AFC delivers extremely good news for the Vietnamese national team; Messi earns a lot of money after his visit to India.

AFC delivers extremely good news for the Vietnamese national team.

On December 21st, the AFC announced the official launch of the Nations League tournament, aimed at promoting competition among member nations.

"Effectively utilizing FIFA Days is becoming increasingly difficult due to the limited number of opponents, rising costs, and logistical complexities, which diminishes the sporting value of international friendly matches."

Following a comprehensive assessment and consultation with relevant organizations, the AFC has agreed to establish the AFC Nations League, with the aim of allowing teams to play more matches against opponents of similar caliber, thereby increasing their chances of winning and improving their skill level," the AFC announcement stated.

After consulting with member federations, the AFC may organize the Nations League as early as 2026. This is good news for national teams that often face difficulties in playing international friendly matches during FIFA Days, including the Vietnamese national team.

The AFC stated that issues related to the format, schedule, etc., were announced after consultation with relevant parties. It is highly likely that the AFC Nations League will be implemented similarly to UEFA's, with four tiers for teams competing for the championship, with rankings moving up and down each season.

The AFC Nations League provides the Vietnamese national team with more opportunities to compete against strong opponents in Asia, thereby preparing them in the best way possible for major tournaments such as the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers.

According to the plan, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team will gather in March 2026 to play a decisive match against Malaysia for a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals. Currently, Malaysia has not yet been penalized by the AFC for the 0-3 defeat against Vietnam (4-0 win in the first leg) following the scandal involving fraudulent naturalization of players.

MU succumbs to Aston Villa.

In the early hours of December 22nd, Aston Villa defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the 17th round of the Premier League, extending their winning streak to 10 consecutive matches across all competitions – an unprecedented achievement in the club's more than 100-year history – and maintaining a 3-point lead over league leaders Arsenal.

Missing several key players due to injury and African Cup of Nations obligations, MU played with effort and created a fairly balanced game, but lacked sharpness in attack. Two spectacular curling shots from Morgan Rogers proved the difference, helping the home team at Villa Park secure all three points.

The defeat leaves MU stuck in 7th place with 26 points, one win behind Chelsea in the top 4. In the next round, the "Red Devils" will host Newcastle at home, while Aston Villa will visit Chelsea.

Barcelona defeated Villarreal

At Villarreal's stadium, Barcelona didn't need to dominate the game. They won 2-0 thanks to their coolness and efficiency, extending their winning streak to seven matches in all competitions and maintaining their lead in La Liga before the Christmas break.

Villarreal started the game at a fast pace and created the first dangerous opportunities. However, when the chance arose, Barcelona capitalized better. Raphinha's successful penalty became the turning point, reflecting the visitors' persistent pressure.

Renato Veiga's red card at the end of the first half shifted the momentum decisively in Barca's favor. However, the Catalan team didn't rush things, instead controlling the tempo and waiting for the right moment to deliver the decisive blow.

Lamine Yamal's winning goal was a reward for patience and relentless pressure, and further solidified the young star's talent. Villarreal tried to fight back but were unable to turn the tide.

The victory showed that Barcelona not only play beautifully but also have the experience and character to achieve results even in difficult matches.

Harry Kane surpasses legend Arjen Robben, setting a new Bundesliga record.

On the evening of December 21st, Bayern Munich easily defeated hosts Heidenheim 4-0. This victory allowed the Bavarians to maintain their lead in the Bundesliga with a safe nine-point advantage over the chasing pack after 15 rounds of matches.

In this match, Harry Kane scored the winning goal. This was also the English striker's 30th goal in 25 matches across all competitions this season. His impressive goal-scoring performance shows that he remains one of the world's top strikers despite being 32 years old.

Notably, this goal also marked the milestone of 100 goal contributions in the Bundesliga, including 81 goals and 19 assists, making Harry Kane the fastest player to achieve this feat in the league's history. The English star needed only 78 appearances to reach the 100-contribution mark, thus breaking the previous record of 119 appearances held by legend Arjen Robben in the Bundesliga.

In the match against Heidenheim, Bayern Munich completely dominated from the start. In the 15th minute, the visitors took the lead when Josip Stanisic headed in from close range to open the scoring.

In the 32nd minute, Bayern Munich doubled their lead thanks to a goal from Michael Olise.

In the second half, Bayern Munich scored their third goal in the 86th minute thanks to a diving header from Luis Diaz.

In injury time, Harry Kane sealed the 4-0 victory with a skillful turn and control of the ball while facing away from the goal, beating two opposing defenders before finishing neatly. This was a truly world-class piece of skill from the English superstar.

Messi earns a lot of money after his visit to India.

Satadru Dutta, head of the organizing committee for Lionel Messi's visit to India, revealed that the Argentine superstar received approximately $10.7 million for his short appearance, of which nearly $1 million was paid as taxes to the Indian government. The total cost of organizing the event is estimated to be close to $100 million.

According to police, more than $2 million was discovered in Dutta's frozen bank accounts, along with documents related to ticket sales and sponsorships. Dutta is currently under arrest after the event in Kolkata was deemed a "disaster".

The organizers stated that Messi left the event early due to being surrounded by fans who repeatedly touched and pulled him for photos, contrary to security requirements to avoid physical contact. The event ended in chaos, preventing many high-priced ticket holders from getting close to Messi, leading to frustration and vandalism of some stadium facilities.