Multiple award-winning singer, Ayodeji ‘Wizkid‘ Balogun makes a choice between two of the greatest footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. During a conversation with Red Radio, Wizkid was asked to decide between Messi and Ronaldo, and after some hesitation, he ultimately selected Ronaldo.
Grammy award-winning singer, Wizkid. Credit: Wizkidayo / Instagram He stated, “I don’t watch football [laughs]. Ronaldo, I guess.” When asked whom he would prefer to bring back to life between Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, Wizkid chose Fela Kuti. The Starboy also expressed his preference for money over fame and mentioned that he would choose Nicki Minaj over Cardi B. Furthermore, Wizkid mentioned being tired of the traffic and revealed his preference for wine over spirits. In other news, fellow singer, Davido Adeleke revealed that he and the celebrated Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo are close friends.
Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez on international duty for Argentina. Source: Getty A seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and, since December, a World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi was the most valuable player on the free transfer market this summer, with Al-Hilal also willing to offer him €400 million a year to move to Saudi Arabia. He however turned down Al-Hilal and Barcelona to join MLS club, Inter Miami which is co-owned by England legend, David Beckham. Speaking to ESPN, Tevez said Messi did not join Barcelona because he doesn’t want to be seen as the “bad guy”. He noted that financial issues at the Spanish club would have required others to take a pay cut or move on for an agreement with Messi to be reached. He said; “It seems to me that Leo took the decision knowing and understanding his own situation. He didn’t want to go back to Barcelona and have his team-mates lower their salaries and be the bad guy again. It hurt him more than anyone not being able to return to Barcelona, which is his home. 
Lionel Messi at a Barcelona FC press conference. Source: Getty “I think it was all very lukewarm on Barcelona’s part. Leo opted for the league in the United States. He likes Miami, it’s a tranquillity for him and his family. I think what he did was the right thing to do. If it wasn’t Barcelona, where he knew he was going to be the centre of attraction again, it was nothing in Europe. The decision was very well made.” Messi has agreed an initial two-and-a-half-year deal with Inter Miami and is expected to link up with the David Beckham co-owned franchise in early July, as he is currently on international duty with Argentina ahead of their friendly dates with Australia and Indonesia. Barca have been told by La Liga to reduce their debt by €200m this summer if they want to defend their title next term, and Messi’s acquisition would have reportedly required the entire staff; from players to dinner ladies agreeing to a salary reduction. 
Messi during a training session at PSG. Source: Getty Inter Miami has a long-standing interest in bringing Messi to the United States and making him a face for the sport ahead of the World Cup in three years’ time. They are bottom of the Eastern Conference and have just sacked Phil Neville as manager. Javier Morales is their interim head coach. The Athletic reported that the Argentine legend’s decision to join Inter Miami was partly influenced by commercial partners Apple and adidas. It was reported that the World Cup winner will get a share of the revenue from Apple TV+’s MLS Season Pass, while Adidas has offered him a profit-sharing agreement to strengthen their long-term relationship. 🚨🚨 BREAKING: Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours #InterMiami 🇺🇸 Messi will play in MLS. No more chances for Barcelona/Al Hilal despite trying to make it happen. 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎#Messi #MLS pic.twitter.com/OTYWIlEzNc — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2023 Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain officially expires at the end of June, could debut for Miami in either July or August and would have the unenviable task of lifting a last-place, frequently dysfunctional franchise to the playoffs. Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has scored 32 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions for French giants PSG, winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, following his transfer from boyhood club Barcelona in 2021. 
Messi at a match for PSG. Source: Getty Confirming the development, Galtier said; “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes. “This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available. I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified. He’s always been there for the team. It’s been a great privilege to accompany him throughout the season.” Messi has scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists across 40 appearances for the Parisian side this season. Included in that tally are 16 goals and 16 assists from 31 Ligue 1 appearances. 
Messi after a match for PSG. Source: Getty While the 35-year-old won the World Cup with Argentina last December, his time at PSG has been far from an unmitigated success. He arrived at PSG in August 2021, joining a star-studded team that includes Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, with the hope of winning the club’s first Champions League title. Although PSG clinched their 11th Ligue 1 title last weekend, in March they were once again knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16. In recent weeks, Messi has received abuse from some sections of PSG fans, and last month the club suspended him following an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season. There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career and won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League on four occasions. Messi has also been linked with a move to David Beckham’s MLS team, Inter Miami. 
