Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta blamed the people around Lionel Messi for his departure from Barcelona.

Lionel Messi continues to be a main focus for Barcelona presidential candidates while they make their public speeches. Joan Laporta was the latest to give his thoughts on the player’s exit to PSG.

In 2021 everybody was shocked when Messi announced he was no longer going to play for Barcelona after more than two decades at the club that welcomed him when he was younger. Laporta has been blamed for the move by many, but he explained what happened in an interview on the TV show Cafè d’idees.

Laporta said: “Messi’s entourage didn’t dislike going to PSG. It was a very generous offer, but I’m convinced he wanted to stay. We tried. Barcelona’s economy couldn’t afford it. You can always do more in life. Everything can improve. However, the situation was constrained.”

Laporta on Messi’s return

It now seems impossible for Messi to come back as a player for Barcelona. He’s nearing the end of his career while the club seems to have regained its spirit with a young team for many years.

The main idea centers on an honorary match so the fans can properly thank him for all he has done for the club, and Laporta added that the club has also honored the Argentine throughout its history.

Laporta remembered when a return was possible: “We tried to bring him back in 2023, but he preferred to join Inter Miami for various reasons. He made that decision, which is very respectable. That’s not criticism.”

Barcelona election race heats up

Joan Laporta resigned from the presidency to run as a candidate in the upcoming elections. The club’s board announced a series of measures in January, with the key decision being the scheduling of the presidential vote for March 15.

Laporta is considered the leading candidate after the club’s financial stabilization. His main challenger appears to be Víctor Font, who received nearly 30 percent of the vote in the previous election. Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Comprubí are also running.

Vinicius and more important players are at risk of suspension for Real Madrid's potential Champions League round of 16 with a yellow card

Vinicius was the protagonist of the first leg in the Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a controversy over an alleged racist incident involving Gianluca Prestianni. His importance makes him the focus again, as he could miss the next match through suspension if Real Madrid progress from this round.

The Brazilian scored the winning goal in Portugal to give his team the lead heading back to Spain. However, the referee deemed his celebration excessive and showed him a yellow card, putting him at risk of suspension if he receives another in Wednesday’s match.

There are five more players who are at risk of missing the round of 16. Jude Bellingham looks like the most irreplaceable on the list, but he should be available because he will not play this rematch due to injury. Rodrygo is another player at risk who will not play in Madrid. Álvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni and Dean Huijsen are the other three.

Real Madrid’s potential rivals

The new Champions League format raised doubts when it was announced. Using unified standings to rank all 36 teams did not seem straightforward, but it has produced exciting outcomes, such as Benfica qualifying for this round at Real Madrid’s expense.

This also produced a different type of bracket for the knockout rounds than what everyone was used to since the competition changed its structure in the 1990s. Potential opponents will be decided by a mini draw.

Real Madrid will not know who they will face in the round of 16 until the draw. The opponent will be randomly selected from two very different options. Manchester City or Sporting CP are the clubs they could play in the next round.

When do the yellow cards accumulation end?

The rule states that after a player receives three yellow cards, he is suspended for one match. This is not usually a major focus in short series like this one, but it can influence how managers use substitutions.

Yellow card tallies are reset after the quarterfinals, but if a player receives his third booking in the second leg of that round, he will miss the first semifinal match. If Rodrygo or Bellingham pick up a yellow card in the quarterfinals, they could miss the rematch or the first leg of the semifinals.

Harry Kane's contract has an obstacle for Barcelona to get him explained a Bayern Munich executive.

This was a busy week for Harry Kane’s camp after he was linked to Barcelona following comments made by presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana. He said that if he wins the elections on March 15, the striker will be his priority.

It would be fantastic for the Spanish club to have Lamine Yamal and Raphinha alongside the striker. However, the move won’t be easy because of a deadline that works against Barcelona’s chances of signing the Englishman.

Kane had a contract provision that would have made it possible to sign him without negotiations with Bayern Munich if he had chosen to trigger it. Honorary president Uli Hoeness explained the situation in an interview with Bild: “As his release clause for the summer 2026 expired and he has a contract running until 2027, we have no pressure anymore.”

