News of messi

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.

ARGENTINE FOOTBALL

Copa América ends in anti-climax for Argentina

06-07-2019 11:19 The Albiceleste were hoping to have another chance at glory this weekend, but instead they’re set for the third-place play-off – a match absolutely nobody wants to play.

by Dan Edwards

KEY STORIES

July 1st-7th:What We Learned This Week

06-07-2019 08:15 What caught our eye the last seven days?

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.

Copa América

Brazil beats Argentina and advances to Copa América final

03-07-2019 13:12 Argentina failed to score once as Messi and the Albiceleste once again leave the Copa América disappointed.

Copa América

Fireworks, phone calls bother Argentina before Brazil semi

02-07-2019 13:29 Tricks like these by fans are common in South America before key matches.

Copa América

Argentina Manager Scaloni to make changes ahead of Venezuela match

26-06-2019 12:31 Looking ahead to the squad’s first training session in Rio de Janeiro and the quarter-finals, the Albiceleste manager will make changes in his lineup and scheme for Friday’s match.

Copa América

Copa América: Ecuador and Japan eliminated after draw

25-06-2019 17:53 Tournament bracket now set as Paraguay gets the result it needed to move onto the quarter-finals.

Copa América

Argentina beats Qatar to escape elimination at Copa América

24-06-2019 12:58 Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero scored a goal in each half. The Albiceleste will move on to face Venezuela on Friday in the quarter-finals.

COPA AMERICA

Argentina on the brink as Qatar looms

22-06-2019 09:55 The Albiceleste have once again disappointed, yet Messi’s side still has one more chance to make it through.

by Dan Edwards

Football

Messi says it would be 'crazy' to see Argentina out of Copa

21-06-2019 08:27 Argentina must beat guest Qatar on Sunday to have any realistic chance of avoiding its worst Copa America performance since 1983.

Copa América

Copa América: Rodriguez leads Colombia to win over Argentina

15-06-2019 22:59 This is the Colombians' first win over the Albiceleste since 2007. Argentina came closest to scoring with a close-range header by Messi that missed just wide in the 66th.

COPA AMERICA

Messi leads albiceleste in search for elusive glory in Brazil

15-06-2019 07:57 A refreshed and mainly inexperienced Argentina national team will face Colombia as the Copa America gets underway in Brazil.

by Dan Edwards

Copa América

Hopeful Messi keen to end Argentina title drought

13-06-2019 12:00 The 5-time Ballon d'Or winner, who turns 32 this month, has never won a title with the national team. The Copa América, which kicks off Friday, may be his final opportunity.

ARGENTINE SUPERSTAR

Lionel Messi is sports world's highest earner, says Forbes

11-06-2019 16:11 Barcelona and Argentina star Messi dethroned retired boxer Floyd Mayweather as the sports world's highest earner on magazine's annual rich list, raking in US$127 million via salary and endorsement deals.

COPA AMÉRICA

Messi scores twice as Albiceleste routs Nicaragua 5-1 in warm-up

08-06-2019 10:13 Barcelona star bags first-half double as Argentina warm up for Copa América with a comprehensive 5-1 win in San Juan.

Copa América

Messi gets one more shot at winning a major title with the Albiceleste

06-06-2019 08:00 Barcelona captain plays down national teams chances at the Copa América. But the tournament in Brazil is perhaps his best remaining chance to win something with Argentina.

Copa América

Agüero enjoying full fitness as Albiceleste gear up for Copa América

31-05-2019 07:32 Manchester City striker says he's in his best physical shape ahead of tournament in Brazil, as he defends Leo Messi from criticism at press conference.

COPA AMERICA

Scaloni looks to compromise as names his squad for Brazil

25-05-2019 10:09 Even with the likes of Messi and Agüero onboard, this is a squad that fails to raise enthusiasm and much less hopes of the trophy in what promises to be a stern challenge in Brazil.

by Dan Edwards

KEY STORIES

Aug 13th-19th: What We Learned This Week

18-08-2018 08:48 What has happened in the last seven days?

