Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is in India and spoke about the 2024 Copa America, the World Cup and Lionel Messi.

Martínez has been in Asia for several days, having visited Bangladesh and India. The Best goalkeeper in the world spoke to the media while in India about his Argentina national team career. With quotes via Calcutta Times, here is what he had to say:

“When I play in goal, I think I can be the best. Winning the Copa America, the Super Cup against Italy and the World Cup, within two years we won everything as internationals and we are going to win the next Copa America and hopefully the next World Cup.”

The World Cup winner was also asked about Lionel Messi, with quotes via Telegraph India:

“After the match against the Netherlands we knew we would be champions. And when we won the Cup, Messi hugged me and told me ‘You have won us the Cup’. It’s a night I will never forget.

“He is from another planet. Messi is irreplaceable. If he decides to retire before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we have to respect his decision.

“With or without Messi, we will give our all to defend the World Cup.”

Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is on the cover of Calcutta Times in India!

“Kolkata’s love for football surprises me!”

Via @Calcutta_Times. pic.twitter.com/th85NVJf6B

— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) July 5, 2023

Argentina U17 national team coach Diego Placente has announced his latest team for training.

The U17 World Cup begins on November 10 in Indonesia and the coach is already beginning to prepare for it. Placente has named 24 players on Monday which will begin training at the Lionel Messi training complex.

Two absences are Claudio Echeverri and Gianluca Prestianni. The two players will continue to train with River Plate and Velez, their respective clubs. Here are the players that have been called up to the team:

Froilan Diaz (Union)
Enrique Maza (Atletico Tucuman)
Franco Villalba (Velez)
Dylan Martinez (River Plate)
Dylan Gorosito (Boca Juniors)
Ulises Gimenez (River Plate)
Juan Gimenez (Rosario Central)
Agustin Colmegna (Boca Juniors)
Octavio Ontivero (Lanus)
Lucas Flores (River Plate)
Alejo Rivas (San Lorenzo)
Thiago Laplace (Lanus)
Gustavo Albarracin (Talleres CBA)
Mariano Gerez (Lanus)
Kevin Gutierrez (Rosario Central)
Franco Mastantuono (River Plate)
Alejo Sarco (Velez)
Agustin Ruberto (River Plate)
Ian Subiabre (River Plate)
Hernan Godoy (Lanus)
Santiago Lopez (Independiente)
Benjamin Acosta (Lanus)
Luka Andrade (Boca Juniors)

David Beckham has spoken about Lionel Messi signing with his club Inter Miami and what happened when he found out about the news.

Beckham explained how he found out that Lionel Messi signed with his club Inter Miami, despite rumors and interest from both Barcelona and Saudi Arabia. Beckham is part owner of Inter Miami and as per Goal.com, here is what Beckham had to say at the “Leadership Lessons” seminar:

“A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to about a million messages on my phone.

“I was thinking, ‘What’s gone off? I don’t usually get this many messages.’ All of a sudden, I hear Leo has come out and announced he’s coming to Miami. Obviously, it wasn’t a surprise to me.

“I have always said, from the word go, that if I had the opportunity to bring the best players in the game to Miami, at whatever time of their careers, I would do that. I have always made that commitment to our fans.

“So when I hear that one of the best players – if not the best player – who has won everything in the game, who is still a great player, still young and still doing what he’s doing, wants to play for my team, it’s a massive moment for us.”

César Luis Menotti spoke abouht Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María.

The World Cup winning coach had nothing but praise for the two other World Cup champions. Speaking in an interview with Super Deportivo Radio, here is what he had to say about Lionel Messi:

“Physically, technically and age wise, Messi can easily play in the next World Cup. He is very healthy, he trains and takes good care of himself. He is impeccable, he has no injuries. If I were 36 years old and I were him, I would play until I was 40 years old!

“Then we will have to see his state of mind, maybe he wants to enjoy his freedom a little more.

“Messi, wherever he goes, will always have freedom of action, if if he doesn’t win. He will always play well. I have never even seen him just play normal.”

Menotti also spoke about Ángel Di María and how highly he is regarded:

“Di María deserves the same recognition as Messi, Maradona and Kempes. For me, he is at the same level as the best player in the world that you want to compare him to.

“For me, he is the player who has represented Argentine football like no other in all the places where he has played. When I saw him become world champion, I was more happy for him than for myself.”