Get to know all five players with an ODI century and a five-fer in the same match

 

Only five players in the history of cricket have achieved the rare feat of scoring a century and taking five wickets in the same One-Day International (ODI). Scoring a century in limited-overs cricket requires significant skill, given the pressure to accumulate runs quickly within a set time. Similarly, taking five wickets in a single match, with just 10 overs to bowl, is equally impressive.

While centuries and five-wicket hauls are remarkable on their own, combining both achievements in the same ODI match is a rarity, managed by just a select few. Across men's and women's ODI cricket, only five players have accomplished this extraordinary double.

West Indian legend Sir Vivian Richards was the first to achieve the feat. Let’s take a closer look at the players who have made history by scoring a century and taking five wickets in the same ODI.

Players with a Century and Five Wickets in the Same ODI:

1. Sir Vivian Richards | 119 and 5/41 vs New Zealand, 1987

The first player to achieve this rare double, Sir Vivian Richards, did so in the opening game of West Indies’ four-match series against New Zealand in 1987. After West Indies opted to bat first, Richards top-scored with 119 off 113 balls, leading his team to 237/9. He then starred with the ball, taking 5/41, including key dismissals of John Wright and Sir Richard Hadlee, securing a 95-run victory for the Windies.

2. Paul Collingwood | 112* and 6/31 vs Bangladesh, 2005

In the fourth match of the 2005 Natwest tri-series, England’s Paul Collingwood became the second player to notch a century and take five wickets in the same ODI. Batting first, Collingwood’s unbeaten 112 off 86 balls helped England reach 391/4. He followed that with a brilliant bowling display, taking 6/31 and tearing through Bangladesh’s middle order as England won by 168 runs.

3. Rohan Mustafa | 109 and 5/25 vs Papua New Guinea, 2017

UAE’s Rohan Mustafa achieved this milestone in the final game of a three-match series against Papua New Guinea in 2017. Mustafa top-scored for his team with 109 runs, helping the UAE post 251/9. He then worked his magic with the ball, taking 5/25 as Papua New Guinea was bowled out for 148, giving the UAE a commanding 103-run victory and a 2-1 series win.

4. Amelia Kerr | 232* and 5/17 vs Ireland (Women), 2018

New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr is the only woman on this exclusive list. She achieved this feat in the third ODI of a series against Ireland in 2018. Kerr smashed a world-record 232* off 145 balls as New Zealand posted a mammoth 440/3. She then took 5/17, all bowled dismissals, as Ireland was bundled out, leading New Zealand to a huge 305-run victory.

5. Bas de Leede | 123 and 5/52 vs Scotland, 2023

In a dramatic 2023 World Cup qualifying match, Bas de Leede became the fifth player to score a century and take five wickets in the same ODI. Chasing 278 to secure a World Cup spot, de Leede’s 92-ball 123 guided the Netherlands to victory with 45.1 overs remaining, ensuring qualification on net run rate. Earlier, he had claimed 5/52, restricting Scotland to 277/9.

These outstanding all-round performances reflect the immense talent required to dominate both with the bat and ball in a single ODI match.

 

Biowaiver Monograph for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Sitagliptin Phosphate Monohydrate 

Abstract

Sitagliptin is an antihyperglycemic drug used in adults for the treatment of diabetes Type 2. Literature data and in-house experiments were applied in this monograph to assess whether methods based on the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) could be used to assess the bioequivalence of solid immediate-release (IR) oral dosage forms containing sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate, as an alternative to a pharmacokinetic study in human volunteers. The solubility and permeability characteristics of sitagliptin were reviewed according to the BCS, along with dissolution, therapeutic index, therapeutic applications, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic characteristics, reports of bioequivalence (BE) / bioavailability problems, data on interactions between the drug and excipients and other data germane to the subject. All data reviewed in this monograph unambiguously support classification of sitagliptin as a BCS Class 1 drug. In light of its broad therapeutic index and lack of severe adverse effects, the clinical risks associated with moderately supraoptimal doses were deemed inconsequential, as were the risks associated with moderately suboptimal doses. Taking all evidence into consideration, it was concluded that the BCS-based biowaiver can be implemented for solid IR oral drug products containing sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate, provided (a) the test product is formulated solely with excipients commonly present in solid IR oral drug products approved in ICH or associated countries and used in amounts commonly applied in this type of product, (b) data in support of the BCS-based biowaiver are obtained using the methods recommended by the WHO, FDA, EMA or ICH and (c) the test product and the comparator product (which is the innovator product in this case) meet all in vitro dissolution specifications provided in the WHO, FDA, EMA or ICH guidance. 

