By: Casey Rhine
Ohhhh El Clásico, where to begin. One of soccer's most heated, yet most deeply cherished rivalries.Few of you readers get to experience El Clasico, in Barcelona, while it's happening. This was my mission on December 23rd and should be your mission on May 6th if you are not lucky enough to go to the game in the Camp Nou.
The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for $969,000, auction house Bonhams said on Friday.
The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca's former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.
Lionel Messi napkin sells for nearly $1 million
MADRID — Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title on Saturday after Girona's 4-2 thrashing of local rivals Barcelona left Carlo Ancelotti's side with an unassailable lead in the standings.
With four games left, Real Madrid moved to 87 points on top of the standings after their second-string players earned a 3-0 win over relegation threatened Cadiz earlier on Saturday, 13 ahead of Girona in second and 14 clear of third-placed Barcelona.
We could see Johnny play in the Champions League next season. And not with Real Betis.
USMNT's Johnny Cardoso has been in incredible club form since signing for LaLiga’s Real Betis last winter, making himself an undisputed starter for the Spanish club since his arrival in January and quickly becoming a fan-favorite in Sevilla.
NFL’s Jason Kelce just had a very interesting take on Lionel Messi playing in MLS and how it does not compare to him playing in Europe.
Inter Miami played Sporting Kansas City in the gigantic Arrowhead Stadium on April 13, making it one of the most highly attended MLS games of all time. Miami, with the help of a fantastic Lionel Messi goal from outside the box, came out victorious in front of 72,610 fans in Kansas City.
Rumors of LaLiga coming to USA have been circulating for years, but on Wednesday LaLiga president Javier Tebas suggested the idea could become reality.
Speaking with Spanish news outlet Expansion, Tebas said the league WILL play official regular season games abroad with a focus on the United States.
“LaLiga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas said. “I think it could be in the 2025-26 season. The official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market which is second for LaLiga after Spain.”
LaLiga coming to USA
Incoming United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes sent shockwaves through the women’s soccer world on Saturday as her Chelsea side defeated Barcelona 1-0 on the road in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semifinal.
The defending Champions League winners were undefeated at home in the previous FIVE YEARS. Hayes’ side limited Barcelona, who had scored 33 goals in eight Champions League games this season, to just one shot on target.
The result is also Barcelona’s first defeat of the season.
BARCELONA — Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and said his performance cost Barcelona a chance to fight for a place in the Champions League semi-finals after they lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday.
Ousmane Dembele cemented himself as one of Barcelona’s biggest villains on Tuesday during Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-1 victory (winning 6-4 on aggregate) to send the Catalan side out of the Champions League.
The Frenchman and former Barcelona player scored one of PSG’s four goals, drew a penalty and won man of the match to send his previous club packing. He was undoubtedly the most booed and hated player inside the Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona.
Ousmane Dembélé: “Barcelona is a great club. I love it!”.
PARIS — Brazil forward Raphinha scored twice to help Barcelona secure a 3-2 win at Paris Saint Germain in a lively Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, earning the Spanish side their first win in the knockout stage in four years.
PSG forward Kylian Mbappe was nowhere to be found in Parc des Princes as five-times European champions Barca managed to neutralize France's captain, who was often frustrated in his attempts up front.