17 things we loved this weekend: Benzema, Messi, Garnacho, Gavi…
Wales stole the headlines over their weekend by beating Ukraine 1-0 and qualifying for their first World Cup since 1958.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace for Portugal and Lionel Messi managed to outdo him by scoring all five goals in Argentina’s 5-0 win over Estonia.
We’ve rounded up the best of the action on and off the field.
Karim Benzema
Nobody can deny that Benzema is the best player in the world right now.
The GENIUS that is Karim Benzema on full display again! 🤯
Absolutely outstanding dribbling and finish, set up by a beautiful flick from Nkunku, and France are in front 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/5T2zLkmCCu
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) June 3, 2022
Lionel Messi
After a mixed season at PSG, Messi is saving his very best for Argentina.
MESSI'S INCREDIBLE 5 GOAL MASTERCLASS. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/e280r2mxJJ
— mx (SUSPENDED) (@MessiMX30iiii) June 5, 2022
Wales
A historic moment for Wales.
𝟔𝟒-𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑
Wales are going to the World Cup! 🏴 👏 pic.twitter.com/vYoiQJAhFb
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 5, 2022
Look what it means to Wales 🏴 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Vv7Ji9wJzL
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 5, 2022
Wayne Hennessey
Hennessey did his best Thibaut Courtois impression to take Wales to the World Cup.
9 – Wayne Hennessey made nine saves for Wales in this match, while Ukraine’s nine shots on target were the most by a team without scoring during a game in the 2022 European World Cup qualifying campaign. Heroic. pic.twitter.com/id4lXDDY4O
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 5, 2022
Gavi
Not a bad way to score your first senior international goal.
😍 Gavi gets his first senior international goal for Spain with an exquisite finish.
⭐ What a bright future this young man has ahead of him. pic.twitter.com/m4EDeV4FX0
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) June 5, 2022
Sadio Mane
It’s easy to see why Mane is an absolute hero in Senegal.
◉ First Senegalese player to win the Premier League
◉ First Senegalese player to win the Champions League
◉ First Senegalese player to win AFCON Player of the Tournament
Sadio Mané has now scored more goals for Senegal (32) than any other player in the nation's history. 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/mzJ52YogGx
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 4, 2022
Jarrod Bowen
England may have lost to Hungary but a dream came true for Bowen.
From #ThreeLions fan to #ThreeLions debutant. 🤩
Congratulations, @_JarrodBowen! pic.twitter.com/2j018WRnUJ
— England (@England) June 5, 2022
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal and England have a very special talent on their hands.
Nothing to see here. Just Bukayo Saka dribbling past Trent Alexander-Arnold AND Kyle Walker before scoring.
Starboy tings ✨️ https://t.co/mvmC5ya4iH
— Arsenal Presser (@APresserV2) June 3, 2022
Lorenzo Pellegrini
Ths is just rude.
Lorenzo Pellegrini double nutmeg on Kimmich & Goretzka🤯 pic.twitter.com/oaYOJzsvFo
— Jjuli (@jjuli_007) June 4, 2022
Alejandro Garnacho
Garnacho will be taking free-kick duties off Ronaldo soon. Well, he’ll try to.
Garnacho freekick vs France u20s 🤩#MUFC pic.twitter.com/l1MhhTOCSX
— Manchester_United_Youth (@MUFC_Youth) June 4, 2022
Anthony Elanga
It may have been a late consolation but what a strike from the Manchester United youngster.
"That is an absolute beauty!" 🙌
Anthony Elanga scores his first international goal for Sweden with a beautiful curling strike. 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/vTSqu7DjoM
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) June 5, 2022
Virgil van Dijk & Thierry Henry
We’d have loved seeing these two play against each other.
One of the greats! pic.twitter.com/LtSuC41xNp
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) June 4, 2022
Alou Kuol
Olivier Giroud, eat yer heart out.
Kuol as you like 😎🔥🦂
🎥: @ParamountPlusAU #IRQvAUS #AFCU23 #GoAustralia pic.twitter.com/M6iEJVOefH
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) June 4, 2022
Nguyen Van Toan
We feel sorry for him but we also can’t stop laughing at this.
A goalkeeping howler of the HIGHEST order 😳
🗣 "IT'S BEHIND YOU!" 🗣 pic.twitter.com/4pav5OAkqJ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 3, 2022
This tackle
Defenders will definitely try and learn how to do this.
Just when you thought you’d seen it all 🤷♂️
(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/5EVWS6KdHH
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 5, 2022
John McAtee
Forget about media training, this is what everyone wants to see.
"I'm just delighted, never felt like this before!"
"For a fifth-tier English football match, what is it 30,000? That is mental!"
John McAtee has been a star in @officialgtfc's promotion run…
But this interview might be his best work yet 🤣@TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/oTxtNuBHL7
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 5, 2022
Ken Hirst
No matter who you support, this is well worth seven minutes of your time.
Few supporters have seen as much as this man in our 130-year history.
Ken Hirst: 90 Years A Red 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Q3ggoCGamv
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 3, 2022
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