Messi's Farewell Match Thrown Into Chaos
Lionel Messi is one of the best football players in the world. He plays for Argentina. Soon, he will stop playing for the national team. This match against Burkina Faso was one of his last games.
But there is a big problem. The team from Burkina Faso did not travel to the match. News reports say they had flight problems from Africa. Because of this, the match is now in danger.
Argentina needed new players fast. The team called up young players from the U23 team. U23 means players under 23 years old. They can play if the senior players are not ready.
Many fans are sad about this news. They wanted to see Messi play one of his last games for Argentina. Now, nobody knows if the match will happen.
Football officials are trying to fix the problem. They want the match to happen if possible. Fans are waiting for more news about Messi's farewell match.
Vocabulary15 words
- Argentina
- a country in South America
- Burkina Faso
- a country in Africa
- U23
- players who are under 23 years old
- farewell
- saying goodbye
- friendly
- a football match that is not a competition
- national team
- the team that plays for a country
- travel
- to go from one place to another
- flight
- a trip by airplane
- senior
- older and more experienced
- officials
- people who manage something important
- fans
- people who love and support a team
- match
- a football game
- danger
- a bad situation that might happen
- called up
- asked to join a team
- problem
- something difficult that needs fixing
Quiz
Answer key
1. Burkina Faso had flight problems 2. U23 players 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Lionel Messi is one of the best football players in the _____.
He plays for _____.
Soon, he will stop playing for the _____ team.
The team from Burkina Faso did not _____ to the match.
News reports say they had _____ problems from Africa.
Argentina needed new players _____.
The team called up young players from the _____ team.
Many _____ are sad about this news.
Nobody knows if the _____ will happen.
Fans are waiting for more news about Messi's _____ match.


