All posts tagged: Xavi

Why Messi playing like Xavi works for Argentina at FIFA World Cup 2026

Why Messi playing like Xavi works for Argentina at FIFA World Cup 2026

Published by Webster

5 min readMexico CityJun 16, 2026 08:00 AM IST The pull is irresistible; to win it, to win it again. If Lionel Messi had not lifted the World Cup in Qatar, he would have been just another celebrity guest in the corporate box. But success, unlike failure, lures into reliving the glorious yesterday once more, to kiss the bulbous crown again, to be ferried on the shoulders of his teammates again, or to cry so innocently again. Messi cannot leave his yesterdays behind, and so he is in the US to achieve a rare feat last achieved by Pele and friends in 1962. Maybe, this is how he has planned his legacy. He has matched Diego Maradona, his idol and still the most loved footballer in his country, in winning the World Cup. Now, Messi wants to match Messi himself, composing a tribute act to himself. He could spoil the perfect ending that Qatar had bestowed on him, he could turn out to be a parody of himself. He will turn 39 during the tournament. …

‘Leo didn’t come because the president didn’t want him’: Xavi says Lionel Messi’s Barcelona comeback in 2023 was scrapped by Joan Laporta | Football News

‘Leo didn’t come because the president didn’t want him’: Xavi says Lionel Messi’s Barcelona comeback in 2023 was scrapped by Joan Laporta | Football News

Published by Webster

3 min readMar 9, 2026 08:22 PM IST Former Barcelona player and coach Xavi Hernandez said that Lionel Messi‘s return to Camp Nou was almost a done deal in 2023 but the club’s president Joan Laporta had blocked the Argentinian’s transfer fearing a power struggle with the superstar. Messi would ultimately end up joining his current club Inter Miami in 2023 after his Paris Saint Germain tenure ended. “The president is lying about what happened with Messi. Leo was signed. In January of 2023, after he had won the World Cup, I spoke to him and he told me he was excited to learn. We spoke until March and I told him: ‘Once you give me the OK, I will tell the president because it works perfectly on a football level,” Xavi said to Spanish outlet La Vanguardia as per ESPN. “The president negotiated the contract with Leo’s dad and we had the green light from La Liga financially, but it’s the president who pulled out. He told me that if Messi came back, he …

Riteish Deshmukh turns fanboy on meeting Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez on Raja Shivaji sets: ‘Still pinching myself’ | Bollywood

Riteish Deshmukh turns fanboy on meeting Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez on Raja Shivaji sets: ‘Still pinching myself’ | Bollywood

Published by Webster

Apr 12, 2025 08:40 AM IST Barcelona football legend Xavi Hernandez recently paid a special visit to the sets of Raja Shivaji, which is being directed by Riteish Deshmukh. Barcelona football legend and World Cup winner Xavi Hernandez recently paid a special visit to the sets of Raja Shivaji, directed by Riteish Deshmukh. Xavi was accompanied by his friends and family. Riteish Deshmukh met Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez on the sets of his film.(Instagram) Xavi meets Riteish Deshhmukh As per a press note, The former FC Barcelona captain spent over two hours on location, taking a detailed round of the massive, intricately designed sets that recreate the glorious era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Riteish also took to Instagram and thanked Xavi for taking time off his schedule to visit his sets. “Still pinching myself! A huge thank you to the legendary @xavi and the gracious @nuriacunillera81 for visiting the set of our film ‘Raja Shivaji’ with your wonderful friends and family. It was truly an honor to host you–your presence lit up our day. The …

When Figo passed to Morientes

When Figo passed to Morientes

Published by Webster

The player taking the corner looks familiar. Never mind the face; the swing of the right foot is a dead giveaway. It’s the kind of fluid and kinetic motion that, seen even once, is not easily forgotten. The swing of the foot is low and slow, stopping in mid-air for a fraction of second, as it wraps itself over the ball. The movement is so smooth it seems effortless, yet the power behind it is unmistakable. The ball soars, drops and curves, precisely into the head of Fernando Morientes. But the striker’s header balloons over the crossbar. Morientes flashes an apology; Figo grudgingly accepts. The moment could have been composed in Nou Camp or Santiago Bernabéu, sometime at the stroke of the century, but here it was at the DY Patil Stadium, in the blistering Mumbai heat and humidity, in 2025. They swayed and swung as they celebrated a night etched in the past, watched countless times on the television. The footballers, agile and athletic in their peak years, their tissues and muscles ravaged by …

When Figo tore up the flanks, Xavi played delicate back flick from edge of box at Navi Mumbai

When Figo tore up the flanks, Xavi played delicate back flick from edge of box at Navi Mumbai

Published by Webster

It wasn’t just a football match. It was a love letter to the past. On Sunday, under the glowing floodlights of the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, El Clasico returned. Not in its blistering, modern-day form though, but through the lens of memory. Indian football fans got a taste of the storied rivalry as legends, who once lit up the Santiago Bernabeu and the Camp Nou, battled it out on Indian soil. The energy was unmistakable. Tens of thousands gathered outside the stadium, draped in the crisp whites of Madrid or the blaugrana (red and blue) stripes of Barcelona. These were fans who once stayed up through the night to catch glimpses of Carles Puyol diving into tackles, Luis Figo ghosting past defenders, or Fernando Morientes slotting it past goalkeepers with ease. Story continues below this ad Long before the players stepped onto the field, the air was already electric. Children zipped through the crowd in their favorite jerseys, dragging their parents along, or maybe it was the other way around. While the kids …

