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☆ Saudi Mbappé bid even less rational than it looks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Yet a possible outlay of 1 billion euros, including compensation, takes the country’s sporting tactics to surreal new heights. Added to the transfer fee, that takes the outlay to around 1 billion euros. Spain’s LaLiga generated about 900 million euros in international broadcast revenue in the 2020-2021 season, according to Deloitte. CBS Sports reported that Al Hilal was also offering Mbappé a total one-year compensation package worth 700 million euros. The Guardian reported that Mbappé’s one-year salary would be 200 million euros, rising to 700 million euros after including other commercial arrangements and proceeds from image rights.

Persons: Al Hilal’s, Kylian, Germain, Declan Rice, Mbappé, Mbappé aren’t, Al Hilal, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Paris Saint, Arsenal, Saudi Pro League, Guardian, Deloitte, English Premier League, Saudi, Newcastle United, Premier League, Economics, Regional, Qatar, Britons, Al, Financial Times, Bloomberg, CBS Sports, Thomson Locations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Paris, China, Saudi, France’s, Saudi Arabian, French

☆ Saudi soccer dominance could still take 'decades' despite reported $332 million Mbappé bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Aurelien Meunier - PSG/PSG via Getty ImagesSaudi Arabian soccer club Al-Hilal reportedly tabled a world record 300 million euro ($331.9 million) bid for Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé, a further signal of the kingdom's efforts to shake up the sport's global order. Al-Ahli snapped up Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, and have just agreed a £30 million ($38.54 million) deal to bring in forward Riyad Mahrez from reigning English Premier League and European champions Manchester City. A medium-term threat Soccer isn't the first sport to be rocked by a sudden wave of Saudi investment. This is more like a couple of decades before I think we could see some significant impact." Cristiano Ronaldo stands prior to the Saudi Pro League week 28 soccer match between Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab at Alawwal Park Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 23, 2023.

Persons: Kylian, Paris Saint, Germain, Le, Aurelien Meunier, Hilal, Mbappé, Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles, Ronaldo, Ballon, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Mahrez, Anmar Al, Khalid Alhaj, Al, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic, Savic, LIV, Michael Goldberg, DBRS Morningstar, Goldberg, Jude Bellingham, Mohammed Saad Organizations: Paris Saint, Campus PSG, PSG, Getty Images, Al, French, country's Public Investment Fund, Real, English Premier League, Newcastle United, Saudi, — Al, Saudi Pro League, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, King Abdullah Sports City, Premier League's Wolverhampton Wanderers, Senegalese, Lazio, UEFA, Champions League, England's Premier League, Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italian Serie, isn't, DBRS, CNBC, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Alawwal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Locations: POISSY, France, Paris, Le Havre, Getty Images Saudi Arabian, Qatar, Real Madrid, Spanish, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Ahli, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Italian, Barcelona, Liverpool, Shabab, Riyadh

☆ Kylian Mbappé: Saudi Arabian club submits world record bid superstar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Saudi Arabian soccer club Al Hilal has submitted a world-record bid of over $332 million (300 million euros) for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) striker Kylian Mbappé, according to multiple reports on Monday. CNN has reached out to PSG, Al Hilal and Mbappé’s representatives for comment. The current world record fee is $262 million (€222 million) when Neymar moved from Barcelona to PSG in 2017. Al Hilal reached both the FIFA Club World Cup and the AFC Champions League finals last season. Last month, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that Al Hilal was one of four Saudi clubs that have been transformed into companies, each of which is owned by PIF and non-profit foundations for each club.