 

 

Keywords: Biopharmaceutics classification system; Biowaiver; Permeability; Pharmacodynamics; Pharmacokinetics; Sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate; Solubility; Therapeutic index.

Copyright © 2021 American Pharmacists Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 

 

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

 

 

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Johnson C. Smith University Requirements for Admission 

 

 

What are Johnson C. Smith University's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Johnson C. Smith University and build a strong application.

School location: Charlotte, NC

 

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Johnson C. Smith University is 47.8%. For every 100 applicants, 48 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.  

Johnson C. Smith University GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 2.48, Johnson C. Smith University accepts students with below-average GPAs. You might have a mix of B's and C's in your high school record. It's best to avoid D's and F's, since application readers might question your commitment to studying and ability to succeed in college.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 2.48, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you. 

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Johnson C. Smith University hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Johnson C. Smith University will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Johnson C. Smith University SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

 

The average SAT score composite at Johnson C. Smith University is a 894 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Johnson C. Smith University Lightly Competitive for SAT test scores.

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Johnson C. Smith University ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Johnson C. Smith University likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 14, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 18.

Even though Johnson C. Smith University likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 14 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 16 and above that a 14 will look academically weak.

ACT Score Sending Policy

 

 

 

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 16 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Johnson C. Smith University, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 16.

 

 

 

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Johnson C. Smith University considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Scoring a 980 SAT or a 18 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 47.8% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 2.48. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 810 SAT or a 14 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range. 

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Easiest Science Subjects

 

Choosing your IB subjects can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to the sciences. While all IB subjects have their challenges, some are considered easier than others due to various factors such as content difficulty, assessment methods, and personal interest. If you're looking to balance your workload and still aim for high scores, here’s your guide to the easiest science subjects in IB.

 

Why Subject Selection Matters

Your choice of subjects in the IB program can significantly impact your overall experience and success. Selecting subjects that align with your strengths and interests can make the learning process more enjoyable and less stressful. Additionally, easier subjects might help you maintain a higher overall score, which is crucial for university applications and personal satisfaction.

 

 

 

What Makes a Science Subject 'Easy'?

Several factors contribute to a science subject being considered easier:

• Content Volume: Subjects with less content to memorize and understand are often perceived as easier.
• Conceptual Difficulty: Subjects that are more intuitive or have concepts that are easier to grasp.
• Assessment Style: The format of exams and internal assessments can make a subject easier. For instance, subjects with more straightforward exam questions or fewer practical assessments might be seen as less challenging.
• Personal Interest: Your personal interest and background knowledge can make a subject feel easier. If you enjoy a subject, you’re more likely to invest time and effort, making it easier overall.
  

 

The Easiest IB Science Subjects

Based on student feedback and academic reviews, here are the science subjects in IB that are generally considered easier:

1. Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS):
   • Why It's Easier: ESS is interdisciplinary, combining elements of both science and social studies. It requires less rigorous mathematical skills compared to other sciences and has a broader, less technical syllabus.
   • Assessment: ESS assessments are often considered more straightforward, with less emphasis on complex calculations and more on understanding and application.
2. Biology (SL):
   • Why It's Easier: Biology at the Standard Level is often considered more accessible due to its focus on descriptive content rather than complex calculations. The topics, while detailed, are typically more intuitive and can be understood through regular study and memorization.
   • Assessment: The exams tend to focus on recalling information and explaining concepts, which can be easier for students who are good at memorizing facts.
3. Physics (SL):
   • Why It's Easier: Physics SL is seen as less challenging than its Higher Level counterpart. It covers fundamental concepts without delving too deeply into the complex mathematics required at the HL.
   • Assessment: The assessments for Physics SL are more focused on basic principles and less on advanced problem-solving, making it more manageable for many students.
4. Chemistry (SL):
   • Why It's Easier: Chemistry SL is often preferred over HL due to its less intense focus on the depth of topics and mathematical requirements. The standard level syllabus covers essential concepts without the demanding complexity of higher-level content.
   • Assessment: The exams tend to focus on straightforward questions about basic principles and simple calculations.

