https://www.scmp.com/rss/322749/feed The 2016 Copa America in the United States, known as the Copa America Centenario, is the first being held outside South America. It features an expanded field of 16 teams (from the usual 12) with all 10 from South America and six from Central and North America en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Argentina finally made Lionel Messi cry with joy. After losing four times in finals, early exits in major tournaments and even a decision to retire from the national team, the superstar celebrated a much-awaited Copa America title with Argentina at Saturday’s 1-0 win against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium. The title ended Argentina’s 28-year drought of major trophies, with Messi as the best player with four goals and five assists. The captain also broke the team’s record for international... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3140660/copa-america-lionel-messi-pays-his-debt-argentina-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3140660/copa-america-lionel-messi-pays-his-debt-argentina-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jul 2021 04:37:21 +0000 What is a signed football shirt worth? If you’re Lionel Messi, then around 15,000 Covid-19 vaccines. The Argentina international sent three autographed shirts to Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinovac and in return secured 50,000 vaccines ahead of the Copa America. “Sinovac’s directors manifested their admiration for Lionel Messi, who kindly sent us three shirts for them,” Conmebol official Gonzalo Belloso tweeted about a deal that was brokered by Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou. It... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3129874/coronavirus-lionel-messis-sinovac-deal-shows-sports-vaccine-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3129874/coronavirus-lionel-messis-sinovac-deal-shows-sports-vaccine-not?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Apr 2021 01:00:18 +0000 Brazilian striker Neymar will sign a new five-year contract with Barcelona this week, his agents said on Thursday, ending speculation over his future at the Spanish champions. The international, 24, is widely regarded as one of the finest talents in world football and is part of the much-feared attacking trident alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona. “The athlete, along with his family, has decided to stay with FC Barcelona and will renew his contract for five more years,” said NN... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1983893/five-more-years-neymar-agrees-extend-barcelona-contract?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1983893/five-more-years-neymar-agrees-extend-barcelona-contract?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jul 2016 02:52:26 +0000 Lionel Messi has said that he is to retire from international soccer after Argentina were beaten 4-2 by Chile in a penalty shoot-out in the Copa America final on Sunday, the fourth final the Barcelona striker has lost with the national side. Messi, a five times World Player of the Year, missed Argentina’s opening penalty in the shoot-out after the game ended 0-0 and he was shown in tears while sitting in the team dugout. “It’s tough, it’s not the time for analysis,” he said. “In the dressing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1982081/devastated-lionel-messi-says-he-has-retired-internationals-after-copa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1982081/devastated-lionel-messi-says-he-has-retired-internationals-after-copa?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jun 2016 05:16:12 +0000 Holders Chile stunned Argentina to win the Copa America Centenario in a penalty shoot-out here Sunday as Lionel Messi’s title curse struck again. Messi blazed a penalty over the bar in the shoot-out before Lucas Biglia missed to leave Chile’s Francisco Silva with the task of stroking home the winning spot-kick at the MetLife Stadium. It was a carbon copy of last year’s Copa America final, also won by Chile on penalties after a goalless draw. Argentina’s players meanwhile were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1982031/chile-seal-dramatic-penalty-shoot-out-copa-america-victory-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1982031/chile-seal-dramatic-penalty-shoot-out-copa-america-victory-over?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jun 2016 02:54:02 +0000 AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca scored the only goal as Colombia defeated the United States 1-0 to clinch third place in the Copa America Centenario on Saturday. Bacca, 29, bundled home the winner on 31 minutes, nudging in from close range to settle a hard-fought contest. The US, beaten 4-0 by Argentina in the semi-finals on Tuesday, rallied desperately to get back into the game but ultimately were frustrated by some superb goalkeeping from David Ospina. It was the second time the US had been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1981707/colombia-down-usa-grab-third-spot-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1981707/colombia-down-usa-grab-third-spot-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jun 2016 03:37:22 +0000 Lionel Messi was too much for the United States to contain. The five-time world player of the year set up Ezequiel Lavezzi’s opening goal in the third minute, then scored on a free kick to break Argentina’s career scoring record and assisted on the final goal in a 4-0 rout of the US on Tuesday night that put the La Albiceleste into the Copa America final. “This was the goal when we got here, to play another final and we made it,” Messi said. “We’ve been spectacular from day one and we deserved... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1979184/lionel-messi-becomes-argentinas-all-time-top-goalscorer-copa-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1979184/lionel-messi-becomes-argentinas-all-time-top-goalscorer-copa-america?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jun 2016 03:40:20 +0000 Clint Dempsey struck again as the United States powered through to the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario on Thursday in a stormy 2-0 win over Ecuador that saw both sides finish with 10 men. Dempsey scored his third goal in as many games for Juergen Klinsmann’s side at CenturyLink Field, pouncing on 22 minutes before setting up a second for Los Angeles Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes in the 65th minute. Michael Arroyo pulled a goal back for Ecuador in the 74th minute to set up a frantic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1976775/usa-down-ecuador-2-1-stormy-encounter-reach-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1976775/usa-down-ecuador-2-1-stormy-encounter-reach-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jun 2016 05:10:38 +0000 Brazil fired Dunga as coach on Tuesday, the national football confederation said, two days after his side failed to get past the group stages of the Centenary Copa America. The Brazilians drew 0-0 with Ecuador and beat Haiti 7-1 but were beaten 1-0 by Peru to exit the competition at the group stages for the first time since 1987. Dunga, who was in his second spell as Brazil coach, was fired after a meeting at the CBF in Rio de Janeiro. “The Brazilian Football Confederation decided this Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1975385/youre-dun-mate-brazil-fire-coach-dunga-after-copa-america-flop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1975385/youre-dun-mate-brazil-fire-coach-dunga-after-copa-america-flop?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:44:23 +0000 Lionel Messi scored a magical hat-trick in 19 minutes as Argentina cruised into the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals with a 5-0 rout of Panama on Friday. Messi had been forced to delay his debut in the tournament after a slow recovery from a lower back injury, with Argentina coach Gerardo Martino surprisingly naming him amongst the substitutes once more. But Messi wasted no time in stamping his genius on the tournament after coming on in the 61st minute to replace Augusto Fernandez with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1972445/messi-grabs-hat-trick-argentina-ease-quarters-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1972445/messi-grabs-hat-trick-argentina-ease-quarters-copa-america-centenario?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2016 07:51:23 +0000 A grieving Angel Di Maria was the inspiration as Argentina shrugged off the absence of Lionel Messi to defeat holders Chile 2-1 in their opening Copa America game. Paris Saint-Germain star Di Maria – reeling from the death of his grandmother only hours earlier – scored one goal and set up another as the two-time world champions avenged their defeat to Chile in last year’s Copa America final. Di Maria opened the scoring on 51 minutes and emotionally held a T-shirt up to the sky emblazoned with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1968046/no-messi-no-problem-tearful-di-maria-inspires-argentina-copa-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1968046/no-messi-no-problem-tearful-di-maria-inspires-argentina-copa-america?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jun 2016 06:00:15 +0000