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👏🏻👏🏻💥🇳🇬 Victor Osimhen needed just 18 minutes to announce himself, but Galatasaray were forced to settle for a dramatic 3-3 draw against Rennes in an entertaining pre-season thriller.

Osimhen opened the scoring before Gabriel Sara restored Gala's lead in the second half, only for Esteban Lepaul's hat-trick to put the French side ahead. Deep into stoppage time, Barış Alper Yılmaz rescued a draw for the Turkish champions.
ESPN

After weeks of transfer speculation, the Nigerian striker has once again reminded everyone why he remains the heartbeat of Galatasaray's attack. The goals, the movement and the energy are all still there.

The big question: How many goals will Victor Osimhen score for Galatasaray this season?
My prediction: if he stays fit and plays regularly, a 25-30 goal season across all competitions is definitely possible.

"Victor Osimhen is my favourite footballer from the new generation."

Davido has named Victor Osimhen as his favourite modern African footballer, revealing that the Nigerian striker's style of play reminds him of Cristiano Ronaldo:

🗣️ "When it comes to the new generation of African footballers, I will personally choose Victor Osimhen. I'm not picking him simply because he's Nigerian, but because the way he plays reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo.

For me, any player whose style is similar to Cristiano Ronaldo's will always have my support. Osimhen has that hunger, determination and fighting spirit that make him special."

Davido believes Osimhen's relentless attitude and attacking mentality set him apart from many players of his generation, comparing some aspects of his game to the qualities that made Cristiano Ronaldo a global icon.

"The image people had of Messi and Ronaldo wasn't always what happened on the pitch."

Former Mexican referee Armando Archundia has shared contrasting experiences officiating Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, offering his perspective on how the two superstars behaved during matches:

🗣️ "I once booked Lionel Messi for simulation, and his response was, ‘You don't know who you're booking, do you?’

When I refereed Cristiano Ronaldo, I experienced something completely different. After a first half filled with fouls and yellow cards, he told me he had spoken to his teammates and asked them to calm down, focus on football and reduce the intensity in the second half."

Archundia's comments have reignited debate among football fans about the public perception of two of the greatest players in history. While supporters continue to hold different views, stories from former players, coaches and referees often add new perspectives to the long-running Messi-Ronaldo discussion.

"Messi has never been my enemy."

Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed the idea of a personal rivalry with Lionel Messi, saying their competition was built on mutual greatness rather than hatred:

🗣️ "Lionel Messi has never been my enemy. For more than 15 years, we shared the biggest stage in football, and the whole world constantly compared the two of us.
It's incredibly difficult for two players to dominate football for so many years and remain at the highest level together. That's what made our rivalry so special.
Football has rarely witnessed a rivalry like ours. We pushed each other to improve, achieved incredible things, and left our mark on the game. Whether people support me or Messi, I believe football may never see another rivalry quite like this."

Ronaldo believes the competition between him and Messi was never about hatred but about inspiring each other to reach extraordinary heights, creating one of the greatest rivalries in football history.
Do you think football will ever produce another rivalry as iconic as Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi?

🚨💥👀 NOW WATCH THIS STORY CAREFULLY...
Just a few weeks ago, PSG looked destined to sign Yan Diomandé. Personal terms were reportedly agreed, and many believed the deal was only a matter of time.

Then Real Madrid stepped in.
One official bid, and suddenly the entire transfer story has changed.

It is a reminder of what happened with Carlos Baleba when Manchester United came calling. Brighton rejected the offer, believing another opportunity would come. Today, with United's project having changed significantly, that move looks far more difficult than it once did.
Now Yan Diomandé faces a career-defining decision.

PSG are still in the race, but Real Madrid have entered the picture. Opportunities to join clubs of this stature do not come around often, and football has shown time and again that waiting for the perfect moment can sometimes mean missing the moment altogether.

If there is one lesson Yan should learn from Baleba situation, it is this: Never assume the same door will remain open forever. In football, timing can be just as important as talent.

"Winning trophies doesn't automatically make you Lionel Messi."

John Obi Mikel believes Lamine Yamal is an extraordinary young talent but insists comparing him to Lionel Messi is still far too premature.