Pepe reflects on epic rivalry ahead of Legends match in Navi Mumbai

Pepe reflects on epic rivalry ahead of Legends match in Navi Mumbai

Published by Webster

As soon as the footballing calendar is announced, fans across the globe – regardless of their favorite league or teams –  typically circle one date above all others: The El Clasico. The showdown between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona isn’t just a match. It is a spectacle. And few players experienced its most intense, emotionally-charged era quite like Pepe, the Portuguese warrior who was the mainstay of Real Madrid’s defense. Now, as he eases into retirement, far from the deafening roars of the Santiago Bernabeu or Camp Nou, Pepe finds himself in a new rhythm — playing in Legends matches. The 42-year-old will lace up his boots this Sunday, this time at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where icons from Real Madrid and Barcelona will rekindle football’s fiercest rivalry. Leading Real Madrid will be the iconic Luis Figo, joined by Fernando Morientes, Michael Owen, and, of course, Pepe. On the other side, Barcelona will be captained by Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning skipper Carles Puyol, who’ll reunite with Xavi, Rivaldo, Jose Edmílson, Javier …

Barcelona Legends and Real Madrid Legends unveil squads for ‘Legends Faceoff’ match | Football News

Barcelona Legends and Real Madrid Legends unveil squads for ‘Legends Faceoff’ match | Football News

Published by Webster

The ‘Legends Faceoff’ match between FC Barcelona Legends and Real Madrid Legends which is scheduled for April 6 at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium had their squads unveiled on Tuesday with Indian fans set to get a taste of the famed El Clasico. Barcelona will be led by Carlos Puyol while Luís Figo will captain Real Madrid. Both teams will be full of stars like Fernando Morientes, Pepe, Michael Owen, Javier Saviola, Xavi and Rivaldo. Speaking on the occasion, Puyol said, “The ‘Legends Faceoff’ is going to be special. I am really excited to play in India for the first time. The passion of the fans here is incredible, and I can’t wait to experience it first-hand.” “Barcelona vs. Real Madrid is the biggest rivalry in football, and I am excited to be part of this historic match. Mumbai, get ready for a footballing spectacle like no other!” his Barcelona teammate Xavi added. Story continues below this ad “The love for football in India is growing every day, and it’s a privilege to bring this …

Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol to play in Navi Mumbai next month in Legends Faceoff clash

Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol to play in Navi Mumbai next month in Legends Faceoff clash

Published by Webster

Xavi Hernandez, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol, Michael Owen and Fernando Morientes will be seen in action at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai next month in a showdown between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legends. The clash between former stars from the two iconic La Liga teams will also feature players like Javier Saviola, Pepe, Phillip Cocu and Christian Karembeu. The clash between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legends will happen on April 6. Story continues below this ad Here’s how the teams will shape up: Real Madrid Legends: Figo, Owen, Pepe, McManaman, Morientes, Karembeu Barça Legends: Xavi, Rivaldo, Puyol, Quaresma, Cocu, Saviola How to buy tickets for Barcelona vs Real Madrid legends game You can book tickets for the game on District via Zomato. Xavi Hernández, earned a reputation for himself during his Barcelona days as a midfield maestro and one of the greatest passers in football history. He won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona. He was also one of the vital cogs in …

Sacked Xavi Warns Next Barcelona Coach Job ‘Won’t Be Easy’, Ends With Sevilla Win

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Xavi Hernandez signed off as Barcelona coach with a 2-1 win at Sevilla on Sunday to close out the La Liga season, before warning his replacement the job “won’t be easy”. The Catalans, second, finish the campaign trophyless but were at least able to triumph in Xavi’s last match in charge after president Joan Laporta sacked him on Friday. Just weeks earlier, Barcelona announced Xavi was staying for next season after the coach said in January he had decided to resign in the summer. Appointed in November 2021, Xavi led Barcelona to the Spanish title last season, but this year his team finished 10 points behind champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid. German coach Hansi Flick is expected to be appointed as Xavi’s successor next week. Xavi warned of the struggle awaiting the next in line. “They should know that they’ve got a difficult situation, because Barca is a difficult club and there’s an adverse financial situation too — it won’t be easy at all,” he told DAZN. “I think the work we’ve …

Barcelona Sack Club Legend Xavi Hernandez After Trophyless Season

Published by Webster

Barcelona sacked coach Xavi Hernandez on Friday after the club failed to win a trophy.© AFP Barcelona sacked coach Xavi Hernandez on Friday after the Catalan giants failed to win a trophy this season. Xavi will take charge of the team’s final La Liga match on Sunday at Sevilla before departing. “Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told Xavi Hernandez he will not continue as coach for the 2024-25 season,” said Barcelona in a statement. Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is heavily tipped to replace Xavi. In January, Xavi said he would leave at the end of the season but, after a run of strong form, in April he and president Laporta agreed the coach would stay for the next campaign, with his contract expiring in June 2025. However, the situation quickly changed with Spanish media reporting Laporta was angered by Xavi’s comments suggesting it was hard for the financially-hamstrung club to compete with Real Madrid and other elite European sides. “Barcelona want to thank Xavi for his work as coach, …