₦airaland Forum

Angelfrost:
Truthfully, it's beyond Guardiola at this point, cos the man has never been in this situation in his coaching career.

My issue is with the players.

Mille:
They will most likely finish in top 4.

What other options are there?

Spurs or Man United. City has been losing for weeks but both clubs have not even taken advantage. Maybe Villa can spring a surprise but I'm not sure.

At some point city will get back to winning ways.

President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month, multiple sources told CBS News, and inauguration officials are making plans for additional foreign dignitaries to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Trump invited Xi in early November, shortly after the election, sources said, but it was not clear whether he has accepted the invitation. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CBS News on Thursday that Trump invited Xi to the inauguration. She told Fox News on Thursday that it is an example of Trump "creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too."

In addition to Xi, the president-elect's team has raised the possibility of hosting other leaders at the Capitol on Jan. 20. Hungary's far-right leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has a warm relationship with Trump and visited him at Mar-a-Lago this week, is "still considering" whether to attend, according to a source familiar with Orbán's plans.

"World leaders are lining up to meet with President Trump because they know he will soon return to power and restore peace through American strength around the globe," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said.

Ambassadors and other diplomats are typically invited to inaugurations, but State Department records dating back to 1874 show that a foreign leader has never attended a transfer-of-power ceremony.

Members of Trump's inner circle remain sharp critics of Xi's government, including Sen. Marco Rubio, his pick to be secretary of state, and incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Trump himself has threatened to increase tariffs on goods from China. The U.S. has imposed a deadline of Jan. 19, the eve of the inauguration, for TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app or face a ban in the U.S. TikTok is fighting the ban in court — it lost a bid last week to block the ban but is appealing the case to the Supreme Court.

But Trump has also long believed that close leader-to-leader relationships are key to international deal-making. Since Election Day, world leaders have trekked to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Argentina's president, Javier Milei, has also been granted private audiences with the president-elect.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, was the first world leader to host Trump overseas since he won the 2024 election. Also in attendance at the Paris reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Prince William.

Trump was mostly unknown on the world stage at his first inauguration in 2017. This time, world leaders are treating Trump essentially as an incumbent.

Time Magazine has named Donald Trump as their person of the year for the second time.

"For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a- generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America's role in the world, Donald Trump is TIME'S 2024 Person of the Year," Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said in a letter to readers.

The Republican president-elect is set to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday to commemorate the honour alongside several of his family members.

Trump was first named person of the year in 2016 after winning the US presidential election.

The magazine's tradition - which started in 1927 as "Man of the Year" - recognises a person or movement that "for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year".

Other previous winners include climate change activist Greta Thunberg, former President Barack Obama, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Pope Francis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Time Magazine editors ultimately decide who wins the award.

The outlet was considering 10 people for the person of the year award, including Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Princess of Wales and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, now a close confidante of Trump set to lead an advisory board called the Department of Government Efficiency.

In a description of Trump for the list of finalists, Time said he had won the 2024 election "in a stunning political comeback".

"He has reshaped the American electorate, activating young male voters who propelled him to a decisive victory that saw him win the popular vote for the first time and turn every swing state red," the outlet said.

"His 2024 win is history-making in multiple ways: he will be the oldest President in U.S. history, and he was convicted earlier this year by a New York jury of 34 counts of fraud, making him the first convicted felon to be elected President."

Trump sat for interviews with the magazine in April this year during the campaign season. During the wide-ranging discussions, Trump talked about his plans for a second term, including his goals of reforming the US immigration system and deporting millions of people.

Trump complained in 2015 when he was not chosen for the magazine cover during his first run for office, when the award went to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But after he was named person of the year following his election win, he called it a "great honor".

"It means a lot, especially me growing up reading Time magazine. And, you know, it's a very important magazine," he said at the time.

He has, however, continued to criticise the magazine's choices since winning, including the selection of Taylor Swift as Time's person of the year in 2024.

Angelfrost:
Manchester clubs are in disarray...!

How did the senior Manchester manage to infect the more serious junior Manchester?!!

Numerouno94:
Yes ooo. No peace for the wicked. Any Messi and Guardiola enemy na our enemy. Jokerman don go hide as Alhaji Wasiuuu no get update again. Boss how yankee na? Wats it like over there? Heard it can b lonely sometimes.

Numerouno94:

It was a rare instance of Lionel Messi stepping on a soccer field and having no idea what was happening[/b].

There they were, more than 250 Inter Miami academy players, a slew of kids lined up at midfield in a formation that spelled out three letters: MVP. And when Messi saw his children, he realized they were holding a trophy.

That’s how Messi learned he was Major League Soccer’s best player in 2024.

Messi is the MLS MVP, even after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He factored into a league-high 36 goals — scoring 20, assisting on 16 others — for the highest rate per 90 minutes in MLS history.

“Truly, it is an honor for me to receive this award from all of you,” Messi told the academy players.

MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. The club voters preferred Hernández over Messi by a slight margin; Messi was the choice of 41% of players and 43% of media.

