Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks after travelling to Saudi Arabia this week without the club's permission.

The Argentine was pictured in the country, for which he is an ambassador, alongside his wife and children.

Speculation had swirled on Tuesday regarding PSG's displeasure with Messi for making the trip despite the side losing to Lorient at home on the weekend.

According to French publication L'Equipe and broadcaster RMC, PSG have dished out a harsh punishment to the Argentine for travelling without the permission of the club hierarchy.

It is claimed that Lionel Messi will not appear for the club for two weeks after skipping training to make the trip to the country.

Should the suspension be confirmed, Lionel Messi will miss league fixtures against Troyes and Ajaccio.  

The suspension comes amid mounting speculation and uncertainty surrounding Messi's future with the club, despite reports emerging at the end of the World Cup that he would sign a new deal to remain in Paris beyond this summer.

It is now believed Inter Miami or Barcelona represent his likeliest options, though the trip to Saudi Arabia will only serve pour petrol on the flames of speculation he could join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East.

He played the full 90 minutes of the French giants' dismal 3-1 defeat to Lorient on Sunday which leaves them just five points clear of Marseille at the top of the table.

The squad, management and supporters have become increasingly fractured in the weeks and months following their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich, with the trip to Saudi Arabia by no means Messi's first misdemeanour in that time in the club's eyes.

According to L'Equipe, after Sunday's defeat to Lorient, the club announced players would be in for training on Monday, and have a day off on Tuesday.

Olympique Lyonnais have been handed a provisional relegation from Ligue 1 and a transfer ban following the club's alarming financial situation. The decision was taken by France football's financial supervisor DNGC (National Directorate of Management Control) after the said ruling on Friday.

Lyon is currently positioned 5th in the Ligue 1 with 18 points in 11 games but if the club fails to improve their accounts by the end of the season, they will be demoted to the second division Ligue 2 regardless of their league finish this season. They will also be banned from signing any new player in the upcoming transfer window in January.

🚨⚠️ Official: Olympique Lyonnais have been handed a provisional Ligue 2 relegation.

It also includes a transfer BAN due to their financial situation. pic.twitter.com/jTEsT3nYb3

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 15, 2024

The LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) has also confirmed that Lyon's payroll will be under supervision. After Lyon co-owner John Textor and other club officials appeared before DNCG in the hearing held earlier this day, the LFP confirmed that Lyon will be sanctioned with "supervision of the payroll and ban on recruiting, demotion as a precautionary measure at the end of the current sports season."

The woes that continue

The 7-time French champions Olympique Lyonnais was purchased by John Textor in 2023 who is the chairman of Eagle Football Group. He also owns the English Premier League side Crystal Palace and holds the largest share of Brazilian outfit Botafogo. 

The Eagle Football Group's French wing published a financial statement last week that the John Textor-owned company is in a debt of €463.8 million. Despite their reduction in net losses, the debt is about to rise to almost €500 million.

Eagle Football Group published 1Q 2024/25 revenue, with revenue excluding player trading increasing (vs 1Q 2023/24) by €4m to €37m but player sales decreasing by €61m to €30m. pic.twitter.com/G5so1yFwWj

— Greg Cordell (@gregorypcordell) November 15, 2024

Lyon's financial state worsened due to the club's huge salary cap as Lyon has reportedly the second-largest wage bill in Ligue 1 despite their failure to finish in the top four since 2020-21. 

However, DNCG has addressed the situation with a firm stance and scrutinized the situation. The John Textor-owned Eagle Football Group has time until the end of the season to raise funds and stabilize the club's financial condition as well as deny their relegation to the second division.

The fact that Girondins Bordeaux was handed relegation to the 4th tier of French Football following similar proceedings in 2023 may worry the owners and officials of Olympique Lyonnais. 

John Textor's statement

John Textor addressed the issue in the press conference after the hearing ended. He stated:

"I am confident in our figures, and we will bring in several hundred million in cash over the coming months,"

"We earn about €90 million per year from player sales. This will continue, but do not worry, it will not be your favorite player, the best player, if we do not have someone to replace them and perform even better."

However, the American businessman expressed his dissatisfaction over the proceeding, the pressure from outside, and their 'enemies'.

