In this week's episode of Off the Crossbar, Matt, Kyle and Trevor are discussing Real Salt Lake's season opener against Inter Miami, as well as the club's second match against St. Louis City SC. They also discuss: The marketing angle with Lionel Messi Matt Crooks' debut Pablo Ruiz at the 10 and much more!

Revealed: Why Nigeria will no longer face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a pre-World Cup friendly Pulse Sports Nigeria

On a jam packed edition of Caught Offside, the boys discuss Arsenal's struggles at Porto, Pepe's place on the all S-Housery team and a controversial equalizer in Eindhoven. Plus, Messi leads Inter Miami to a season opening win, Josh Sargent gives Gregg Berhalter something to think about and "Sir Big Jim" wants a new national stadium in Manchester. --- And just a reminder: We've partnered up with Manscaped during the month of February! Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code caughtoffside at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod --- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caughtoffsidepod X: https://twitter.com/COsoccerpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtoffsidepod/ Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lionel Messi: Choose Copa America or Olympics, not both — Tata Martino sends clear message to Inter Miami stars Pulse Sports Nigeria

Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami appeared to be a marketing dream for all concerned, that was before their pre-season tour of Asia. After playing just seven minutes in Saudi Arabia and missing a ‘last dance’ with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi failed to feature in Hong Kong with the fallout still rumbling on. So why has Messi’s no-show caused geo-political tensions to rise and is the GOAT in danger of becoming a show pony in the final stages of his illustrious career? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Paul Tenorio to analyse the episode as well as dissect the wider impact on the growth of MLS. Produced by Guy Clarke Additional Production by Mike Stavrou Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Further reading: ‘A thuggish flamingo’: Why China turned on Lionel Messi - The Athletic Hong Kong uproar, Messi injured and just one win: Inside Inter Miami’s Asian tour - The Athletic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kylian Mbappe on Real Madrid's plan 'every single day' with Los Blancos stars expecting his entry in blockbuster move from PSG On Monday, Football journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that agents of Kylian Mbappe and the Real Madrid board are arranging a move under strict mystery, but with the authorization of PSG. On Tuesday, an ambassador and ex PSG player Laure Boulleau, claims that Mbappe's move to Los Blancos could be a deal. It is anticipated that within the coming days Mbappe will affirm that he will not stay with Paris Saint-Germain, a articulation that would certainly open the entryways for his marking with Los Blancos. Boulleau has expressed that, inside the club, PSG have affirmed his flight: "We have the impression that we have as of now lived this cleanser opera. In past a long time I didn't get as well much data, but presently I've been told that his marking for Madrid could be a bargain. I tell myself that there's a plausibility that he may reestablish," said the previous France international on 'Canal Football Club'. In expansion, Boulleau commented that Mbappe "moreover loves his club and has regard for it", so he advocates "holding up for his choice as grown-ups". In this respect Fabrizio Romano expressed that Mbappe would to begin with got to communicate his choice, actually, to Nasser Al-Khelaifi. But at the minute, there's no official report marked with Real Madrid, with Paris Saint-Germain or with any other team. The Real Madrid dressing room has supposedly arranged for the entry of Kylian Mbappe with the forward set to create a long-awaited La Liga switch Mbappe is set to form a long-expected move to Madrid, two a long time after making a stun u-turn, and spurning the opportunity to move to the Spanish club. This time, the club have genuine certainty that the France captain will play at the Santiago Bernabeu following season, concurring to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. The Madrid dressing room is energetically anticipating Mbappe's entry: "In the dressing room of Real Madrid, critical players have the feeling that yes, this time, the club is reaching to make it happen... each single day they talk around Kylian Mbappe, and the feeling they have this time is that it's truly, truly close." Mbappe may have communicated his intrigued in joining Madrid, but there are still a number of barricades to be navigated. PSG will supposedly need to gather a few kind of expense for his takeoff, whereas Los Blancos are anticipated to pay a strong marking reward to make the bargain happen. Despite the conversation, Mbappe has vowed to play out the rest of the season for the Parisians. They are right now beat of Ligue 1, and are set to play Real Sociedad within the Champions League last 16 in mid-February. Los Blancos, in the interim, are La Liga top picks, and seem open up a persuading lead on the table with a win over Girona this week. Los Blancos