FC Barcelona claimed the 2025-26 La Liga title against Real Madrid on Sunday, and legends Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez celebrated the trophy on their social media. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez remain inextricably linked to the fabric of FC Barcelona, having spent years cementing their status as the most iconic duo in club history. In a heartfelt display of their enduring loyalty, both legends took to social media to celebrate the Blaugrana clinching the 2025-26 La Liga title following a decisive victory over Real Madrid. Barcelona entered Sunday with a golden opportunity to wrap up the league title in a high-stakes edition of El Clasico. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a breathtaking free kick before Ferran Torres finished off a clinical team move to secure the 2-0 win and ignite a trophy celebration at a packed Camp Nou. Immediately following the final whistle, Messi shared his excitement with millions of followers to commemorate the club’s latest milestone. “Campeones!!! Visca el Barca!!!” the Argentine posted on his Instagram story alongside an image of the current squad hoisting the trophy. Lionel Messi’s post celebrating FC Barcelona’s title. Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez was equally vocal, adding to the digital celebration with his own brand of South American intensity. He dropped an emphatic “VAMOS” in the comments of the team’s victory post, a gesture that quickly went viral among the Barcelona faithful. Luis Suarez’s celebration comment. Despite Suarez departing in 2020 and Messi following a year later, both strikers maintain a deep-rooted emotional connection to the Catalan institution. This bond remains especially strong for Messi, who returned to the Camp Nou last year to the club that raised him. How many trophies have Barcelona won in the post-Messi era? While Barcelona have always been a global powerhouse, Lionel Messi’s era brought a level of unprecedented parity with Real Madrid. Between his 2004 debut and his 2021 departure, the Argentine legend led the club to a staggering 35 trophies. The initial years following his exit were defined by transition and turmoil, as the club managed only two trophies in the first three seasons. However, the trajectory shifted under Xavi Hernandez and has reached new heights with Hansi Flick at the helm. Under Flick’s disciplined leadership and the rise of stars like Lamine Yamal, Barcelona have re-established their domestic dominance. After sweeping the domestic treble in 2024-25, they have now secured both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup in the current 2025-26 campaign. This brings the club’s total to seven trophies since Messi’s departure five years ago. While international glory in the Champions League remains the final frontier, the foundation of this competitive roster looks stronger than it has in years.
Ousmane Dembele posted a video of his former Barcelona teammate Gavi after his goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich. The match of the week featured Bayern Munich trying to come back from its one-goal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals. In the end, the Germans were left behind as Ousmane Dembélé scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw. That led him to indirectly reference his former Barcelona teammate Gavi. While the most recent Ballon d’Or winner has already shown what he can do, proving his level last season with Paris Saint-Germain, he still seems to feel disrespected. Proof of that came in his celebration last Wednesday, when he made the famous silence gesture. But that was not his only message. Dembélé turned to social media to show his feelings with a video of Barcelona’s Gavi, in which the midfielder responds to critics in a blunt way: “A lot of people think I don’t know how to play football. And they have no f… idea. It’s true. It’s understandable. It’s football. Everyone thinks what they want.” El vídeo que Dembélé ha publicado en su instagram tras meterse en la final de Champions League 📸👀#UCLxDAZN pic.twitter.com/IvpDX8Aqdu— DAZN Fútbol (@DAZNFutbol) May 6, 2026 Dembélé after the Ballon d’Or There was some debate over who was the best player in the world last year. While Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe had strong arguments based on their individual performances, Dembélé won the award backed by team success. What Dembélé has not done is relax after a fantastic year. Instead, he has kept his level high to lead the team to another Champions League final in its quest to repeat the achievement. Dembélé has played 19 matches in Ligue 1 and contributed 10 goals. In the Coupe de France, he played two matches and scored once. He also played one match without scoring in the UEFA Super Cup, one match without scoring in the Intercontinental Cup, one match and one goal in the Trophee des Champions, and 12 matches with seven goals in the Champions League, for a total of 36 matches and 19 goals. The final Even though Harry Kane’s late goal for Bayern Munich added some suspense to the end of the match, Paris Saint-Germain was the better team in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Arsenal eliminated Atletico Madrid by one goal to also reach the final against Paris Saint-Germain. The final was set for May 30 in Hungary.
