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Ex- Sierra Leone international Michael Lahoud has placed Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen among the best three forwards currently playing in Europe.

Lahoud made the assessment while discussing Galatasaray’s prospects in the UEFA Champions League, expressing confidence that the Turkish giants have enough attacking quality to make a strong impression in the competition.

According to the former midfielder, Osimhen’s goalscoring ability, combined with the arrival of Portuguese star Rafael Leao, gives Galatasaray a major attacking advantage as they prepare for their Champions League campaign.

Lahoud argued that Osimhen belongs in the same conversation as some of the biggest names in world football, including England captain Harry Kane and France superstar Kylian Mbappe.

“Galatasaray has arguably the best striker in Europe right now alongside Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Victor Osimhen,” Lahoud said on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.

Lahoud Backs Galatasaray for Champions League Success

The former Sierra Leone international believes Galatasaray’s attacking options could make them one of the teams to watch during the Champions League league phase.

He particularly highlighted the combination of Osimhen and Leao, describing the Portuguese winger as a potential game-changer for the Turkish club.

Lahoud said the presence of Leao could provide Galatasaray with an additional attacking dimension, particularly in matches against some of Europe’s established clubs.

“I stand on business when I say that the numbers don’t lie when it comes to the Champions League. But the fact that Galatasaray have Rafael Leao, I think that becomes a real X factor,” he stated.

Lahoud went as far as predicting that Galatasaray would finish among the top eight teams at the end of the Champions League league phase.

“Galatasaray will finish the Champions League league phase in the top eight this season,” he added.

Osimhen Remains Key to Galatasaray’s Ambitions

Osimhen is expected to play a central role in Galatasaray’s ambitions both domestically and in Europe, with the Nigerian forward having established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in European football.

His pace, physical strength, movement and ability to score from different situations have made him a major attacking threat, while his Champions League experience is also expected to be valuable to the Turkish champions.

With Leao now providing another major attacking option, Galatasaray will hope their star-studded forward line can help them compete against Europe’s elite.

Lahoud’s prediction will also raise expectations around Osimhen, particularly among Nigerian football fans who will be hoping the Super Eagles striker can continue to deliver at the highest level on the European stage.

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Chelsea spent over £100m to sign Fernandez from Benfica in 2023 and the Argentine has been a mainstay in the team ever since.

But Fernandez’s desire to leave became apparent last season when he repeatedly flirted with Real Madrid while refusing to commit his long-term future to Chelsea.

The 25-year-old, who won the World Cup in 2022 before being sent off in this summer’s final, was dreaming of a move to the Bernabeu but a deal failed to materialise. Man City have continued to show interest, however, with Pep Guardiola’s replacement Enzo Maresca keen to reunite with a player he managed at Chelsea.

City missed the deadline Chelsea set to buy Fernandez for £120m but talks have continued in the past week despite their £86m move for Ayyoub Bouaddi.

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Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the game.

The 39-year-old made the announcement on Monday in a lengthy statement posted on his Instagram account, saying he had reached the point where he could no longer continue representing the national team.

Messi said the decision was painful but insisted that he believed the time had come to step aside after two decades of service to Argentina.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” the football superstar stated.

The announcement came less than two months after Messi led Argentina to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain.

It was a disappointing end to a tournament for Messi, who had previously guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 after defeating France on penalties in the final in Qatar.

Reflecting on his international career, Messi said he had always given his best for the national team and was proud of the achievements he recorded with his teammates.

“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” he said, adding that a new generation of players deserved the opportunity to represent the country.

Messi also thanked his family, coaches, teammates and officials who contributed to his journey with Argentina, saying he would continue to support the national team from outside the pitch.

His decision comes shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, in August. Before his latest announcement, the Argentina star had admitted that the loss had left him uncertain about how much longer he would continue playing football.

Messi’s retirement closes a hugely successful international chapter that included the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America, alongside numerous individual records.

Despite ending his international career, Messi remains contracted to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, with his deal reportedly running through the end of the 2028 season.