Lionel Messi Wins Record Fifth Golden Shoe as Europe’s Top Goal Scorer

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is making history again…

The 31-year-old Argentine soccer star has earned his fifth Golden Shoe prize for being the top goal scorer in Europe last season.

Messi, who said he never expected to have such a successful career, scored 34 times in La Liga last season to claim his fifth Golden Shoe award, one more than Juventus‘ Cristiano Ronaldo has won.

Messi beat out Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to the prize after the Egyptian netted 32 times in the Premier League.

“When I started playing I did not expect all this. My dream was, obviously, to be a professional, but I didn’t imagine so much,” Messi said at a gala in Barcelona.

“This is thanks to hard work and effort and, above all, my teammates. I have the best players in the world in their positions playing beside me and that makes everything easier and lets me win these prizes.”

Messi, who also earned the Golden Shoe in 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2016-17, led Barcelona to a league and cup domestic double last season.

The forward leads La Liga’s top scorers chart with 14 goals in this campaign, more than any other player in the top five European leagues.

Lionel Messi Signs New Contract with Barcelona Until 2021

Posted on November 26, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi isn’t going anywhere…

The 30-year-old Argentine soccer star has ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract with Futbol Club Barcelona until 2021.

Messi’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the season, but this is the ninth professional contract the Argentina international has signed since he moved to Camp Nou and commits him to the club until he is 34.

Barca announced the news in an official club statement, which read: “FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentinian superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season.

“The buyout clause was set at €700m. Thus, by the time the new deal expires, Messi will have spent 17 years with the first team.”

On his official Twitter account, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: “We are in luck with the Barça players. We continue to enjoy the best player in the history of football.”

Messi avoided the chance to clear up the doubts about his Barcelona contract situation as he accepted the European Golden Shoe award on Friday.

Barcelona had already announced that Messi had agreed to a new deal until 2021 in July but the forward had not yet signed the contract himself.

There had been some concern over his future as Barca allowed him to edge closer to the end of his deal.

At various points throughout the last year he was linked with a move away from Catalonia, with a number of clubs reported to be monitoring the situation, including Manchester City.

However, Barca always remained optimistic that he would renew, telling ESPN FC in November that they were confident he would pen a new deal.

Messi joined Barca in 2001 from Newell’s Old Boys, made his first-team debut against Espanyol in 2004 and has since gone on to win 30 trophies with the club, including eight La Ligas and four Champions Leagues.

Messi scored the first of his club record 523 goals — they have come in just 602 matches — against Albacete in May 2005 and has since claimed the Ballon d’Or on five occasions, more than any other player.

Lionel Messi Claims His Fourth European Golden Shoe Award

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Lionel Messi is soccer’s Golden boy…

The 30-year-old soccer star received his fourth European Golden Shoe on Friday after netting 37 times in La Liga play during the 2016-17 season.

Messi beat out Sporting CP‘s Bas Dost (34 goals in Portugal‘s Primeira Liga) and Borussia Dortmund‘s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (31 in the Bundesliga) in the top three to claim the prize, which is presented to Europe’s top goal scorer.

After also winning the award in 2012-13 (46 league goals), 2011-12 (50) and 2009-10 (34), Messi is tied with Real Madrid‘s Cristiano Ronaldo for most regular winner of the Golden Shoe.

Messi’s 37 goals last season came in 34 Spanish top-flight appearances, but they were delivered as part of losing cause, as Real Madrid beat out Barca to the title.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has netted 12 goals in 12 games in the 2017-18 La Liga campaign.

He’s trailing Lazio‘s Ciro Immobile and Paris Saint-Germain‘s Edinson Cavani, who have netted 15 goals in Serie A and Ligue 1, respectively, in the race for this year’s Golden Shoe. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich‘s Robert Lewandowski, AS Monaco‘s Radamel Falcao and Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi have all netted 13 times.

Ronaldo, though, does not look like troubling the upper echelon of the European Golden Shoe rankings anytime soon, as he has netted just once in La Liga this season.

Messi will be looking to add to his tally on Sunday when top-of-the-table Barca travel to face second-place Valencia at the Mestalla.

Romero Named Head Coach of Malaga CF

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Marcelo Romero is ready to head the club…

The 40-year-old Uruguyan former soccer player has been named as new head coach of Spanish club Málaga CF.

Romero, who played as a defensive midfielder for the La Liga team from 2001-2007, will succeed Juande Ramos.

Romero worked as assistant coach along with manager Javi Gracia in 2014-15 and 2015-16, and has been one of the staff members working under Ramos during the current season.

During his time as a player for Malaga, he won the Intertoto Cup in 2002.

He also led Malaga in a few matches last season when Gracia was suspended.

Vazquez Extends Contract with Real Madrid

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Lucas Vazquez will keep it Real for longer…

The 25-year-old Spanish soccer player, who plays for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team as a right winger, has agreed to extend his contract with the La Liga team.

Real Madrid extended Vazquez’c contract until June 30, 2021.

