FC Barcelona is set to pay Lionel Messi the remaining €5.95 million from his deferred salary during the 2020 season by Monday, marking the final installment in a payment plan agreed upon during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The payment relates to a portion of Messi’s salary that was postponed as part of financial adjustments made when Barcelona was under severe economic strain.

The agreement, made in 2020, ensured the balance would be paid in phases, and with this final installment, Barcelona will have fulfilled all outstanding commitments to the Argentine legend.

Messi had agreed to defer part of his wages to support the club’s financial recovery, showcasing his commitment to the team’s well-being.

This move officially closes the financial chapter between the club and its greatest-ever player, nearly three years after his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Messi, now with Inter Miami, remains a beloved figure at Barça, with ongoing talks about a possible tribute match at the Camp Nou once renovations are complete.

The total deferred wage payment to Messi amounts to €47.6 million, with Barcelona making eight scheduled payments from December 2021 to June 2025.

Other players, including Ronald Araújo, Pedri, Ansu Fati, and Iñaki Peña, are also expecting similar payments as part of agreements made during the financial strain of the pandemic.

Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, had previously confirmed that the club would continue to pay Messi’s deferred wages until 2025, stating, “We have outstanding payments to Messi until 2025. What is owed to him is the deferral of the wage bill that was agreed with the previous board and that produces outstanding payments that end in 2025. He is paid religiously”.

….

Nigeria’s sprint icon, Tobi Amusan, has made history by winning the Diamond League trophy for the third consecutive time.

Although the latest reports indicate her impressive performance at the 2025 Paris Diamond League, where she clocked 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles, securing a strong second-place finish, her previous wins were marked on September 17, 2023, at the Eugene Diamond League in Oregon, USA, with a record time of 12.33 seconds.

Amusan’s consistency throughout the season has been impressive. After a slow start with fourth-place finishes in Xiamen and Shaoxing, she rebounded with a win at the Rabat leg of the Diamond League, setting a meet record of 12.45 seconds.

Her recent performance in Paris demonstrates she’s building momentum ahead of major international competitions.

The Nigerian athlete faced stiff competition from top runners like Grace Stark, who won the Paris Diamond League with a lifetime best and meet record of 12.21 seconds, Ackera Nugent, and Keni Harrison.

Despite the challenging field, Amusan showcased her experience and rising form, scoring valuable points toward the Diamond League Finals in Zurich.

Amusan currently sits fourth on the Diamond League leaderboard with 10 points, behind Grace Stark (23 points), Danielle Williams (15 points), and Marione Fourie (12 points).

Her determination and hard work have paid off, solidifying her position as one of the top athletes in the world.

Kamaru Usman, the Nigerian-American mixed martial artist, has snapped his three-fight losing streak with a dominant performance at UFC Atlanta on Saturday night.

Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision in the main event of the fight card, with judges scoring the contest 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in his favor.

The victory marked Usman’s first win in over three years, dating back to November 2021.

The 38-year-old former UFC welterweight champion showed his wrestling prowess, controlling the first four rounds with well-timed takedowns and relentless top pressure.

Despite showing signs of fatigue in the fifth round, Usman’s experience and composure helped him weather the storm and seal the win.

With the win, Usman reasserted himself as a key player in the welterweight title picture.

“It’s been a while,” an emotional Usman said in his post-fight interview. “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.”

Usman’s victory was a statement, proving that he still belongs among the elite.

Buckley, who had a six-fight winning streak before the fight, showed respect for Usman, saying, “I’m going to be honest, I’m just glad to be in this Octagon with someone who is known as one of the best.”

The loss ends Buckley’s winning streak, but he vowed to continue fighting, saying, “This ain’t gonna be the end. We just getting started.”

Usman’s win sets him up as a potential challenger for the winner of the expected title bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev later this year.

With his dominant performance, Usman has shown that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.