Messi Doubtful Starter for Argentina; Vinicius Back with Brazil for World Cup Qualifying

Brazilian players Neymar Jr. (L), Rodrygo (C), and Vinicius Jr. (R), react during a training session at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil 10 October 2023. (EPA)

07:55-11 October 2023 AD ـ 28 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1445 AH

Brazilian players Neymar Jr. (L), Rodrygo (C), and Vinicius Jr. (R), react during a training session at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil 10 October 2023. (EPA)

Lionel Messi is again a doubtful starter for Argentina in the next World Cup qualifying match against Paraguay.

The Argentina captain scored in the opening 1-0 win over Ecuador but skipped the 3-0 win at Bolivia last month because of muscular pains that have also sidelined him from several matches for Inter Miami in the MLS.

The World Cup champions are due to host Paraguay on Thursday at Buenos Aires.

Vinicius Jr. missed Brazil’s first two games in South American qualifying but is back in the starting lineup after recovering from an injury. The Selecao will take on Venezuela in Cuiaba.

Argentina and Brazil are 2-0 in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after victories last month. The continental archrivals are due to meet in November.

Colombia is in third spot in the 10-team standings with four points. Uruguay and Venezuela each have three points, followed by Paraguay, Peru and Chile with one point each.

Ecuador hasn't registered a competition point despite its 2-1 win over Uruguay on Sept. 13. Ecuador started the qualifying tournament at -3 after having points deducted by FIFA for the falsification of birth information of defender Byron Castillo, who is of Colombian origin.

The next World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada is expanding to a 48-team format, meaning direct entry to the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.

Other matches Thursday include celebrations for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay after FIFA's decision to award the three countries the opening matches of the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Argentina vs. Paraguay

The 36-year-old Messi missed four MLS matches for his club plus the US Open Cup final. He played 10 minutes on Saturday in Inter Miami's 1-0 loss to Cincinnati. Tuesday's training suggested he will face Paraguay, but it wasn't clear whether he'd start or come off the bench.

Coach Lionel Scaloni didn't indicate who would replace Messi if he doesn't start. He will also have to make other selection decisions, including whether to start Nicolás Tagliafico or Marcos Acuña at left-back, or Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez up front.

Argentina will not count on Ángel Di María, who is recovering from injury. Nico González is likely to be the veteran's replacement once more.

Paraguay's new coach Daniel Garnero will have his debut against Argentina. He took over from Guillermo Barros Schelotto last month after the first two qualifiers.

The 54-year old Garnero, an Argentine like Schelotto, has coached several Paraguayan teams since 2016 and shown preference to more balanced teams in a country where defending is seen as an art.

“We need to play it clever, use the strategy of our coach for this match and take one point. And why not three?” defender Junior Alonso said. His hopes are not false; Argentina has failed to beat Paraguay in the two latest editions of South American World Cup qualifying.

Brazil vs. Venezuela

Brazil's new coach Fernando Diniz showed at Tuesday's training that Vinicius Jr. is fully recovered from injury and will start against Venezuela in the city of Cuiaba. Raphinha was the starter at right-wing in the two first matches but is now injured.

The status of the 23-year-old Vinicius at home has grown since the last World Cup, as he continues to thrive at Real Madrid.

“Vinicius is important for his club, he is important for the national team. And he is only a boy,” striker Gabriel Jesus told a press conference. “He came back from injury scoring goals and helping Real win matches. He is just great.”

Renan Lodi, who is also out due to injury, is likely to be replaced by Guilherme Arana.

Richarlison is expected to start against Venezuela despite his goal drought for the national team. His most recent goal for Brazil came in the 4-1 win against South Korea in the round of sixteen of the World Cup in Qatar.

Also on Thursday, Colombia will face Uruguay, Bolivia will host Ecuador, and Chile will take on Peru.

