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Sports158 words1 min read

Messi's Farewell Match Thrown Into Chaos

a crowd of people standing around a man holding a basketball
Photo by Alvaro Palacios on Unsplash

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

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Quiz

1. Why is the match in danger?
2. Who did Argentina call up?
3. True or false: This is one of Messi's last matches for Argentina.

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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.

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