Nation/Inter Messi and Gomez are favourites.

This Tuesday in La Paz, in the first leg of the 2023 Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, Inter Porto Alegre beat the Bolivian Bolívar 1-0 and were a stone’s throw away from reaching the semi-finals. The goal was scored by Ecuadorian Enner Valencia in the 16th minute. The rematch is scheduled for August 29 at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre.

In the quarter-finals, the authorities are faced with a riot. With their titles and history, Palmeiras wants to reproach Pereira, a lowly Colombian club that does not obey the rules set by the South American giants. On the one hand, Verdao, twice champion (2020 and 2021) over the past four years, will achieve with his relay what should be another step towards his goal of becoming the best on the continent.

Boca Juniors and Racing Club open today in La Bombonera the first chapter of a series of quarter-finals as attractive as they are unpredictable between two Argentinean teams still in the Copa Libertadores race. The Xenises are aiming for their seventh title in the continental tournament, for which they added Uruguayan Edinson Cavani as reinforcements a few days ago.

Brazil’s Botafogo, the sole leader in Brazil, aims to maintain its exciting pace by taking home the Argentine defense and justice from 18:00 today in the first leg of the South American Cup quarter-finals.

Rio de Janeiro’s Botafogo, owned by Paraguayans Roberto Fernandez and Matias Segovia, already has half of Brazil’s league title in their pocket, 11 points ahead of Palmeiras after 20 games played in which they proved their local infallibility by winning everything home games. games.

• Nashville, USA. AFP.

Lionel Messi is ready to bring Inter Miami his first title in tonight’s League Cup final against Nashville in what will be the finishing touch to one of the most extraordinary achievements in the world of football.

In less than a month, the Argentine star led the lowest-ranked MLS Team of the Season to the first final in franchise history, in a tournament pitted against 47 teams from the North American and Mexican leagues.

At 36, the Albiceleste captain has scored nine goals in six games in his new pink kit, some of which have saved Inter from extreme situations, and the tournament’s Golden Boot is all but guaranteed.

Backed by Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, his former Barcelona partners who followed him to Miami, Messi made Inter’s most formidable offense in the league, scoring a total of 21 goals in six games.

Diego Gomez, a 20-year-old Paraguayan midfielder, one of those chosen by coach Gerardo Martino, also joined the team and even started.

On the other hand, Paraguayan defender Robert Rojas was officially introduced to his new team, the Argentine Tigres. “The fifth reinforcement has been signed! Robert Rojas is a newcomer to Tigre. The defender has joined from River Plate and has signed a contract with him until June 2024 with a buyout option,” the club said on social media. He will be teammates with two other Paraguayans: goalkeeper Santiago Rojas and left winger Blas Armoa. Argentinean Juan will direct Manuel Sara.

Two Manchester City players Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland, along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, are among the top three finalists for the UEFA Player of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season, the European body announced on Thursday.

The three players have been appointed following a vote by the coaches of teams that competed in the group stage of three European Cups (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) last season, selectionists from 55 UEFA partner countries and a group of European journalists. Each voter had to choose three players from a list of 10.

The winner will be announced on 31 August in Monaco during the Champions League group stage draw. Norwegian Haaland and Belgian De Bruyne shone this year in the Champions League, allowing Manchester City to beat Orejona for the first time in their history. Messi, who left PSG this summer for Inter Miami, won the World Cup with Argentina, the only major title missing from his formidable record.