Bayern Munich’s intention with Kane

The striker has been spectacular since Bayern Munich paid Tottenham around $100 million in 2023. Leaving his long-time club for a different league like the Bundesliga could have required an adjustment period, which did not happen for him.

His numbers speak for themselves: he has more goals than matches, with 132 goals in 128 appearances in all competitions, a tally that helped him claim the European Golden Shoe.

A contract renewal is still a possible outcome even if his current deal runs until 2027. Hoeness summed up the club’s stance: “Of course we want to keep him. We are lucky to have him.”

Kane’s season for Bayern Munich

The goals keep coming. Kane’s numbers this season are extraordinary even by his standards. In 23 Bundesliga matches he has scored 28 goals, helping his team lead the standings by an eight-point margin. He has been equally lethal in Europe, with 8 goals in 8 Champions League matches, and totals of 43 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions.

Lamine Yamal leads all U-23 players in league goal contributions, with a Serie A star near his good numbers.

Lamine Yamal has turned into one of the best players in the world almost overnight, with little time even to call him a prospect. His current run with Barcelona has him holding a U-23 record for goal contributions this season despite being just 18 years old, with a Serie A star close to his numbers.

Yamal has been the main attacking threat at Barcelona for some time. His combined goals and assists back this up, according to Marca. The right winger leads the five top European leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) among players under 23 with 18 goal contributions. He has scored 10 goals and provided eight assists.

The other youngster was born in 2004, giving an age advantage to the rest. This player competes in Serie A for Como 1907, Nicolás Paz. For the Argentine, Italy has been the right place to develop, as he has accumulated 15 goal contributions. That total comes from 9 goals and 6 assists.

Yamal and Paz could be headlining important matches

Nobody can predict what the future holds for players on these trajectories. However, it is already hard to imagine Yamal wearing a different jersey in the future. That means we could see this matchup in a future El Clásico.

Paz began his youth career at Real Madrid. The son of former Argentina World Cup player Pablo Paz developed through the ranks but could not break into the first team. His move to Como included a buyout clause for his club of origin that seems likely to be activated.

There are even more impactful fixtures they could play against each other sooner than that. While Yamal may be Spain’s best player with the World Cup looming, Paz keeps making his case for Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the tournament. The Finalissima between the two countries on March 27 could see these left-sided players face off for the first time.

Stars that don’t equal Yamal and Paz

These players are exceptions to the rule, as no other U-23 player has reached 15 goal contributions. With Paz at 21 and Yamal turning 19 in July, they remain alone in the category and are notably younger than many rivals.

Names that should rank higher on the list include Jude Bellingham, who had a magnificent first season at Real Madrid but could not replicate that production because of injuries. A more offensively minded player who has not reached the mark is Florian Wirtz, for whom Liverpool paid over $100 million. Jamal Musiala, Cole Palmer and Nico Williams are other notable competitors.

Son Heung-min praised Lionel Messi before LAFC's match against Inter Miami.

The MLS kicks off its season with the best star matchup possible. It will be the defending champions Inter Miami with Lionel Messi in the lineup visiting an important club like LAFC for the 2026 MLS opener, with the confirmed presence of Son Heung-min.

This may even serve as a preview of the competition final later in the calendar year, so it could be a good measure of where the teams stand this early. Ahead of tonight’s match in Los Angeles, the South Korean gave the Argentine his flowers despite initially not wanting to talk about him in the press conference.

Son said: “I don’t want to talk about Messi because probably everybody’s talking enough. We all know that he’s the best player and he has had so much influence on football. But I don’t look at football matches as an individual. He’s obviously at a different level than any other player.”

The forward kept repeating that he views the sport as a collective one, not an individual one: “I’m looking at the game as LAFC against Miami. I’m looking forward to winning as a team. I’m looking forward to playing as a team and celebrating as a team.”

Lionel Messi vs. Son Heung-min

These players came to MLS after many years of dominating European competitions. However, they developed in different leagues. Messi spent most of his career in La Liga with Barcelona and later had a brief stint in Ligue 1 with PSG. Son became one of the Premier League’s standout players with Tottenham. Because of that, they have not faced each other often.

The history between these talented forwards includes just two Champions League matches. They took place in the 2018-19 edition when Tottenham reached the final and later lost to Liverpool in Madrid.

