Messi pays tribute to Maradona with shirt of Argentina great

With his nation and the world of soccer in mourning for Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi discovered his personal strategy to mark the passing of the one Argentine participant to rival his personal greatness on the sector. Messi paid tribute on Sunday, when he stripped off his Barcelona prime to disclose a shirt honoring Maradona after he scored the ultimate aim in a 4-Zero rout of Osasuna.

Messi celebrated his highly effective strike from exterior the field by taking off Barcelona’s blue-and-burgundy to disclose the red-and-black of Maradona’s jersey from his stint at Newell’s Old Boys. Messi then blew a kiss with each arms to the sky as he appeared upward.

After the sport, Messi posted a photograph of his tribute alongside an older picture of Maradona in the identical shirt, including the message “Farewell, Diego” in Spanish.

“It was a great moment,” mentioned Barcelona supervisor Ronald Koeman. “First, for the goal that Leo scored and then for the gesture he had for the death of Diego Maradona. He had surely been thinking of what he would do. For me, it was a great moment in every way.”

Messi performed for Newell’s earlier than he joined Barcelona at age 13. Maradona performed 5 matches for Newell’s close to the tip of his enjoying profession that made him a legend in his house nation. In an interview with Argentine tv TyC in 2013, Messi mentioned that when he was a younger boy he went to the stadium for Maradona’s debut for Newell’s in 1993.

Messi had saved his head bowed throughout the minute of silence earlier than kickoff within the Spanish league recreation on the empty Camp Nou for Maradona, who died of a coronary heart assault on Wednesday at age 60. Maradona performed for Barcelona from 1982-84.

“We have lost Diego, a world idol,” Barcelona’s Brazil ahead Philippe Coutinho mentioned. “Everyone admired him and we will all miss him. (Messi’s) tribute was beautiful.”

Coutinho additionally scored for Barcelona, together with Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann.

Considered by many as the most effective participant in his technology — and one of many best ever — Messi has been judged, particularly again house, by how his profession compares to that of Maradona.

Messi shares the decrease middle of gravity, the supreme dribbling expertise and the flexibility to attain eye-popping objectives as Argentina’s different nice No. 10. But whereas his life centered on soccer and household has saved him properly away from the addictions that ruined Maradona’s well being, Messi has by no means been in a position to reproduce the 1986 World Cup trophy Maradona led his nation to, coming closest in 2014 when a Messi-led Argentina misplaced within the closing to Germany.

The win was solely Barcelona’s second in seven league matches. It left the group in seventh place with two video games in hand. Second-place Atlético Madrid is 9 factors forward of Barcelona.

STALEMATE AT TOP

Surprise chief Real Sociedad was held 1-1 at house by Villarreal, one other upstart facet to have impressed within the league this season.

Gerard Moreno gave Villarreal the lead in San Sebastian by changing a penalty kick within the sixth minute after Aritz Elustondo fouled Pervis Estupiñán.

Mikel Oyarzabal leveled from the spot within the 33rd after Pau Torres fouled Robin Le Normand.

Oyarzabal and Moreno, each Spain forwards, lead the league with seven and 6 objectives, respectively.

The draw ended Sociedad’s six-round profitable streak. It is one level forward of Atlético however has performed two video games extra. Villarreal remained in third place — 4 factors behind Sociedad — after an eighth consecutive spherical with out a loss.

DEPLETED DEFENSE

The victory for Barcelona could have come on the value of shedding yet one more defender.

Clement Lenglet damage his decrease proper leg after an unintentional knock by an Osasuna participant within the second half. He needed to be helped off by two group medical doctors. Barcelona was already with out three different central defenders on account of damage and proper again Sergi Roberto.

Barcelona completed the match with midfielder Frenkie de Jong within the middle of its protection alongside reserve group participant Óscar Mingueza in his second recreation for the senior squad.

Koeman mentioned it seems the damage to Lenglet is “not serious” however that he would endure a medical examination on Monday.

Sergio Busquets returned for Barcelona from a knee damage that had sidelined him for 2 video games.

GRIEZMANN LEADS VICTORY

Messi’s tribute to Maradona overshadowed a fantastic efficiency by Griezmann, the France ahead who has been criticized for not reaching his potential at Barcelona.

Braithwaite scrambled in a rebound to open the scoring on the half-hour mark.

Griezmann doubled the lead three minutes earlier than halftime when he volleyed a blistering strike from exterior the world that left goalkeeper Sergio Herrera flat-footed and with no probability of stopping it.

Griezmann then assisted Coutinho to faucet within the hosts’ third aim within the 57th. Messi rounded it off together with his strike from lengthy vary within the 73rd.

“It was important to get this win because those at the top of table keep winning and we couldn’t slip again,” Griezmann mentioned. “We did not know what Messi had planned to honor Maradona. It was a nice surprise.”

Osasuna, which gained at Barcelona on the ultimate spherical of final season, was left in 15th place.

OTHER RESULTS

Celta Vigo escaped final place after beating Granada 3-1 for simply its second win of the season.

Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at Getafe as each stayed midtable.

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