LDOG

I said it's a balance between titles and individual performance, not that x title is decisive. In 2011 Messi won UCL scoring a million goals in the year, of course he was going to win it over Suárez. Same for Cristiano in 2016. Anyway, it's not a problem that you think Lewandowski should have won. The problem is that you said Messi shouldn't be even top 5

1) it's often a balance between individual stats and team achievements to decide the winner I believe. Jorginho won the 2 most important trophies but he wasn't the most pivotal player in either team, especially not in Chelsea who has way more important players. 2) Winning Bundesliga is good, but Bayern wins every year literally. Copa del Rey is not amazing but winning the Copa America for Argentina in Brazil is. 3) The 8 goals from Bayern were in 2020 so it's not relevant. Messi scored both of Barcelona's goals against PSG, what else can he do if that team doesn't defend and had no one other than him producing in attack? 4) About the start of this season: the voting closed in October so I don't believe that it's a very important factor. Plus, unlike Lewandowski, he didn't do preseason and has travelled 3 times to south america in 3 months. His scoring+assist stats from January to July are huge. 5) Yes, the scoring stats of Lewandowski are crazy and far away from the rest this year but (something that everyone always forgets) Messi is NOT a striker, he's a playmaker. His scoring stats should be better compared to players like Bernardo Silva, Griezmann, Muller, Neymar, not to Lewandowski lol. Thing is, Messi has scored so many goals in his career that everyone forgets about this when comparing him to others and judges him with a completely different bar.

Arguments?

Slovakia will play exotic teams... in the classification rounds

Where do you even get news about 13 year old argentinian gymnasts?

So, Argentina won the gold in the K1-1000 men and that kid qualifies for Santiago 2023 meaning we can have two competitors in that event?

My very personal predictions: Europe Path A: Ukraine. Austria is garbage, Scotland is vastly overrated with their average premier league players, Wales is very limited and who knows if Bale will even play. Ukraine on their day play really good football and also are surprisingly very good visitors. Path B: Doubt Russia or Poland will qualify (they play poorly). Sweden/Czech is a 51/49 in my view. I'm backing the swedes since they play at home. Path C: Italy and Portugal will win their semis easily. Hosting the final is a huge factor, so I'm betting Portugal despite the coach. That being said... I want Italy to win SO BAD just so there won't be the slightest chance of Ronaldo winning a WC before retiring. Intercontinental: AFC-CONMEBOL: Unless it's Japan that gets involved the Conmebol team will beat whoever. CONCACAF-OFC: If it's Panama I think New Zealand has a solid chance. Any other opponent (MEX, USA, CAN) and they lose. Would not write Jamaica out yet, they have good new english players, but they have to make too much ground after their slow start.

Intercontinental play-off draw AFC v CONMEBOL CONCACAF v OFC

Biggest winners of this draw: Wales, Poland Biggest losers: Everyone in path C, but especially Italy.

European Play-off draw Path A v v (winner plays final at home) Path B v (winner plays final at home) v Path C v v (winner plays final at home)

Why does underground heating matter for an indoor arena?

Egypt shouldn't worry as USA later in the day took a 17-0 from Spain to replace them in the history books

I suppose I could some random watch party from the past but I'll just go with this one cuz it was the most popular here: Volleyball at Tokyo, legend and Seoul medalist Hugo Conte is part of the tv broadcast team and watches Argentina win a medal after 33 years (his son is part of the current team)...

I don't know if she is more important or not than an abstract entity like a country but she is (or should be) more important for IOC, which is the relevant aspect for our discussion here.

The only one in world sport that could make a difference putting out a public statement is IOC. If China sees there's any risk of a serious boycott or threat on their games they will let her go quickly.

When is this draw taking place? I read one person saying it's on friday but I thought official date was in december?

Ecuador wins and Argentina is now officially qualified.

Romero injured, Messi can barely run, the coach doing terrible substitutions... I'll be happy if this ends 0-0

Would be funny for sure but they can't, they won't get any away point and 21 is the maximum possible with the home victories. Even Venezuela will pound them next match.

But Ukraine can't draw Russia, so they have a good 40% chance to play Italy or Portugal.

Sweden and Wales.

Tunisia already 2-0 up, rip Zambia and Eq. Guinea. I'm reading info that apparently Fifa dismissed the Benin protest and DR Congo is through.

There is a good 20% chance to have Italy vs Portugal in the playoffs. No world ranking protection this time. Or would Sweden be better? Who knows Edit: maybe the odds are 33%? Even worse then.

Just watching the second half of the swiss game and they got like 5 goals since I'm watching (2 annuled by the tiniest of margins). I wonder what ever happened during the first half?