<
        >

          Barcelona's Lionel Messi sends Dortmund prodigy Moukoko gifts for 15th birthday

          • Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerNov 21, 2019, 06:43 AM ET

          Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has sent a birthday gift to Borussia Dortmund's 15-year-old prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko. Game recognise game...

          The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.

          Jump to: Pulisic links up with Esports star Ninja in London | Maradona gets Federer all emotional with heartfelt video message | Barcelona release footage of Shakira watching shock Champions League loss at Liverpool | Arsenal manager latest! England rugby boss Eddie Jones fancies a go in Emirates hotseat | Penalty shootout takes 34 spot kicks to find winner

          Borussia Dortmund wunderkind Youssoufa Moukoko received a very special birthday gift this week from none other than Lionel Messi.

          Moukoko turned 15 on Wednesday and was astonished to find a personalised token from the Barcelona superstar waiting for him at the Dortmund training ground.

          "Oh my god! Got this as a gift from my idol. Many thanks, Leo Messi. Thanks for all your birthday wishes," the teenage prodigy said in his post on Instagram.

          Moukoko, who regularly cites Messi as his role model, has seen his profile rise considerably over the past year or so and is currently averaging a goal every 54 minutes (18 goals in 11 appearances) in this Bundesliga U19 season, including a haul of six in one game.

          He also scored 40 goals for Dortmund's U17 side in his debut season, playing his first game for them at the age of 12 (Twelve!), and is the youngest player ever to score in the UEFA Youth League.

          In short, Moukoko is one of the most exciting young talents in world football, and clearly Messi has marked him out for greatness. Maybe the 32-year-old is eager to play alongside him at the Camp Nou before he hangs up his boots? Watch this space...

          Stephan Uersfeld contributed to this report

          Christian Pulisic links up with Esports star Ninja in London

          Esports star Ninja has had a busy week, first meeting David Beckham at a launch event in London before having dinner with Chelsea star Christian Pulisic.

          The blue-haired gamer bumped into Pulisic at a London restaurant on Wednesday evening after previously helping Beckham to open the new Adidas flagship store in Oxford Street earlier in the day.

          "Had the pleasure of meeting Christian Pulisic tonight and having dinner," Ninja wrote on Twitter.

          "What an incredible dude, keep killing it brother. And we are definitely getting some Fortnite games in man."

          Pulisic is certainly killing it right now, having scored five goals in his last three Premier League games. Just the form you'd want going into Saturday's huge clash at Manchester City.

          - Fortnite legend Ninja is living the stream

          Diego Maradona gets Roger Federer all emotional with heartfelt video message

          Diego Maradona moved Roger Federer to tears with a video tribute of the Swiss tennis star that was shown at an exhibition match in Buenos Aires.

          The 1986 World Cup winner, who stepped down as coach of Gimnasia earlier this week, did not attend Wednesday's match between Federer and German tennis player, Alexander Zverev.

          However, the Argentina legend sent a video message that was shown to the 14,000-strong crowd that packed the Parque Roca Arena.

          Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, became emotional as he watched the video about the Swiss on the big screen in which Maradona said: "Hello master, machine, as I like to call you: you were, you are and will be the greatest.

          "There's no one that can reach you. I want you to call me if you have any problem in the country and tell me what you need..."

          Federer, 38, had earlier this week mentioned during an interview on Argentine TV that world No. 1 Rafael Nadal is "maybe the greatest player of all time."

          Zverev won Wednesday's match 7-6, 7-6, which is part of the duo's exhibition tour in South America.

          Cindy Garcia contributed to this report

          Barcelona release footage of Shakira watching shock Champions League loss at Liverpool

          As part of a new warts-and-all documentary series, Barcelona are keen for their fans to relive the night they forfeited a three-goal advantage against Liverpool in the semifinals of last season's Champions League.

          After winning the first leg 3-0 at home, the Spanish giants capitulated at Anfield, losing 4-0 and putting Gerard Pique's wife and kids through the emotional ringer in the process.

          The Colombian pop star must have been a trembling mess by the time Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped his quick corner into Divock Origi at the near post.

          Probably one for the more masochistic element of the Blaugrana support.

          Arsenal manager latest! England rugby boss Eddie Jones fancies a go in Emirates hotseat

          Unai Emery might need to keep a close eye on Eddie Jones because the England rugby coach has revealed his is keen on taking the Spaniard's place in the Arsenal dugout.

          Speaking on Talksport, Jones was asked if he's ever contemplated making the jump from rugby to football, and it just so happens that he is keen on one particular Premier League job.

          "I'd love to coach Arsenal!," Jones replied. "How much fun would that be?"

          The Australian went on to explain that he fell in love with the north London rivalry while living locally.

          Not that we're getting ahead of ourselves here, but it's only a short(ish) hop across the city from Twickenham to the Emirates Stadium.

          Penalty shootout takes 34 spot kicks to find winner

          Anybody watching the midweek cup tie between Taunton Town and Truro City certainly got their value for money after the game was settled by an epic and record-equalling penalty shootout.

          The Southern League Challenge Cup second round match ended 2-2 after extra-time before requiring 34 spot kicks to decide the winner.

          Taunton finally emerged victorious but only after the two sides matched the previous record for penalties taken in an English football match, set during the EFL Trophy match between Chelsea U23 and Oxford United in 2016.

          After 34 minutes of shootout shenanigans, Jack Rice was the man who sealed a 12-11 sudden-death win for Taunton by scoring their 17th penalty of the night.

          Globally, the longest record was set in June of 2016 in a regional championship match between Czech fifth-division sides. SK Batov 1903 defeated FC Frystak 22-21 in 52 kicks.

          That broke the previous record of 48 kicks from the 2005 Namibian Cup final as KK Palace outlasted Civics 17-16.