Persons: Al Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Mbappé, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Luis Enrique, “, ” Al, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Al, Paris Saint Germain, PSG, Saudi, FIFA Club, AFC Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Sovereign Wealth Fund, French Locations: Saudi Arabian, Japan, Al Hilal, Barcelona, Paris, French, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Real Madrid

Those deals, though, pale into comparison with its most ambitious target yet: Kylian Mbappé. Over the weekend, one of the Saudi Professional League’s more prominent teams, Al Hilal, submitted an offer worth $332 million for the France striker to his current team, Paris St.-Germain. Should the deal go through, it would make Mbappé the most expensive player in the sport’s history by some distance, dwarfing the $263 million P.S.G. On Tuesday, it was reported by some news outlets that P.S.G. for a team in what was most recently ranked as soccer’s 58th strongest domestic league.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, Germain, ’, Nasser Al, Al Hilal’s, Fayza Lamari, Mbappé, Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Organizations: Saudi, France, Mbappé Locations: Saudi, Paris St

☆ People are talking about this viral World Cup ad that uses deceptive editing in all the right ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A French ad for the upcoming Women's World Cup went viral recently for its tricky use of digital editing. The ad uses VFX techniques to make the women's team look like men. The real footage is revealed, showing Sakina Karchaoui, Selma Bacha, Amandine Henry, and other leading players on the French women's team. The Women's World Cup also hasn't been around as long: the Men's World Cup was founded in 1930, while the Women's was founded in 1991. The French team is scheduled for their first match on July 23, against Jamaica.

Persons: Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Les Bleus, it's, Les, Sakina Karchaoui, Selma Bacha, Amandine Henry, hasn't, Marcel Organizations: Morning, Orange, French men's, women's, French, YouTube Locations: French, France, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica

☆ Mbappe excluded from PSG's Asian tour squad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe has not been included in Paris St Germain's squad for their Asian pre-season tour amid reports that he has been put up for sale by the Ligue 1 side. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said they will not let him go for free after the club spent 180 million euros ($200 million) to sign him. Mbappe was injured for the first leg and said they were "helpless" in the second. PSG will also face Japan league's Cerezo Osaka and Serie A side Inter Milan before travelling to South Korea to take on Jeonbuk Motors. ($1 = 0.8990 euros)Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mbappe, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Luis Enrique's, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, Japan league's, Janina Nuno Rios Organizations: Paris St, Ligue, Mbappe, PSG, Real Madrid, Reuters, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Japan, Osaka, Serie A, Inter Milan, Jeonbuk Motors, Thomson Locations: Paris, Japan, South Korea, Mexico City

☆ Viral women’s soccer ad uses doctored footage to prove a point
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —One French company is using visual effects editing to promote the Women’s World Cup, putting out a now-viral video showing the French men’s soccer team playing at their best — until it is revealed that the footage is actually of the French women’s team. What first looks like Griezmann evading a defender dribbling down the field is actually a graphic overlay of Sakina Karchaoui, a professional player on the French women’s national team. The second half of the ad shows the original footage — with France’s top female soccer players owning the field. The ad was posted in June, ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place across Australia and New Zealand. Soccer players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup will on average earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Sakina, Marcel, ’, Gianni Infantino, Women’s Soccer Australia Heather Reid, Orange, ”, “, Craig Foster Organizations: New, New York CNN, French, Orange, French women’s, French women's, “, women’s, FIFA, CNN, Soccer, FIFPRO, Women’s Soccer Australia, CNN Sport, Football, Sport Locations: New York, Orange, Australia, New Zealand, Australian

☆ P.S.G. Says Mbappé Must Sign a New Deal or Leave the Club
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Tariq Panja | More About Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was at the unveiling of yet another new coach that Paris St.-Germain’s president made his first public statement on the future of his team’s best player. Kylian Mbappé, the marquee player for P.S.G. Such a scenario would leave the club in the unenviable situation of losing, without compensation, a player in whom it has invested more than $500 million in transfer fees, bonuses and wages. “We do not want him to leave for free in 2024,” al-Khelaifi said. But he needs to sign a new contract.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Nasser al, Khelaifi, Luis Enrique, Mbappé, ”, Kylian Organizations: Paris Locations: France

