Manuel Lanzini scored twice for West Ham in their 3-2 win vs. Crystal Palace.
Lanzini was back to his best as he scored one of the goals on the season. With the score at 1-0 for West Ham, Lanzini received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, dribbled right to left and hit the ball into the top of the goal to give West Ham the 2-0 lead.
The Argentine scored his second of the match as West Ham were awarded a penalty. It was Lanzini who took it and scored as he hit the ball with power onto the ground and made it 3-0 for West Ham.
The year 2021 brought a lot of memories when it came to Argentine football with some good and some not as good.
While the biggest of all may have come in July, there were many moments which stole the headlines before July and after the Copa America win. In this three part article, we will be reviewing the top 15 moments in Argentine football of the past 365 days.
This article will focus on Moments 3-1 with the video below!
Down to the last three, this one is a two for one special and not likely one that we ever thought we would see. After two decades at the club, Lionel Messi would leave FC Barcelona. The club would make the announcement on August 5 releasing a statement about it. The news made headlines worldwide, from sports outlet to regular news outlets, Lionel Messi had left FC Barcelona.
The club’s greatest ever player, the club’s all time leading goal scorer, there is nothing that hasn’t already been said about Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona. However, after initial reports that the club would be able to hold on to Messi despite their economic problems, Barcelona released the statement and suddenly, he was being linked to every top club.
While it came down to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, it was PSG which would get his signature. The days leading up to his signing and presentation were full of anticipation. PSG’s social media team was working overtime as they were about to welcome the world’s greatest player. And for Lionel Messi, it meant preparing to put on a new club shirt. For Messi, it means new team mates but also being surrounded by friends with the likes of Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes from the Argentina national team, former team mate and good friend Neymar and playing alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe.
If number 3 was a headline no one thought we would ever see, number 2 is a headline no one would have ever expected or wished they would have to write. Sergio Agüero would announce his retirement from football on December 15 due to a heart arrhythmia. He would play his last ever match on October 30 against Real Valladolid where he would be substituted off with chest pains. He would score his only goal for the club against Real Madrid.
Agüero, still only 33 years old, held a press conference where he announced that he would have to stop playing football.
“This press conference is to announce that I decided to stop playing football.
“This is a very difficult moment for me. I have taken the decision because of my health. The doctors told me that the best for me was to stop playing professional football. I made the decision a week ago.
“The last moment winning the Copa America , I played little but I accompanied the boys and it was what we were looking for years. I was very happy. And the last one I scored against Real Madrid. Not bad, right, to be a last goal?”
His last goal for Argentina came on November 18, 2019 in a 2-2 against Uruguay. He has won the Copa America, two U20 World Cups and the Olympics with the Argentina national team.
There was only ever going to be one match, one moment, one goal, one anything which was going to make the headlines and grab the number 1 spot. Argentina winning the Copa America. Argentina with a 1-0 win against Brazil at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro with Angel Di Maria scoring meant that they would lift the Copa America trophy. After 28 years, Argentina ruled South America. After 28 years, Argentina were able to win an international title. At the age of 34, Lionel Messi lifted a trophy with Argentina.
For many, it was the first time seeing their favorite international team winning a trophy. For others, it was 28 years since they last saw the team win a trophy. But for everyone, it felt like a life time. After the heart breaks of 2004, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016 or even the 2005 Confederations Cup, fans of the Argentina national team were able to celebrate. And it’s a match and a moment we will never forget.
This concludes the top 15 Argentine moments of the year!
Mammana, still only 25 years old, wants to return to Argentina. According to César Luis Merlo, the defender spoke to River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo and expressed his desire to return to the club.
The Argentine left River Plate back in 2016 for Lyon where he spent one year at the club. From there, he joined Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia but spent most of his time on loan at Sochi.
He still has six months remaining on his contract.
Manchester United will meet with Julián Álvarez’s agent in January.
Fernando Hidalgo, who is the 21 year old’s agent has reportedly received a call from Manchester United. According to TyC Sports, Hidalgo received a call from the club as they would like to have a meeting to find out what their demands would be to join them.
The meeting would take place after the new year. The Argentine has gathered interest from the biggest clubs in the world as Bayern Munich, Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Juventus have all reportedly shown interest in signing him.
Julián Álvarez was the standout player in Argentina this season, scoring 18 goals for River Plate and assisting seven times in 21 matches. He was also part of the Argentina national team which won the Copa America.
Lionel Messi has made the IFFHS Men’s Team of the Year.
Messi is the only Argentine to make the team as he also made the IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Year. With a 12 months full of good moments, Messi can add another accolade to his list of achievements.
The 34 year old Argentine won the Copa America with Argentina while also finishing as the tournament’s best player, top scorer and player with the most assists. He lifted the Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona and won the Ballon d’Or earlier in the month for a record seven times.
He makes the team along with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alphonso Davies, Ruben Dias, Leonardo Bonucci, Achraf Hakimi, Kevin De Bruyne, Jorginho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe.
