Sport

Man predicts Messi’s 2022 World Cup win more than seven years ago

It's reiterating this was Argentina's World Cup win, but any native will tell you the player and the country are one and the same.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 19th December 2022

An Argentinian man’s tweet from all the way back in 2015 has gone viral after he predicted that Lionel Messi would win the World Cup in 2022. Can he predict we win it next, please?

‘La Albiceste’ (white and sky blue) fan José Miguel Polanco had travelled to see many a national team game down the years and, like any other native, he had hoped and prayed that Argentina would once again lift the trophy after 36 years of waiting.

More specifically, he believed that his country’s captain and national hero would finally win a World Cup and complete his already ridiculously long list of achievements in football.

In fact, he was so confident that on 20 March 2015, he predicted that ‘La Pulga’ (The Flea) would win the 2022 World Cup and “become the greatest player of all times”.

As far as tweets go, there aren’t many so bold and nonchalant whilst also being absolutely spot on.

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And before you ask, no — there isn’t a load of his tweets guessing that he’ll win every tournament he participated in. Just this one, which makes it so much better.

Replying to his own declaration more than half a decade later after Messi and his teammates lifted the beautiful game’s greatest prize, Polanco acknowledged that the tweet had blew up after his countrymen made it to the final, adding: “you have to believe”.

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Equally as impressive, he also revealed that this was the sixth World Cup he had visited in his time and a football fan, having recently started documenting his travels on his YouTube channel.

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The translation of his latest tweet read:

“It was given. I followed you to all parts of the world and at last, we were able to taste eternal glory. You are not a love that hurts me, you are the love of my life. I am the happiest guy in the world, as well as the 45 million Argentines who have dreamed of this since we have the use of reason”. Now that’s love.

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This man isn’t just the king of football in his homeland; to the footballing world at large, he’s a god.

Nevertheless, while lifting that little gold trophy should have been nothing more than Messi’s living out his destiny, the moment has somehow gotten wrapped up in a debate over Qatari tradition.

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Featured Image — José Miguel Polanco/FIFA World Cup (via Twitter)

Sport

Gary Neville addresses ‘clumsy like’ on Tweet about Mason Greenwood 

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Gary Neville has said that his liking of a tweet about Mason Greenwood has been ‘misinterpreted’. 

The former Manchester United legend and football pundit set off a Twitter storm last night after he ‘liked’ two tweets by Nazir Afzal, and briefly retweeted one. 

The tweets in question said that Greenwood was an ‘innocent man’ and added that ‘you are innocent until PROVEN guilty’.

Mason Greenwood had all criminal charges against him dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. 

He had faced allegations of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault, all against the same woman. 

The CPS said that Greenwood case had been stopped because of ‘the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light’, adding that there was no longer a ‘realistic prospect of conviction’. 

Gary Neville
Gary Neville has spoken about his ‘clumsy like’ of a tweet professing Mason Greenwood’s innocence. Credit: Instagram, Gary Neville

Several people noticed that Neville had liked a tweet about Greenwood’s ‘innocence’ and quickly challenged him on it. 

One person shared a screenshot and wrote: “You have a massive platform and you’re liking bulls**t like this just because the monster plays for a team you support. you’re disgusting @GNev2.”

Neville has now addressed his ‘clumsy like’. 

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He posted: “I liked a tweet relating to the Mason Greenwood news this afternoon from Nazir Afzal. ( the former director of public prosecutions ). 

“This like is being misinterpreted. It was a clumsy like as I obviously condemn any violence against women.”

Greenwood issued a short statement yesterday, writing: “I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support. There will be no further comment at this time.”

Featured image: Instagram, @garyneville2 / publicity picture

Sport

Mason Greenwood says he feels ‘relieved’ after all attempted rape and assault charges are dropped

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Mason Greenwood has said he feels “relieved” after all attempted rape and assault charges against him were dropped yesterday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced yesterday that all criminal charges against the 21-year-old Manchester United forward had been dropped following the “withdrawal of key witnesses”.

The CPS said it had a “duty to stop the case” after “new material that came to light”.

Those developments meant there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”, and the CPS confirmed that it has “explained [this decision] to all parties”.

Yesterday’s announcement comes after GMP confirmed back in January 2022 that “a man in his 20s” had been arrested on suspicion of rape, assault, and a threat to kill after allegations were made a woman on social media.

The controlling and coercive behaviour related to a period between November 2018 and October 2022, where Greenwood was alleged to have made threatening and derogatory comments towards the complainant, as well as accessing and monitoring her social media accounts, while the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was from December 2021.

The attempted rape was alleged to have happened in October 2021.

Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, GMP’s Head of Public Protection, said in a statement yesterday that the police force felt it was “only fair” that it shares the news of all charges against Greenwood been dropped “given the significant media coverage of this case”.

GMP said the decision to drop the charges had “not been taken lightly”, and that it has “decided not to comment on it in any further detail”, despite the media and public’s “interest” in the case.

Greenwood has now spoken out following the decision.

The footballer said in a short statement issued yesterday: “I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support. There will be no further comment at this time.”

Once the news of the allegations initially broke on social media back in early 2022, and GMP confirmed the arrest, Manchester United said in a statement released at the time that Greenwood would not return to training or play matches “until further notice”.

Now, following yesterday’s announcement, the club said it had “noted” the CPS’s decision.

United added in a statement that: “The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps [and] we will not make any further comment until that process is complete.”

Many will also remember that Nike also notably suspended its sponsorship relationship with Greenwood, with the brand saying at the time that it was “deeply concerned” about the allegations, and EA too removed Greenwood from active squads on its FIFA games.

Both companies are yet to address the decision.

/ Credit: Manchester United

Following the announcement of the CPS’s decision yesterday, GMP and CS Kerr did however appeal to people who felt they were, or might have been, a victim, and reiterated the police force’s “commitment” to investigating “allegations of violence against women and girls”.

CS Kerr continued: “An ever-increasing number of officers are receiving specialist training and the force is more consistently utilising tools, available via the criminal justice system, to keep people safe and care for victims.

“If you feel you are or might be a victim, please don’t let this case put you off asking for help.”

Rape and Sexual Assault Support Centres in Greater Manchester

  • St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre Manchester – Provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
  • Greater Manchester Rape Crisis – A confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected]
  • Survivors Manchester – Provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.

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Featured Image – Manchester United

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