☆ Kylian Mbappé: New PSG coach Luis Enrique swerves question on French star’s future
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —New Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique swerved multiple questions about the future of the club’s star attacker Kylian Mbappé during his official unveiling on Wednesday. This is a French club, and as he has said, he is not planning to leave for free. It is very clear.”The future of Mbappé will be one of the biggest question marks hanging over Enrique’s beginning as PSG manager after joining on Wednesday. However, despite the star-studded nature of the squad, PSG once again suffered a humiliating from the Champions League in the knockout stages, losing to Bayern Munich. CNN reached out to Galtier’s representation and PSG for comment at the time but did not receive a response.

Persons: Germain, Luis Enrique swerved, Kylian Mbappé, Enrique, Mbappé, “, … He’s, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Luis, Campos, Gonzalo Fuentes, Christophe Galtier, Galtier, John Valovic, ”, Olivier Martin Organizations: CNN, New, New Paris Saint, Spanish national, PSG, ” PSG, League, UEFA Nations League, Roma, Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Spain national, La Roja, French League, Ligue, Champions League, Bayern Munich Locations: New Paris, Barcelona, Paris, French, Spain, Italian, Barça, Nice, France, Galtier

His death, caught on video, has reignited longstanding complaints by poor and racially mixed urban communities of police violence and racism. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said early on Saturday that 270 people had been arrested on Friday night, bringing the total to more than 1,100 since unrest ignited. In Lyon, France's third-largest city, the gendarmes police force deployed armoured personnel carriers and a helicopter to quell the unrest. Darmanin asked local authorities across France to halt bus and tram traffic from 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) and said 45,000 officers were being deployed, 5,000 more than on Thursday. In Paris, police cleared protesters from the iconic central Place de la Concorde square on Friday night after an impromptu demonstration.

Persons: Nahel, Juan Medina, Macron, Emmanuel Macron, Gerald Darmanin, France's, Benoit Payan, Darmanin, we're, Snapchat, Mohamed Jakoubi, Enzo Santo Domingo, Ravina Shamdasani, Laurent, Franck Lienard, didn't, Lienard, Jacques Chirac, Dominique Vidalon, Marc Leras, Jean, Stephane Brosse, Pascal Rossignol, Elizabeth Pineau, Layli Foroudi, Gabrielle Tetrault, Farber, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alison Williams, Sandra Maler, Dan Wallis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Government, Marseille, TF1, French soccer, Stade de France, de, Meta, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Nanterre, Paris, France, PARIS, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Lille, Spanish, Bilbao, Brussels, Aubervilliers, U.S, Geneva, Amsterdam

☆ Messi says he struggled to adapt after PSG move, some fans treated him differently
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"My stay in Paris started with a very difficult adaptation, much more than I expected, even though I had people I knew in the dressing room. "And then people started to treat me differently, a part of the Paris fans started to treat me differently." "There was a rift with a big part of the Paris fans, it was not my intention, far from it, it happened like that. It had happened before with Mbappe and Neymar and I know that's their way of doing things." Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, jeers, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Messi, BeIN, Cruz Azul, Janina Nuno Rios, Rohith Nair, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Paris St Germain, PSG, MLS, Inter Miami, League, BeIN Sports, Paris, Miami, Thomson Locations: Paris, Argentine, Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, Cruz, Mexico City, Bengaluru

