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
Fifa described its expanded 32-team Club World Cup, won by English club Chelsea, as a “roaring success”. Photo: AP
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.

India

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

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India

Video | Indian fans storm stadium after Messi exit

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.

Fans throw chairs after Lionel Messi departs from the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday. Photo: AFP
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.

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.

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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.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left) speaks alongside US President Donald Trump at the White House in March. Photo: AFP
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.

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.

Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2025 MLS season and he is in talks over an extension. Photo: Reuters
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’.

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.

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.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino is banking on the Club World Cup becoming one of the biggest and wealthiest tournaments in sport. Photo: AP
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.

Hong Kong fans cheer for Manchester United at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Elson Li
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.

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.

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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.

Pope Francis receives an olive tree from Argentine forward Lionel Messi at the end of a private audience together at the Vatican in Rome, Italy on August 13, 2013. Photo: Osservatore Romano / AFP
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.

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.

From left, Paris Saint-Germain superstars Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar winning the Riyadh Season Cup in Saudi Arabia in January 2023. Photo: AFP
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?

Fifa

Chinese electronics firm Hisense becomes first sponsor for Fifa’s Club World Cup

Hisense will receive Video Assistant Referee branding during expanded 32-team competition set to take place in the US from June 15 to July 13.

Fifa

Move over, Messi and Ronaldo – a new generation is lining up to win Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is favourite to be crowned world’s best player on Monday, while Mbappe and Haaland lead field of contenders.

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Lionel Messi have won football’s most prestigious individual award 13 times over 16 years, but neither has been nominated this year. Photo: AP
Fame and celebrity

Meet football megastar-to-be Lamine Yamal, who’s been dubbed a ‘mini Messi’

For a Lionel Messi fan, nothing could be better than playing against him – which Lamine Yamal now gets to do thanks to Spain’s Euros victory, but some think he could be even more talented than his idol

Who is football star Lamine Yamal, who’s 17 and already breaking records? Photo: @lamineyamal/Instagram
Colombia

Messi enjoying “last battles” for Argentina as Copa America final beckons

Argentina star looks back to his old self in 2-0 win over Canada at MetLife Stadium, but has yet to commit to playing beyond tournament.

Hong Kong sports

Messi fans can seek refunds without dropping complaints to Hong Kong watchdog

But Consumer Council says those who bought tickets for February friendly match using e-payment systems may need to drop complaints to banks to collect cash.

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