❤️💙📉🇫🇷 John Textor (rétrogradé à titre conservatoire avec Lyon) a toujours la rage contre le PSG ! Pauvres supporters lyonnais 👀 pic.twitter.com/8nU64QPAPn

— Paris No Limit (@Xparisnolimit) November 15, 2024

"The local auditors only looked at the French football club and did not consider the hundreds of millions of dollars coming from various parts of our organization. We are not at all worried about our sustainability."

"I can never be confident in the way a regulatory body considers these things. I believe that the DNCG is independent of some of the pressures that you see, But we have a lot of enemies, you know, on the board of directors, in the league, a big club from Qatar."

The next steps

Olympique Lyonnais will have to offload their highly-anticipated youngsters; such as 21-year-old French midfielder Ryan Cherki and 19-year-old Malick Fofana to generate revenues and reduce the salary cap. The said players are expected to be put on the market by the Club in the upcoming winter transfer window in January 2025. 

John Texter has reportedly decided to sell the 45% share he holds in PL side Crystal Palace and sell some other shares the Group holds in different clubs. Any measure that generates revenues will be beneficial for the French side as they must raise enough funds to avoid the sanction.

Football is a sport full of drama, distress, excitement, and unforgettable moments that are cherished from generation to generation. Goals are the highlighting factor that decides the fate of a team and that is why the near-misses leave the fans in agony and sometimes change the course of football's history.

These fumbles in front of the goal are surprising and unexpected at the same moment. In this article, we delve into the most shocking misses in football history.

Erling Haaland 

(Manchester City vs Liverpool, 2022 FA Community Shield Final)

The Norwegian goal-machine emerged as an absolute cheat-code for Manchester City since his move to Man City in 2022. However, he came to England as and promising youngster but faced criticism from fans after his open goal miss in his very first match for Manchester City in the FA Community Shield Final on 30 July 2022 against Liverpool.

Phil Foden unleashed a left-footed strike in the seventh minute of injury time and it was denied by Liverpool keeper Adrian, but Erling Haaland wasted an open chance to score from the second ball as he hit the crossbar from a close range to the goal. Liverpool won the game by 3-1.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

(PSG vs Strasbourg, Ligue 1 2018-19)

The Cameroonian International featured for teams such as Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germain, and he was a part of the PSG squad who were runner-ups in the UCL 2019-20. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also scored the winner in injury time against Atalanta in the quarter-final of the same UCL campaign.

😳 We're not exactly sure what Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was doing here⁉️ The @PSG_English man denied his own teammate and left the ball sitting on the goal line. pic.twitter.com/blFnaPoOQA

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 7, 2019

However, Choupo-Moting got down in history for a bizarre instance in a 2-2 draw against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 during his first season with the French side. Christopher Nkunku successfully chipped the opponent keeper with a shot that was about to go in, but Choupo-Moting somehow stopped the shot on the line in an attempt to tap it in, but his intervention led the threat to get cleared. 

Neal Maupay

(Brentford vs Cardiff City, EFL Championship 2017-18)

Neal Maupay, the French forward who spent most of his career in England, joined Brentford in 2017 and went on to be a headline for his incredible open-goal miss against Cardiff City in the 2017-18 EFL Championship. 

On this day in 2017... 🗓

Neal Maupay pulled off one of the WORST misses you’ll EVER see for Brentford 🤯
pic.twitter.com/xD1Pd87wPE

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) November 18, 2022

The golden opportunity emerged as Ollie Watkins won the possession in front of the box by beating Sean Morrison in a duel and he fooled the keeper to pass it to Maupay, who only had an open goal in front of him.

However, Maupay took some time to slot it home as defender Sol Bamba ran onto the goal-line to stop the shot. Surprisingly, Maupay did not let Bamba do anything as he fired it inches off the post. Brentford eventually lost the game by 0-2.

Cristiano Ronaldo

(Manchester United vs Sheffield United, Premier League 2006-07)

Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the greatest footballer ever, also finds himself on this unfortunate list. The dreaded Portuguese netted the most goals in football history, although his unbelievable miss came in his early days at Old Trafford. Ronaldo wasted this open-scoring chance during a Premier League game against Sheffield United in 2006.

Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/qKDPSCU4Nz

— LSPN_FC (@LSPN__FC) November 11, 2024

A sublime backheel by Wayne Rooney opened a space in front of the box for the Red Devils as Ryan Giggs intercepted the pass before cutting a grounder through Sheffield's defence. The ball comfortably found Cristiano Ronaldo but his strike flew over the crossbar from a very close distance to the goal.

Lionel Messi 

(Argentina vs Trinidad and Tobago, Friendly, 2014)

Lionel Messi, the other footballer who is arguably considered the greatest footballer of all-time, has also entered this fateful list due to his unbelievable blunder for Argentina against Trinidad and Tobago on 4 June 2014, prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Angel Di Maria fired into the opponent box and released a comfortable pass before the ball could cross the goal-line, but Messi failed to respond quickly as the defender cleared the ball from in front of an open goal before even Messi could intercept.

Randal Kolo Muani

(France vs Argentina, 2022 FIFA World Cup Final)

This wasted scoring opportunity changed Argentina's football history as Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup by beating France in penalties, following an unnerving 3-3 draw after extra time. 

The 120-minute Final showcased a brilliant display of football ending in a 3-3 draw between France and Argentina, before going down to penalties to decide the world champion. However, France could have snatched the World Cup if Randal Kolo Muani was not denied by Emiliano Martinez in the last minute of the game.

The last minute save by Emi Martinez from Kolo Muani's shot will go down in the history as arguably the most clutch save in a World Cup Final and a very memorable for us Messi Fans. With that save I knew Messi was going to have a date with destiny. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/BtfArjcFIs

— Messiologist 🇦🇷🇪🇸 (@breathMessi23) February 11, 2023

A lobbed pass was intercepted by Kolo Muani in front of Argentina's box as Nicolas Otamendi failed to intercept, but Kolo Muani's first-touch attempt was denied by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martine who stretched his leg to stop the shot. Only 47 seconds were left before the final whistle! This miss will remain iconic for the heroic save by Emi rather than the blunder by Kolo Muani.

Fernando Torres 

(Chelsea vs Manchester United, Premier League 2011-12)

Fernando Torres was arguably the top striker in the world in and around 2007 to 2010. Chelsea broke the British transfer record to acquire the Spaniard from Liverpool in January 2011. Somehow, 'El Nino' failed to replicate his Liverpool performance at Stamford Bridge, and his disappointing tenure with the Blues was highlighted by a moment during a match against Manchester United in September 2011.

This Torres miss vs Man United, one of the biggest misses in prem history pic.twitter.com/B52St4Z6qM

— GreatMan (@UtdGreatt) February 27, 2024

Torres already scored the only goal for his team but Chelsea was behind 3-1. In the 83rd minute, Ramires played a beautiful through that cut the United defense open in half. Torres intercepted the ball and managed to ease past David de Gea with a skillful feint, having an open goal in front of him.

However, Torres surprisingly shot the ball wide of the post and missed the golden chance which went down as one of the worst misses in the Premier League history.

Yakubu Ayegbeni

(Nigeria vs South Korea, FIFA World Cup 2010)

Nigeria faced South Korea in a do-or-die match after two consecutive defeats in the Group stage of FIFA World Cup 2010, and Yakubu Ayegbeni crashed the headlines but not quite for the right reasons.

Like Yakubu Aiyegbeni Like Yakubu Mahmoud 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️pic.twitter.com/EleHzAGR6A

— ỌjịUgo™️🍫👁️‍🗨️ (@OjiUgo_nwa) October 10, 2023

Midfielder Yusuf Ayila delivered a ball right into the six-yard box where Ayegbeni received the pass, but he missed the absolute sitter from inches close to the goal. The match eventually ended in a 2-2 draw and Nigeria finished at the bottom of the group.

Ilija Sivonjic

(Dinamo Zagreb vs Cibalia Vinkovci, HNK 2006)

Croatian footballer Ilija Sivonjic's open miss in 2006 for Dinamo Zagreb against Cibalia is widely considered one of the worst misses in football history. 

Ilija Sivonjic pic.twitter.com/kVjs9VHkzY

— Football Hub (@FootbalIhub) November 8, 2024

In the 33rd minute of the game, one of his Dinamo teammates slotted the ball on target. Although it went past the opposition keeper, it was stopped by Sivonjic who attempted a backheel to tap it in. The ball inexplicably bounced off the goal line and one of the Cibalia defenders sent it out of play. 