☆ Kylian Mbappé scores French record 54th goal of the season
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Kylian Mbappé scored his 54th goal of the season for club and country in France’s 1-0 win over Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying, setting a new French goalscoring record. The previous record was 53 goals in a single season set by the late striker Just Fontaine during the 1957-58 campaign. Mbappé scored the winning goal from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half after Antoine Griezmann was fouled by Konstantinos Mavropanos, maintaining France’s perfect qualifying record with four wins from four matches. “The only regret I have is to not be able to play safe because we had chances to score the second goal,” France head coach Didier Deschamps told uefa.com. France, yet to concede a goal in qualifying, continues its campaign against the Republic of Ireland at the Parc des Princes in September.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Just Fontaine, Germain, Erling Haaland’s, Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Mavropanos, Randal Kolo Muani, ”, Didier Deschamps, “, Olivier Giroud’s, Les, Harry Kane, England’s, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Kalvin Phillips Organizations: CNN, Paris Saint, Manchester City, don’t, France, Les Bleus, Parc des Princes, Three Lions, Arsenal, Bukayo Locations: Greece, Paris, Norway, Cyprus, ” France, Germany, France, Republic of Ireland, Parc des, England, North Macedonia, Ukraine

☆ Record-breaker Mbappe leads France to 1-0 win over Greece
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Julien Pretot | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The result left France top with 12 points, six ahead of second-placed Greece, who had Konstantinos Mavropanos sent off in the 69th minute after Mbappe's 55th minute spot kick. "We wanted to follow up on our win against Gibraltar, in front of our crowd," said midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, referring to France's 3-0 win on Friday. It came after earlier opportunities for Mbappe and Kingsley Coman but the offensive trio hit a brick wall. Vlachodimos parried Mbappe's spot kick but it had to be taken again as the keeper had left his goal line too early. After Saturday's win over Gibraltar, France have now scored nine goals and kept clean sheets in all four qualifying games.

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Mbappe, Just Fontaine, Erling Haaland, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Didier Deschamps, Eduardo Camavinga, Randal Kolo Muani, Kingsley Coman, Les Bleus, Jules Kounde's, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Antoine Griezmann, Greece's, Mavropanos, Kolo Muani, Saturday's, Julien Pretot, Clare Fallon, Ken Ferris Organizations: Greece, St Germain, Manchester City, Gibraltar, Mbappe, Thomson Locations: France, Norway, Cyprus, Greece, Gibraltar, Ireland, Netherlands

☆ Kylian Mbappé: What next for French superstar as questions over his PSG future rumble on?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On Thursday when questioned about his PSG future, he told reporters that Macron has no influence on his career. I’ve already answered, I’ve said that my objective is to stay at PSG, that’s my only option at the moment. Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar were unable to guide PSG to Champions League glory. Every team in the world would undoubtedly love to sign Mbappé, but his list of realistic suitors will be rather short. Regardless of the final outcome, love it or hate it this saga looks set to rumble on for the foreseeable future.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Mbappé, Neymar, ’ Mbappé, “, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, I’ve, – Mbappé, meekly, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Carl Recine, Erling Haaland, Edinson Cavani, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, It’s, Real, Harry Kane, Frenchman, Kane, scupper, Christophe Simon Organizations: CNN, spurn Real, Paris Saint, PSG, AS Monaco, Real, Twitter, Reuters, Real Madrid, lowball PSG, Champions League, Ligue, Parc des Princes, Qatar Sports Investment, League, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United Locations: spurn Real Madrid, Los, Le, …, France, Paris, Real, Lens, Parc des, Al, Ittihad, Saudi Arabia, AFP

☆ Real's history, not money, motivation for move, says Bellingham
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, June 15 (Reuters) - Jude Bellingham's decision to join Real Madrid was not driven by money but by a desire to contribute to the Spanish side's rich footballing history, the England international said on Thursday. I don't think about money at all when I make these kind of decisions. The respect that England has for Real Madrid is so high. The legacy within the club and this number," Bellingham said. Bellingham declined to comment on the reports, saying: "(Kane) is a world class player, he's my captain for the national team.