   
   

   
   
    

    

Making Your Decision

Choosing the right science subject for your IB studies is a personal decision that should be based on your interests, strengths, and career aspirations. Here are some steps to help you make an informed choice:

 

• 
  Assess Your Interests: Consider which subjects you enjoy the most. Your interest in a subject can make it feel easier and more engaging.
• Evaluate Your Strengths: Think about your academic strengths. Are you better at memorizing information, understanding concepts, or performing calculations?
• Consider Your Career Goals: Some science subjects may be more relevant to your future studies and career plans. Ensure that your choice aligns with your long-term goals.
• Seek Advice: Talk to your teachers, school counselors, and peers who have taken the subjects you’re considering. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives on what to expect.

By taking these factors into account, you can select a science subject that not only feels manageable but also aligns with your interests and future aspirations.

 

 

 

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo (born February 5, 1985, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal) is a Portuguese football (soccer) forward who is one of the greatest players of his generation. The winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, he is among the sport’s top goal scorers.

Early life and career

Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, was the equipment manager for the local club Andorinha. (The name Ronaldo was added to Cristiano’s name in honor of his father’s favorite movie actor, Ronald Reagan, who was U.S. president at the time of Cristiano’s birth.) At age 15 Ronaldo was diagnosed with a heart condition that necessitated surgery, but he was sidelined only briefly and made a full recovery. He first played for Clube Desportivo Nacional of Madeira and then transferred to Sporting Clube de Portugal (known as Sporting Lisbon), where he played for that club’s various youth teams before making his debut on Sporting’s first team in 2002. A tall player at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters), Ronaldo was a formidable athlete on the pitch. Originally a right-winger, he developed into a forward with a free-reined attacking style. He was able to mesmerize opponents with a sleight of foot that made sufficient space for openings in opposing defenses.

Club play

After a successful season with Sporting that brought the young player to the attention of Europe’s biggest football clubs, Ronaldo signed with English powerhouse Manchester United in 2003. He was an instant sensation and soon came to be regarded as one of the best forwards in the game. His finest season with United came in 2007–08, when he scored 42 League and Cup goals and earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading scorer, with 31 League goals. After helping United to a Champions League title in May 2008, Ronaldo captured Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Player of the Year honors for his stellar 2007–08 season. He also led United to an appearance in the 2009 Champions League final, which they lost to FC Barcelona. 

Soon thereafter Ronaldo was sold to Spain’s Real Madrid—a club with which he had long been rumored to want to play—for a then record £80 million (about $131 million) transfer fee. His scoring prowess continued with his new team, and he netted the most goals (40) in La Liga history during the 2010–11 season (his record was broken the following season by his rival Lionel Messi of Barcelona). In 2011–12 Ronaldo helped Madrid capture a La Liga championship and scored a personal-best 46 goals during the League season. He scored a total of 66 goals in 56 appearances with Madrid and the Portuguese national team in 2013 to earn his second world player of the year award (the FIFA World Player of the Year was renamed the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010).

In 2014 he scored 52 goals in 43 games and led Madrid to a Champions League title, which resulted in Ronaldo capturing another Ballon d’Or award. In 2014–15 he netted 48 goals to lead La Liga in scoring. Ronaldo netted his 324th goal as a member of Real in October 2015 to become the club’s all-time leading goal scorer. He scored 35 La Liga goals in 2015–16 and helped Real win its record 11th Champions League title, and in December 2016 he won a fourth career Ballon d’Or for his accomplishments. Ronaldo scored 42 goals for Real across all competitions in 2016–17 and led his team to La Liga and Champions League titles that season, which resulted in a fifth career Ballon d’Or award. In 2017–18 he scored 44 goals in 44 games, and Real won a third straight Champions League title.

