Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona threw on their stars of the present and the future on Saturday but neither Lionel Messi nor Ansu Fati could save them from a dismal 2-0 defeat away at Granada. Messi was still not deemed fit enough to start at Los Carmenes while Fati, …
Read More »Messi returns as Dortmund rue missed chances against Barcelona
Dortmund, Germany | AFP | Lionel Messi returned from injury to make an innocuous first appearance of the season as Barcelona escaped with a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Messi, who has missed the start of the season with a calf injury, came …
Read More »Messi’s Barcelona handed tough Champions League draw as Liverpool face Napoli again
Group A Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Real Madrid (ESP), Club Brugge (BEL), Galatasaray (TUR) Group B Bayern Munich (GER), Tottenham (ENG), Olympiakos (GRE), Red Star Belgrade (SRB) Group C Manchester City (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Dinamo Zagreb (CRO), Atalanta (ITA) Group D Juventus (ITA), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Lokomotiv …
Read More »It is Messi vs Ibrahimovic for FIFA goal of the year
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the star names on the 10-player short-list announced on Monday by FIFA for its Puskas award for goal of the year. They are joined by three women and five men, with goals scored between July 16, 2018 and July …
Read More »Argentina waiting for Messi magic to make an appearance
Belo Horizonte, Brazil | AFP | For the last dozen years, Argentina has been waiting for global superstar Lionel Messi to lead their football team to a major international trophy. But when the the country needed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner most, Messi failed to emulate the feats of Diego Maradona …
Read More »Messi ‘bitter’ as Colombia stun Argentina
Salvador, Brazil | AFP | Lionel Messi said his team was feeling bitter after Argentina lost their opening Copa America match 2-0 to Colombia despite dominating the second half. Goals from Roger Martinez and Duvan Zapata in the final 20 minutes gave Colombia their first tournament victory over Argentina in …
Read More »Hopeful Messi keen to end Argentina title drought
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | With Neymar sidelined by an ankle injury, Lionel Messi heads into the Copa America this weekend as the competition’s main attraction but one with a desperate need to end more than a decade of hurt with Argentina. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has one …
Read More »Messi scores twice as Argentina routs Nicaragua 5-1.
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Lionel Messi scored a first-half double as Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Nicaragua on Friday in San Juan. The Central Americans, who will participate in this month’s Gold Cup tournament while Argentina battle it out in …
Read More »Messi and Aguero in Argentina Copa America squad
Buenos Aires, Argentina | AFP | Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and the returning Sergio Aguero headed the 23-man Copa America squad announced by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday. Paris Saint Germain winger Angel Di Maria was also included but there was no place for striker Gonzalo Higuain, who …
Read More »Messi looms for Liverpool, but Cardiff on Klopp’s mind for now
Porto, Portugal | AFP | Jurgen Klopp might be steeling himself for some sleepless nights as he tries to work out how to stop Lionel Messi, but for now the German can be delighted at seeing his Liverpool side extend their outstanding record in European ties under his management. Having …
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