haven't been perplexed to sprinkle money in a long time gone by, but a free exchange for a World Cup-winning, generational ability would be the foremost stunning bargain of the final decade. Conceivably indeed in football history. Indeed in the event that those compensation were astronomical—and ESPN is announcing he will take a 50 percent pay cut to beauty the Santiago Bernabéu with his abilities—it would still be a steal. The CIES Football Observatory's information has Mbappé's move esteem at about $115 million (€106.2 million) in its January 2024 discharge of the foremost costly players in football, even with an lapsing contract. Transfermarkt, in the mean time, records him as the foremost profitable player in world football nearby Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland at over $194 million (€180 million). And Real are getting him for nothing. Zero euros. As distant as deals go, this one appears distant as well great to be true. La Liga isn't brief of ability. Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Robert Lewandowski, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Antoine Griezmann and Rodrygo are fair a few of the names competent of snatching features each week. But after Lionel Messi cleared out Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo left Genuine Madrid, there has been a particular need of genius in Spain's top tier. Bellingham has been outstanding, there's no contention there, whereas Vinicius is undoubtedly incredible and Lewandowski can still wonder indeed at 35 a long time old. But Mbappé is in his prime, and features a World Container title to his title (and two appearances in the tournament's last). He's been bamboozling guards all closes up for the best portion of the past 10 years. This is an extraordinary expansion to a association that woefully misses two players who won Ballons d'Or from 2008 to 2017. Mbappé hasn't put his name on that illustrious list just yet, but a grander stage in a higher-profile league might just allow him to etch his name within the of football legend. Paris Saint-Germain gradually built itself up as a destination for the world's top talent from the early 2010s, with Zlatan Ibrahimović's arrival in 2012 accelerating its status. But, with Mbappé reportedly on his way out, none of those players will be around next season, and no one else within the squad can boast the kind of allure that any of those names provided. With that, the quest for an elusive Champions League title seems further away than it has for over a decade, and the club's ability to draw in truly world-class talent will be severely affected. Meanwhile, Ligue 1 will be much less appealing to the casual viewer, impacting its standing within the game and likely reducing its revenue.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are fired up about all things related to soccer and NFC Championship Sunday! The two discuss Klopp leaving Liverpool and Xavi leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, Sergino Dest possibly returning to Barcelona, and Gio Reyna’s newest club developments. Will he end up staying at Dortmund? (11:40) Alexi and Mosse go abroad and discuss Brandon Vazquez heating up in Liga MX, Christian Pulisic’s hockey assist, Lautaro Martinez gets Inter Milan rolling, and Kevin Paredes scores. In the FA Cup fans are going mad chasing and megging referees. (32:20) In #AskAlexi the guys take a question from the YouTube comments comparing MLS to European second division teams, and from X wondering if a World Cup team could make a Champions League final? (59:35) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's pod, the boys discuss the USMNT's 1-0 defeat to Slovenia and take a stroll down memory lane to recount one of the three worst injustices in U.S. Soccer history. Plus, Ivan Toney receives a heroes welcome upon returning from his gambling suspension, Real Madrid sneak past Almeria thanks to a series of close calls and Ronaldo takes some not-so-subtle digs at Lionel Messi. --- Also: We're honored to have been named as a finalist in the "Best Football Podcast" category by the Sports Podcast Awards! So if you're a fan of the pod and you want to show your support, please feel free to vote right here - https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-football-podcast/ --- And just a reminder: We've partnered up with Manscaped during the month of January! Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code caughtoffside at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod --- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caughtoffsidepod X: https://twitter.com/COsoccerpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtoffsidepod/ Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The consideration around which of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is better may eventually have been answered following the former’s World Cup achievement last year. But, for those that quietly need conversion, we ’ve had a look at how the brace’s ridiculously piled trophy lockers compare. Messi and Ronaldo are without distrustfulness the two greatest Footballer of their generation. Between them, they've scored over 1500 career goals and handed many times of inconceivable skills or game- winning prowess. They've also picked up nine - UCL, 