Speaking to newsmen Jijantes after the match on Sunday, May 14, he said; “We will do everything we can to bring Leo Messi back to Barcelona.” Giving a clearer detail on how far they’ve gone to ensure Messi returns to the club during an interview with RAC1 on Monday, May 15, Laporte said; 
The match against Ajaccio on Saturday, May 13, saw both teams end up with 10 men after Thomas Mangani aimed a punch at Achraf Hakimi, who retaliated. Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a comfortable lead at half-time and Kylian Mbappe got in on the act with a second-half brace at Parc des Princes. Mohamed Youssouf’s own goal compounded the visitors’ misery before Hakimi and Mangani were red-carded over a fight. Ajaccio’s best chance came in the 67th minute when Mickael Barreto’s right-footed shot from outside the box just sailed over the bar. 
Messi played the full 90 minutes during the match which ended 5-0. The PSG fans loudly jeered when Messi’s name was announced over the tannoy before the match. They also launched another verbal volley toward the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner when he first touched the ball. The Argentine legend appeared subdued throughout the night despite playing his part in another handsome victory. Messi’s name booed and whistled by PSG fans 🎶📢 pic.twitter.com/LM3kONKATG — PENGMAN SPORTS (@PGM_sports) May 13, 2023 Christophe Galtier’s PSG are just four points away from a record 11th French title. They are six points clear of second-placed Lens with three more fixtures remaining. The two-year deal Messi signed with PSG after his shock exit from the Nou Camp back in 2021 is due to expire in the coming weeks, with no new agreement on the horizon. He’s been tipped to follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s lead by moving to the Middle East, with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal firmly in the mix to acquire the sought-after megastar. 
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has issued an apology to his Paris Saint-Germain teammates after being hit with a brutal suspension over his unsanctioned trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Messi was handed a massive fine and a club ban for making an unsanctioned, mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia. His teammates were reported to have been shocked by his trip, particularly after being left reeling to a league defeat to Lorient. 
Though the football legend’s reason for the trip was to fulfill his role as an ambassador for the Middle East nation, he did not seek permission from the club. His action has further soured his relationship with PSG supporters. Fans took part in protests against the forward outside of the club’s Paris headquarters. Messi has now responded to the backlash that trailed the trip by apologizing to the club and his team-mates, saying in a broadcast on social media; “I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always. I had this trip organised and I couldn’t cancel it. I had already canceled it before. I apologise to my team-mates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me.” I thought we were going to have a day off after the game as always. I had this trip organized and I couldn’t cancel it as i already canceled it before, I apologize to my teammates and I’m waiting for what the club wants to do with me — Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/Abx5Oo9L6i — Naija (@Naija_PR) May 5, 2023 He is not expected to feature in the games against Troyes and Ajaccio. 
He tweeted; “Paris Saint-Germain have decided to suspend Lionel Messi with immediate effect for two weeks, sources confirm. The suspension will take place now after Messi’s trip to Saudi NOT authorized by the club as per @RMCSport. Messi side, still waiting on official communication.” 🚨 Paris Saint-Germain have decided to suspend Lionel Messi with immediate effect for two weeks, sources confirm. The suspension will take place now after Messi’s trip to Saudi NOT authorized by the club as per @RMCSport. Messi side, still waiting on official communication. pic.twitter.com/j223WK2r5Z — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 2, 2023 Messi’s PSG contract is set to expire after this season, with widely reported interest from MLS (Inter Miami) and Saudi Arabia (Al Hilal). Barcelona has also explored the possibility of bringing Messi back to Camp Nou following his dramatic departure in the summer of 2021. 
Confirming that they are interested in bringing Messi back to Camp Nou, Xavi told reporters; “Yes [Barcelona met with La Liga], but not only for the possible arrival of Leo. We’ll see in order to improve the squad for next year, but it is not the important issue; there is still a league to win. 
“Tomorrow we have a key game and this is the important issue. This is a matter of Mateu (Alemany) and he informs us, but, in theory, everything is going well. In the end, we don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. It’s very soon to talk about it. We are focused on the match against Betis and on winning La Liga, which would give us a lot of stability. We will talk about possible signings.”