentina lost in the final to Germany.
Messi's tribute to Maradona overshadowed a fine performance by Griezmann, the France forward who has been criticized for not reaching his potential at Barcelona.
Braithwaite scrambled in a rebound _ after Coutinho's attempt was saved by Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera _ to open the scoring on the half-hour mark.
Griezmann doubled the lead three minutes before halftime when he volleyed a blistering strike from outside the area that left Herrera flat-footed and with no chance of stopping it.
Griezmann then passed up another scoring chance and opted to assist Coutinho to tap in the hosts' third goal in the 57th. Messi rounded it off with his strike from long range in the 73rd.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.