Lionel Messi confirms news of retirement following Argentina’s victory against Croatia: Report
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi confirmed the news of his retirement following Argentina’s 3-0 victory against Croatia during the first World Cup semi-final in Qatar on Wednesday. According to the report by the Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole, Messi has said that this year’s FIFA World Cup final will be his last game for Argentina.
The 35-year-old was on target from the penalty spot, and also set up the third goal clinching Wednesday’s victory for his team. Having scored five goals in the tournament so far, Messi also became Argentina's leading goal scorer in World Cups with 11 goals to his name, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta (10) on the list.
"I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final. It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," Messi reportedly told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.
Urging his teammates to enjoy the victory after their semi-final win over Croatia, Messi said, "Argentina are, once again, in the World Cup final. Enjoy it!"
"We've been through tough situations, other very good ones. Today we're experiencing something spectacular", he added
Despite being one of the World Cup’s favourite teams in Qatar, Argentina’s loss in the opening group game 1-2 against outsiders Saudi Arabia had given way to the disappointment of football fans with the breaking of their unbeaten record of 36 matches that they held before arriving in Doha.
With Argentina’s entry into the finals after the win against Croatia, football fans have laid all their doubts to rest.
The two-time champions will either take on France or Morocco in the final in Qatar at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
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UP: 90 Bangladeshis, including 28 children, held in Mathura for illegal stay
Mathura (UP), May 16 (PTI): As many as 90 Bangladeshi nationals, including many children, were apprehended from Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district on Friday for alleged illegal stay in India, officials said.
They were taken into custody from local brickyards at Khajpur village under the Naujheel police station limits, a senior officer said.
"Regular searches were being conducted throughout the district. During one such operation, police were searching some local brickyards when they came across Bangladeshi nationals working there," SSP Shlok Kumar said.
Giving a break-up, the officer said in all, 35 men, 27 women and 28 children have been taken into custody.
"During interrogation, all of them admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in India. They moved to Mathura three to four months back from a neighbouring state. Police are trying to establish their links," the SSP said, adding that their job contractor and other associates are also being questioned.
The officer told PTI that police also recovered some Aadhaar cards from the Bangladeshi nationals, apparently issued on forged documents in some other state.
Further legal proceedings are underway, Kumar said.