In July 2018 he reached a four-year contract worth €112 million (about $132 million) with the Italian powerhouse Juventus. He finished his Real career with 311 goals in 292 matches. He scored 28 goals in his first season with Juventus—his lowest domestic goal total since his last season with Manchester United—as the powerhouse club won its eighth straight Italian league title. In the 2019–20 season Ronaldo helped the club capture another league title, and Juventus later won the 2020 Supercoppa Italiana and the 2021 Coppa Italia Final. Several months after the latter match, he left Juventus and returned to Manchester United. His second stint with the club proved disappointing, however. Both Ronaldo and Manchester struggled, and he expressed growing dissatisfaction with the club. In November 2022 his contract was terminated by “mutual agreement.” The following month Ronaldo signed with the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

International career

On his home soil, after moving through the youth and under-21 ranks, Ronaldo had made his first appearance for Portugal’s full national team against Kazakhstan in August 2003 (four days after his debut for United). He was a key player in Portugal’s fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup and became the full-time captain of the national team in 2008. In 2012 his stellar play led Portugal to the semifinals of the European Championship, where his team was eliminated by rival Spain in a match that was decided by a penalty kick shoot-out. Ronaldo came into the 2014 World Cup hot off of his second world player of the year win, but his play at the tournament was spotty, and the entire Portugal team struggled during a group-stage elimination. In 2016 he helped Portugal win the European Championship, the country’s first major international tournament title, although he only played sparingly in the final because of a knee injury that he had sustained early in the match. Ronaldo played brilliantly at the 2018 World Cup, scoring four goals in four games as Portugal advanced to the knockout round only to lose its first match of that stage to a strong defensive Uruguay side. Four years later Ronaldo became the first male player to score at five different World Cups. However, he was not part of the starting lineup for several games, and Portugal’s 2022 World Cup ended with a loss in the quarterfinals.

Endorsements and legal issues

Ronaldo was one of the most well-known sports stars off the field, and numerous studies of athletes’ popularity showed that he was the most-beloved athlete in the world during his playing peak. His extreme popularity made Ronaldo one of the highest-paid endorsers in sports history, and in November 2016 he became the third person (after basketball superstars Michael Jordan and LeBron James) to earn a “lifetime” contract from the sportswear company Nike. Moreover, he established his own successful “CR7” brand of products that included shoes, underwear, and fragrances. Ronaldo’s immense marketability was at the center of a legal issue that arose in June 2017. That month prosecutors filed a lawsuit that accused Ronaldo of defrauding the Spanish government of €14.7 million ($16.5 million) by hiding his image-rights income in Spain from 2011 to 2014. He was accused of having underestimated the income he earned from the sale and licensing of his image rights and the accompanying tax obligations, but Ronaldo denied all allegations. However, in June 2018 he accepted a suspended two-year prison sentence and agreed to pay €18.8 million ($21.8 million) to the Spanish government to settle the case.

Lionel Messi

 

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi (born June 24, 1987, Rosario, Argentina) is an Argentine-born football (soccer) player who received a record-setting eight Ballon d’Or awards as the world’s top male player (2009–12, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023). In 2022 he helped Argentina win the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)’s World Cup.

Early life

Messi started playing football as a boy and in 1995 joined the youth team of Newell’s Old Boys (a Rosario-based top-division football club). Messi’s phenomenal skills garnered the attention of prestigious clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. At age 13 Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, and he began playing for FC Barcelona’s under-14 team. He scored 21 goals in 14 games for the junior team, and he quickly graduated through the higher-level teams until at age 16 he was given his informal debut with FC Barcelona in a friendly match.

Club play

In the 2004–05 season Messi, then 17, became the youngest official player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga (the country’s highest division of football). Though only 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 metres) tall and weighing 148 pounds (67 kg), he was strong, well-balanced, and versatile on the field. Naturally left-footed, quick, and precise in control of the ball, Messi was a keen pass distributor and could readily thread his way through packed defenses. In 2005 he was granted Spanish citizenship, an honour greeted with mixed feelings by the fiercely Catalan supporters of Barcelona. The next year Messi and Barcelona won the Champions League (the European club championship) title.

Messi’s play continued to rapidly improve over the years, and by 2008 he was one of the most dominant players in the world, finishing second to Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the voting for the 2008 Ballon d’Or. In early 2009 Messi capped off a spectacular 2008–09 season by helping FC Barcelona capture the club’s first “treble” (winning three major European club titles in one season): the team won the La Liga championship, the Copa del Rey (Spain’s major domestic cup), and the Champions League title. He scored 38 goals in 51 matches during that season, and he bested Ronaldo in the balloting for both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s world player of the year by a record margin. During the 2009–10 season Messi scored 34 goals in domestic games as Barcelona repeated as La Liga champions. He earned the Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading scorer, and he received another Ballon d’Or (the award was known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010–15).

