‘Not a good decision’: Ex-Pak star fumes at PCB, sends message to Moh…

Kamran Akmal expressed strong disapproval of the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to release seven players from the squad during the England Test series. He argued that this move could harm the morale of the remaining team members. Akmal questioned why senior players were sent home rather than simply being benched, stating that this choice diminishes the team's reputation and increases pressure on the players who remain.

Buenos Aires [Argentina], September 1 (ANI): Following Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football, the 39-year-old’s mother, Celia, shared an emotional statement reflecting on the deep connection her late husband, Jorge Messi, shared with their son’s footballing journey.

According to America TV, Celia’s statement was read out by a news anchor, highlighting the bittersweet timing of the legend’s departure from the national team just weeks after his father’s passing.

Jorge Messi passed away on August 8 in Rosario at the age of 68. Reflecting on her family’s grief and the central role Messi’s career played in his father’s life, Celia revealed how her late husband often wondered about life after Messi’s international career, only for his passing and the retirement to happen almost simultaneously. beltedkingfisher.blog

“I am still crying. Even though we already knew, the whole family is sad. But the important thing is that he is happy. The father (her husband Jorge) always used to say, ‘What am I going to do when he does not play anymore.’ And it all happened together," said Celia Messi, via America TV.

Messi announced his international retirement on Monday, bringing down the curtain on a legendary career with the Albiceleste. The decision came over a month after Argentina’s 0-1 loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

In a statement originally written two days after the final and finalised after his father’s death, Messi expressed deep pride and peace with his choice, emphasising that the recent loss of his father made him even more convinced of his decision to step aside for the next generation.

“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment… I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," said Lionel Messi

“There is not much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give. Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here… Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey… I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of… Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina! I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced of this decision than before," he added.

Messi leaves behind an unparalleled international legacy as Argentina’s most-capped player and top all-time scorer, with 124 goals in 203 appearances. Over a career featuring six FIFA World Cup appearances (2006-2026), he amassed 21 World Cup goals–including eight goals and four assists in the 2026 tournament–and led Argentina to historic triumphs at the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa America.

While his international chapter comes to a close, Messi will continue playing club football for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

New Delhi [India], August 31 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh lauded legendary FIFA World Cup-winning footballer Lionel Messi following his international retirement, saying that the game will remember him “long after the final whistle".

The ‘Little Boy From Rosario’, who gave legions of his fans immeasurable joy with his records, goals and wizadry on the football pitch, left behind thousands of unforgettable memories after he pulled down curtains on a decorated 20-year international career in Argentine colours. From his debut in 2005 to his final appearance in national colours in his side’s FIFA World Cup final loss to Spain this year, Messi’s journey was filled with history, tales of heartbreak, resilience and redemption.

Taking to his Instagram, Yuvraj posted a story, giving a tribute to Messi on his international retirement. He said in his caption, “There are very few who become legends while they are still writing history. You are one of them, Leo. What a phenomenal career! The game will remember you long after the final whistle."

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who is also an avid FC Barcelona fan, a club Messi represented for the majority of his career, posted a video from Messi’s Instagram handle, depicting his journey from a football-loving kid to a FIFA World Cup winner, on his Instagram story.

The video had a caption saying, “Obrigado Leo", roughly translating to “Thank you, Leo".

In a written statement, as quoted by 433, Messi said, “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment."

“I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," he added.

Messi acknowledged that the end of this chapter of his career “hurts him a lot", as he “gave everything he had and he does not have anything more to give". He also pointed to the emergence of young talent within the squad, saying that they “deserve to be here".

“There is not much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give. Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here," he said.

He thanked everyone for their love for these past two decades, saying that while he will miss their support on the field, he will now be amongst the fans supporting the national side in their good and bad times.

“Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate and director I had the chance to share it with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments," he said.

“I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!."

On a concluding note, he said, “Thank you God for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!" I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced of this decision than before."

The Argentina skipper is his country’s most-capped player and highest goal scorer, with 203 appearances and 124 goals. He is also the highest goal-scorer in South American football history.

In 2022, after years of heartbreaks, particularly the 2014 FIFA World Cup final loss to Germany, Messi tasted FIFA World Cup glory, beating a Kylian Mbappe-powered France in the final. It was his country’s first WC in 36 years and their third overall, as per ESPN.

Before that, Messi had also played a massive role in ending Argentina’s 28-year title drought, securing the Copa America title in 2021 and winning it back-to-back after World Cup glory in the 2024 edition.

Messi had previously announced his international retirement back in 2016 after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final that year but reversed his retirement, leading his nation to World Cup glory six years later in Qatar. Messi scored two goals in the title clash and also converted a penalty, winning the match 4-2 for his side after the match ended in 3-3 draw at regulation time.

