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”.
December 18, 2022. 34 year old Leo Messi will win the World Cup and become the greatest player of all times. Check back with me in 7 years.
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.
Se dio. Te seguí a todas partes del mundo y por fin pudimos saborear la gloria eterna. No sos un amor que me lastima, sos el amor de mi vida. Soy el tipo más feliz del mundo, así como los 45 millones de argentinos que soñamos con esto desde que tenemos uso de la razón 🇦🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/cilNpUA6Gh
“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.
Some saw it as Qatar forcing themselves into an icon’s greatest moment, others have categorised the criticism as racist.https://t.co/WhVRy8TPJE
Featured Image — José Miguel Polanco/FIFA World Cup (via Twitter)
Sport
Greg James, Jimmy Anderson, and Felix White to bring popular cricket podcast live to Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Greg James, Jimmy Anderson, and Felix White have announced they’re taking their smash-hit Tailenders podcast on a tour around the UK.
And cricket fans in Manchester will get to see the lads live in action later this year.
Launched back in 2017, and undoubtedly going on to become one of the most successful podcasts in the UK, with hundred of episodes and a whopping 2.5 million listeners on average tuning into each series, Tailenders is a “loosely cricket based, certified funny” podcast – and sometimes BBC radio show – centred around the world of cricket.
It’s presented by BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James, with and England international cricketer James Anderson, and ex-Maccabees guitarist Felix White.
The critically-acclaimed podcast became a hit right off the bat (pun absolutely intended), regularly finding itself at the top of the podcast charts in the UK when it hits the airwaves, and even scooping a few coveted awards along the way.
Now, the trio are gearing up to take their “alternative (and sometimes musical) look at cricket” on a live tour across the UK – with a stop off here in Manchester this October.
Fans of the podcast will know the show is also made with help from producer Mark ‘Sharky’ Sharman, and with regular input from Matt ‘Mattchin’ Horan – with the latter of the two set to join the core presenting trio on tour.
With fans told to expect “a night of cricket, a night of laughs, and night of surprises”, Tailenders: The Inaugural (Annual) Farewell Tour will be kicking-off in Nottingham on 19 October, before heading out to other major UK cites like London, Birmingham, Sheffield, and more, and arriving at the O2 Apollo in Manchester on Wednesday 25 October.
Tailenders: The Inaugural (Annual) Farewell Tour 2023
Thursday 19 October – Royal Concert Hall (Nottingham)
Saturday 21 October – New Theatre (Oxford)
Sunday 22 October – Cliffs Pavillion (Southend)
Tuesday 24 October – City Hall (Sheffield)
Wednesday 25 October – O2 Apollo Manchester
Thursday 26 October – Symphony Hall (Birmingham)
Friday 27 October – Eventim Apollo (London)
Saturday 28 October – Forum (Bath)
We are heading on the road!
After the incredible London Palladium dates this year, we’re going be touring EIGHT UK cities!
The highly-anticipated tour follows the podcast’s biggest-ever live show at London’s Palladium earlier this year, which sold out within just three minutes – and tickets are predicted to be snapped up just as quickly this time round.
So if you’re up for an “unmissable evening of laughs and surprises”, with quizzes, musical interludes, general cricket chat, and much more, then tickets are on sale now.
Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k to help ‘save endangered animals’
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is calling for thousands of runners to take on a charity 10k through the zoo’s grounds in a bid to help save one of its many endangered species.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo is looking for 2,500 runners of all abilities to sign up for its brand-new ‘Run for Nature‘ later this year – which begins inside the zoo’s 128-acre grounds, and sees participants race past the elephant, giant otter, and giraffe habitats, all before heading out and around the wider countryside estate.
As well as the 10k route, there’s also a special one-mile ‘zoom’ fun run around the zoo, which is perfect for energetic kids under 12.
All runners will get a medal when they cross the finish line, and there’ll even be some exciting prizes up for grabs for those who raise the most money.
Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k through its grounds and beyond / Credit: Chester Zoo
Taking place on Sunday 24 September, all funds raised from the run will go towards the Chester Zoo’s ongoing and extremely-important efforts to find a vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens endangered elephant populations all across the world – which is known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
Scientists at the zoo are currently in the middle of the world’s first vaccine pilot study to fight the virus, and hope that proceeds raised from the upcoming events can help “create a future where Asian elephants survive and thrive.”
“We’re so excited to be able to offer places for 2,500 fundraisers to run our first ever 10k Run for Nature later this year,” explained Hannah Wright, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.
Runners will raise money to help the zoo’s efforts to save endangered Asian elephants / Credit: Chester Zoo
“As a charity, fundraising is at the core of this event, but we also hope that it’s a great fun event that the whole family can get involved in – whether running, supporting or sponsoring.
“All participants will be receive a sustainable medal and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, which include annual memberships, animal experiences, and meal vouchers for our gastro pub, The Oakfield, as well as a selection of animal adoptions.”
Danny Jones -
19th December 2022 
