Lionel Messi will leave his soccer team, Paris St-Germain, this summer. He will not sign a new contract. Messi is not sure if the team can be very good because they have money problems. The team wants to help young players grow.
Messi joined the team in 2021 for two years. There was a choice to stay for one more year, but it will not happen. A few weeks ago, his father told the team about this decision.
Messi thinks the team’s money for next season might be less because of some rules. This could make the team not as good. The team owners are not happy because Messi did not want to stay.
Messi got in trouble for going to Saudi Arabia without asking the team. He had to miss playing for two weeks. Messi and his old team, Barcelona, want him to come back. But they have money problems too, so it might not happen.
Messi also has other choices like playing in America or getting a lot of money to play in Saudi Arabia. He wants to win a big trophy one more time. But right now, it is hard to know where he will play.
Messi has been very good for Paris St-Germain. He helped them win a big prize last year. Soon, they might win another one. In his old team, Barcelona, he scored many goals. He left the team in 2021 because they had money problems.
Messi might win a big award in October. He won the World Cup with his country, Argentina, in December.
Original news source: Lionel Messi: Argentina forward to leave Paris St-Germain at end of season (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Name the Team
Instructions: Write the names of the two soccer teams mentioned in the article on the board. Ask students to repeat the names after you and practice the pronunciation.
– Money Problems Mime
Instructions: Have students take turns miming situations where they have money problems, such as not having enough money to buy something or needing to find a job. The rest of the class will guess what the student is acting out using simple English phrases like “need money” or “find a job.”
– Where in the World?
Instructions: Show a world map to the class and ask students to locate and point out the countries mentioned in the article (Argentina, France, Spain, United States, and Saudi Arabia). Encourage students to practice saying the country names and any other related vocabulary they know, such as “soccer” and “team.”
Comprehension Questions:
1. What team is Lionel Messi leaving?
2. Why is Messi not sure if the team can be very good?
3. When did Messi join the team?
4. What happened a few weeks ago with Messi’s father?
5. Why might the team’s money be less next season?
6. What did Messi do that got him in trouble?
7. What are some other choices for Messi to play?
8. What big award might Messi win in October?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Lionel Messi will leave his soccer team, (1)________, this summer. He will not sign a new contract. Messi is not sure if the team can be very good because they have money problems. The team wants to help young players grow.
Messi joined the team in 2021 for two years. There was a choice to stay for one more year, but it will not happen. A few weeks ago, his father told the team about this decision.
Messi thinks the team’s money for next season might be less because of some (2)________. This could make the team not as good. The team owners are not happy because Messi did not want to stay.
Messi got in trouble for going to (3)________ without asking the team. He had to miss playing for two weeks. Messi and his old team, (4)________, want him to come back. But they have money problems too, so it might not happen.
Messi also has other choices like playing in (5)________ or getting a lot of money to play in Saudi Arabia. He wants to win a big trophy one more time. But right now, it is hard to know where he will play.
Messi has been very good for Paris St-Germain. He helped them win a big prize last year. Soon, they might win another one. In his old team, Barcelona, he scored many goals. He left the team in 2021 because they had money problems.
Messi might win a big award in (6)________. He won the World Cup with his country, (7)________, in December.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you like soccer?
2. Do you know who Lionel Messi is?
3. What team does Messi play for now?
4. Why is Messi leaving his team?
5. Did Messi play for another team before?
6. Where did Messi go without asking his team?
7. Does Messi want to go back to his old team?
8. What are some other places Messi might play?
9. What big prize did Messi help his team win?
10. Do you think Messi will win a big award?
11. Did Messi win the World Cup with his country?
12. Do you have a favorite soccer player?
13. Would you like to play soccer like Messi?
14. Why is it important to ask before going somewhere?
15. Do you think Messi will find a good team to play for?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. contract
2. decision
3. rules
4. owners
5. trouble
6. trophy
7. goals
8. award
Shuffled Meanings:
A) A big prize you get for winning a game or competition
B) A paper that says what people agree to do or not do
C) Choosing to do something or not do something
D) People who have a team or a company
E) Things you must do or not do
F) A special prize you get for doing something very good
G) Problems or difficulties
H) Points you get in a game when you do something right
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What team is Lionel Messi leaving?
