🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Lionel Messi, at 39, continues to dominate the World Cup with tactical brilliance and energy conservation
via SeneNews6 min read
At 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to impress at the World Cup, showcasing a strategy of energy conservation to deliver decisive plays. Austria's coach, Ralf Rangnick, highlighted Messi's tactical agility, noting that his tendency to walk on the field is a deliberate adaptation rather than a limitation. Rangnick observed that Messi's positioning, even when seemingly offside, allows him to find unmarked spaces, making him exceptionally dangerous. This approach was evident in a group stage match where Messi scored twice against Austria, despite Rangnick's analysis. Messi's ability to conserve energy and strike at crucial moments was also demonstrated in the round of 16 against Egypt, where he provided an assist and scored a goal within five minutes. Argentine newspaper Clarín praised Messi, stating that success in football is not about who runs the most, but who plays the best, and no one plays like him. The BBC also commented on Messi's sharp mind, noting that he observes, waits, and unleashes his energy when it matters most. For Inter Miami, Messi has an impressive record of eight goals in five matches, surpassing Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. His teammates, like Lautaro Martinez, view him as their "balance, guide, and leader." Former players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thierry Henry described Messi as an "animal" on a mission when provoked, becoming unstoppable. Henry recounted an incident in training where Messi, angered by a perceived referee error, scored three consec
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Belgium's captain Youri Tielemans has been ruled out of the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain in Los Angeles. Tielemans, who was initially announced as a starter, will be replaced by Hans Vanaken in midfield. The FIFA match sheet listed Tielemans as "injured" just minutes before the noon local time 19:00 GMT kickoff. Meanwhile, Spain's Fabian Ruiz, a midfielder for Paris SG, will return to the starting lineup for the Roja.
Must ReadBrazilian star forward Vinicius Junior apologized to Brazilian supporters for the "immense frustration" caused by the team's elimination in the World Cup round of 16. He promised to "fight" to bring the Seleção "back to the top." The five-time world champions, seeking a sixth title since 2002, were eliminated by Norway 2-1 in East Rutherford. Vinicius Junior stated on Instagram, "I know how much I prepared, how much I focused, I wanted" the World Cup trophy "for you, for my family," describing the "immense" feeling of frustration. He added, "We had a strong enough squad to do better but we didn't succeed. I apologize and I will fight for our dream to return to the top of the world." Despite the team's disappointment, the 25-year-old forward scored four goals and provided one assist during the tournament. His message was accompanied by a black and white photo of him collapsed on the field after the defeat to Norway at MetLife Stadium. Brazil's performance marked their worst in a World Cup since 1990 in Italy, when they were eliminated at the same stage. The Seleção last won a World Cup title in 2002 in South Korea and Japan. Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, whose contract was extended until 2030 before the World Cup, was confirmed in his position despite strong criticism from some former Brazilian football legends, including Romario, who called for his resignation.
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Belgium, expressed frustration over the prevailing skepticism surrounding his team ahead of their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain in Los Angeles. Despite the criticism, Garcia affirmed that his team possesses strengths and is determined to prove its worth on the field. He acknowledged Spain as one of the tournament favorites, highlighting their collective strength over two decades and their current defensive solidity, having not conceded a goal. Garcia, a 62-year-old French coach, stated that statistics are meant to be challenged. He emphasized Belgium's attacking prowess, noting they are the second-highest scoring team in the World Cup with 13 goals, and vowed that his team would strive to score and not merely endure the match. Garcia confirmed that all players are available, except for Amadou Onana, who sustained a serious knee injury in the round of 16 against the United States. He also mentioned the unique situation of defender Zeno Debast, who is medically cleared by the national team staff but whose club, Sporting Portugal, is reportedly preventing him from playing. Garcia praised the quality of his bench players, who demonstrated their ability to turn a game around in the 3-2 victory against Senegal in the round of 16. He has used 18 different players as starters since the beginning of the tournament, making his team unpredictable. Garcia added that the team aims to show they deserve to be in the quarter-finals and can advance