APRNEWS - Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi take centre stage as the World Cup shifts into high gear at the weekend with the start of the knockout matches in the loaded top half of the draw.

Football heavyweights France, Argentina, Portugal and Brazil are all clustered in one section of the competition, with only Spain among recent winners in the other half.

APRNEWS - Group: Group D
Venue: Saint Petersburg Stadium
Time: 7 pm
Teams: Nigeria vs Argentina
In the final group game, the Super Eagles will play against Argentina in St. Petersburg for a spot in the last 16 for a fourth time.

APRNEWS - Lying a humiliating last in a group they were expected to win, Argentina must beat Nigeria on Tuesday to have any chance of progressing and keeping alive captain Lionel Messi’s dream of winning a first World Cup.

APRNEWS - Always cleanly shaven, it was surprising when pictures of Cristiano Ronaldo with a beard filtered around the internet before Portugal’s game against Morocco. Prior to his grooming surprise, the Portugal captain had celebrated his second goal in the game against Spain with noticeable chin strokes that many interpreted to be a sly dig at Lionel Messi. Both footballers are considered rivals by many fans who pitch their tent with either of the pair.

APRNEWS - The Israeli and Palestinian football associations traded accusations Wednesday over the cancellation of a World Cup warm-up match between the Jewish state and Argentina in the disputed city of Jerusalem.

AFRICANEWS - The Palestine Football Association chief urged fans on Sunday to burn pictures of Argentina striker Lionel Messi and replicas of his shirt if he plays against Israel in Jerusalem next weekend.

THEGUARDIAN - In an age when individual awards are given ever greater importance, Saturday’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool — and Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah — could determine the winner of the next Ballon d’Or.

THEGUARDIAN - After leading La Liga giants, Atletico Madrid, to beat Super Eagles’ Team B to win the maiden GOtv Max Cup on Tuesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, coach Diego Simeone declared that it would be difficult for Nigerian players to stop superstar, Lionel Messi and his Argentina squad when hostilities resume at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

AFP - Lionel Messi could be among a number of key players rested from Barcelona's game against Celta Vigo on Tuesday, according to coach Ernesto Valverde.

Barca broke the record for the longest unbeaten streak in La Liga on Saturday when they beat Valencia to make it 39 league games without defeat.

AFP - Lionel Messi has ensured he could become a free agent if Barcelona no longer plays in a major European league as a result of Catalan independence, Spanish media wrote on Friday.