• Lionel Messi dribbles the ball during an Argentina training session at Qatar University in Doha on December 2, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup match against Australia. AFP
    Lionel Messi dribbles the ball during an Argentina training session at Qatar University in Doha on December 2, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup match against Australia. AFP
  • Rodrigo De Paul kicks a ball next to Lionel Messi, Alejandro Gomez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala during a training session at Qatar University. AFP
    Rodrigo De Paul kicks a ball next to Lionel Messi, Alejandro Gomez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes and Paulo Dybala during a training session at Qatar University. AFP
  • Lionel Messi during a training session at Qatar University in Doha. AFP
    Lionel Messi during a training session at Qatar University in Doha. AFP
  • Lionel Messi uses an exercise ball during an Argentina training session. Getty
    Lionel Messi uses an exercise ball during an Argentina training session. Getty
  • Lionel Messi with an exercise ball during an Argentina training session. Getty
    Lionel Messi with an exercise ball during an Argentina training session. Getty
  • Lionel Messi takes part in an Argentina training session in Doha. Getty
    Lionel Messi takes part in an Argentina training session in Doha. Getty
  • Lionel Messi during an Argentina training session. Getty
    Lionel Messi during an Argentina training session. Getty
  • Lionel Messi, Alejandro Gomez and Rodrigo De Paul attend a training session at Qatar University. AFP
    Lionel Messi, Alejandro Gomez and Rodrigo De Paul attend a training session at Qatar University. AFP
  • Lionel Messi takes part in an Argentina training session in Doha. EPA
    Lionel Messi takes part in an Argentina training session in Doha. EPA
  • Lionel Messi attends an Argentina training session ahead of the last 16 match against Australia. EPA
    Lionel Messi attends an Argentina training session ahead of the last 16 match against Australia. EPA
  • Lionel Messi heads the ball during an Argentina training session. EPA
    Lionel Messi heads the ball during an Argentina training session. EPA
  • Lionel Messi warms up during a training session in Doha. EPA
    Lionel Messi warms up during a training session in Doha. EPA
  • Lionel Messi on the ball next to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni during a training session at Qatar University. AFP
    Lionel Messi on the ball next to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni during a training session at Qatar University. AFP
  • Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates during a training session in Doha. Reuters
    Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates during a training session in Doha. Reuters

Messi takes part in training as Argentina prepare for World Cup clash with Australia


  • English
  • Arabic

Argentina continue their bid for a long-awaited third World Cup when they take on Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday night.

More than 36 years since their last triumph, Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-match unbeaten run and as one of the pre-tournament favourites - a status that looked thoroughly undeserved following the shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia.

Since then, though, the South Americans have improved with each game, overcoming a jittery first half against Mexico to win 2-0, before turning on the style with a dominant victory over Poland.

Crucially for Argentina, star man and captain Lionel Messi looks to be getting better every game. His second half performance against Mexico - where he scored the first goal - was followed by an excellent display against Poland, even if he did have a penalty saved.

Argentina's uptick in form does not bode well for Australia, although this World Cup has delivered plenty of shocks and surprises, so anything could be possible at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Saturday night.

Ahead of the game, Messi and his Argentina teammates took part in a final training session at Qatar University in Doha to prepare for the Socceroos.

Check out the best photos from that training session in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.

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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Squads

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Juice%20jacking%2C%20in%20the%20simplest%20terms%2C%20is%20using%20a%20rogue%20USB%20cable%20to%20access%20a%20device%20and%20compromise%20its%20contents%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20exploit%20is%20taken%20advantage%20of%20by%20the%20fact%20that%20the%20data%20stream%20and%20power%20supply%20pass%20through%20the%20same%20cable.%20The%20most%20common%20example%20is%20connecting%20a%20smartphone%20to%20a%20PC%20to%20both%20transfer%20data%20and%20charge%20the%20former%20at%20the%20same%20time%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20term%20was%20first%20coined%20in%202011%20after%20researchers%20created%20a%20compromised%20charging%20kiosk%20to%20bring%20awareness%20to%20the%20exploit%3B%20when%20users%20plugged%20in%20their%20devices%2C%20they%20received%20a%20security%20warning%20and%20discovered%20that%20their%20phones%20had%20paired%20to%20the%20kiosk%2C%20according%20to%20US%20cybersecurity%20company%20Norton%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20While%20juice%20jacking%20is%20a%20real%20threat%2C%20there%20have%20been%20no%20known%20widespread%20instances.%20Apple%20and%20Google%20have%20also%20added%20security%20layers%20to%20prevent%20this%20on%20the%20iOS%20and%20Android%20devices%2C%20respectively%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: December 03, 2022, 8:31 AM