Seventeen days after guiding Argentina to an epic World Cup final victory over France, Lionel Messi reported back to work yesterday, his French club Paris Saint-Germain announced. The 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner reported back to the club’s training ground as they prepare for Saturday’s French Cup tie at third tier side Chateauroux.Messi scored twice as Argentina drew 3-3 with France in the Qatar final, before prevailing in the penalty shoot-out. Since then he has been celebrating in Argentina and spending time with his family. Yesterday, he was given a guard of honour by his teammates at the training ground, before being presented with a small trophy by PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos, according to images posted by the club on its Twitter account.Messi’s teammates Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in a losing cause in the final, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi returned to club duty just three days after the final with Brazil’s Neymar checking in a day later. Messi is unlikely to play this weekend, more probably making his return in the home Ligue 1 match against Angers next Wednesday.FIFA boss Infantino in Pele wake selfie rowFIFA chief Gianni Infantino insisted yesterday he would never be disrespectful to Pele as he came under fire over a photo call at the Brazilian legend’s wake. Infantino took a selfie with some of Pele’s old teammates on Monday right beside the open coffin of the three-time World Cup winner.The Swiss said he took the photo as Pele’s friends seemed unable to operate their mobile phones. "I took the phone of one of them and took the photo of all of us for him,” Infantino insisted. "If being helpful to a teammate of Pele creates criticism I’m happy to take it and will continue to be helpful wherever I can to those having contributed to write legendary pages of football. I have so much respect and admiration for Pele and for that ceremony yesterday that I would never do anything that would be disrespectful in any way whatsoever,” Infantino said.Brazil gave Pele a powerful send off starting with a day-long wake at the Santos stadium. Santos said more than 230,000 people had attended his 24-hour wake in the Vila Belmiro stadium. At the funeral a more sombre tone was set as Pele’s tearful widow Marcia Cibele Aoki was embraced by the equally moved newly-sworn in president Lula. Pele died last Thursday at age 82 after a battle with cancer.Lewandowski ban upheld ahead of Barca trip to AtleticoBarcelona striker Robert Lewandowski’s three-match ban was upheld by Spain’s sports court yesterday and he will miss the visit to Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga. Barcelona had the punishment suspended by another Madrid court last week, which allowed him to face Espanyol on Saturday.Lewandowski was hit with a suspension after a red card against Osasuna in November before the World Cup break. The decision to suspend his ban meant the Polish forward, La Liga’s top goalscorer, could play in the Catalan derby on December 31, but he failed to score in the 1-1 draw.Espanyol were angered by the court decision and their president and board refused to attend the match against Barcelona.Lewandowski will now miss the league leaders’ fixtures against Atletico, Getafe and Girona.
January 04, 2023 | 11:12 PM