The legendary footballer appeared in six FIFA World Cups from 2006 to 2026, scoring 21 goals in 34 matches. He is the second-highest goal-scorer in the tournament’s history, with France’s Mbappe holding the record with 22 goals.

In this year’s World Cup, Messi had eight goals to his name and four assists, making him one of the standout performers in the tournament. This also included his maiden FIFA WC hat-trick against Algeria. He had overtaken Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s record of most FIFA World Cup goals before Mbappe snatched the top spot from him.

Messi will, however, continue playing for his club, Inter Miami, in Major League Soccer (MLS). Inter Miami is currently placed fourth in the MLS with 12 wins, six draws and four losses, giving them 42 points, 10 points behind Nashville SC. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

A medal is more than a piece of metal. For an athlete, it represents years of training, sacrifice, failure, comebacks and the moment when all those efforts finally come together.

At the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, the medal itself has a story to tell. Inspired by the Games slogan, ‘Imagine One Asia’, the medal tells a story of unity, diversity and achievement. It reflects how Asia may have developed into a place of different languages, cultures and traditions, but sport continues to bring people together.

The design takes this idea of coming together in a unique way.

A medal born from broken pieces

The medal was designed by Japanese designer Daisuke Shiba, who is the Representative Director of MERRY BEETLE Co., Ltd. and TOGU General Incorporated Association.

During the design process, Shiba repeatedly broke ceramic discs and studied the shapes created by the fragments. Rather than trying to create a perfectly controlled form, he looked for a shape that appeared naturally attractive.

The idea had a strong connection with an athlete’s journey.

Athletes do not reach the Asian Games podium without facing setbacks. Their journeys are filled with injuries, defeats, pressure, long hours of training and moments when their dreams can seem far away. Like the broken ceramic pieces, each of those experiences becomes part of the final achievement.

The broken fragments eventually come together to create one medal.

Three medals, three materials

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals are 80 mm in diameter and 5 mm thick.

The gold medal weighs approximately 265 grams and is made of pure silver plated with at least 1 gram of gold. The silver medal weighs around 264 grams and is made from pure silver.

The bronze medal weighs approximately 222 grams and is made from red brass, containing 95% copper and 5% zinc.

While the medals differ in material, each shares the same overall design concept, keeping the focus on the idea of athletes coming together through sport.

A medal with a sustainability story

The medal also carries an environmental message.

A portion of the metal used for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 medals has been recovered from small electronic devices donated by participating municipalities as part of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Recycled Medal Project.

The project is an effort to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and encourage a more circular approach to resources.

So, the medal also follows the same idea as its design. Materials that were once part of something else are given a new purpose and become part of something more valuable.

The ribbon tells an Aichi story

The medal is not the only part of the award with meaning. The ribbon takes inspiration from the kakitsubata, or Japanese iris, which is the official flower of Aichi Prefecture. Its design also uses sweeping lines inspired by the flower’s leaves.

The shape is meant to represent the graceful strength of athletes while also connecting Aichi’s culture with the world.

Even the medal case has a story

The medal comes in an octagonal case, with the eight-sided shape appearing both inside and outside.

The design is linked to the character ‘八’, meaning eight in Japanese. The character was historically used in the emblem of the Owari Tokugawa family, who were the rulers of Aichi at the time. It is also part of the current emblem of Nagoya City.

The shape widens outwards, symbolising growth from the present towards the future.

The case itself is made from Aichi-grown Japanese cypress, or hinoki. That choice also connects with the region’s long tradition of the tea ceremony, where precious tea utensils and objects are traditionally kept in wooden boxes.

For an athlete, the case is designed to become a lasting place to preserve one of the most valuable objects of their sporting career.

A medal designed to last

The thought put into the Aichi-Nagoya medal also comes at an interesting time for major sporting events.

The medals from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games made headlines after some athletes reported that their medals had begun to tarnish.

The Paris medals were designed by French jewellery house Chaumet and featured a piece of iron taken from the Eiffel Tower during its renovation. However, several athletes later complained about the condition of their medals.

British diver Yasmin Harper, who won bronze in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard, said she noticed small areas of tarnishing. American skateboarder Nyjah Huston also publicly criticised the condition of his bronze medal, saying it was showing signs of discolouration and damage.

The French Mint told ATP that it had received 220 requests for medal replacements, with damaged medals being replaced and engraved to match the originals.

The Paris issue showed that a medal is expected to be more than symbolic. That makes the approach taken for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 more interesting. The organisers have paid attention not only to how the medal looks, but also to the materials, the production process, its sustainability message and even the case in which it will be preserved.

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