(a) Barcelona
(b) Argentina
(c) Saudi Arabia
(d) Paris St-Germain
2. Why is Messi not signing a new contract?
(a) He wants to play in America
(b) He thinks the team has money problems
(c) He wants to play for Barcelona
(d) He wants to play in Saudi Arabia
3. When did Messi join Paris St-Germain?
(a) 2020
(b) 2021
(c) 2019
(d) 2018
4. What did Messi’s father tell the team a few weeks ago?
(a) Messi wants more money
(b) Messi wants to play in America
(c) Messi will not stay for another year
(d) Messi wants to play in Saudi Arabia
5. Why might the team’s money be less next season?
(a) They are buying new players
(b) Messi is asking for more money
(c) They are building a new stadium
(d) Because of some rules
6. Where did Messi go without asking the team?
(a) America
(b) Argentina
(c) Spain
(d) Saudi Arabia
7. What team does Messi want to come back to?
(a) Argentina
(b) Paris St-Germain
(c) Barcelona
(d) Saudi Arabia
8. What did Messi win with Argentina in December?
(a) The World Cup
(b) A big trophy
(c) A big award
(d) A new contract
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Messi will leave his soccer team this summer.
2. Messi joined the team in 2020.
3. Messi’s father told the team about the decision.
4. Messi went to Saudi Arabia with the team’s permission.
5. Messi and Barcelona want him to come back.
6. Messi helped Paris St-Germain win a big prize last year.
7. Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in December.
8. Messi might play in America next year.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. Who is Lionel Messi and what soccer team is he leaving?
2. Why is Messi not signing a new contract with his soccer team?
3. What did Messi’s father tell the soccer team a few weeks ago?
4. Why did Messi get in trouble and have to miss playing for two weeks?
5. Where else might Messi play soccer and what does he want to do?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What team is Lionel Messi leaving?
Lionel Messi is leaving Paris St-Germain.
2. Why is Messi not sure if the team can be very good?
Messi is not sure because they have money problems.
3. When did Messi join the team?
Messi joined the team in 2021.
4. What happened a few weeks ago with Messi’s father?
Messi’s father told the team about Messi’s decision to leave.
5. Why might the team’s money be less next season?
The money might be less because of some rules.
6. What did Messi do that got him in trouble?
Messi went to Saudi Arabia without asking the team.
7. What are some other choices for Messi to play?
Messi can play in America or get a lot of money to play in Saudi Arabia.
8. What big award might Messi win in October?
Messi might win a big award for winning the World Cup with Argentina.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. Paris St-Germain
2. rules
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Barcelona
5. America
6. October
7. Argentina
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. contract
Answer: B) A paper that says what people agree to do or not do
2. decision
Answer: C) Choosing to do something or not do something
3. rules
Answer: E) Things you must do or not do
4. owners
Answer: D) People who have a team or a company
5. trouble
Answer: G) Problems or difficulties
6. trophy
Answer: A) A big prize you get for winning a game or competition
7. goals
Answer: H) Points you get in a game when you do something right
8. award
Answer: F) A special prize you get for doing something very good
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What team is Lionel Messi leaving?
Answer: (d) Paris St-Germain
2. Why is Messi not signing a new contract?
Answer: (b) He thinks the team has money problems
3. When did Messi join Paris St-Germain?
Answer: (b) 2021
4. What did Messi’s father tell the team a few weeks ago?
Answer: (c) Messi will not stay for another year
5. Why might the team’s money be less next season?
Answer: (d) Because of some rules
6. Where did Messi go without asking the team?
Answer: (d) Saudi Arabia
7. What team does Messi want to come back to?
Answer: (c) Barcelona
8. What did Messi win with Argentina in December?
Answer: (a) The World Cup
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Messi will leave his soccer team this summer.
Answer: True
2. Messi joined the team in 2020.
Answer: False
3. Messi’s father told the team about the decision.
Answer: True
4. Messi went to Saudi Arabia with the team’s permission.
Answer: False
5. Messi and Barcelona want him to come back.
Answer: True
6. Messi helped Paris St-Germain win a big prize last year.
Answer: False
7. Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in December.
Answer: False
8. Messi might play in America next year.
Answer: False
Go back to questions ⇧