Ronny Rosenthal

(Liverpool vs Aston Villa, 1996)

Ronny Rosenthal started his Liverpool career very well, scoring 7 goals in his first 8 games. He even scored a hat-trick in his first game against Charlton. However, he couldn't keep up this great form later.

Ronny Rosenthal with one of the worst misses of all time vs Aston Villa, 1992. pic.twitter.com/rOf0NRFVDI

— 90s Football (@90sfootball) January 27, 2021

In 1992 during Pool's PL encounter against Aston Villa, Rosenthal wasted a golden opportunity to score. Rosenthal intercepted a long ball from David James and dribbled past the goalkeeper, but misfired his left-footed strike to hit the crossbar. This miss is still remembered as one of the worst misses in Premier League history.

Rosenthal later joked about this famous miss and said:

"Does it bother me? No it doesn't matter now. I'm glad it happened!

"I'm glad I missed because I'm still on the map [because of it]."

via Birmingham Live

Various international women's football players have cemented themselves in history books by achieving remarkable records. At the forefront is Canada's Christine Sinclair, an iconic figure in women's football

This collection of players and their impressive accomplishments underscore the development of women's football and the extraordinary talent that has emerged within the sport over the years. Let’s take a closer look at these stellar performers

Read Also: Real Madrid's Top 5 most expensive signings of all time

Babra Bander: Zambia- 7 

From the streets of Lusaka to the global stage, Barbra Banda’s journey is a testament to determination and raw talent. Born in Zambia’s capital, Banda started playing football at the tender age of seven. But her early sporting prowess wasn’t confined to just football.

Inspired by renowned Zambian boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda also dabbled in boxing at 14, quickly making a name for herself. She dominated the amateur scene, and after winning every bout and seeing other fighters hesitant to face her, Banda turned professional, where she won all five of her matches. However, football eventually took center stage in her life.

In October 2018, Banda signed with Spain's first division club, EDF Logroño, becoming the first Zambian woman to play football in Europe. Her career continued to soar when, in March 2024, she joined the Orlando Pride in the United States, signing a four-year contract that would keep her with the club until 2027.

Her impact on the international stage began early. Banda played for Zambia’s U-17 women’s team at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, turning 14 during the tournament. Two years later, on March 6, 2016, she made her senior team debut in a Women’s Nations Cup qualifier against Namibia.

The peak of her career came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Banda captained the Zambian national team as they made their debut appearance at the prestigious tournament. She became the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks in Olympic history, netting three goals in a 3-10 loss to the Netherlands, she scored another three in a 4-4 draw against China. These performances also made her the first woman to score two hat-tricks in a single Olympic tournament.

Read Also: I didn't set a date or a deadline": Lionel Messi hints at retirement after hat-trick against BoliviaFIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Michelle Akers: United States of America- 7

🇺🇸 @MichelleAkers10
👕 No10 in 1999, 1995 and 1991

All-time #FIFAWWC record
Games: 13
Goals: 12 pic.twitter.com/XlnsSkLXAe

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 1, 2024

The name Michelle Akers is synonymous with U.S. women’s soccer dominance. With seven career hat-tricks, Akers helped the U.S. win the inaugural 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup, leading the tournament with 10 goals, including five in a single game.

Her leading the team was crucial to the U.S. women's team securing its first-ever world title, and she later played a vital role in the 1999 World Cup and 1996 Olympics victories. 

Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 1991. The U.S. women's team defeated Norway 2–1 in the final with Akers scoring both goals.

Ali Al-Biski: Libya - 7

Ali Al-Biski, a former Libyan footballer, played as a striker and holds the record as Libya's all-time top scorer despite the nation’s limited participation in FIFA events during his time. He led the Libyan Premier League in scoring twice—first in 1965 with Al-Madina SC, and again in 1968 with Al Ahli Tripoli. He recorded seven hat-tricks for the national team.

Pelé: Brazil - 7

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pelé, was a Brazilian forward and a football icon, widely hailed as one of the greatest players in history. With a Guinness World Record for 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies), Pelé was named Athlete of the Century by the IOC in 1999 and featured in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the 20th century. He debuted for Santos at 15 and for Brazil at 16, winning three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and scoring seven hat-tricks for Brazil.