Messi led Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League titles the following season, which helped him capture an unprecedented third consecutive world player of the year award. In March 2012 he netted his 233rd goal for Barcelona, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer in La Liga play when only 24 years old. He finished Barcelona’s 2011–12 season (which included another Copa del Rey win) with 73 goals in all competitions, breaking Gerd Müller’s 39-year-old record for single-season goals in a major European football league. His landmark season led to his being named the 2012 world player of the year, which made Messi the first player to win the honour four times. His 46 La Liga goals in 2012–13 led the league, and Barcelona captured another domestic top-division championship that season. In 2014 he set the overall Barcelona goal record when he scored his 370th goal as a member of the team. That same year he also broke the career scoring records for play in both the Champions League (with 72 goals) and La Liga (with 253 goals).

Messi helped Barcelona capture another treble during the 2014–15 season, leading the team with 43 goals scored over the course of the campaign, which resulted in his fifth world player of the year honour. He scored 41 goals across all competitions for Barcelona in 2015–16, and the club won the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey during that season. Messi topped that with 53 goals for Barcelona in 2016–17, leading the team to another Copa del Rey title. In 2017–18 he scored 45 goals, and Barcelona won the La Liga–Copa del Rey double once again. Messi scored 51 goals across all domestic competitions in 2018–19 as Barcelona won another La Liga championship. In late 2019 he won his sixth career Ballon d’Or and was named FIFA’s best male player of the year. In the 2020–21 season, Barcelona claimed the Copa del Rey title, the seventh of Messi’s career. He became a free agent in 2021, and financial issues—some of which were the result of La Liga rules—largely prevented him from re-signing with Barcelona. He left the club after setting a number of records; notably, he was the leading goal scorer in the league’s history (474).

International career

Despite his dual citizenship and professional success in Spain, Messi’s ties with his homeland remained strong, and he was a key member of various Argentine national teams from 2005. He played on Argentina’s victorious 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship squad, represented the country in the 2006 World Cup, and scored two goals in five matches as Argentina swept to the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Messi helped Argentina reach the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, where the team was eliminated by Germany for the second consecutive time in World Cup play. At the 2014 World Cup, Messi put on a dazzling display, scoring four goals and almost single-handedly propelling an offense-deficient Argentina team through the group stage and into the knockout rounds, where Argentina then advanced to the World Cup final for the first time in 24 years. Argentina lost that contest 1–0 to Germany, but Messi nevertheless won the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player. During the 2016 Copa América Centenario tournament, he netted his 55th international goal to break Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentine scoring record.

After Argentina was defeated in the Copa final—the team’s third consecutive finals loss in a major tournament—Messi said that he was quitting the national team, but his short-lived “retirement” lasted less than two months before he announced his return to the Argentine team. At the 2018 World Cup, he helped an overmatched Argentine side reach the knockout stage, where they were eliminated by eventual champion France in their first match. After a third-place finish at the 2019 Copa América, Messi led Argentina to victory in the tournament two years later, and he received the Golden Ball award. His success continued at the 2022 World Cup. There he guided Argentina to the finals, where he scored two goals—and made a penalty kick during the shootout—to help defeat France. Messi won the World Cup’s Golden Ball, becoming the first male player to receive that award twice. In addition, his outstanding play in the tournament was instrumental in Messi winning his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.

Other activities and legal issues

Off the field, Messi was one of the biggest athletic stars in the world. In addition to earning a football salary that was frequently, with Ronaldo’s, one of the two largest athletes’ salaries in all professional sports, he was an extremely successful product pitchman, notably for the sportswear company Adidas. In 2013 Messi and his father (who handled his son’s finances) were charged with tax fraud and accused of using overseas shell companies to avoid paying €4.2 million in Spanish taxes on endorsement earnings. Despite subsequently paying €5 million to the Spanish state, the pair were nevertheless ordered to stand trial on the charges in 2016. In July of that year, Messi and his father were each given suspended 21-month prison sentences (first-time offenders in Spain are given suspended sentences if the duration is under two years) and were fined €2 million and €1.5 million, respectively.