SportsNews
The Millions Angola Paid to Host Lionel Messi and Argentina
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Lionel Messi touched down in Angola for a friendly that puzzled many fans… until the price tag behind the match came to light. The world champions are here for a game worth millions.
A friendly with a multimillion-dollar price tag
Argentina closes the year with just one friendly — and surprisingly, it’s against Angola, a team that did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Many questioned why the reigning world champions, led by Lionel Messi, would travel so far for a single match… until the financial reality emerged.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Argentina will receive $12 million USD for the event, while the AFA claims the net amount is closer to $7 million after taxes. Either way, it’s a massive payout — the kind only a world champion with Messi as its captain can command.
A sold-out stadium… for just one dollar
The 11 de Novembro Stadium will be packed. 50,000 Angolan fans snapped up tickets priced at just $1 as part of the country’s celebration of 50 years of independence.
The match marks the first time Argentina has ever played in Angola. Their lone previous meeting came in 2006, in Salerno, where Argentina won 2–0 in a match featuring both Lionels on the pitch: Messi wearing the No.19 and Scaloni the No.13.
Messi to captain Argentina — but minutes may be limited
Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that he will field a lineup full of world champions, with Messi as captain, though he did not guarantee how long the star will play. With Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez out by choice — Scaloni wants to give his backup a chance — the goalkeeper for the night will be Gerónimo Rulli.
Juan Foyth returns at right-back, while up front Lautaro Martínez and Thiago Almada will join Messi. In midfield, the main question is Giovani Lo Celso or Nicolás Paz.
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Key absences and new faces looking for minutes
Three Atlético de Madrid players — Julián Álvarez, Nahuel Molina, and Giuliano Simeone— were excluded for not receiving the required yellow fever vaccine. Injuries also sidelined Enzo Fernández and Franco Mastantuono.
Scaloni hinted that several up-and-coming talents could feature in the second half, including Valentín Barco, Joaquín Panichelli, José López, Kevin Mac Allister, and Gianluca Prestianni.
Angola, potentially with Randy Nteka in the lineup, will try to stand tall against the world champions — in what has become one of the most expensive friendlies of the entire year.
SportsNews
EPL: Fulham must move on from defeat to Manchester City — Iwobi
Alex Iwobi says Fulham must stay positive despite their 5-4 defeat to Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.
Marco Silva’s side put up a spirited display in the encounter, and were unlucky not to get at least one point.
Iwobi started the fight back by scoring the second goal for Fulham early in the second half.
The versatile midfielder’s compatriot, Samuel Chukwueze then rose from the bench to score two more goals for the Cottagers.
Manchester City, however, held on to go home with maximum points.
Iwobi stated that they deserved more from the game.
“I feel disappointed because we didn’t get anything out of the fighting spirit that we showed, but I think we have to take the positivity from the game,” Iwobi told the club’s official website.
Fulham will be away to Crystal Palace in their next Premier League game on Sunday.
SportsNews
EPL: Guardiola names team that impresses him everyday
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has named the Premier League club that has impressed him so much this season.
The Spaniard said that Enzo Maresca’s side have really impressed him with the improvement they make everyday.
Speaking after Manchester City beat Fulham 5-4 in the Premier League on Tuesday night, Guardiola pointed out that a team must remain consistent to win the title.
Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just two points behind Arsenal with the victory over Fulham, but the Gunners could maintain their five points lead with a win over Brentford on Wednesday night.
“Chelsea impresses me more and more every day with Enzo [Maresca], but it’s long,” he told reporters after the win.
“Premier League is so long, many things will happen. We won six Premier Leagues, four or five when we in December, January or February we were behind.
“The team who wins the Premier League is the team who grows during the months and this is what we try to do. No injuries, it’s so long.
“But at the same time, if we push, we will be better and push ourselves and control the situations better, the emotions and we will see what happens.”
SportsNews
Outrage As ‘Biological Male’ Wins World’s Strongest Woman Event in Texas (Photos)
The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman final has sparked outrage after an alleged transgender athlete won gold.
American Jammie Booker, who is accused of being a biological male, beat Great Britain’s Andrea Thompson to victory at the event in Arlington, Texas.
According to Mail Online, Thompson walked off the podium, appearing to say ‘this is bulls***,’ while Booker celebrated. The Brit has since been crowned the ‘true World’s Strongest Woman’ by her coach and some of her peers.

Rebecca Roberts, a three-time winner of World’s Strongest Woman, has sensationally claimed that no one – not even the organizers – knew about Booker’s background.
Details on the American are not clear, but the publication sighted a YouTube video – uploaded to what appears to be Booker’s YouTube channel in September 2017, with Booker saying: ‘Everyone is dying to tell their own story and I am obviously no exception to that.
‘I’m 21-year-old trans woman with a history of abuse, struggling to stay true to herself while under the rule of her religious parents.’
On Monday night, Roberts posted a picture on Instagram that read ‘Protect Women’s Sports.’ She wrote alongside the picture: ‘I hold no hate toward transgender people. Everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to live their truth.

But I cannot stay silent about something that threatens the fairness and future of women’s strength sports. Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category.
This isn’t about identity. It isn’t about politics. It’s about the undeniable physical differences that exist in strength-based sports… differences that don’t disappear, and that matter more here than almost anywhere else. Women’s categories were created for a reason, and if we lose that, we lose the foundation of our sport.
‘What happened this weekend wasn’t transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organisers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.
‘My message is simple. Trans people belong in sport, but women’s divisions must remain biologically born female-only.
‘I love this sport. I have given my life to it. And I won’t ignore something that could quietly change it forever. Congratulations to @andreathompson_strongwoman… the true World’s Strongest Woman 2025’
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