🗣️ "Lionel Messi belongs to a rare category of footballers whose legacy is almost impossible to match unless you're a true football genius.
Lamine Yamal may have already won a World Cup, but that doesn't place him alongside legends like Messi, Pelé or Diego Maradona.
You could give Lamine 20 World Cups, and in my opinion, he still wouldn't come close to what Messi has achieved. He's an exceptional young player with a bright future, but Lionel Messi's impact on football is on a completely different level."

Mikel believes greatness is measured by more than trophies alone, arguing that Messi's influence, consistency and lasting legacy place him in a category few players in history can ever hope to reach.

"The Golden Boot should have gone to Lionel Messi."🐈🏆🇦🇷

Mohamed Aboutrika believes Lionel Messi deserved to win the World Cup Golden Boot, arguing that no player had a greater influence on their team's success.

🗣️ "All the individual awards presented at the tournament were deserved, but if you ask me, the Golden Boot should have gone to Lionel Messi.
He carried Argentina throughout the World Cup and was the driving force behind their journey. Without his performances, I honestly believe Argentina would have been knocked out much earlier.
His influence on the team went far beyond goals. He inspired his teammates, created chances, controlled matches and consistently delivered when Argentina needed him the most. For me, that deserves the highest individual recognition."

Aboutrika believes Messi's overall impact on Argentina's World Cup campaign was unmatched, insisting his leadership and performances made him the tournament's most influential player.

Do you agree with Aboutrika that Lionel Messi deserved the Golden Boot, or should it have gone to another player?

🚨🏆🇪🇸 THE KINGS OF WORLD FOOTBALL ARE SPANISH!
Spain are the 2026 FIFA World Cup champions, and few will argue they do not deserve it.

La Roja defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second World Cup trophy, capping off a tournament defined by fearless football, tactical discipline, and an almost impenetrable defence.

From the opening whistle, Spain controlled possession and dictated the tempo. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, struggled to impose themselves and remarkably failed to register a single shot on target throughout the final.

Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez kept Argentina alive with a series of outstanding saves, but even he could not stop the inevitable. In extra time, substitute Nico Williams delivered a brilliant cut-back, and fellow substitute Ferran Torres fired emphatically into the roof of the net to settle the biggest match in world football.

Spain saw out the remaining minutes with composure, completing a historic triumph after conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament.

Champions are not crowned by luck.
They are crowned by consistency.
And in 2026, no team embodied that better than Spain.

¡Campeones del Mundo!

"Even if Messi wins another world cup,I don't still think it would match the football legacy Ronaldo has built in the past."

Rio Ferdinand in his opinion believes that even if Lionel Messi wins another World Cup trophy,it still wouldn't put him above Cristiano Ronaldo.

🗣️🗣️ "Even if Messi wins another World Cup, I still don't think it would match the football legacy Cristiano Ronaldo has built. Ronaldo has made a huge impact in every league he has played in. Setting records in the Premier League that are still unbroken is something that should never be taken for granted. He is a player whose talent, dedication, and influence on the game are simply undeniable."

🚨💔🇨🇩BREAKING:Another fellow African reportedly burned alive in Johannesburg, 🇿🇦South Africa.

The Congolese community is mourning the tragic death of boxer Roméo Katompa, popularly known as "Bololo," who reportedly lost his life during the night of July 16-17 after being burned alive in Johannesburg.

According to initial reports, the incident is believed to be linked to the recent wave of xenophobic violence that has seen foreign nationals increasingly targeted in parts of South Africa.

Authorities are still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death.

Roméo Katompa had lived in South Africa for several years, where he built a life with his South African wife and their child. Beyond his family, he was a respected member of the Congolese community and was well known in boxing circles, having served as a sparring partner to former WBC cruiserweight champion Junior Makabu.
His death has sent shockwaves through the Congolese diaspora and the wider African boxing community, while once again drawing attention to the recurring violence faced by foreign nationals in South Africa.

No African should lose their life simply because they chose another African country to live, work, or build a future.

May Roméo Katompa rest in peace.