After three years from his professional debut at FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal has outperformed Lionel Messi over that same span with record numbers. Lamine Yamal made his professional debut at FC Barcelona at just 15 years old, and in the time since he has systematically shattered every record of precocity within his reach. Three years on from that historic moment, the numbers he has posted in that span surpass even those of Lionel Messi at the same stage. Back in the 2022-23 season, coach Xavi Hernández placed his trust in a group of young players as he looked to rebuild Barcelona amid a severe financial crisis. Yamal was among those who emerged during that period, making his debut on April 29, 2023, when he came off the bench in the 86th minute for Gavi in a 4-0 win over Real Betis, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to appear in La Liga at 15 years, nine months and 16 days old. Three years on from those brief minutes off the bench, that teenager has developed into one of the best players in the world. Still yet to turn 19, with his birthday falling on July 13, Yamal, currently sidelined through injury, will have the chance to make his World Cup debut when the 2026 edition gets underway in North America. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, across Barcelona and the Spain national team, Yamal has accumulated 12,928 minutes of action spread across 176 appearances. His production in those minutes has been equally impressive, totaling 57 goals and 55 assists between club and country. Gavi of FC Barcelona is substituted off for Lamine Yamal in the game against Real Betis. Yamal has already finished as runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or behind Ousmane Dembele and claimed the Golden Boy award, but the accolades are only part of the story. His trophy cabinet already includes a Euro with Spain in 2024, two Spanish Super Cups, a Copa del Rey and two La Liga titles, with a third league title looking imminent, a collection that only hints at what may lie ahead in the years to come. Messi at the same age: a very different starting point Unlike Yamal, Lionel Messi did not emerge at a club in crisis. When he broke into Barcelona’s first team, he was surrounded by generational talents including Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Deco. His professional debut came on October 16, 2004, at 17 years of age, two years older than Yamal was when he first appeared, and with numbers that the young Spaniard has since surpassed. Measured against the same milestone of approaching the age of 19, Messi had accumulated just 1,954 minutes across Barcelona and the Argentina national team. His early output was solid rather than spectacular, amounting to 10 goals and six assists in less than two years of professional action. The gap becomes even more pronounced when matched against Yamal’s specific three-year timeline from debut to present. Over that same stretch, Messi had logged 6,612 minutes across 102 club and international appearances, roughly half of Yamal’s total, contributing 41 goals and 15 assists. While his goals-per-minute ratio was sharper, the overall volume and range of Yamal’s early impact stands in a category of its own.
While the club remains focused on current ambitions, attention has already shifted toward the next major trophy battle for the Saudi Super Cup, where unfinished business from a painful defeat still lingers. Cristiano Ronaldo now has another opportunity on the horizon with Al-Nassr, as preparations begin for a fresh domestic challenge in Saudi Arabia. While the club remains focused on current ambitions, attention has already shifted toward the next major trophy battle for the Saudi Super Cup, where unfinished business from a painful defeat still lingers. The competition carries extra meaning because of what happened in the previous edition, when Al-Nassr came close but fell short in dramatic fashion. For Ronaldo and the club, the next Super Cup offers a chance to rewrite that story. The Saudi Super Cup has become one of the most visible domestic competitions in the region, combining prestige with immediate stakes. Since its expansion in 2022, the event has featured the league champions and runners-up alongside the King’s Cup finalists, creating a stronger and more competitive field. That format means clubs often arrive in strong shape, with little room for error in knockout matches. Every game carries final-level pressure, which explains why the tournament has become such a valued prize. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy of Al Ahli (C), and other players poses for photo with trophy afte winning the Saudi Super Cup Which clubs will play, and why the tournament matters even more this time A full roster of participating teams for the Saudi Super Cup has been released on the tournament’s official account. That announcement confirmed the full lineup for the 2026-27 edition, with Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, Al-Qadsiah, and Al-Kholood all securing their places. The four-club format has added greater intensity to the tournament in recent years, turning what was once a single final into a compact knockout event. المتأهلون للنسخة القادمة 🔢✅ #كأس_السوبر_السعودي 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qAQdv1mEio— كأس السوبر السعودي (@SaudiSuperCup) April 29, 2026 The sense of anticipation is already growing because each participant enters with different motivations. Some will seek to defend status, while others will see the tournament as a chance to make an early statement before the new season fully begins. For Al-Nassr, the upcoming edition is about more than lifting silverware. It is about restoring momentum after previous disappointment and proving the club can prevail in decisive moments. