UCL
Lionel Messi said that Paris Saint-Germain and his partnership with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will improve as they play more alongside each other.
Messi expressed the sentiment after he scored his maiden goal for PSG in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League victory against Manchester City after the Argentine's stuttering start to the season.
Messi had been unconvincing in his first three appearances since joining on a two-year contract after leaving Barcelona, but on Tuesday, he reminded everyone of his talent.
After a quiet first half, the diminutive forward linked up with Mbappe and found the top corner to effectively wrap up the win in the 74th minute.
"I am very happy to have scored," said Messi, back on the pitch after sitting out two games with a bruised knee.
"I haven't played much recently. Only one game [at the Parc des Princes], this is the second one here. I am gradually adapting to my new team, to my teammates.
"The more we play together [with Neymar and Mbappe], the better it will be. We must all grow together, increase our level of play. We played well. We have to give our best and continue to do so."
His goal sent the Parc des Princes crowd into raptures and prompted a rare celebration from coach Mauricio Pochettino.
"I've spent 20 years watching him score goals from the other side of the opposite pavement and it's the first time he scores for a team I manage so I had to celebrate," Pochettino said with a smile.
"You need this type of performance and players like him need to feel the back of the net. He needs to create links within the team after 20 years in Barcelona. He's feeling different things, there's a lot of new feelings for him."
City manager Pep Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona from 2008-12, said his team played well but that it was impossible to keep a lid on a players like Mbappe, Messi and Neymar.
"We cannot control them for 90 minutes. The only way I know -- there are two ways actually, is first defend and pray, and the second is to have the ball and create and that's what we did. But we have to create more and be more aggressive," the Spaniard said.
"I wish [Messi] the best, I hope that he's happy and enjoying it here. He made me so happy when we were together."
Boxing
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has announced his retirement from the sport to focus on his political career.
The multi-division world champion, who is a senator in his native Philippines, has already announced his intention to run for president in the country's 2022 elections.
The 42-year-old's final fight was a defeat by Cuba's Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas last month.
"I just heard the final bell. Boxing is over," said Pacquiao.
In a video posted on social media, Pacquiao described retiring as the "hardest decision" of his life, adding boxing had given him "the chance to fight my way out of poverty" and "the courage to change more lives".
He also thanked his fans, friends and all those who supported him throughout his career, most notably long-time trainer Freddie Roach, who he described as "my family, a brother and a friend".
"I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life," he said.
After growing up in poverty in the south of the Philippines, Pacquiao moved to the capital Manila as a teenager to start a boxing career that would make him one of the world's most highly paid athletes.
He won his first major title in 1998 at the age of 19, defeating Thailand's Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC flyweight title.
Within three years he was fighting in Las Vegas, beating South Africa's Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF super bantamweight title at the MGM Grand, the venue for most of his fights in the following two decades.
He is now regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, winning 12 different titles across eight weight divisions and is the only boxer to hold world championships across four decades.
In July 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40 when he defeated Keith Thurman to win the WBA (Super) welterweight title, though he was stripped of the title in January 2021 because of inactivity.
Speaking after his defeat to Ugas in August, Pacquiao said he was "60-40" in favour of quitting.
He retires with a record of 62 wins, eight defeats and two draws.
Pacquiao entered politics in 2010 when he won a seat in the lower house of the Philippines congress, before being elected for a six-year term in the upper chamber in 2016.
He confirmed earlier this month his intention to run for president after he was nominated as a candidate by a faction of the ruling party, PDP-Laban.
GISTS
Allan Saint-Maximin is reportedly attracting interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool with both clubs looking to make their move next year.
Arsenal look set to continue their spending spree in the New Year with Edu reportedly eyeing three more deals in January.
Manchester United want to sign Kalvin Phillips from bitter rivals Leeds.
Granit Xhaka's wife has posted to social media a picture of the injured Arsenal player wearing a knee brace.
Barcelona have reportedly received a '£1.2billion offer' from a company in Dubai to help the club write off their massive debt.
Real Madrid are interested in signing former Tottenham PLAYER Serge Aurier, according to reports in Spain.
Erling Haaland is said to have been 'seduced' by Real Madrid as Borussia Dortmund get ready to sell their star player during the summer transfer window in 2022.
Arsenal reportedly remain interested in signing Marco Asensio from Real Madrid after having a massive summer transfer bid turned down.
Italy, the champions of Europe, will face Argentina, the South American champions, in a match to be held next June in another twist in the power battle between Uefa and Fifa.
Harry Maguire will miss a run of crucial matches for club and country after being ruled out of action for a "few weeks" with a calf injury.
The Premier League has written to clubs informing them of plans to 'reward' teams who have the highest numbers of vaccinated players.
Joe Root is 'desperate' to face Australia but refuses to commit to Ashes as ECB player talks continue.
Manchester United are reportedly in competition with rivals City in the race to prise Ghanaian starlet Mizak Asante away from Golden Kick SC.
Manchester United have snapped up highly-rated youngster Harrison Parker following his exit from Arsenal this summer.
Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo had struggled to win over his players even after a bright start to the season.
Crystal Palace midfield ace Conor Gallagher is on the radar of England boss Gareth Southgate.
England have been handed an allocation of just 993 tickets for their World Cup qualifier away in Andorra on Saturday week.
Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin has been fined £25,000 and banned from the roads after a 5am drink-drive smash.
Liverpool scouts have reportedly been tasked to attend Manchester United's clash with Villarreal to watch Arnaut Danjuma as the club look for a successor for Sadio Mane.
Callum McGregor is the new Paul McStay for Celtic, according to his old pal Mark Fotheringham.
Rangers are set to face an under-strength Sparta Prague on Europa League business this week.
Adamant Jeremie Frimpong insists he never pushed to leave Celtic in January as he prepares for a return to Parkhead with Bayer Leverkusen.
Stephen Glass has confirmed Aberdeen will look after Andrew Considine and extend the defender's contract beyond the end of the season.
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