🎧 Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts: The Black Mambas of Football and Soccer

Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina, scored and made two, then scored twice for Inter Miami four days later. Harry Kane became the fastest player ever to 100 Bundesliga goals and equalled England's caps record. Raphinha has 12 La Liga goals in 7 games. Host Etienne Noumen runs through the world's top strikers after the three-week international window, how their clubs are doing, and how each compares with the greats at the same age.

In this episode

• Messi's farewell: Argentina 3-0 Benin, 208 caps and 126 goals, then 23 MLS goals and counting at 39.
• Tier 1 strikers of the week: Mbappé back from a knee scare in Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Villarreal; Kane's 100 Bundesliga goals in 98 games and two assists at Augsburg; Haaland, Doku and Cherki in City's 3-0 win at Anfield, and what it means for morale while City appeal the Premier League's guilty verdict; Bellingham's goal and three assists in England's 7-0 win in Croatia; Yamal and a perfect Barcelona; Raphinha's injury; Olise, Dembélé, Vinícius's red card, Ferran Torres, and Ronaldo's 980th goal after walking out on Portugal.
• The historical mirror: Mbappé vs Henry and Ronaldo Nazário at 27, Kane vs Lewandowski at 33, Haaland vs Van Nistelrooy at 26, Yamal vs Messi at 19, Isak vs Fernando Torres after a record transfer, Cherki vs De Bruyne at 23, Ronaldo vs Romário at 41, Bellingham vs Kaká at 23.
• Tier 2 strikers of the week: Rayan Cherki, Gyökeres's record Nations League run, Malen leading Serie A, Lautaro, João Pedro, Osimhen, Guirassy, Musa.
• Tier 3, rising strikers of the week: Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Franco Mastantuono, Éli Junior Kroupi, Carlos Espí, Endrick.
• Champions League week: Man City vs PSG, Roma vs Real Madrid, Galatasaray vs Barcelona.

Read the full striker report: showupandplay.com and on the Show Up And Play Substack.

⚽ Show Up And Play: straight answers about amateur sport in Canada. 142 clubs researched across ten Canadian cities, registration fees wherever a club publishes them, tournaments, and an Ask feature that cites its sources. Free at showupandplay.com and on the App Store.

🏃 Djamga: find a game, show up, play. Real pickup games near you, one-tap RSVPs, and live soccer scores with lineups. Free on iPhone at djamga.com.

☕ Support the show: buy Etienne a coffee.

Follow on Apple Podcasts, leave a rating, and tell us your striker of the week.