Last week's victory by 10-man Bolivia over Colombia in an Air Miles World Cup qualifier may have surprised some, but it shouldn't have come as a shock. Bolivians, not satisfied with the controversial home advantage of playing at high altitude in La Paz, have recently taken it a step further. They moved their last two home games to the Estadio Municipal de El Alto, more than four kilometers above sea level, where the thin air makes it feel like playing in outer space. Unfortunately, La Verde must descend the Andes for away games, and in their recent qualifier against the World Cup holders, they suffered a significant setback.
Lionel Messi, often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, might have noticed his Portuguese rival's petulant behavior after a scoreless draw with Scotland. Meanwhile, Messi contributed three goals and two assists as Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 at the Estadio Monumental, which is actually 12 meters below sea level. Messi's hat-trick brought his international goal tally to 112, making him the second-highest scorer at that level, just behind Ronaldo. When asked about his future with Argentina, Messi stated, 'I didn't set any date or deadline about my future. I'm just enjoying all this. I am more emotional than ever and taking all the love from the people because I know these can be my last games.'
After his impressive performance against Bolivia, Messi's next challenge is the MLS Cup playoffs. With Messi having played in less than half of Inter Miami's games this season, a debate has emerged in the USA about his eligibility for the Landon Donovan Award for tournament MVP. Despite his limited appearances, Messi's impact is undeniable, but whether he cares about winning the award over global superstars like Federico Bernardeschi, Luciano Acosta, or Denis Bouanga remains uncertain.
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'I had the option of extending my stay at Liverpool, but after five years, I wanted more playing time elsewhere. I had several offers, but I chose Bremen because Germany is a country I know. The coach and management convinced me. I just wanted to play football, make passes, and score goals. If money was my motivation, I would have chosen differently. Here, all that motivates me is the chance to play every weekend, enjoy myself, and bring joy.' - Naby Keïta discusses his Anfield career and clears the air on discipline issues at Werder Bremen.
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