Sándor Kocsis: Hungary - 7

Sándor Kocsis, a Hungarian striker, played for Ferencvárosi TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, and FC Barcelona. After relocating to Spain post-1956 Hungarian Revolution, Kocsis joined Barcelona’s squad. He led the 1954 World Cup with a record 11 goals, scoring 23 times for Hungary that year—a single-year record. Kocsis was also the first player to achieve two hat-tricks in a World Cup.

Cristiane: Brazil- 8

Brazilian forward Cristiane stands alongside the greats, boasting eight hat-tricks throughout her career. A prolific goal scorer, she played a key role in Brazil's silver medal triumphs at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Cristiane has participated in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and four Olympics, with her most recent hat-trick coming in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ali Daei: Iran - 8

Iranian striker and former national team captain, Ali Daei, was renowned as the world’s top scorer in official internationals per the IFFHS, netting 20 goals in 1996. During the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he scored nine goals over 17 matches, amassing 38 goals in 52 appearances by that time. In 2004, he became the first male to score 100 international goals, reaching 102 with a four-goal game against Laos.

Gerd Müller: Germany - 8

Gerd Müller, a prolific German striker known for his precision in the penalty area, is considered one of football’s top scorers. With West Germany, he scored 68 goals in 62 games. For Bayern Munich, he scored 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga matches and 65 goals in 74 European games, holding a league scoring record. Müller’s eight hat-tricks include two in the 1970 World Cup.

Poul Nielsen: Denmark - 8

Danish striker Poul Nielsen scored 52 goals in 38 games, sharing Denmark’s top-scoring record. He earned a silver medal at the 1912 Olympics and led Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) to six Danish championships. Scoring eight hat-tricks in international play, Nielsen was an iconic figure for Denmark until his death in 1962.

Abby Wambach: United States of America- 8

Mary Abigail Wambach, born on June 2, 1980, is a retired American soccer player, coach, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. A six-time recipient of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, Wambach was a key player for the U.S. women’s national team from 2003 to 2015.

She earned her first international cap in 2001 and, as a forward, became the highest all-time goal scorer for the U.S. national team. Globally, she ranks second in international goals for both men and women with 184 goals, trailing only Canada's Christine Sinclair.

Wambach competed in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments: the 2003 edition in the U.S., the 2007 event in China, the 2011 tournament in Germany, and the 2015 competition in Canada. She also represented the U.S. in the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.

Throughout these five major international tournaments, Wambach played 30 matches and netted 22 goals. She helped her team secure two Olympic gold medals, third-place finishes twice at the Women's World Cup, a second-place finish in 2011, and ultimately, a World Cup victory in 2015.

Read Also: FIFA World Cup 2026: Teams qualified so far

Carli Lloyd: United States of America- 9

Carli Lloyd is another legend of international football, having represented the U.S. from 2012 to 2021. Over her remarkable career, she earned two Olympic gold medals (in 2008 and 2012) and won two FIFA Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition, she was named FIFA Player of the Year twice, in 2015 and 2016, and competed in four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021).

Lloyd’s capacity for rising to the occasion was evident when she scored the decisive goals in the gold medal matches of both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She was also instrumental in the U.S. clinching World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, she also secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She played in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the US finished as runners-up.

Ali Mabkhout: UAE - 9

Ali Mabkhout, a forward for Al Nasr and the UAE national team, debuted with Al Jazira in 2009. A pivotal figure in UAE’s 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal win over Australia, he became UAE’s top scorer on October 10, 2019, with a hat-trick against Indonesia in a 5-0 victory.

Sven Rydell: Sweden- 9

Swedish striker Sven Rydell scored 49 goals in 43 matches, a record that stood for over 80 years until broken by Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2014. Rydell’s international career included a bronze medal at the 1924 Olympics, and he holds the Swedish record of nine international hat-tricks.

Vivian Woodward: England - 10

Vivian Woodward, an English forward, starred from the early 1900s to World War I, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. As Great Britain’s captain, he won gold at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics, recording six hat-tricks for England amateurs and four for England’s national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal- 10

At the age of 18, Ronaldo made his debut for Portugal as a substitute against Kazakhstan on 20 August 2003. At UEFA Euro 2004, he scored his first international goal in a 2–1 group stage loss to Greece in his eighth international appearance.

