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- Lionel Messi Was The Only Voter Who Picked Maza, Aston Villa Will Sue Carragher And The UAE Is Asia’s No.2
Lionel Messi Was The Only Voter Who Picked Maza, Aston Villa Will Sue Carragher And The UAE Is Asia’s No.2
Augustus Media FZ LLC
October 31, 2026
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From Messi’s lone Kopa Trophy vote for Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza to Aston Villa’s legal threat against Jamie Carragher and the UAE’s rise in Asia’s club rankings, the weekend has plenty of talking points. Messi was the only voter to name Maza, Egyptian chairman Nassef Sawiris says Villa will sue Carragher, and the UAE ranks second in Asia on single-season club points.
Lionel Messi Was The Only Voter Who Picked Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza For The Kopa Trophy
What Is It About
Lionel Messi was the only voter to name Algeria and Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza among his three Kopa Trophy candidates, according to French newspaper L’Équipe. Messi placed Lamine Yamal first, Pau Cubarsí second and Maza third.
Why It Matters
That single point left Maza ninth in the voting, and he became the first Algerian on the Kopa Trophy shortlist. Yamal won the award for the third time at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, while Messi and Maza had met at the World Cup, where Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria.
What’s Next
Maza has five goals and seven assists in 44 matches in his first season at Bayer Leverkusen.
Aston Villa Will Sue Jamie Carragher Over “Unacceptable Insults”
What Is It About
Aston Villa will take legal action against former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. The club said it “will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the club and its fans”, in a statement on X signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris, the Egyptian businessman.
Why It Matters
Carragher made the remarks on the Stick to Football podcast while discussing whether Unai Emery should replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United. He swore at Villa fans and said “Aston Villa will never be Man United”.
What’s Next
Carragher has admitted he should not have sworn at Villa fans. Villa face Fulham on Saturday in the ninth matchday of the Premier League.
Only Japan Is Ahead Of The UAE In This Season’s Asian Club Rankings
What Is It About
UAE clubs rank second in Asia in the AFC’s Men’s Club Competitions MA Points for the 2026/27 season, with 8.333 points. Only Japan is ahead on 9.817, and the UAE leads West Asia ahead of Saudi Arabia on 8.078.
Why It Matters
The surge comes from strong early results in the AFC Champions League Elite, with Al Ain and Shabab Al Ahli among the clubs highlighted. In the overall Men’s Club Competitions MA Ranking, the UAE sits fourth with 74.431 points.
What’s Next
UAE clubs can keep adding points as the AFC Champions League Elite continues.
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