Ligue 1

Lionel Messi is still cooking in Ligue 1 and provides ridiculous assist for Kylian Mbappé

The massive spotlight on Paris Saint-Germain from earlier this season has flickered and remains on a dim setting. PSG are out of the Champions League, eliminated from the French Cup, lost Neymar for the rest of the season and have a relatively comfortable lead in Ligue 1.

There aren’t any big matches left on the schedule for the Paris club with just a handful of league matches against midtable or lower Ligue 1 sides. A sobering end to a season with so many expectations.

On Friday PSG defeated bottom of the table Angers 2-1 courtesy of a Kylian Mbappé brace. 

Neymar update: He's expecting a bebe with girlfriend Bruna Biancardi

Do you miss Neymar? Well, here's a non-soccer-related update: he's going to be a father.

The Brazilian started the 2022-23 campaign flying high, scoring, assisting and bringing a good dose of football champagne for PSG. Some even argue that he was making a solid case to be considered for fancy awards like the Ballon d'Or. However, injuries returned to haunt him during the World Cup and then ended his season by mid-February.

Way too early!

Since then, the player has been mostly playing video games online and losing sponsored money in poker. 

Must-see video of mic'd up referee from Ligue 1 reminds fans that officials are people too

Early Thursday morning, Amazon Prime Video Sport released a video on social media highlighting the difficulties and intricacies involved in being a top-flight match official. The clip showed Benoît Millot, a French referee taking control of a Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Nantes, and gave fans a great insight into what match officials go through over 90 minutes. 

Is this the cheekiest penalty of all time?

Looking at the Ligue 1 standings, it's safe to say that bottom-of-the-table Angers are destined for relegation.

On Sunday, the club travelled to mid-table Clermont Foot in one of the most unremarkable matches across France this weekend, meaning it was up to the supporters to largely entertain themselves at Clermont's modest Stade Gabriel Montpied.

The traveling Angers fans — hoping to witness just a fourth victory in 31 attempts — had a little corner to themselves and could be seen wearing black for the first 20 minutes.

I think Messi's going to Miami after watching Lyon beat a soulless PSG

There was an interesting moment during Saturday's MLS 360 show when analyst Shep Messing said he had "inside info" on a Lionel Messi move to MLS and that "it is going to happen and it's going to happen soon."

Like any great amateur sleuth, I then carefully watched PSG's home match against Lyon on Sunday looking for clues. I think I found them: Messi wants to get out of Paris like a bat out of hell.

Are the stars aligning for a Messi return to Barcelona?

Before the 2022 World Cup, the idea of Lionel Messi extending his contract with French multi-champion PSG seemed a safe bet. Back from Qatar, however, that certainty has started to crumble and the leading narrative around the player's future is pointing to a sensational return to Barcelona. 

Is Messi returning to Barcelona?

Of course, there are a lot of rumors going around, but the blaugranas fans are feeling optimistic after the club's vice-president Rafa Yuste and coach Xavi spoke on Friday about how much they wish for Messi's return to the team. 

Rumors of Folarin Balogun joining the USMNT are at an all-time high — here’s why

Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is having a remarkable season in Ligue 1 with Reims. He’s scored 17 goals in 27 games (only two behind league leaders Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappé) and is firing on all cylinders.

The 21-year-old talent has a big decision to make in his career and that is who he will represent on the international stage. Balogun was born in New York City to Nigerian parents and raised in England. He’s eligible to represent the USMNT, England and Nigeria.

Weekend review: The major talking points from European soccer

Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:

BARCELONA TAKE HUGE STEP TOWARDS LALIGA TITLE

Barcelona have tightened their grip at the top of the LaLiga standings after an electric 2-1 comeback win in an El Clásico against bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.

Franck Kessié's stunner in added time gave Barça a well-earned victory that left second-placed Real trailing the leaders by 12 points with only 12 games to be played.

Kim Kardashian's week: Dooms Arsenal in Europa League, gets Messi booed off the pitch

Based on how preposterously good Arsenal and Lionel Messi have been this season, there's only one possible explanation for their respective failures this week: tourist Kim Kardashian.

On Thursday, the 42-year-old socialite made her presence felt at the Emirates with her son Saint (the second-oldest of Kim and Kanye's four children). Cruising at the top of the Premier League table and targeting European glory, Arsenal suffered a shock elimination to a Sporting side that's sitting fourth in Liga Portugal.

Lionel Messi provides PERFECT pass to Kylian Mbappé for 90th minute game-winning goal

After disappointingly crashing out of the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week, PSG bounced back to defeat a feisty Brest side 2-1 on Saturday.

PSG left it late as Lionel Messi found Kylian Mbappé with a perfect pass in the 90th minute to snatch the victory.

This was the 300th assist in Messi’s club career and boy was it a beauty.

Messi assist to Mbappé to win vs. Brest

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