News of lionel messi

‘We must fight to correct inequality,’ says Messi in rare political interview

16-10-2020 00:46 Argentine footballing superstar criticises prevailing global social inequalities, as he delivers rare political comment in special interview marking 100th edition of La Garganta Poderosa.

International football

Messi fires Argentina to World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador

09-10-2020 01:16 Argentina struggle to break down an organised and physical Ecuador side, but emerge with a 1-0 win thanks to Lionel Messi's 12th minute penalty.

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Little to shout about as Argentina see off Ecuador

09-10-2020 01:12 The stands were silent at the La Bombonera on Thursday night and Lionel Messi and Co responded with a suitably muted performance against Ecuador.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Messi to put Barça drama behind him as Albiceleste seek fast start

07-10-2020 01:04 Lionel Messi will take a break from his Barcelona soap opera as he bids to fire the Albiceleste to the World Cup in Qatar.

SPANISH FOOTBALL

Lionel Messi says it’s time for Barcelona to unite

30-09-2020 14:09 Lionel Messi wants to put his dispute with Barcelona behind him and called for the club and its fans to unite.

FOOTBALL

'Nothing surprises me anymore' – Messi laments Suárez departure

25-09-2020 12:24 Lionel Messi bid an emotional farewell on Friday to Luis Suárez, the day after the Uruguayan striker had said tearful goodbyes to Barcelona after the club sent him to Atlético Madrid.

MONEY IN SPORT

Messi joins exclusive club of sporting billionaires

15-09-2020 14:36 Argentine superstar's career earnings of over US$1 billion places the six-time Ballon d'Or winner in a group of mega-wealthy sports figures containing just Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather and his great rival on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo.

MESSI TRANSFER SAGA

Messi trains alone as Barça reintegration begins

07-09-2020 15:25 33-year-old trains alone in first session since Ronald Koeman was appointed coach and his first since he said on Friday he had been forced to stay at Barcelona.

BARÇA-MESSI SAGA

Rosario left deflated but still hopeful, as Messi says he'll stay put

06-09-2020 08:09 Rosario had dared to dream, but it was left disappointed after the city's most celebrated son Lionel Messi announced he was staying at Barcelona on Friday.

Argentine superstar

Lionel Messi confirms in interview he will stay at Barcelona

04-09-2020 13:39 Messi confirms he will stay at Barcelona, insisting he could never go to court against "the club of his life" and letting rip at Club President Josep Maria Bartomeu.

MESSI TRANSFER SAGA

No agreement in meeting between Barcelona and Messi’s father

02-09-2020 23:56 Argentine's future no closer to being resolved, after initial meeting between player's father and club officials on Wednesday.

Argentine superstar

Barcelona wants face-to-face meeting to change Messi’s mind

01-09-2020 15:48 Talks with Messi’s father, who is also his agent, are expected this week in Barcelona, but the club also hopes to sit down with the player himself.

Argentine superstar

Messi skips required coronavirus testing with Barcelona

30-08-2020 08:42 In another strong sign that Lionel Messi’s time with Barcelona may be coming to an end, the player did not report for required coronavirus testing scheduled for the whole squad on Sunday.

END OF AN ERA?

Messi calls time at Barcelona – what happens next?

29-08-2020 10:25 Any club in the world would want Lionel Messi. But only a select few could make a financial deal work for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

RALLY IN ROSARIO

Newell’s Old Boys fans dream of an unlikely Messi homecoming

28-08-2020 00:17 Messi’s surprise decision to leave Barcelona has sparked unlikely dreams among the residents of Rosario that he may return to play to Argentina to play with Newell’s Old Boys.

MESSI OFF TO MANCHESTER?

Report claims Messi wants to move to Manchester City

26-08-2020 16:48 Local daily La Nación claims Argentine superstar has decided to move to English Premier League side Manchester City, where he would be reunited with former coach Pep Guardiola.

END OF AN ERA?

Goals, records, trophies: Messi's glittering career

26-08-2020 08:51 After announcing he wants to leave the Catalan club, here's a look at the career highlights of one of football's all-time greats.

Champions League Football

Messi’s silence raises more doubts about Barcelona future

21-08-2020 14:43 Barcelona lost 8-2 in the Champions League quarterfinals last week to Bayern Munich.

BARÇA IN CRISIS

Questions surround Messi’s future amid Barcelona chaos

18-08-2020 07:56 Barcelona fired coach Quique Setién on Monday, three days after the team’s humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the first step in what it said would be “a wide-ranging restructuring" of the club.

SPANISH FOOTBALL

Bartomeu has 'no doubt' Messi will stay at Barcelona

27-07-2020 15:54 "Messi has said many times that he wants to retire here and I have no doubt that he will re-sign," says club president.

SPANISH FOOTBALL

Messi blasts 'weak' team after Barcelona loses league title

17-07-2020 02:08 Messi blasted his team for being “weak” after Real Madrid wrested the league title away from Barcelona for the first time in three years on Thursday.

SPANISH FOOTBALL

Messi scores 700th career goal against Atlético Madrid

01-07-2020 08:31 Messi scores a penalty in the “Panenka” style, chipping it softly past goalie Jan Oblak. The goal was Messi’s 630th club goal to go with 70 for his Argentina. It was also his league-leading 22nd goal of the season.

SPANISH FOOTBALL

Messi caps Barcelona win over Mallorca on La Liga return

14-06-2020 09:57 Not even a streaker could ruin Lionel Messi's return to action with Barcelona, as La Liga kicked off again behind closed doors this weekend.