RUSSIA 2018

Time has come for Argentina to begin the long, painful process of renewal

07-07-2018 10:19 The Albicelete’s campaign in Russia was a failure, but the national team’s problems run deeper than just the coach.

by Dan Edwards

MESSI AND ARGENTINA

Tributes to Messi strangely absent in his native Rosario

17-06-2018 09:30 Argentina’s captain is widely hailed as one of – if not the – greatest player of all time. So why are there no museums, no plaques, no statues of him in the city of his birth?

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Palestinian FA chief calls on Muslims to 'burn photos and shirts of Messi'

04-06-2018 12:47 Jibril Rajoub calls on national team, AFA, Messi to boycott Saturday's friendly against Israel in Jerusalem.

WORLD CUP

The long road from Rosario to Russia

02-06-2018 09:55 Leading the national team to glory in Russia 2018 would be Lionel Messi’s crowning moment. And those who remember the Barcelona star from his earliest days most certainly have their fingers crossed.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Messi hat-trick leads Argentina to victory over Haiti

29-05-2018 22:12 National team captain leads from the front after poor first half as the Albiceleste beat Haiti 4-0 in last home friendly before the World Cup.

WORLD CUP NEARS

Messi: 'We aren't the best nor the favourites' at World Cup

29-05-2018 15:46 Argentina captain plays down hopes of winning tournament as he urges compatriots to be realistic.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Tickets to see Messi play in Jerusalem sell-out in 20 minutes

29-05-2018 12:44 'No sporting event has ever caused such hysteria in Israel' says agency selling tickets for Israel-Argentina friendly next month.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Sampaoli selects his 23 – and hopes for no regrets

26-05-2018 11:54 Experienced goalkepeer Sergio Romero to miss tournament in Russia through injury, as coach opts to leave Icardi, Centurión at home.

by Dan Edwards

team announced

World Cup: Messi, Agüero in Argentina squad but Icardi out

22-05-2018 11:31 Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, the joint-leading scorer in Italy this season, was a notable omission from Argentina’s 23-man World Cup squad named by coach Jorge Sampaoli on Monday.

RUSSIA 2018

Sampaoli announces Argentina's preliminary World Cup squad

17-05-2018 07:20 The final 23-player roster will be announced next Monday at a press conference.

STRIKING ARTWORK

At one football club in Barracas, Maradona is God and Messi is Adam...

28-04-2018 13:26 On the ceiling of one club in the capital, in a painting modelled after Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel, Maradona is God, extending his hand to Adam – Lionel Messi.

Barcelona and Argentina star

Messi scores victory in EU court battle to trademark name

26-04-2018 11:43 The ruling comes days after it emerged that Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football, according to France Football magazine.

MASSIVE EARNINGS

25,000 euros a minute: Messi the highest earner in world football

23-04-2018 16:43 Argentine captain pulls in 126 million euros (US$154 million) in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue.

ARGENTINA, URUGUAY, PARAGUAY

Details emerge of tri-nation regional 2030 World Cup bid

09-04-2018 18:57 Messi and Suárez to throw backing behind bid to host centenary tournament. Argentina would host 8 of the 12 groups under preliminary plans.

ARGENTINA CAPTAIN HONOURED

UN body names Messi 'responsible tourism ambassador'

09-04-2018 18:42 The UN World Tourism Organization said Monday it has appointed FC Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi as an ambassador to promote responsible tourism.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

'It's now or never,' says downbeat Messi after Spain thrashing

28-03-2018 13:31 "Spain slapped us around," admits national team coach Jorge Sampaoli, after 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Spain in Madrid.

Tax evasion in Spanish football

Authorities seek five-year sentence for Xabi Alonso

21-03-2018 13:00 If found guilty, Alonso would likely pay some hefty fines in the pattern of previous culprits such as Messi and Ronaldo.

Battle of the legends

Ronaldo vs. Messi: Spanish golden boot race heats up

20-03-2018 15:06 Though the league title is no longer in question, four goals from the Portuguese forward this weekend puts him just three behind his Argentine peer.

ARGENTINA’S FOOTBALLING SUPERSTAR

Magical Messi, a talent both abstract and unique

10-03-2018 11:32 Judged by cold numbers, Argentina’s captain has already assured his place in history.

by Dan Edwards