17 domestic - titles, two senior international tournament title and dozens of other collaborative and individual commendations. Succeeding his World Cup heroics, Messi just collected his rearmost individual accolade by uplifting a history- outstretching eighth Ballon d’Or after assisting PSG hold their Ligue 1 title in 2022- 23 – and covering on to hold his FIFA ‘ The Best ’ award. The two era- outlining heroes are now into the nightfall years of their careers in the United States and Saudi Arabia individually, where they ’ve inescapably lifted yet more silver. There are aplenty out there who would like to form the explanation for one footballer over the other, but Messi and Ronaldo typically prefer to avoid accelerating contestation. In reality, it seems they do n’t mind each other at all. “ We ’re associates, ” Ronaldo narrated Marca in 2014. “ We ’re work amigos, so to talk, and so, obviously, we do n’t have a relation outside the world of football, just as we do n’t with a lot of other athletes. “ He tries to do his best for his club and for his national team, as I do, and there's a degree of rivalry with both of us trying to do the best for the teams we represent We've to look on this rivalry with a positive spirit because it’s a good thing. ” In 2018, when Ronaldo transferred to Juventus from Real Madrid, Messi stated FM Club 947 “ Although it was a bit tricky to see him win trophies, he gave La Liga prestige. ” Which of them, however, has the bigger collection of silver? We ’ve busted down both the awards they ’ve won with their separate clubs and national teams and those they ’ve held as individualities. Remark for the years in which the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or were combined, we've numbered the award as a Ballon d’Or. We've also not contained top scorer or competition- especial individual awards, only those for which players in any European league are eligible. Lionel Messi Team Domestic La Liga 10( 2004- 05, 2005- 06, 2008- 09, 2009- 10, 2010- 11, 2012- 13, 2014- 15, 2015- 16, 2017- 18, 2018- 19) Ligue 1 2( 2021- 22, 2022- 23) Copa Del Rey 7( 2008- 09, 11-12, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 20-21) Spanish Super Cup 8( 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019) Trophee des Champions 1( 2022) Continental Champions League 4( 2005- 06, 2008- 09, 2010- 11, 2014- 15) Leagues Cup x 1( 2023) UEFA Super Cup 3( 2009, 2011, 2015) Other FIFA Club World Cup 3( 2009, 2011, 2015) International World Cup 1( 2022) Copa America 1( 2021) Olympics 1( 2008) Total 42 Individual Ballon d’Or 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023) The Best FIFA Men’s Player 4 (2009, 2019, 2022 and 2023) UEFA Best Player in Europe 2 (2011 and 2015) Total 14 Cristiano Ronaldo Team Domestic English Premier League 3 ( 2006- 07, 2007- 08 and 2008- 09) La Liga 2( 2011- 12, 2016- 17) Serie A 2( 2018- 19, 2019- 20) English League Cup 2( 2005- 06 and 2008- 09) FA Cup 1( 2003- 04) Copa Del Rey 2( 2010- 11, 2013- 14) Coppa Italia 1( 2020- 21) Portuguese Super Cup 1( 2002) Community Shield 1( 2007) Spanish Super Cup 2( 2013, 2018) Italian Super Cup 2( 2019, 2021) Continental Champions League 5 (2007- 08, 2013- 14, 2015- 16, 2016- 17 and 2017- 18) UEFA Super Cup 2( 2014, 2017) Arab Club Champions Cup( 2023) Other FIFA Club World Cup 4( 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017) International UEFA European Championship 1( 2016) UEFA Nations League 1( 2019) Total 33 Individual Ballon d’Or 5( 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) The Best FIFA Men’s Player 3( 2008, 2016, 2017) UEFA Best Player in Europe 3( 2014, 2016, 2017) Total 11

Welcome back to Stick To Football with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane – the original show from the award-winning The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet. We kick things off with the aftermath of Tottenham’s draw at Manchester United and how Gary caused a stir by arguing Spurs could finish above Liverpool by the end of the season whilst Roy remains unconvinced with the praise on Ange Postecoglou’s side. The halfway point passed in the Premier League season, so we discuss who has been the best player as Jamie singles out Kevin de Bruyne as one of the best midfielders the competition has seen after his heroic return from injury when Manchester City overcame Newcastle. Earlier this week Ian and Jill attended the FIFA The Best Awards and discussed whether Lionel Messi deserved his award of Men’s Player of the Year. We also relive Roy’s 2000 PFA Award ceremony and whether his teammates turned up and the politics behind voting procedures. We discuss the latest on the Premier League charges on Everton and Nottingham Forest and what it will mean to both clubs and the impending hearing on Manchester City. Super 6 also returns with Ben… has Roy managed to reduce the deficit or has Gary pulled further ahead? And we end with your Community Question: Why has Erik Ten Hag not implemented a style of play at Manchester United yet? Subscribe now so you never miss an upload! VOTE NOW for Stick to Football to WIN Best Football Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards here - https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-football-podcast/# Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.