Opinion

On Sunday, spectators were given an unconstrained glimpse into the mind of Lionel Messi, a footballer whose cryptic statements and enigmatic private life only add to his magical legend.  

Messi’s a consummate professional, dedicated to the game on an otherworldly level. Argentina’s crushing defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario final gave proof to his wholehearted devotion to the cause.

The Russia 2018 World Cup may be a somewhat sad and empty affair. Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina National Team (whether he means it or not remains to be seen), Zlatan Ibrahimovic has officially retired from Sweden, Cristiano Ronaldo will be 33 and Wayne Rooney will be 32. The traditional stars of the world's game are fading away, and Russia will probably be the first tournament where that truly sinks in. 

The Euro 2016 group stage is done and dusted, providing its fair share of heroes and villains. Players like Gareth Bale, Dimitri Payet and, just recently, Cristiano Ronaldo have enlivened the proceedings, but which five supposed stars have flopped at one of the world’s most prestigious events?

Thanks to the forgiving nature of the expanded tournament format, a few players on this list still have time to make amends for their performances. For a couple of them, it’s off to the beach and an early summer break.

Colombia and Chile are battling for the right to face off against Argentina in the final of the Copa America. For Chile, it would be a rematch of the 2015 Copa America final a year ago, in which they defeated Argentina to take home the title. For Colombia, it would be their best chance in years to take home their first piece of silverware in 15 years. 

It's safe to say that NYCFC fans are not completely impressed with Frank Lampard so far. He's been booed by his own supporters, he's been called the worst MLS signing in history and he's only managed to play 14 times for NYCFC in just under a year. 

I have to imagine that the match that took place between Argentina and Bolivia last night was a worst case scenario for Copa America 2016. It was boring, god awfully boring. Argentina was up 3-0 after half an hour and from then on in the first half the most action we saw was when the camera showed Messi sitting on the bench.

Since the crowd was shown the same footage we were on TV, they cheered at the sight of him. Those were some of the loudest cheers heard all evening.

Less than 12 months after last year’s big win at the 2015 Copa America, Chile seemed to be struggling at the group stage of this Centenario edition. Last year Chile certainly made good use of the sold-out stadiums when it was hosting the Copa America. It helps when walls of red jerseys spur you on. However, this time around, in the US, the team could only rely on its own skills.

Well he’s never lacking for confidence, is he? Cristiano Ronaldo, the 31-year-old Real Madrid and Portugal forward has come out and said he believes he has been the best player of the past 20 years. 

Ronaldo has long held that he believes he can play at the highest level for years to come, despite being on the wrong side of 30, and his latest statements allude a belief that what he has yet to accomplish will prove that he has been the best player of the past two decades.

It's a hard life for an England fan. As the England National Team gear up for another go at a European Championship, most fans can't help but remember the heartbreak and tears of past attempts. 

A common debate in American sports concerns what four athletes in a specific sport deserve to be on the "Mt. Rushmore" of that sport.

Take baseball for example. If you were to look across its history which four players, former or current, should be placed above the rest as the four to remember?

What is often never truly explained in this debate is what "Mt. Rushmore" represents or what the bases of being placed on it are.