Lionel Messi has a chance to score the 500th goal of his career when he lines up against Real Madrid this Saturday in what is likely the final Clasico of the year.
It would be a stunning accomplishment made all the more so because it would come against his club’s arch rival, and against the only other player in Messi’s league, Cristiano Ronaldo.
As promised, my prediction hot-streak ground to a halt as I was only a Sporting KC victory away from a goose egg. I predict more of the same this week as league play fires up after the international weekend. Everyone will be watching the happenings at Nou Camp but there are pivotal matches throughout Europe and in the Western Hemisphere that promise to be fantastic. The five best of the weekend are:
1. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, Saturday 2:30 p.m. EST, beIN Sports.
With Celtic and Rangers — known collectively as the “Old Firm” in Glasgow, Scotland — set to renew hostilities for only the second time in the past four seasons, in the Scottish Cup semi-final on April 17, it seems like a good time to reacquaint soccer fans with this epic rivalry and some of the notable moments in its 128-year history.
10. Neil McCallum, Celtic, May 28, 1888
The opening ceremony sees tractors pulling hay bales and lumber, a procession of men in lederhosen and women in dirndl, traditional clothing of Alps peasants, leading Braunvieh cattle and goats across inaccessible Alpine roads.
Dimitri Payet was on the pitch for three minutes before he scored an absolutely stunning free kick from distance in an international friendly in the 64th minute. The West Ham and French international attacking midfielder went top right corner to beat Russian keeper, Igor Akinfeev. This 30 yard free kick put the home side up 3-1. It was a lovely goal that will definitely help Payet's cause in making the Euro 2016 French squad. France would go on to win the match 4 - 2 and birthday boy, Payet provided the highlight reel goal.
Happy Birthday Dimitri!
Last Tuesday, three bombs went off in the Belgian capital, Brussels: two in the airport, one in a subway station. A third bomb at the airport was deactivated before it could detonate. So far, more than 30 people have been killed as a result of the attacks, with hundreds wounded.
This Tuesday, the Belgian National Team will play Portugal in a friendly in Leiria, Portugal. The match was supposed to take place in Brussels.
To see the goal fast forward to the 2:20 mark.
Oh the great Jamie Vardy. Not only does the lad have 19 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League, but now he is acting like the saving grace for the Three Lions. Vardy continued his coming out party to the world but this time on the international stage as he netted this clinical backheel against the defending world champions. Germany gave up a 2-0 lead to the Englishman, and one of the other goal scorers for Roy Hodgson's bunch was none other than Harry Kane.
So, here's the deal: supposedly, there is actually a Jamie Vardy movie in the works. No, seriously. The English striker's rise from factory worker playing non-league soccer to Premier League record-breaker has apparently perked up the ears of executives in Hollywood. The man behind the movie, Adrian Butchart, is the man behind the "Goal!" trilogy and he has reportedly started the conversation on getting a Vardy movie made.
Nowadays Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate every single individual trophy there is, so much so that any other player has a very hard time competing with them, and rarely robs them of praise.
Only outstanding performances by Luis Suarez and Neymar, Messi’s mates at Barcelona, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have managed to recently steal some limelight.