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Soccer

Enrique: Messi has 'evolved into the total footballer'

MARCELO DEL POZO / Reuters

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has praised Lionel Messi and his evolution beyond the classification as just a goal scorer.

Proof of his growth as a footballer was exhibited during last weekend’s victory over Eibar when the Argentine star deputised injured Andres Iniesta in a deep lying position compared to his usual post in attack.

His transition into a role where creativity is essential to success was an example of his versatility and ability to positively influence matches outside of his usual role in the heart of Barca’s attacking scheme.

“Messi’s evolution is there for everyone to see,” Enrique told reporters, according to Samuel Marsden of ESPNFC, ahead of Barcelona’s second-leg encounter Thursday with Real Sociedad.

“It’s a process to do with maturing as a person. There have been years when he was the only goalscorer and now he’s evolved into the total footballer, capable of everything in attack and defence.”

Enqrique added Messi’s knowledge of the game and play off the ball makes his job easier whenever players go down with injuries.

“As he’s so intelligent, he will be able to cover any potential physical weaknesses in the long-term,” he said.

“He’s the prototype of a strong player physically, but he doesn’t rely on that because he knows where the space is, how to play without the ball … and if you add his technical and physical quality to that, you have what we see every day: a unique player.”

With contract negotiations going “very well,” according to the club technical secretary Roberto Fernandez, Messi looks as though he’s destined to continue dazzling the Barca faithful at the Camp Nou beyond 2018 when his current contract expires.

NFL

Dez: Players should imitate Beckham's passion

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant says Odell Beckham Jr. is not only misunderstood and has been unfairly subjected to criticism, but he thinks more players should care the way the New York Giants star wideout does about the game.

“Whenever something doesn’t go right, as far as a team loss, y’all don’t like his actions, and all it is, is just him wanting to win the game,” Bryant told ESPN after the NFC’s Pro Bowl practice Saturday. “If more people were like that on his team, maybe they would do something special.”

Beckham finished the 2016 regular season with 1,367 receiving yards, third-most in the NFL, but he was widely criticized for his performance in the wild-card round. The Giants lost to the Green Bay Packers 38-13, and Beckham dropped a pair of passes and produced just 28 receiving yards, the second fewest in any game of his career.

He was so upset after the game that he punched a hole in a wall outside the visiting locker room at Lambeau Field, sources told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, who also saw Beckham banging his head against a door.

“I hate losing. Whether it’s marbles, spades, blackjack, whatever it is,” Beckham told ESPN on Thursday. He did not admit to or discuss the wall incident specifically.

Asked whether Beckham should have to explain himself, Bryant told ESPN, “He’s a talent that a lot of people wouldn’t be able to understand. You want to criticize him. You want to talk about him because you just don’t understand him — his whole mindset, the way he goes about his game. He’s a hell of a football player. He’s a great football player.”

Beckham was also criticized for heading to Miami after the Giants beat the Washington Redskins in Week 17. He and teammate Victor Cruz were seen on singer Trey Songz’s Snapchat at a Miami nightclub partying with Justin Bieber. On Monday, the team’s day off, a photo surfaced on social media of them and several teammates hanging out on a boat, shirtless. Many felt the trip suggested a lack of focus.

Bryant doesn’t see it that way. He also said Beckham’s emotions after a game, the way he outwardly expresses his dissatisfaction with losing, suggest one thing: “The heart of a champion,” Bryant said.

“Especially him, the type of success that you run into, there’s only one person able to understand it — and that’s him and that’s me,” Bryant said. “That’s because we’re the only people who get to see that. Nobody knows how to handle that type of stuff.”

Beckham, 24, said the two talk often and that Bryant, 28, has been a sounding board for him, whether it’s football-related or when it comes to dealing with life under the microscope.

“I think we do the same for each other,” Beckham said. “We’re always giving advice. I could probably look back in my texts and there were times when stuff’s going down and I’ll be like, ‘Let’s try and do this and be better at this.’ We’re always a work in progress.”