In the group stage, a 4-2 Barcelona victory at Wembley featured two goals from Messi on October 3, 2018. Son did not get revenge, as Tottenham earned a 1-1 draw in Spain on December 11, 2018.

LAFC began the year with the right foot

This match with Inter Miami also opens the MLS season for LAFC. However, it will not be their first official match of the year since they recently played Real España in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Earlier this week the team traveled to Honduras for the first leg. They returned with a 6-1 victory that left no doubt about their advancement to the next round. Son scored the third goal from the penalty spot before being substituted after an hour to rest.

USMNT star Josh Sargent may break the record set by Son Heung-min with LAFC in transfer from Norwich to Toronto FC.

Good news could soon arrive for the USMNT if Josh Sargent passes his physical. The striker appears set to move from English club Norwich City to Toronto FC, returning to MLS, according to BBC Radio Norfolk. The reported fee could surpass what LAFC paid for Son Heung-min.

In August 2025, LAFC made headlines when they secured the South Korean star. At the time, the reported fee paid to Tottenham Hotspur was estimated at $26.5 million.

Sargent could command an even larger sum from Toronto FC. The figure being discussed is close to $27 million, reportedly structured as a $20.9 million fixed fee with achievable add-ons that would push it past the current record.

Sargent’s present isn’t good

Sargent made this move a priority. His ambition to represent the USMNT at the World Cup motivated him to push for the transfer. The issue was not his performance but his lack of regular playing time.

It marked a sharp decline from being a fan favorite at Norwich to becoming heavily criticized. Local media reported that tensions escalated after he refused to play in an FA Cup match against Walsall, which effectively ended his time with the first team.

As a result, Norwich City’s manager had him train with the second team. Now, with a return closer to home, he aims to rediscover the form that made him the team’s standout player last season. He will need to adapt quickly, especially considering his last match was in early January.

The other MLS records

If Toronto FC completes the deal with the performance bonuses included, Sargent would set a new MLS transfer record. The previous benchmark was established by Son’s move from England.

That would also surpass the $16 million FC Cincinnati paid for Kévin Denkey and the $22 million plus bonuses Atlanta United spent on Emmanuel Latte Lath, both of which would quickly be eclipsed by the Canadian club’s deal.

Erling Haaland and Harry Kane were named by a French legend and Champions League winner to join Barcelona.

When it comes to strikers, very few have the expertise that Thierry Henry had. His time with Arsenal was fantastic, and his spell with Barcelona was successful as well, winning a Champions League. The former player named the forwards the club should target, focusing on Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

The Frenchman said striker is the position the club must focus on. With Marcus Rashford having a buy clause that Barcelona is unsure about paying and Robert Lewandowski’s future in doubt because of his age, he named three replacements, according to Sport.

Henry said: “Barcelona needs an authentic number 9. A world-class level player. I’m referring to formidable strikers like Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland or Harry Kane. Proven scorers, not prospects.”

Henry on Lamine Yamal’s influence

Barcelona has been a goal-scoring machine since Hansi Flick arrived. That has been the most reliable part of the team considering the defensive issues they have shown.

Even so, the Frenchman believes they are not fully taking advantage of Lamine Yamal’s talent. He thinks that with all the movement, distractions, and assists the Spanish player provides, there should be greater efficiency.

Henry explained: “When you have a talent like Yamal, who makes those passes, you must score. It’s simple. At this level, one opportunity is enough. I have seen matches where many chances are wasted. In Barcelona, that can’t happen. That’s what marks the difference between being competitive and becoming champions.”

Barcelona’s strikers’ numbers

Injuries have limited Barcelona’s attack this season. Yamal has missed matches, and even with him available, Lewandowski and Rashford have not matched their usual scoring standards.

Rashford, who primarily plays on the left wing, has 4 goals in 21 La Liga appearances and 5 in 8 Champions League matches. Lewandowski has produced 10 league goals in 19 games but just 2 in 7 European outings, while Ferran Torres leads the group with 12 in 22 La Liga matches and has added 2 more in 6 Champions League appearances.

Carlo Ancelotti admits he called out Vinicius after is reaction with Xabi Alonso during a La Liga Real Madrid-Barcelona.