The club extended Vazquez’s contract for another year, after he was originally loaned to Espanyol in 2014-2015, and returned to the team’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on July 2, 2015.

Last season he played 25 La Liga games, in which he scored four goals and made eight assists, while he took part in seven Champions League games.

Pereira to Spend Next Season with La Liga’s Granada

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Andreas Pereira is heading to España…

The 20-year-old Brazilian footballer and Manchester United midfield prospect is set for a loan switch to Granada Club de Fútbol in La Liga after the two clubs agreed on a season-long transfer.

Pereira, a Brazil Under-23 international, will spend the campaign in Spain with Paco Jemez‘s side and should gain the first-team experience required in one of Europe’s top divisions.

After making 13 appearances during Louis van Gaal‘s time in charge, the Pereira scored in Jose Mourinho‘s opening pre-season friendly at Wigan Athletic with a superb drive.

“I love Andreas Pereira as a player and I would love to have him in my squad,” said Mourinho at Friday’s press conference. “But he will go to Granada.”

Granada already have a number of players currently on loan, including Jeremie Bogie and Victorien Angban from Chelsea and Arsenal‘s Jon Toral.

Neymar Appears on Front Cover of Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 Game

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s game on for Neymar…

The 27-year-old Brazilian soccer sensation, a forward for Futbol Club Barcelona and the Brazil national team, has been selected to appear on the front cover of PES 2017, the 16th installment in the Pro Evolution Soccer series.

Neymar is joined by fellow Barcelona players Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the cover of the game.

Komani, the publishers of the annual football video game Pro Evolution Soccer, has also unveiled the La Liga champions as an official partner ahead of the title’s release later this year.

Messi has appeared on the front cover of FIFA games for the past four years, but the official partnership looks to have coerced an allegiance switch, while Neymar starred solo on PES 2016 cover.PES 2017 is slated for release on September 15, 2016.

Roca Named New Bengaluru Football Club Head Coach

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the start of an Indian summer for Albert Roca…

The 53-year-old Spanish futbol coach has been named the new head coach of the Bengaluru Football Club.

He joins the Indian champions on a two-season deal after the departure of Englishman Ashley Westwood.

Roca was most recently in charge of the El Salvador national team. He’s perhaps best known as Frank Rijkaard‘s long-time assistant at Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.

As a player, the former central defender spent two seasons in La Liga and more than a decade in the Spanish second tier.

“I’m very satisfied to have signed with Bengaluru FC,” Roca told the AFC.

“They are the champions of India, have fantastic supporters and most importantly, have a great support system and a management that is always hands on and wants to stay at the top. I want to assure our supporters that we will always give it our best. I want the supporters to be happy about the way we play.”

Roca was in charge of El Salvador for two years from 2014 and faced up to Vicente Del Bosque‘s Spain, losing 2-0 in the United States.

He worked under Rijkaard at the Camp Nou between 2003-08 when Barcelona won two La Liga titles and the 2005-06 Champions League crown.

His first competitive matches for Bengaluru will be against Tampines Rovers on September 14 and 21 over two legs in the final eight of the AFC Cup.

Alves Agrees to Two-Year Deal with Juventus

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Dani Alves is heading to Italy…

The 33-year-old Brazilian soccer star has joined Juventus Football Club on a two-year deal from Barcelona, the Italian club has announced.

Alves, who won 23 trophies over eight seasons with Barcelona, joins Massimiliano Allegri‘s side as a free-agent, despite having one-year remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp.

Alves has signed a deal that will keep him at Juventus until 2018, with an option to extend the deal by a further year.

The Serie A champions confirmed their new signing in a statement released on social media.

“Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Dani Alves has agreed terms on a two-year contract with the club until 30 June 2018 with an option for an additional year,” read the statement.

“The unrelenting success and remarkable consistency of the second most decorated player in UEFA competition history has seen the Brazilian deservedly be considered among the greatest wing-backs of his generation.”

Alves originally signaled his intention to leave Barcelona earlier this summer, after stating football had become “too easy” for him in Spain and that he needed to step outside his comfort zone to improve.

The Brazil international joined the Catalan club from Sevilla for £25.5million in 2008 and went on to make 247 La Liga appearances for the club>

After passing his medical at the club, Alves will join up with his new team-mates as Juventus prepare for their pre-season tour of Australia.

Damião Arrives in Seville to Join Real Betis

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Leandro Damião da Silva is ready to get Real…

The 26-year-old Brazilian striker has arrived in Seville, Spain to finalize his move to Real Betis, a team he’ll commit to until the end of the season with a contract extendable for three years.

Damião comes from Cruzeiro in his country, with which he ended contract in late 2015, so he arrives at Betis on a free transfer and said on arrival at the railway station of Santa Justa that he is “very happy” to play in La Liga.

The delegate of the Betis first team, Victor Antequera, received the South American striker and accompanied him to the offices of the club, where he will sign a new contract if no hitch arises during the routine medical examination.

Damião had never played for clubs outside Brazil until now, having started his career at Internacional, with which he won a Copa Libertadores and a Recopa Sudamericana.

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