While Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona dominated the headlines, there were plenty of eye-catching moments elsewhere around the world over the weekend.
Kelechi Iheanacho helped Leicester City beat Manchester City in the Community Shield and the new Championship season got underway.
We’ve rounded up the best of the action on and off the field.
Lionel Messi
We still can’t believe he’s actually leaving Barcelona
Greatest Applause
Of
All
Time pic.twitter.com/YoJt8nkTZc
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 8, 2021
Lionel Messi, again
Looking back, he didn’t do too badly.
🏆 All of Messi’s collective trophies at the press conference. #FCB pic.twitter.com/Dw8hPC8XR2
— Reshad Rahman (@ReshadRahman_) August 8, 2021
Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes has picked up where he left off last season.
Good Morning to everyone especially to @B_Fernandes8
pic.twitter.com/znJJPIbITJ
— ً (@TheFergusonWay) August 8, 2021
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had to pay for a ticket to get back inside the stadium.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sending Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to the shops. 👋 pic.twitter.com/wQFktVClEJ
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 8, 2021
Dele Alli
It’s great to see Alli playing with confidence again.
Tottenham
A class gesture from the Spurs fans.
Rivalries aside. What a moment this was this afternoon.
💙 @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/sfObRqyGP8
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 8, 2021
Wesley Fofana
It’s safe to say that Fofana enjoyed Leciester’s win at Wembley.
Yesssssssss love you lads 🎉🎉💙💙 pic.twitter.com/aj41cxRK2g
— LAWESTT (@Wesley_Fofanaa) August 7, 2021
James Maddison
Maddison won the Community Shield and also had time for a quick selfie on Saturday.
A mid game selfie with @Madders10, as you do. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/7Gx9oxPnzT
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) August 7, 2021
Riqui Puig
Who needs Messi?…
Riqui Puig with a fantastic curler into the far corner! 😍
That seals a 3-0 win for Barca 🔥 pic.twitter.com/d7GCpEletE
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) August 8, 2021
Erling Haaland
New season, same old Erling Haaland.
Picking up where he left off 🔥
An Erling Haaland hat-trick puts @BlackYellow comfortably through to the next round 📽️#DFBPokal #WIEBVB pic.twitter.com/MgS8gYfU6e
— The DFB-Pokal (@DFBPokal_EN) August 7, 2021
Jose Mourinho
Never change, Jose.
Álex Moreno uses his arm to score 3-2 against Roma, the referee does not cancel the goal and Lorenzo Pellegrini and Mourinho are sent off due to the protests. Terrible arbitration.pic.twitter.com/K7bdQsRSIc
— zeynep (@zerecktors) August 7, 2021
Noni Madueke
England have yet another exciting young talent to keep an eye on.
Noni Madueke’s first goal for PSV in the Dutch Super Cup today 🏴
Cut through the Ajax defenders like a hot knife through butter 🧈
You’re going to be seeing that name pop up a lot this season.#NXGNpic.twitter.com/Rlxiw8qOxy
— Goal (@goal) August 7, 2021
Michel Der Zakarian
Fair enough.
Brest manager Michel Der Zakarian on the prospect of Messi joining PSG:
“We say that we have a s**t league, but if we manage to bring in a player like that it would be exceptional. I’m not going to be polite here, but he gives me a hard-on.” (via RMC)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 7, 2021
Gaetan Laborde
We could watch this on repeat all day.
Laborde with a DELICIOUS curling effort for Montpellier! 🙇♂️
Simply incredible precision. 🤯💫 pic.twitter.com/KWBWGLKc2E
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 8, 2021
Jack Grealish
The No.10 shirt is clearly more than just a number for Man City’s new signing.
When Jack Grealish found out he was gonna be number 10 😁
[Via @GrealishProp_]pic.twitter.com/QuKqQsL9HJ
— Manchestericonic (@manchestriconic) August 6, 2021
Freddie Ladapo
Football really wasn’t the same without fans inside the stadium.
Plymouth Argyle fans chanting: “Freddie Ladapo, will always be sh*t!”
….. Freddie Ladapo scores to make it 1-0 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/gKHgjddVuP
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) August 7, 2021
Kamaldeen Sulemana
Not a bad way to mark your debut.
The composure, the bend, the finish, the celebration 👌🏿
What a way for Kamaldeen Sulemana to score his debut goal for #Rennes pic.twitter.com/1b1VptFAvL
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 8, 2021
Kevin Stroud
The heir to Mike Dean’s throne.
Keith Stroud blowing a kiss to the ball to kick-start the new season.
We are so through the looking glass.#CelebrityRefs
(via @GillyClarke25)pic.twitter.com/tVZSvN15ey
— Celebrity Refs (@CelebrityRefs) August 8, 2021
Ryan Kent
We have no idea what he was trying to do here.
pic.twitter.com/Tq9bydPfmH
— FollowFollowMeltdowns (@FollowMeltdowns) August 7, 2021
Achraf Hakimi
We feel like Messi is going to really enjoy playing with Hakimi.
That’s why PSG paid big money to bring in Achraf Hakimi 🔥
Get you a right-back that loves getting forward… What a finish! pic.twitter.com/fDaNxYUsXw
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 7, 2021
Dani Alves
He’s going to need a bigger trophy cabinet.
Dani Alves has completed football:
6 x La Liga
5 x Spanish Super Cup
4 x Super Cup
3 x Champions League
3 x Club World Cup
2 x Copa America
2 x UEFA Cup
2 x Ligue 1
2 x Confederation’s Cup
2 x French Super Cup
1 x Serie A
1 x Italian Cup
1 x Olympic Gold Medal 🥇 pic.twitter.com/zRMwHGlmcX
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 7, 2021
Burak Yilmaz
The 36-year-old continues to prove that age is just a number.
Burak Yilmaz in the 97th minute for Lille 😤
The reigning champions were seconds away from an opening day loss but managed to get a point from 3-1 down! pic.twitter.com/vAb2tAxceO
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 8, 2021
This miss
*Insert Benny Hill music*
What just happened?! 😦
(🎥 @ESPNnl) pic.twitter.com/j8Gw0iz2DU
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 8, 2021
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