Messi Becomes Most Decorated Player, Jaylen Brown Responds to Bronny James Controversy, and New Footage of Khabib Spitting at Conor McGregor.
Stories about Lionel Messi, Jaylen Brown, and Conor McGregor
Messi Becomes Most Decorated Player in Soccer History with 45 Trophies After Copa America Win
Lionel Messi officially became the most decorated soccer player in history following Argentina's Copa America triumph over Colombia. This victory marks Messi's 45th career trophy, surpassing his former teammate Dani Alves.
In a tense Copa America final, substitute Lautaro Martinez scored in extra time, securing a 1-0 win for Argentina against Colombia. Messi, who was forced to leave the match in the second half due to injury, was visibly emotional as he exited the field. However, his sorrow soon turned to elation as Martinez's goal clinched another title for Argentina, adding to their World Cup success in 2022.
Messi's impressive tally of 45 trophies includes a World Cup title, two Copa America championships, four Champions League victories, and ten La Liga titles with Barcelona. During his time with the Catalan club, he also claimed 15 domestic trophies, three UEFA Super Cups, and three Club World Cups.
After moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Messi won two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophée des Champions. His success continued at Inter Miami, where he secured the Leagues Cup. Messi's accolades also include the 2005 U17 World Cup, the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal, and the UEFA Cup of Champions with Argentina.
As Messi continues his career with Inter Miami and the Argentine national team, there remains potential for this remarkable list of achievements to grow even further.
Here is the current top 10
1. Lionel Messi - 45
2. Dani Alves - 43
3. Hossam Ashour - 39
4. Andres Iniesta - 37
5. Gerard Pique - 37
6. Sergio Busquets - 36
7. David Alaba - 36
8. Kenny Dalglish - 35
9. Ryan Giggs - 35
10. Cristiano Ronaldo - 35
It's challenging to predict who might top this list in the future. Many of these players were part of Barcelona's legendary era, arguably the greatest club team in history. Simultaneously, they contributed to Spain's dominance on the international stage, a team often considered among the best in the history of international football.
Jaylen Brown's Take on Bronny James Sparks Controversy
Jaylen Brown had a prime spot for Monday night's Celtics-Lakers Summer League game in Las Vegas, but his candid opinion on Bronny James has caused quite a stir. Caught on camera during the game, Brown's blunt assessment of LeBron James' son has quickly gone viral.
Seated courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center with Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese, Brown's conversation was picked up by NBC Sports Boston's cameras. During their chat, Brown was heard expressing scepticism about Bronny's professional potential.
Brown seemed to say this about the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
"Honestly, I don't think Bronny is a pro,"
When Gondrezick suggested that Bronny might end up in the G League, Brown countered.
"I don't think so, I think because of his name he'll be on the Lakers,"
This sentiment, shared by many, has led to a significant backlash from Lakers fans. In response to the viral video, Brown took to X to clarify his remarks, while still standing by his initial comments.
"It's a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA; it reflects greatness and longevity," Brown wrote. "Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful. I look forward to watching his growth."
Brown has been a focal point this summer for various statements and omissions, and this latest episode adds more fuel to the enduring Celtics-Lakers rivalry.
On the court, Bronny James, who started for the Lakers, struggled, scoring just two points on 1-for-5 shooting. Bronny has been getting a hard time on social media for his performances this summer but let’s not forget, he was the 55th pick, I’m no expert but do 55th picks ever set the game alight?
I understand some people might think his opportunities should go to someone else but at the end of the day Basketball is a business and people will pay money to see father and son on the court.
Nepotism will only take Bronny so far though, at some point he has to perform to keep his place once the father/son novelty has worn off.
NEW Video: Khabib Nurmagomedov Spat at Conor McGregor After 2018 UFC Victory
Khabib Nurmagomedov's victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in 2018 was marked by intense animosity, culminating in a controversial post-fight incident. After securing his win with a neck crank submission in the fourth round, Nurmagomedov spat at McGregor, as seen in new video evidence released by the UFC.
The long-standing rivalry between Nurmagomedov and McGregor reached its peak in this high-stakes bout, the highest-selling fight in UFC history. Following McGregor's tap-out, the Russian fighter's anger didn't subside with just a victory. Nurmagomedov leapt over the cage, targeting McGregor's team, and triggering a massive brawl that resulted in fines for both fighters.
The recent footage released by the UFC sheds light on Nurmagomedov's state of mind during those moments, revealing his deep-seated disdain for McGregor. The video, with muted commentary and subtitles, showcases Nurmagomedov's heated taunts and the moment he spat at McGregor post-fight.
During the fight, Nurmagomedov can be seen verbally taunting McGregor while pinning him to the ground, asking, “what happened?” and demanding, “let’s talk now,” as he landed punches. His entourage, including his brother Islam, can be heard urging him to “kill him” and suggesting he break McGregor's arm.
In the final moments before the referee intervened, Nurmagomedov called McGregor a derogatory term. After referee Herb Dean stopped the fight, Nurmagomedov spat at McGregor while standing up and continuing his rant.
I remember a lot of things going on in the build-up to this fight and it did go too far. In the fight, Conor said to Khabib “It’s only business” but that doesn’t always translate to every culture. I guess if you live by the mouth you should expect to get punched in it. Spitting is never acceptable though.
Thanks for reading David Skilling.