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Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
The latest stories and features on footballer Lionel Messi, including professional football news and updates.
Born
24 Jun 1987
Industry
Sport
Job Title
Athlete
Rachael Carroll speaking at the launch of the 2025 Hong Kong Football Festival. Photo: TEG
Hong Kong Football Festival

Football Festival boss eyes Sevens-style boom, dismisses threat from rivals

TEG Sport managing director Rachael Carroll on overcoming Messi fiasco and making event a permanent fixture in city’s sporting calendar.

Formula One (F1)

Gulf’s decades-long strategy of sporting investment rocked by war

Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi scores 900th career goal in Inter Milan match, joins Ronaldo in elite club

US, Israel war on Iran

US bombing of Iran disrupts sports with doubt over Messi, Ronaldo games and F1

Cancellations and travel shutdowns affecting events in Middle East and elsewhere as conflict spreads across region.

The expanding conflict in the Middle East could have implications for the World Cup, as well as matches next month in the region. Photo: AP
Fifa

Argentina FA in turmoil ahead of World Cup over mystery villa, dirty money claims

Carlos Tevez claim over actions of governing body’s treasurer prompted investigation that uncovered 54 cars, helicopter at luxury property.

Fifa

Year in football: growth, mismatches point to direction ‘beautiful game’ will take

‘Success’ of Club World Cup, bigger World Cup go hand in hand with more money, technology coming in, but player welfare is an issue.

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India

Kick-off in Kolkata: how Lionel Messi was dragged into an Indian election battle

The BJP has latched on to the crowd chaos during Messi’s visit to West Bengal to demand the resignation of the state’s chief minister.

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A man ducks to avoid chairs being thrown by fans after Argentine football star Lionel Messi leaves the Salt Lake Stadium during his tour in Kolkata on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
India

Video | Indian fans storm stadium after Messi exit

Fans were left with barely a glimpse of Messi after paying over US$100 to see the touring Argentine superstar.

Fifa World Cup 2026

Another Lionel Messi farce as angry Indian fans riot, vandalise stadium

Video shows fans, who had paid ‘a month’s salary’ to see touring Argentine superstar, throwing ripped-up seats, other objects onto field.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup draw: who Asian teams will play, how Ronaldo v Messi could happen

Son Heung-min’s South Korea among seven Asian nations who learn their opponents in the draw in Washington.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (right) could face Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2026 World Cup. Photo: TNS
Fifa

Fifa World Cup draw repeats past as France face Senegal, England play Croatia

Argentina drawn to start against Algeria after a show that lasts almost as long as a football match.

Shaquille O’Neal acts as a draw assistant during the Fifa World Cup 2026 draw in Washington on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

Trump looms over Fifa World Cup draw as it starts countdown to 2026 finals

US president expected to play prominent role as Washington stages draw for the tournament, to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo makes history as first billionaire footballer after hefty Saudi payday

Portuguese star joins ‘three comma club’ after signing new two-year deal with Al-Nassr worth almost £500 million.

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Timepieces

Lionel Messi’s colourful watches – from a ‘Barbie’ Rolex to Flamingo Blue Tudor

The Inter Miami football player rocks a Patek Philippe Cubitus, Rolex Daytonas, and unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks.

Lionel Messi boasts a flashy watch collection, including this limited edition “Barbie” Rolex Daytona. Photos: Getty Images, Handout
Kitchee SC

Lionel Messi’s former Barcelona colleague bringing winning mentality to Kitchee

Roger Riera eager to tackle first Asian challenge following spells in Spain, the Netherlands and with Nottingham Forest.

Roger Riera aims a pass during pre-season training with Kitchee. Photo: Edmond So
Italian Serie A

Could Messi finish career in Italy? Indonesian billionaires eye ‘dream’ transfer

Serie A club Como have richest owners in the Italian league in brothers Robert and Michael Hartono, who have ambitious plans for the club.

Fifa

Club World Cup: Fifa head’s baby up and running – football may never be the same

Gianni Infantino says event, which opened with draw between Messi’s Inter Miami and Egypt’s Al-Ahly, ‘will change our sport for the better’.

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Fifa

Lionel Messi denied by woodwork as Inter Miami draw Club World Cup opener

Almost 61,000 fans attend at Hard Rock Stadium as Miami share goalless draw with Egypt’s Al-Ahly in Florida.

Lionel Messi passes the Club World Cup trophy before the opening match between Inter Miami and Al-Ahly in Florida. Photo: Xinhua
Fifa

Fifa Club World Cup: when it starts, which teams are playing in new-look event

US-hosted tournament features 32 teams and some of the world’s best players, but question marks remain over how it will received.

Hong Kong society

My Take | Top football clubs need to repay Asian fans with value for money

The visiting teams have a duty to respect and not take for granted their supporters who welcome any opportunity to see them play in the flesh.

Fifa

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami risk Club World Cup humiliation after latest failure

A 5-1 aggregate defeat in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-final comes after a shock failure to win main domestic title.

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were well beaten in their Concacaf semi-final tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Photo: AFP
AFC Champions League

Ronaldo, Messi knocked out in Asian and Concacaf Champions League semis

Al-Nassr stunned by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in AFC version while Inter Miami lose to Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf competition.

Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo shows his disappointment after AFC Champions League Elite elimination. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

Pope Francis was the pontiff with ‘2 left feet’ who loved the ‘beautiful game’

From Argentine compatriots Messi and the late Maradona to Ibrahimovic and Buffon, Francis received greatest stars of football at the Vatican.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong cannot afford another own goal

With five top teams on their way to Hong Kong for a ‘festival of football’, fans must manage their expectations following the Messi farce.

ATP

Messi watching Djokovic reach Miami Open final made Serb feel ‘pressure’

The former world No 1 beats 14th-seed Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final and will meet 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in Sunday’s showpiece.

Novak Djokovic celebrates his straight-sets victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami Open semi-finals. Photo: AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi: sons’ fake record goal hauls fool social media

Reports that a new battle between the legends’ children was emerging turned out to be fake news.

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo formed arguably the greatest rivalry in football history over the past two decades. Photo: AP
Neymar

Neymar says former teammate Mbappe ‘jealous’ over Messi during trio’s PSG spell

Brazilian striker blames clash of egos for the failure of the three superstars to gel when they played together at the French club.

Fame and celebrity

Who is Sofi Martínez – and is she secretly dating footballer Lionel Messi?

Argentine sports journalist Sofi Martínez has decided to speak publicly about the rumour there’s something between her and footballer Lionel Messi – so what did she say and who is she exactly?

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