Persons: Jude Bellingham's, Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Zinedine Zidane, Zinedene Zidane, Jude, Harry Kane, Mbappe, Kane, he's, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Real Madrid, England, Real, Borussia Dortmund, Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris St, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Bellingham, Madrid, England, Europe, Paris, Paris St Germain's, Nashik, India

☆ Mbappe tells PSG he will not renew contract when it ends in 2024, reports L'Equipe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 12 (Reuters) - Kylian Mbappe has told Paris St Germain he will leave the Ligue 1 champions when his contract ends next year, L'Equipe reported on Monday. The French international will not trigger a one-year extension option and could even be sold this summer as PSG will seek to prevent him from leaving for free, according to the local reports. Mbappe was in a similar situation last year when he was linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, only to sign a contract extension with PSG. The 24-year-old, who scored 41 goals in 43 games in all competitions for PSG this season, would be free to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club from January should he stay in Paris. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mbappe, Paris St Germain, Janina Nuno Rios, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Paris St, Ligue, L'Equipe, French, PSG, Real Madrid, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Paris, Mexico City

☆ Novak Djokovic wins record-breaking 23rd grand slam title, defeating Casper Ruud in French Open final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud in the French Open final. Clive Mason/Getty ImagesIt is not just the grand slam records that he now holds. Victory at this year’s French Open moves him back to his familiar spot of world No.1. He also became the oldest ever French Open champion. After coming so close to landing a blow during the long opening set, Ruud seemed deflated when he walked back onto court and lost the opening three games.

Persons: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Ruud, Tom Brady, Kylian, Zlatan Ibrahimović, – Djokovic, ” Nadal, ”, Clive Mason, Steffi Graff, – Federer, Roland Garros, Victory, Emmanuel Dunand, groundstrokes Organizations: CNN, Covid, Wimbledon, Nadal, Djokovic, US, Sunday, Getty Locations: Australia, AFP

☆ Grand Slam King Djokovic wins 23rd crown by conquering Ruud at French Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

On an historic day on Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic won his 21st consecutive Grand Slam tournament match to become the only man to capture each of the four majors - Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open - at least three times. "Obviously a Grand Slam is a Grand Slam," Djokovic said. "It's no coincidence that I won the 23rd Grand Slam here in Paris, because this tournament was really in my entire career the toughest to win. Victory meant Djokovic has won the first two Grand Slams in a year for a third time after similar runs in 2016 and 2021. "Another day, another record and another day you rewrite tennis history," Ruud said, addressing a beaming Djokovic.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Rafa Nadal, of Clay, Roland Garros, Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic, it's, Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Ruud, Alcaraz, Kylian, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ruud volleyed, ranted, I'm, Taiwan's Hsieh Su, China's Wang Xinyu, Taylor Townsend, Leylah Fernandez, Julien Pretot, Toby Davis Organizations: Wimbledon, Serbian, Nadal, U.S ., Djokovic, Soccer, Melbourne Park, Thomson Locations: Serbian, Paris, Kosovo

☆ Mbappe targets Ligue 1 scoring record with PSG next season
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mbappe scored his 29th league goal of the season in PSG's final game on Saturday, a 3-2 defeat by Clermont, to finish top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts yet again. The Frenchman was earlier named Ligue 1 player of the season for the fourth time in a row last week. "It's true that it was at the end of the season, when we'd won the title, that it was a personal goal and I've achieved it. After vowing to honour his PSG contract, Mbappe's words are another clear indication that he will stay amid rumours of interest from Real Madrid, a club that has courted him in the past but failed to land the French forward. Mbappe signed a contract extension with PSG until 2025 last year, but Sky Sports reported it was only a two-year deal with a player option for a third year - which means Mbappe will be entering the final year of his contract next season.