Unless you’re living in the world of global football, it’s hard to imagine the overall appeal and the massive popularity and stardom that Leo Messi has,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who was also at Inter Miami’s stadium for the surprise MVP presentation that occurred Wednesday night. “I mean, he is Michael Jackson meeting Taylor Swift — and he’s playing in our league.

Messi wound up with 38.4% of the average vote, while Hernández got 33.7%. Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (9.2%), D.C. United’s Christian Benteke (7.1%), and Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez (2.2%) rounded out the top five in the voting.


Messi’s win capped a 2024 campaign where he led Inter Miami to the Supporters Shield and best regular season record in MLS history, plus captained Argentina to a Copa America title. Inter Miami fell in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs

“I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the (MLS Cup) final next Saturday,” Messi said. “But that’s also what football is about, overcoming yourself every day. We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn’t happen, but next year we’ll come back stronger to try again.”

The MLS MVP — named for Landon Donovan — is yet another entry on the absurdly long list of career honors for Messi. He’s an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, eight-time FIFA player of the year winner, a seven-time Spanish league MVP, past UEFA player of the year, past Champions League player of the season, World Cup golden ball winner, Club World Cup golden ball winner, and the list goes on and on and on from there.

Best player ever? It’s tough to argue. Some of the academy players even got to address Messi at the trophy presentation, telling him why he’s their MVP.

“Hi Leo, you are my MVP because you have been my idol since I was a child and seeing you here in person every day is truly incredible,” Inter Miami under-19 player Victor Fung told him. “Thank you for giving us so many unforgettable memories ... thank you for everything.”

Messi stunned many in the soccer world when he picked Inter Miami last year, instantly turning the franchise into one of the game’s biggest brands. Winning the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi arrived gave Inter Miami its first trophy, and his No. 10 jersey has been MLS’ biggest seller from basically the moment that the most decorated player ever picked Miami.

“I will say it exceeded my expectations,” Garber said. “I love what it’s done for MLS and I hope Leo stays healthy and is going to be in the league for a long time"

The 37-year-old Messi is under contract through the end of the 2025 season, and Inter Miami has made no secret that it wants him to remain into at least 2026 — when the club plans to open a new stadium near Miami International Airport.

“I’d love to see Leo be a part of our league for the rest of time,” Garber said. “I chatted with his wife (Wednesday) night and I said hi to his kids. They seem very happy here. That’s a good thing. To see a player and their family actually happy is what it’s all about."

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas was asked this week how he feels about the club’s unprecedented investment — Messi’s contract with the team is worth at least $150 million in total value, and his annual MLS salary is more than some entire MLS team payrolls combined — has worked out so far.

“Just one word,” Mas said, perhaps briefly unaware that describing anything about Messi tends to require more than one word. “It’s been an amazing run and there’s more to come.

Numerouno94:
Hahahahahahaha i no cast u oo. Do u knw wat it means to finally japa from this hell of a country? Bro, ur blessed. And may God bless the work of thy hands over there. May u find favour. Happy for u boss. We go join u one day.

Numerouno94:
Wow. My own Almiron aka Penaldo slayer is in Canada. Congratulations once again brother.
Brother, i will love to japa too oo. But the cost is beyond me at the moment. Although i got my passport early this year.

Numerouno94:
Oooooooboooooooy. Where u travel to? Mehn so happy for u. Na Uk?

Numerouno94:
Fine oo boss,na work no give us space. How u dey na? It's bn a while oo, tanx for this news, it's refreshing.

How u dey na?

Numerouno94:
Baba dey give us constant joy. The one and only GOAT.

DanieI:
Interestingly enough you said nothing in the end

The drink launched by the world champion is called 10 GOAT... it couldn't be otherwise

Lionel Messi the best soccer player on the planet, no one can doubt that, but now we also have to talk about the business side of the world champion, as he has just launched his own line of wines, and how could it be otherwise, the alcoholic beverage is called 10 GOAT

Messi's GOAT wine launch

"Some of you asked us about these unique wines we made with Mmwinemaker. Here you have a special limited edition: two premium wines with collectible bottles that you can't miss. Have you tried them yet?" Messi posted on Instagram.

The wine has two different labels, one, the 'white' varietal Syrah and Indicazione Geografica Tipica (I.G.T.) from Sicily; and the other, the black, Indicazione Geografica Tipica (I.G.T.) but from the Puglia area. Both feature an image of Lionel Messi with the number 10 and the word GOAT. This new venture by the Argentine was widely praised by his followers, who even compared the drink to his goals.

But now you may be wondering about the price, and the truth is that it is affordable for all budgets: it is priced at 60.32 euros and for now sales are only online from the site of the brand with which Messi collaborated.

MM Winemaker has a rich history and deep connection with the Italian regions of Campania, Puglia and Sicily, known for a winemaking tradition that has centuries of winemaking tradition.

The wine company that is Messi's partner in the GOAT bottles is based in Switzerland and its innovative spirit makes it a world leader in winemaking. In its constant search for excellence, MM Winemaker has won more than 500 awards in renowned competitions: Concour Mondial de Bruxelles, CWSA Hong Kong, Wine Chateau and Expovina.

All the bottles launched on the market are expected to sell out in the coming months, so a second edition of Leo Messi's GOAT wine could be launched.