Back in October, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona after four losses to them in the current La Liga. However, the focus turned to Vinicius‘ reaction after then-manager Xabi Alonso substituted him for Rodrygo with around 20 minutes left. Carlo Ancelotti recently revealed he spoke with him.

Vinicius’ reaction was notably loud for a player of his importance, yelling “Me?” several times before leaving the field and even making a gesture toward Alonso that came across as disrespectful. Former Real Madrid player Jorge Valdano raised the issue with Ancelotti on his Universo Valdano show.

Ancelotti didn’t shy away: “The reaction was bad. I spoke with Vini about this. The player must respect the manager, who can make mistakes, his teammates, and the players coming on. He’s very passionate. I think he has improved a lot in his attitude. The Vinicius who plays for Brazil is different as a person from the one at Real Madrid.”

Ancelotti speaks on his time with Álvaro Arbeloa

Ancelotti was the manager of the club until he left in 2025 to take charge of Brazil. He was finishing one of his most successful runs with Real Madrid, including a pair of Champions League titles in his second stint at the club.

The Italian had already managed the club from 2013 to 2015 before returning years later. In that period, he worked with the current Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa.

Asked about Arbeloa as a player he said: “He didn’t play very much because it was Daniel Carvajal’s spot. But he was an important presence in the dressing room, a great professional. I wish him the best.”

The difference for Vinicius from Arbeloa to Alonso

There seemed to be a colder relationship between Alonso and the players from the first day. Arbeloa has taken a different approach, trying to be close to them and at times acting more like a teammate than the manager.

Arbeloa was very complimentary when talking about Vinicius at his most recent press conference: “Since I took over, he has been sensational. He decides matches, scores great goals, and puts the team on his back. He isn’t afraid.”

Jude Bellingham's status is confirmed for Real Madrid's match against Osasuna in La Liga.

Real Madrid is now leading the La Liga standings after a victory against Real Sociedad was followed by Barcelona’s defeat to Girona. However, in a previous win over Rayo Vallecano there was a painful situation for Jude Bellingham that still is not resolved before the Osasuna match.

The midfielder had to leave the field early while trying to hold back tears after suffering an injury. For the England international, it was a muscle issue in his left hamstring that was expected to sideline him for a few matches, but this week he experienced a setback that rules him out of next Saturday’s game.

Bellingham will not be the only player unavailable for Álvaro Arbeloa. The manager knows that Rodrygo did not return in time from a muscle injury, with Eder Militao being the other confirmed absence for the team.

Bellingham’s potential return

The victory against Rayo Vallecano left a sour note because of Bellingham’s injury. That happened on February 1, and despite three weeks having passed, it appears he will not be returning any time soon.

What was initially expected to be a recovery that would have him ready by now has turned into an estimated five week window before he can rejoin the lineup. With this in mind, he could still be out for up to three more weeks if the club chooses to take a cautious approach.

Bellingham has already missed the recent victories against Valencia and Real Sociedad, as well as the first leg of the Champions League playoff against Benfica. He is expected to return on March 14 in the match against Elche, after missing games against Osasuna, Benfica, Getafe, and potentially Celta.

Rodrygo should be ready soon

Rodrygo was expected to miss just 10 days when he was injured before the match in Valencia. The initial projection had him returning for Osasuna, but a setback in his recovery left him unavailable.

This delay is not as serious as Bellingham’s situation, so the Brazilian should be ready for the next La Liga match against Getafe. Arbeloa will not be able to use Rodrygo for the Benfica rematch because he remains suspended for one more match in the competition.

Marcus Rashford and Pedri gave the fans new updates with potential returns to Barcelona's lineup apparently coming soon.

Barcelona has many great players to form a remarkable lineup every weekend. However, at this time of year they need every player available. That made Thursday’s training session a positive one for Hansi Flick, as he received updates on Marcus Rashford and Pedri.

After the loss to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals, which left them at significant risk of elimination, and the defeat at Girona that put Real Madrid in the lead in La Liga, these reinforcements could be decisive.

In Wednesday’s session, Flick saw Rashford and Pedri taking part in team drills again. Even if they only participated in parts of the workout, their return to group training is encouraging. The manager plans to include them in the squad for the Levante match even if they are used as substitutes, according to Marca.

Pedri would be returning after a long absence

There are players like Lamine Yamal whose skills are irreplaceable. Goals are hard to come by. However, Barcelona has other talents who can be useful as well. That may not be true for Pedri.