In 2016, Ronaldo led Portugal to their first-ever trophy at the UEFA Euro 2016, although he was subbed off in the 25th minute in the final against hosts France.He received the Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer.

In the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match, in a 3–3 draw against Spain Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score 10 hat-tricks for a national team on 12 October 2021 in Portugal's 5–0 win against Luxembourg, breaking Sven Rydell's record.

Lionel Messi:Argentina -10

Lionel Messi debuted for Argentina’s U20 team in 2004 and won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. His senior debut came in 2005 at 18. In 2021, he ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with a Copa América win. On October 15, 2024, Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Bolivia.

Christine Sinclair: Canada- 11

Christine Margaret Sinclair is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). From 2000 until her international retirement in 2023, she was a key member of the Canadian national team. 

Sinclair is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, CONCACAF champion, and has won the Canada Soccer Player of the Year award 14 times. She holds the world record for the most international goals scored by any player, male or female, with 190 goals and is among the most-capped players in international soccer, with 331 appearances.

In a career spanning more than two decades with the senior national team, Sinclair has competed in six FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympic Football Tournaments, leading her team to bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, and to gold in 2020.

She is one of only three players to score in five different World Cup tournaments, alongside Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2022, Sinclair was honored with the Best FIFA Special Award for her achievement as the world’s top goal scorer.

Notably, Sinclair scored her eleventh international hat-trick during a 2012 Olympic match against the United States, netting all three of Canada’s goals in a 3–4 loss.

Read Also: Most valuable Spanish players in history: Yamal goes past Rodri

Alex Morgan: United States of America- 12 

Alexandra Patricia Morgan, born on July 2, 1989, is a retired American professional soccer player who last played as a striker for San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), where she served as captain, as well as for the United States national team. She co-captained the U.S. national team with Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe from 2018 to 2020, and later with Lindsay Horan in 2023.

Morgan was the first overall pick in the 2011 WPS Draft by the Western New York Flash, where she made her professional debut and contributed to the team's league championship win. At 22, she was the youngest player on the U.S. national team at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where the team finished as runner-up.

During the 2012 London Olympics, Morgan scored the decisive goal in the 123rd minute of the semi-final against Canada. She ended 2012 with 28 goals and 21 assists, becoming the second American woman, after Mia Hamm, to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single year. This achievement made her the sixth and youngest U.S. player to reach 20 goals in one season. Morgan was named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and became a FIFA World Player of the Year finalist.

She played a crucial role in the U.S. team's victories at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups, earning a spot on the Dream Team in both tournaments and winning the Silver Boot in 2019. Morgan recorded her eleventh international hat-trick with five goals on 11 June 2019 in the United States 13–0 victory over Thailand in the 2019 World

Her record-breaking twelfth international hat-trick came in 2021 against Paraguay in a game where the United States dominated and won 8-0

Luis Díaz netted a hat-trick to keep Liverpool at the top of the league table with a flawless record, while AC Milan shocked Real Madrid on their home turf. Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, PSV Eindhoven, GNK Dinamo, and Monaco also secured wins.

Meanwhile, Viktor Gyökeres scored three goals as Sporting CP pulled off the night’s biggest upset against Manchester City. Sit back and relax, as we bring all the updates of the match week 4 of the UEFA Champions League 2024 - 25 league phase round.

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Tuesday night's action

Sparta Praha 1-2 Brest

The away team was in fine form tonight, causing a consecutive defeat to Sparta Praha. Edimilson Fernandes opened the scoring in the 37th minute to give Brest an early advantage, which they doubled in the second half courtesy of an own goal by Sparta midfielder Kairinen in the 79th minute.

Victor Olatunji ensured that the visiting team did not leave with a clean sheet when he fired home a left-footed shot to the center of the goal at stoppage time.

Feyenoord 1-3 RB Salzburg

It was a tough night for Feyenoord, who lost Nadje to a red card in the 45th minute, allowing Salzburg to take advantage. Striker Karim Konate seized the opportunity, scoring twice.