Persons: Kylian Mbappe, Jean, Pierre Papin, Mbappe, Frenchman, AS Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder, We've, I'm, we'd, I've, Papin, Rohith Nair, Sonali Paul Organizations: Ligue, PSG's, Clermont, PSG, AS Monaco's, Olympique de Marseille, Sky Sports, Thomson Locations: Real Madrid, Bengaluru

☆ Lionel Messi’s last game for Paris Saint-Germain ends in defeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lionel Messi’s final game for Paris Saint-Germain ended in defeat as the Ligue 1 champion lost 3-2 at home to Clermont on Saturday. Sergio Ramos, who was also playing his final match for the club, scored as did Kylian Mbappé to give PSG a 2-0 lead within 21 minutes, but mid-table Clermont fought back for an unlikely win. PSG announced in a statement ahead of the match that Messi’s “adventure” with the club would conclude at the end of the season. But the former Barcelona star has had a difficult final season in Paris. Some PSG fans have recently booed his name before and during matches, doing so again at his final match, according to Reuters.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Germain, Sergio Ramos, Clermont, “, Leo Messi, Ballon, ”, Nasser al, Khelaifi, Leo, Messi, CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies Organizations: CNN, Paris Saint, Ligue, Clermont, PSG, Parc des Princes, ” PSG, Champions League, Reuters, Messi Locations: Paris, Parc des, Barcelona, Saudi Arabia

☆ Lionel Messi: What next for arguably the greatest player in history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —After helping Paris Saint-Germain win its 11th Ligue 1 title at the weekend, Lionel Messi has some thinking to do. While Messi struggled with injury during his first season in Paris, he still managed to show flashes of his brilliance. Earlier this year, Messi’s long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi club Al Nassr for an eye-watering sum of money, perhaps paving the way for other superstars to follow suit. “I think money is always a factor in human decision making,” Mora y Araujo said, amid reports Saudi club Al Hilal was targeting Messi’s signature. Despite an array of world class talent, PSG has failed to win the Champions League with Messi.

☆ Mauricio Pochettino named as next Chelsea head coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is set to join Chelsea ahead of next season, the club announced on Monday. Pochettino, who left PSG last year, has signed an initial two-year contract at Chelsea and begins the new role on July 1. Pochettino gives instructions to PSG forward Kylian Mbappé during last season's Champions League game against Real Madrid. David Ramos/Getty ImagesThe Argentine joins a Chelsea team short on form but with plenty of star power in its ranks after the club spent liberally on signings over the past year. “We are delighted that Mauricio will be joining Chelsea.

☆ Lionel Messi breaks a Cristiano Ronaldo record as PSG wins Ligue 1 title
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —There was another landmark in the long rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday. As Paris Saint-Germain sealed an 11th Ligue 1 title, Messi scored his 496th goal in Europe’s top five leagues, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record of 495 goals. Kevin Gameiro equalized for Strasbourg twenty minutes later, but PSG still coasted to the league title despite the match ended in a draw. It was a record-breaking day for PSG as well as Messi, as the club overtook Saint-Etienne’s haul of 10 Ligue 1 trophies to claim the outright record. Messi scored PSG's only goal of the night.

☆ Spanish football admits it has racism problem after Vinicius incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MADRID, May 22 (Reuters) - Spanish soccer has a racism problem, football federation chief Luis Rubiales said on Monday, after Real Madrid lodged a complaint following alleged insults hurled at their Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. It is "a serious problem that also stains an entire team, an entire fan base, an entire club, an entire country." "Probably Vinicius is more right than we think and we all need to do more about racism," Rubiales said. Real Madrid said on Monday they have lodged a hate crime complaint following the incident in Valencia. It is the 10th episode of alleged racism against Vinicius that has been reported to prosecutors this season, according to LaLiga.

☆ Real Madrid dethroned as ‘Kings of Europe’ as the club looks to usher in new generation of stars
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Even before the full-time whistle blew in Manchester City’s 4-0 mauling in the Champions League semifinal Wednesday, Real Madrid players looked to have accepted their fate. To see a club like Real Madrid get put to the sword is always a surprise, but it’s even more shocking when you consider it was this team – in this competition. Luka Modrić has been one of the best players in the world during his time at Real Madrid. In truth, the chastening defeat against Manchester City has only amplified what madridistas already knew. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti looked on as his side lost 4-0 on Wednesday.

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