The midfielder has been a vital part of the team’s functioning. Missing a player who combines work rate with the quality to retain possession is why the team looked lost at times.

Pedri has been sidelined since January 21, when he suffered a muscle injury with about 30 minutes remaining in the Champions League match against Slavia Prague. Even though a month might seem like a safe recovery period, Flick may be cautious with Pedri’s minutes.

Flick ran a different training session

It was a long week for Barcelona that could cost them two titles after those defeats. That prompted Flick to give the players two full days of rest following the loss at Girona. The decision was reinforced by how they started the day.

Flick had the players watch video from the recent matches to analyze mistakes. For an hour, that was all the German manager chose to do. Avoiding the same errors as Barcelona enters the toughest part of the schedule was the focus of the meeting.

Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are the players at the top of the European Golden Shoe standings.

Records continue to fall across Europe as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland lead the scoring charts for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively. All three forwards are delivering week after week, turning the Golden Shoe race into one of the season’s main storylines.

Beyond their club objectives in domestic leagues and the Champions League, they are also competing for the European Golden Shoe, awarded to the top league scorer in Europe through a points system.

Kane currently leads with 52 points with many matches remaining, while Mbappé follows with 46 points. Erling Haaland remains close with 44 points thanks to his performances with Manchester City.

European Golden Shoe: The method of scoring points

The standings are expressed in points rather than raw goals because the European Sports Media uses a coefficient system that assigns a multiplier to each league based on its perceived difficulty.

That system gives more weight to goals scored in stronger leagues, so some leagues earn more points per goal than others. In the cases of Kane, Mbappé and Haaland you can also look at goals directly because the Bundesliga, La Liga and Premier League all use a 2x multiplier.

Put simply, Kane has 26 Bundesliga goals for Bayern Munich, Mbappé has 23 La Liga goals for Real Madrid, and Haaland has 22 Premier League goals for Manchester City.

Kane’s biggest obstacle in the race

Using coefficients aims to make comparisons fairer. Still, one major disadvantage for Kane is the Bundesliga’s 18-team format, which means he will play four fewer league matches than the others.

This trio of world-class forwards is followed by some surprising names. Fourth place is currently Igor Thiago of Brentford with 34 points, followed by Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca with 32 points. Vangelis Pavlidis of Benfica has 20 goals and 30 points because the Primeira Liga’s coefficient is 1.5x.

Candidate Joan Laporta took a new hit at Real Madrid in his Barcelona presidential campaign.

Barcelona is coming off a mini crisis on the field with two losses that made them stumble in different competitions. However, there’s another front that may be even more important for the club with elections approaching. Joan Laporta aimed at Real Madrid in his speech.

The controversial decisions referees made in Barcelona’s last two losses were heavily debated within the club. A complaint to the Real Federación Española de Fútbol after the Copa del Rey match against Atlético Madrid was followed by a foul that wasn’t called in Jules Koundé’s favor, which led to a Girona victory.

Laporta spoke to some fans about his candidacy with refereeing in mind: “We will defend Barca from those who want to break it and who are 600 km away. From those who always want to harm Barcelona’s reputation. You must be alert at all times or they will nail you. They don’t rest. We know how to confront this.”

Laporta’s confidence in Hansi Flick

The former president resigned from his previous post to run in the elections again. He has consistently supported the manager he hired to return Barcelona to the top level.

His attack on the main rival wasn’t the only message he delivered: “I know Hansi Flick and how the dressing room is. We are going to win La Liga. We must defend Barcelona from those who don’t accept that things are going well for us and that there is a sense of satisfaction.”

Laporta appears as the leading candidate to win the election next March 15, when supporters will gather to vote. Víctor Font, Marc Ciria, Xavier Vilajoana, and Joan Comprubí are the other candidates.

Barcelona’s path in La Liga

Barcelona held a commanding lead in La Liga until last Monday. The 2-1 loss to Girona cost them that position and left Real Madrid two points ahead after a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad.

The path to regaining the advantage begins with Levante at Camp Nou next Sunday. The following Saturday brings another home match against Villarreal. A visit to Athletic Bilbao completes the upcoming stretch of fixtures.