Tag Archives: FC Barcelona

Shakira Gives Birth to Her First Child…

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The stork has arrived at Shakira’s place…

The 35-year-old Colombian singer and new The Voice coach gave birth to a bouncing baby boy,Milan Piqué Mebarak, at 9:36 p.m. January 22 in Barcelona, Spain, according to an announcement on Shakira’s website.

Shakira & Gerard Pique

It’s the first child for Shakira and her boyfriend Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, who recently announced plans to host a virtual baby shower for charity.

“The name Milan means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification,” the announcement says. “Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth.”

Shakira and her boyfriend, a central defender for Futbol Club Barcelona, announced in September that she was pregnant and revealed the sex of the baby in October.

Shakira will be one of two new coaches on NBC’s The Voice when the show returns for its fourth season in March. She and Usher are replacing Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. While pregnant, Shakira filmed some parts of the show, including the blind auditions.

During a press event for The Voice in late 2012, the Colombian singer told reporters that her maternal instincts had already starting kicking into high gear when it came to nurturing her contestants.

“I don’t know if because I’m pregnant or what, but I’ve got maternal instincts, and I feel like, you know, they are somehow my kids,” she told reporters. “I have to look after them and protect them.”

 

Messi Makes Large Donation to Argentine Sports Facility

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He may be the world’s best soccer player four years running… But Lionel Messi one of the big-hearted players in the sport.

The 25-year-old Argentine soccer star recently donated nearly $1 million pesos (about $202,000 U.S.) to a sports facility used by children from low-income families in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, according to his foundation.
Lionel Messi
The money donated by the FC Barcelona striker will be used to improve the Deliot sports complex in Rosario, located about 186 miles from Buenos Aires, allowing children to “have a special place for sports, education, training and culture,” said officials from the Leo Messi Foundation.

The foundation, run by the soccer player and his family, seeks to improve “the well-being of young people and the community.”

But this isn’t the first time Messi, who just won a fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d’Or, has provided funds for community projects in his hometown.

The Leo Messi Foundation, the FC Barcelona Foundation and Organizacion Social Team recently renovated another sports facility in Rosario used by about 10,000 young people.

Messi was born in a lower-middle-class section of Rosario and began his soccer career with a neighborhood team.

Casillas Named IFFHS’ Goalkeeper of the Year

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Íker Casillas has reached his goal again…

The 31-year-old Spanish soccer star, captain of Real Madrid and the Spanish national soccer team, has been named goalkeeper of the year for the fifth straight time by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
Casillas earned 224 points in voting by sports journalists worldwide to beat out Juventus and Italian national team goalie Gianluigi Buffon, who received 128 points.

Iker Casillas

Chelsea’s Petr Cech finished third with 92 points, followed by Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer with 85, Manchester City’s Joe Hart with 26 and Barcelona’s Victor Valdes with 15.

Prior to winning the award for the first time in 2008, Casillas had finished in the top four in the voting on four occasions between 2003 and 2007.

Casillas picked up the honor despite struggling at the end of last year and being replaced by backup goalkeeper Antonio Adan for Real Madrid’s last match of 2012, a road loss to Malaga in Spanish league action.

Casillas told reporters this week that he’s determined to win back his starting spot in time for Madrid’s next league match Sunday against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid is in third place in the Spanish league standings and trails leader FC Barcelona by a whopping 16 points after 17 games played.

Messi Ends the Year as the Best Goal Scorer in the World

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It should come as little surprise, especially following his record-breaking year, but Lionel Messi has the best scoring leg in the world…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star for FC Barcelona was the best goal scorer of the 60 main leagues in the world this year, managing 50 goals in 37 games.

Lionel Messi

Messi was also the most effective, with an average of 1.35 goals per match, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo ranked No. 2 spot in both categories, scoring 46 goals in 38 games, giving him 1.21 goals per match.

In 2012, 83 players from the 60 leagues scored 20 or more goals, while only 64 achieved the feat in 2011 and just 57 did it in 2010.

The 83 top goal scorers are of 48 different nationalities, with nine Brazilians, six Argentines, four Dutchmen, four Uruguayans, four Frenchmen, four Belgians and three Colombians making the list, says the IFFHS.

The list includes 40 Europeans, 27 South Americans, seven Asians, five Africans and four players from the CONCACAF zone – Central America and North America – but no players from Oceania.

Messi Scores History-Making 86th Goal of 2012…

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He’s already considered one of the greatest soccer players of all-time… And Lionel Messi  has just shown the world another reason why…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star broke German great Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record for most goals in a year on Sunday by scoring for the 86th time in 2012.

Lionel Messi

Messi scored twice to lead FC Barcelona to a 2-1 win at Real Betis in the Spanish league match.

His first was an individual effort in the 16th minute to tie Muller’s mark, and he eclipsed the 1972 milestone with a left-footed finish nine minutes later.

“As I have said many times, the record is nice but the important thing is the victory that keeps us on the path we want to continue on,” said Messi. “As I always say, my objectives are on a team level: to win the league, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey again.”

Messi has scored 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 times for Argentina this year, and he still has three games left to add to his tally before the end of the year. Muller scored 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany.

The 25-year-old Messi passed Brazil great Pele‘s single-season milestone of 75 goals for Brazil and Santos in 1958 with his 75th and 76th goals of the year on November 11 to move into second place behind Muller.

“We won’t see another player like (Messi),” said Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova. “Not just because of his ability to score. But also for his ability to pass, play defense, and his understandings of the game. He is a global star that helps us in so many ways.”

Messi  is one of the three finalists for the FIFA world player of the year award along with teammate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s won the Ballon d’Or for the past three years in helping Barcelona win three Spanish league titles and two Champions League crowns, along with several other competitions. He ‘s seeking to become the only player to win the award for a fourth time when the winner is announced on January 7.

“Leo is supernatural,” said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. “He doesn’t have limits. We’ll always have to remember everything he gave us. We have to enjoy every minute we have with him.”