Lionel Messi
latest news & developments
Lionel Messi: A golden chapter closes on international football
Argentina legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on an iconic national career that delivered multiple major titles and…
The Gods of football have mercy on Messi: Argentina’s epic 3-2 comeback over Egypt
Witness the incredible moment Lionel Messi and Argentina defied elimination, staging a historic 3-2 comeback against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after trailing…
Lionel Messi: The undisputed GOAT
At 38, Lionel Messi is rewriting history at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, silencing doubters with five goals in two matches, including a hat-trick and a record-breaking brace. He's…
Beckham was the vaccine for US soccer, Messi is the booster shot
David Beckham’s arrival in Major League Soccer helped revive a dying league but Messi joining will increase its popularity in preparation for the World Cup in 2026
The M&G’s favourite World Cup moments
Our reporters choose their favourite memories from a frenetic few days in Qatar
Qatar World Cup: Damp fireworks yet to be lit
When all is said and done, how many indelible memories will the desert cough up?
World Cup Qatar: A desert yet to bloom
A few upsets and some Messi magic aside, the showcase has struggled to dazzle
World Cup wrap: Added time, shock results and what to look forward to
The first round of games are done. Who stood out, who flopped and what to watch out for
2022 Fifa World Cup: What’s the deal in group C?
Argentina, one of the tournament’s favourites, have been dealt a kind draw, but they cannot allow their 2018 dressing room politics to resurface
Footballers suffering from Covid effects after initial recovery
Longer-term effects of the virus are now being seen in the game, with one study suggesting even players’ passing quality can suffer.
Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy and football’s inconvenient truths
A French defender’s rape allegations raise difficult ethical questions about whether and when clubs should suspend players
Screen Grab: Where were Messi’s friends when the chips were down?
From Leo to Rassie to Mourinho, the art of the endorsement commercial is in laughably bad shape
Between dark and light was Maradona
The life of Diego Armando Maradona, who died this week, will always remind us that the smell of shit is as important as the perfume of flowers, writes Niren Tolsi
Cartoon: A Messi affair in the Barcelona house
An untidy board room has prompted a transfer request from the little man
Top European clubs circle as Messi calls time at Barcelona
The Argentine legend has fallen out with the Catalan club’s hierarchy, which has alerted a number of sides in world football