Moussa pulled one back for Feyenoord in the 81st minute, but Salzburg wasn’t finished; Guindo struck in the 86th minute to secure a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Stuttgart 0-2 Atalanta

Paris Saint-Germain is back to their Champions League quest as the French champions will take on Atletico Madrid at Parc des Princes on 7 November 2024. Both teams will head onto the fourth UCL match-week in search of their second win in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. This electrifying encounter will kick-off in Paris tonight at 1:30 AM IST.

From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the League match of Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. 

Match Details 

Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match

Date: 7 November 2024

Time: 1:30 AM IST

Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris, France

How to watch the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 League Match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid

The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Team News

Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain have had a complex start to their UCL 2024-25 campaign, winning 1 game, losing 1, and drawing 1 game as well. The French champions opened their account with a 1-0 win over Girona in the first match-week following a 0-2 defeat against Arsenal in the second match-week. In their last UCL outing against PSV Eindhoven, PSG came from behind to end the game in a 1-1 draw. 

🏆 Champions League mode: ON! 🔴🔵#PSGATM | #UCL pic.twitter.com/lZOm0aFR89

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 5, 2024

However, PSG will be confident against Atletico after winning two back-to-back games in the Ligue 1, having earned a 3-0 victory over historic rivals Olympique de Marseille and beating Lens by 1-0 in their last game. Currently, Les Parisiens are in the 23rd position in the UCL league table with 4 points in 3 matches.

Head coach Luis Enrique will ensure to build a strong starting eleven to take on Atletico Madrid. However, PSG will be playing without Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez, and Gonçalo Ramos who are sidelined due to long-term injuries. 

The Parisian squad for the home match against @Atleti! 📋🔴🔵#UCL | #PSGATM pic.twitter.com/xgxD0y4YPP

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 6, 2024

However, Enrique will start Donnarumma again in the goal after dropping him from in starting eleven against Lens last week. Dembele, Barcola, and Asensio will lead the PSG attack whereas Hakimi and Marquinhos will solidify the defence.

Last 5 Matches: D W D W W 

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 league phase match week 3 roundup

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid is almost on the same page with their inconsistent performances both in the UCL and LaLiga 2024-25. The Rojiblancos started their UCL campaign with a 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig as José María Giménez scored a last-minute winner that ensured three points for the Spanish side. However, Atletico faced a 0-4 thrashing by Benfica in their second UCL outing and lost to Lille OSC by 1-3 in the third match-week. 

💫 Champions League mode activated pic.twitter.com/r2V0het5cg

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) November 4, 2024

Atletico is also struggling in the LaLiga with 5 draws in 12 matches although they had a 2-0 victory over Las Palmas in their last match across all competitions. Currently, Atletico Madrid is standing in the 28th position in the UCL league table having 3 points earned in 3 matches.

🎙️ Simeone

❝We are facing a very important rival, with the hallmark of their coach. They are a team full of very good and dynamic young players and with a great coaching staff. We will try to take the game to where we can hurt them❞. pic.twitter.com/3pqlhjDCaO

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) November 5, 2024

Coach Diego Simeone will have to field the best eleven to take on PSG with Robin Le Normand, Marcos Llorente, Thomas Lemar, and Cesar Azpilicueta being sidelined due to injuries. José María Giménez is also suspended due to a second consecutive yellow against Benfica and LOSC.

✈️ Squad list for PSG vs Atleti pic.twitter.com/kV5oI5haqL

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) November 5, 2024

In these circumstances, Axel Witsel and Clément Lenglet are likely to be the central-back pairing whereas Rodrigo De Paul will lead the midfield. Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez are expected to be the attacking duo for Atletico tonight.

Last 5 Matches: W L L W W 

Head-to-head

Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid will face each other for the first time in any competitive match.

Possible Playing XI

Paris Saint-Germain 

Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK); Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, João Neves; Ousmane Dembélé, Marco Asensio, Bradley Barcola

Atletico Madrid

Jan Oblak (GK); Nahuel Molina, Axel Witsel, Clément Lenglet, Reinildo Mandava; Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Conor Gallagher, Sameul Lino; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid: Fantasy XI Prediction

Donnarumma, Hakimi, Molina, Witsel, Mendes, De Paul, Zaïre-Emery, Dembélé, Griezmann, Alvarez, Asensio.