Guardiola Backs Man City After Bombshell Guilty Verdicts

Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League. (Action Images via Reuters)

01:06-1 October 2026 AD ـ 20 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Guardiola Backs Man City After Bombshell Guilty Verdicts

Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola threw his weight behind the club on Wednesday after a bombshell verdict on Premier League financial rule breaches plunged their future into serious doubt.

The former boss broke his silence 24 hours after it was announced that the club had been found guilty of more than 100 breaches of financial rules in the world's richest domestic league.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the disciplinary case and the decision by an independent commission as the "most significant in Premier League history".

He said City "systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade", adding that the league was committed to a swift resolution.

The likely punishment is uncertain but, according to Premier League rules, City could face a substantial points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, have vowed to appeal and have until Friday to do so.

Guardiola, who was a vocal supporter of the club over the issue before leaving the Etihad in May, broke his silence in a post on X.

"I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here, more than ever," said the Spaniard, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in a golden decade at the helm.

"I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club, my owner, my chairman, (CEO) Ferran (Soriano), the players, staff, (manager) Enzo (Maresca) and you, our unique supporters.

"Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."

- 'Significant breach' -

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he did not want to see the club's Emirati owners walk away as a result of the case.

"I would be really concerned to lose them," he told the BBC, highlighting the investment the Abu Dhabi United Group had made in Manchester, where Burnham was mayor until June.

But English football's independent regulator, David Kogan, said that his body has the power to assess the suitability of club owners and executives "where appropriate", when there is "clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals".

The Premier League, which first charged City in 2023, announced the findings of the commission on Tuesday.

The commission found City arranged "sham" deals to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, a period in which they won three Premier League titles and other silverware.

In doing so, they concealed the true state of their finances but the commission said that the club were "significantly in breach of both the Premier League's and UEFA's spending limits".

The commission found the club guilty on all charges related to breaches of financial rules over the nine-year period.

They have also been found guilty of most of the charges they faced in relation to a failure to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.

Sky Sports reported that City's stadium and shirt sponsor Etihad has categorically denied any implication the Emirati airline has been involved in improper commercial arrangements and threatened to take legal action against the Premier League.

- Punishment -

Everton and Nottingham Forest were given points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of financial sustainability rules.

On that basis, City could face relegation given the sheer weight of the case against them.

There is speculation they could even be stripped of their titles.

"If the appeal fails, Manchester City cannot stay in the league, they have to suffer. And I say that as a supporter and a fan," said the club's former chairman, David Bernstein.

Former City defender Micah Richards, who was part of the side that won the club's first top-flight league title for 44 years in 2012, said the uncertainty was "heartbreaking".

"I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating," Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.

City have become the Premier League's dominant force since the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour, the vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The team are next in action against Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, where they will take on the club who have been their closest challengers over the past decade.

Sports

Etihad to Seek Legal Advice After Premier League’s Man City Findings

An aerial view shows the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, northwest England on September 30, 2026. (AFP)

01:02-1 October 2026 AD ـ 20 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Etihad to Seek Legal Advice After Premier League’s Man City Findings

An aerial view shows the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, northwest England on September 30, 2026. (AFP)

Abu ‌Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways said on Wednesday it was seeking legal advice on its options after criticizing the Premier League’s handling of an independent commission's findings against Manchester City.

The Premier League said on Tuesday that City had used "sham" commercial contracts as part of schemes to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) over nearly a decade.

Etihad, City's principal sponsor since 2009, ‌said it "categorically rejects ‌any finding, conclusion or implication" ‌that ⁠it was involved ⁠in improper commercial arrangements.

In a statement, the airline said the league never contacted or consulted it during the commission process and gave it no opportunity to provide information or challenge material that may have reflected adversely on the company.

"Etihad is ⁠deeply concerned by the way this ‌matter has been communicated ‌publicly," the statement said. "The lack of clarity and transparency, together ‌with the selective disclosure of information, has ‌created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision."

City have denied any wrongdoing and said they intend to appeal.

