Lionel Messi cannot win the World Cup on his own and needs his Argentina team-mates to raise their game to help him, says Claudio Tapia.

Messi cut a folorn figure as Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, leaving him without the winners medal that would help to cement his place in history alongside Pele and Diego Maradona as one of the game s greatest players.

Tapia – the president of the Argentina Football Association acknowledged that this might be the 30-year-old s last opportunity to win the tournament, but said even the five-time Ballon d Or winner wouldn t be able to guide Argentina to glory if his team-mates didn t perform at their best.

Football has evened itself out, Tapia told La Nacion. We have the best player in the world…

Jupp Heynckes revealed how he had to put an arm around James Rodriguez because he was a little depressed after leaving Real Madrid for Bayern Munich.

James joined Madrid after impressing with Colombia at the 2014 World Cup and he initially adapted well at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 13 goals in his first LaLiga campaign.

But inconsistency, combined with Madrid s abundance of attacking options, led to James falling out of favour, so much so that he made just 13 league starts last season and was left out of their squad for the Champions League final.

As such, he was allowed to leave on a two-year loan to Bayern, who have the option to make the deal permanent, and his debut Bundesliga campaign has taken a turn for the better after a slow start.

Heynckes …

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Sergio Ramos is expected to rejoin first-team training next week following an injury lay-off, but Marco Verratti will be out of action for roughly a month.

Ramos joined PSG on a free transfer from Real Madrid in pre-season, having spent 16 years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The experienced centre-back was part of something of a squad revolution at the Parc des Princes, with Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi also moving to Paris.

But Ramos is yet to make his PSG debut after suffering a calf injury at the end of July, having also missed large chunks of 2020-21 due to fitness issues, including a previous calf problem.

PSG have been cautious about reintroducing Ramos to training, eager to…

Ilkay Gundogan s hot streak in front of goal means another successful Premier League title tilt is brewing at Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola has not given up on playing with a conventional striker.

Injury problems for Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus this season, both of whom have also tested positive for coronavirus, forced Guardiola to think outside the box for matters inside the box.

The results, especially in recent weeks have been dazzling.

Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres have all spent times operating at the point of City s fluid attack.

However, the main beneficiary of the confusion and space opened up within opposition defences has been Ilkay Gundogan.

The Germany internationa…

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s future is unclear having become frozen out.

The Gabon striker was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy last month and dropped by the club for disciplinary reasons and has not played since.

Aubameyang s future is a hot topic as the January transfer window opens.

TOP STORY NEWCASTLE IN FOR JANUARY AUBA MOVE

Big-spending Newcastle have got in touch with Arsenal about a loan deal for outcast striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang claims The Mirror.

The Magpies want to sign 32-year-old Aubameyang on loan for the remainder of the season.

Newcastle would also look to sign Aubameyang, who is away at the African Cup of Nations, on a £20million off-season permanent deal.

EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle contact Arsenal over signin…

The rumours about Borussia Dortmund s Jude Bellingham probably joining Liverpool at the end of the season are gathering pace. There has been plenty of evidence about the England midfielder spending time and bonding with Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool captain, as well as right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, since the World Cup in Qatar began.

Further more, SportBild journalist Christian Falk claims it s true that the Merseysiders are leading the race and that the Bellingham family would prefer Liverpool as Jude s destination over the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

That goes for Dortmund MD Carsten Cramer as well, who, on the other hand, warns Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that he shouldn t expect any gifts from his former club regarding the pot…

Former France international midfielder Mathieu Flamini has revealed he rejected a two-year contract extension from AC Milan as well as offers from other clubs to return to Arsenal, understands.

Flamini, who joined Milan from Arsenal in May 2008, made over 150 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners from 2004 to 2008, winning two trophies: the Community Shield (2004) and the FA Cup (2004-05).

The versatile midfielder, 29, marked his return to the club with a solid 45-minute display in the North London derby after replacing Jack Wilshere at half-time, and could prove to be a bargain signing for Arsene Wenger.

Milan asked me to extend my contract for two years, Flamini told France Football.

However, at 29 years old, I didn t want to si…

England welcome Poland to Wembley on Tuesday knowing they must win to guarantee a place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Roy Hodgson s side are on the verge of qualification after victory over Montenegro on Friday, but a failure to secure maximum in the final group game on Tuesday will condemn England to the play-offs if Ukraine beat San Marino.

Poland saw their hopes of reaching the finals extinguished on Friday when they were defeated 1-0 by Ukraine, but they can still have a big say on the outcome of Group H.

England fans and players will not need reminding of a similar clash between the sides in 1973 as Poland left with the hosts crestfallen, Jan Tomaszewski s heroics in goal denying Alf Ramsey s side a win that cost them a place at the World Cup the following year.