Sports and wealth

Federer tops list of world's highest-paid athletes, with Messi third

01-06-2020 15:40 Tennis superstar Roger Federer tops Forbes list after earning US$106.3 million before tax in 2019. Argentina skipper Lionel Messi comes in at third with US$104 million, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

FOOTBALL & CORONAVIRUS

Messi looking forward eagerly to 'weird' La Liga restart

27-05-2020 16:37 Messi, who after a few weeks confined like the rest of Spain by the coronavirus pandemic, is training with Barca again ahead of a planned resumption of La Liga behind closed doors on the weekend on June 12.

Corornavirus consequences

Argentina suspends sporting events in March amid coronavirus fears

11-03-2020 14:55 After much confusion amid contrasting statements, sporting authorities in Argentina announce suspension of a large number of sporting events throughout March.

ARGENTINE FOOTBALL

Man City’s ban sparks dreams of prodigal sons

23-02-2020 16:41 UEFA bombshell greeted with glee in Argentina, but calm down, the top stars are not returning home anytime soon.

by Dan Edwards

Federal investigation

Judge probes whether Messi was spied on by government agencies

20-02-2020 20:28 Federal justice is investigating whether former Macri administration officials illegally used information systems to spy on star Lionel Messi, as well as dozens of local politicians, judges, journalists and businessmen.

by Cecilia Devanna

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Messi demands calm after chaotic two months for Barcelona

20-02-2020 13:37 Barcelona has been hit recently by a series of setbacks on the field and conflicts inside the club. And though Lionel Messi has had enough, he says he won't leave the club.

LOCAL FOOTBALL

Transgender woman poised to make Argentine football history

14-02-2020 11:40 AFA has yet to make a ruling about transgender athletes, and doubt remains about whether Mara Gómez will be allowed to compete in professional women's leagues

PHOTO GALLERY

Luis Suárez draws stars to Punta del Este as he renews vows with wife

27-12-2019 22:02 Marking 10 years of happy marriage, Barcelona's Uruguayan forward and his wife Sofía Balbi renew vows at ceremony. The guest list was brimming with footballing royalty, most notably Lionel Messi and, according to reports, Neymar.

MESSI

Messi takes leadership in his stride to clinch a historic sixth Ballon d'Or

02-12-2019 18:34 The Argentina footballer, considered to be one the greatest players of all time, won his sixth Ballon d’Or on Monday, after a fantastic season with Barcelona.

International football

Argentina and Uruguay draw 2-2 in Israel

18-11-2019 19:18 Game viewed by organisers as an important moment for Israel, following the cancellation of another Argentina match a year earlier after pressure from pro-Palestinian campaigners.

International football

Messi returns with a goal as Argentina down Brazil

15-11-2019 16:24 Albiceleste put in a strong performance before a 22,000-strong crowd in Riyadh, as captain returns from months-long ban to lead national team to victory.

International football

Messi and Agüero back in Albiceleste squad for November friendlies

31-10-2019 16:54 Scaloni names squad for friendly games against Brazil and Uruguay next month.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina to face Brazil in Saudi Arabia for second time

15-10-2019 08:57 The face-off could be the first time superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar go head-to-head this year.

Football

Messi: Tax problems made me want to leave Barcelona

09-10-2019 11:52 Argentine admits he wanted to leave Barcelona when he was under investigation from the Spanish tax authorities but insists now he intends to finish his career at the club.

FIFA AWARDS

'The Best': Lionel Messi win FIFA men's player of the year award

23-09-2019 17:52 Barcelona star sees off Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk to win award; Marcelo Bielsa honoured with 'Fair Play' award for incident at Leeds.

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS

'I would be thrilled if Neymar came back,' says Barcelona's Messi

12-09-2019 08:41 Argentina captain would be "thrilled" if Neymar returned to the Catalan side but insisted they could still win trophies without the Brazilian.

FOOTBALL

Messi has option to leave Barcelona next summer

08-09-2019 08:13 Spanish newspaper El País reports that Argentine's current contract with Barcelona includes the option for the legendary star to unilaterally end his stay in the summer of 2020.

FOOTBALL

Problems mount for Messi as injury woes adds to ban

06-08-2019 10:00 Messi banned for three months after CONMEBOL 'corruption' outburst, as star's new season in Spain begins with a cloud hanging over it.

International football

Scaloni confirmed as Albiceleste coach for World Cup qualifying campaign

30-07-2019 23:39 Qualifiers begin in March 2020 and will run until mid November 2021. He will also be in charge for next year's Copa América hosted jointly by Argentina and Colombia.

Messi

Messi given one-match ban for Copa America red card

24-07-2019 12:28 CONMEBOL made no mention of Messi's "corruption" accusation against the regional governing body that he made after receiving his red card.

FOOTBALL

CONMEBOL strips 'Chiqui' Tapia from seat on FIFA council

23-07-2019 17:20 Region's governing body strips AFA chief of FIFA responsibilities, after stinging criticism in wake of Copa América disappointment.

COPA AMÉRICA

Court of Arbitration for Sport member tells Messi to apologise

16-07-2019 08:19 Gustavo Abreu, an Argentine member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, says Albiceleste's captain should apologise for behaviour at Copa América, warning he will be punished for allegations made.

Copa América

Referee hits back at Messi, Argentina accusations

10-07-2019 13:53 Ecuadorian handler Roddy Zambrano accused his detractors of being bad losers and maintained that Sergio Aguero was at fault when he went down in the penalty box against Brazil.

Copa América

AFA lodges complaint with CONMEBOL over refereeing in Brazil defeat

04-07-2019 17:16 Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia criticised South American football’s governing body, Ecuadorian referee Roddy Zambrano and Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.

Copa América

Messi vows to play on after latest Argentina heartache

03-07-2019 16:05 The five-time Ballon d’Or winner infamously quit international football after Argentina's defeat in the 2016 Copa América Centenario final. The Copa América will take place in Argentina and Colombia next year.