Added Bryant: “It’s probably a relationship that a lot of people wouldn’t be able to understand. Y’all like to criticize us for the little crazy things, but that’s why we have each other, to keep each other lifted and to keep each other going.”

Soccer

Gallery: Brazil, Colombia play charity match to benefit Chapecoense

UESLEI MARCELINO / Reuters

Brazil and Colombia came together Wednesday for a charity match to raise money for Chapecoense, the Brazilian club that was devastated when a November plane crash claimed the lives of 19 players.

The contest, played at Rio de Janeiro’s Engenhao stadium, was preceded by a touching pre-game ceremony in memory of the 71 people killed when the plane travelling to Medellin, Colombia descended into the mountains; 71 balloons were released to commemorate the dead, while the stadium lights were dimmed, allowing those in attendance to light up the cavernous ground with their mobile phones.

Related – Chapecoense: A beautiful dream that never got a chance to come true

Six passengers survived the crash, four of whom were in attendance for Wednesday’s match: Chapecoense goalkeeper Jackson Follmann – who had his right leg amputated as a result of the crash – defenders Alan Ruschel and Neto, and journalist Rafael Hernandez.

Follmann, Ruschel, and Neto were the only players to walk away from the plane crash in November, when the Brazilian club was preparing for the Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional.

They were greeted Wednesday by Brazilian and Colombian national teams comprised entirely of home-based players; the likes of Neymar, James Rodriguez and other European-based stars were not in attendance due to respective club commitments.

Brazilian midfielder Diego, who served as captain for part of the evening, said it was an honour to participate in the emotional event.

“This was more than a game, I had the chance to be with Follmann and Neto, they are heroes,” he said. “They are heroes and anything we can do to help them then we’ll be there.”

Brazil went on to win the match 1-0, thanks to a 47th-minute header from Dudu.

But the football was secondary on this night. The focus, rightly, was on those who survived the terrible tragedy. And, of course, those who did not.

NFL

Falcons' Justin Hardy headed to Houston, but not to overtake James Harden's beard

FLOWERY BRACH, Ga. — As Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy sat in the locker room Friday, he carefully brushed the tip of his ever-growing beard, making sure to touch up each inch so it looked on point.

Folks are sure to notice it when the Falcons arrive in Houston on Sunday afternoon for Super Bowl LI. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound Hardy, however, won’t be mistaken for the guy they call “The Beard” who practically owns the city right now: NBA MVP candidate and 6-5, 220-pound Houston Rockets star James Harden.

Justin Hardy’s beard isn’t quite James Harden’s, but he gets compliments all the same. Vaughn McClure/ESPN

Hardy’s not trying to be like Harden, who has grown his beard since 2009.

“I don’t think that looks good,” Hardy said of Harden’s fashion statement.

Hardy started growing his beard right after his senior year at East Carolina at the NFL scouting combine. He doesn’t have a timetable on when he next plans to cut it and has no superstitions tied to the beard in terms of his team’s current six-game winning streak.

Asked what type of reception he gets out in public, Hardy said, “People like it. For real. I always get compliments on it.”

He probably gets a little razzing from his teammates, too, although Hardy didn’t bring up that part of the equation.

“I believe the beard is the reason we call him ‘The Wolf,'” right tackle Ryan Schraeder said. “He’s fun to watch. He’s a dog competitor. It’s fun to go to battle with guys like him.”

Hardy just might be a secret weapon in the Super Bowl, with the way other wide receivers have stepped up when Julio Jones draws added attention. During the regular season, Hardy had 21 catches for 203 yards with four touchdowns. One of the scores was a 4-yard shovel pass from Matt Ryan in New Orleans, where Hardy originally was ruled down but then given the touchdown after a replay review.

It was quite the close shave, unlike the hair on Hardy’s chin.

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Soccer