A Premier League ‌spokesperson said on Wednesday they would not be commenting on the Etihad ⁠statement.

Etihad added ⁠that the Premier League's public communication of the findings, following what it described as selective leaks and reporting, had harmed its reputation.

While reaffirming its support for Manchester City and its longstanding partnership with the club, the airline said it was seeking legal advice on the options available to protect its interests.

"We stand with the club, its supporters and our wider Etihad community as Manchester City challenges the commission's conclusions through the processes available to it," the statement said.

Sports

Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Training Camp After Coach Says He Is Dropped

Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo waves to fans as he arrives for a training session at Parken stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 30, 2026, on the eve of their Nations League Group A4 match against Denmark. (AFP)

00:57-1 October 2026 AD ـ 20 Rabi’ Al-Thani 1448 AH

Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Training Camp After Coach Says He Is Dropped

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Wednesday that he had left the team's training camp in Denmark after coach Jorge Jesus told reporters that the striker would be dropped for their next match.

Ronaldo had been due to train with his team-mates at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday but left abruptly after Jesus's press conference.

The veteran coach had said that Ronaldo, who spent the entire match on the bench against Norway on Sunday, would not start Thursday's Nations League clash away to Denmark either.

"Following the national team coach's press conference, and after having a conversation with the Portuguese Football Federation president, I decided to leave the national team's training camp," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

"In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated.

"Now is time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my team-mates, without exception."

Jesus had insisted earlier that there was no rift between him and Ronaldo, although the 72-year-old did acknowledge that his captain had been disappointed to remain on the bench in the side's Nations League win over Norway.

The news sparked a wave of memes on social media and furious backlash from Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro.

"They don't deserve to have the best of anything," she said about the Portuguese people on Instagram.

"We are envious, scornful, and ignorant, and we deserve to return to the mediocrity that defined us in the pre-CR7 era of football."

- 'No incident' -

Following the 2-1 victory in Oslo, Ronaldo went straight to the changing rooms without joining his team-mates in acknowledging the Portuguese supporters in the stands.

"There was no incident whatsoever," Jesus told reporters.

"Any player -- and I was a player myself... when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on... no one is happy about that," Jesus said on Wednesday.

The Portuguese coach added that he had told Ronaldo before the match that he would not be in the starting line-up, but that he might bring him on towards the end of the game.

"Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It's nothing to make a fuss about," Jesus insisted.

The former Benfica boss also explained that Ronaldo had not refused to train on Tuesday, as some Portuguese media outlets had suggested, but that he had had to do individual exercises for physical "mobility" and "strengthening".

Jesus had said that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would train as normal on Wednesday, however, despite arriving at the stadium in the team bus, Ronaldo did not join his team-mates on the pitch in Copenhagen.

Portuguese media shared a video of him leaving the Parken stadium alongside two members of the backroom staff just after Jesus's press conference.

They also said that Ronaldo's private jet was heading to Copenhagen.

Following Ronaldo's social media post, the Portuguese federation released a statement confirming that the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus player had left the squad's training camp.

"Preparation for the two matches against Denmark and Norway... continue as planned with the 24 remaining squad members," the federation said.

"The entire delegation remains totally focused on the national team's next fixtures and on achieving the established objectives."

Jesus had said earlier that for the Denmark match he again intended to start AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winner against the Norwegians.

"If everything goes according to plan, it will be Goncalo who plays," he said, before adding regarding Ronaldo: "If I need him, he'll come on. If I don't need him, he won't."

At 41, Ronaldo announced this summer that this season would "probably (be) my last year in football".

He is Portugal's leading goalscorer and most capped player, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.

Messi Doubtful Starter for Argentina; Vinicius Back with Brazil for World Cup Qualifying

Most Viewed

Guardiola Backs Man City After Bombshell Guilty Verdicts

Etihad to Seek Legal Advice After Premier League’s Man City Findings

Ronaldo Leaves Portugal Training Camp After Coach Says He Is Dropped

لم تشترك بعد