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr (L) walks on the field with Edouard Mendy (R) The heartbreak Ronaldo wants to erase The previous Saudi Super Cup ended painfully for Al-Nassr. Al-Ahli defeated Al-Nassr 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final, denying Ronaldo and his teammates what looked like a realistic path to his first major trophy in the Middle East. Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr reacts during the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli That defeat still resonates because the Knight of Najd had come within reach of the title before losing in the shootout. For a club built to compete at the highest level, such setbacks often become motivation rather than scars. Ronaldo, who has built much of his career on turning frustration into fuel, now returns to the same competition with another chance. The emotional edge surrounding the tournament is therefore impossible to ignore.
Reports suggest Florentino Perez is personally leading the search for a new coach, with the Portuguese tactician emerging as a serious option for the Spanish giant. Real Madrid could be heading toward one of the most dramatic managerial moves in recent memory, with Kylian Mbappe watching developments closely as Jose Mourinho’s name rises again inside the Santiago Bernabeu. Reports suggest Florentino Perez is personally leading the search for a new coach, with the Portuguese tactician emerging as a serious option for the Spanish giant. The situation has gathered momentum after another difficult season, with Real Madrid facing the prospect of ending the campaign without a major trophy. That has intensified pressure on current boss Alvaro Arbeloa, whose future now appears increasingly uncertain as the club looks for a proven figure to restore authority and winning standards. Unlike previous coaching appointments, The Athletic suggests that this process is driven directly by club president Florentino Perez, who reportedly wants to rebuild a project he believes has lost direction. Perez has long admired Mourinho’s ability to manage elite dressing rooms, create competitive intensity, and absorb pressure during turbulent periods. Those qualities are now seen as especially valuable with a squad containing major stars and high expectations, including Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Several names have been linked with the role, including Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps, Jurgen Klopp, Massimiliano Allegri, and Lionel Scaloni. However, Mourinho’s familiarity with the club and his close relationship with Perez appear to have pushed him near the front of the queue. The release clause that changes everything One of the most significant details to emerge concerns Mourinho’s contract at Benfica. The Portuguese coach is tied to the Lisbon club until 2027, but Fabrizio Romano states that his release clause is worth around $3.5 million, making a move financially realistic for Madrid. That clause can reportedly be activated shortly after Benfica’s season ends, giving Real Madrid a clear window to act. In modern soccer terms, the amount is relatively modest for a manager with such a pedigree and experience. The Portuguese boss previously coached the Whites from 2010 to 2013, delivering one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. His most famous domestic triumph came in the 2011-12 season, when Los Blancos reached 100 points and scored 121 league goals, breaking records in the process. Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica. What it would mean for Mbappe and Vinicius Despite the growing support from Perez, Mourinho’s candidacy is not universally accepted. Some voices inside the club reportedly remain concerned about the divisions created during his first spell, especially his well-documented fallout with former captain Iker Casillas. There is also fresh controversy surrounding Mourinho after comments made earlier this year following Benfica’s UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Vinicius alleged abuse from an opposing player, and Mourinho’s post-match remarks were heavily criticized in Spain. That history means any return would be bold, emotional, and potentially divisive. Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica, speaks to Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. Meanwhile, for Kylian Mbappe, who arrived to lead a new era, the appointment of Mourinho would signal that Real Madrid is prioritizing instant authority over long-term experimentation. Mourinho has built his reputation on managing superstar squads, and many believe he would welcome the challenge of leading Mbappe, Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and the next generation.
