Page 6 - Lionel Messi

Stellar Brazil vs Argentina final for emergency Copa America

The most improvised Copa Amrica will have the final most of the fans dreamed of. Brazil and Argentina play for the South American title on Saturday at Rio de Janeiro's historic Maracana Stadium, one of soccer's spiritual homes. It should be a memorable ending to a tournament plagued by setbacks and moved at the last minute to one of the countries hardest-hit by COVID-19. Neymar's Brazil team, the defending champions, and Lionel Messi's challengers have won a combined seven World Cups and 23 continental titles. The Argentine star wants to lift his first major trophy with his country, which hasn't won any since 1993. Messi played and lost the Copa America finals of 2007, 2015 and 2016 and the 2014 World Cup the latter against Germany at the Maracana. What I want the most is to win a title with the national team," captain Messi said after Tuesday's 3-2 penalty shootout victory against Colombia in the semifinal. We aim high, we managed to get the first objective, which was to play th

Argentina advances on penalties to Copa America final against Brazil

It will be Lionel Messi's Argentina against Neymar's Brazil in the Copa America final on Saturday at the historic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro

Argentina trusting Messi to find answer to Ospina's Colombia

Argentina will continue to trust that Lionel Messi finds a way to overcome Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina at Man Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia to return to the Copa America final.

Argentina beats Ecuador at Copa, plays Colombia in semifinal

Lionel Messi scored his 76th international goal and is now only one shy of Pele for the South American record as Argentina beat Ecuador 3-0 to progress to the semifinals of the Copa America

Club Football: Barcelona's finances holding up new Lionel Messi contract

Barcelona's poor finances have become the stumbling block to getting Lionel Messi to sign another contract, according to club president Joan Laporta.

Lionel Messi becomes free agent as Barcelona contract expired on June 30

Argentine striker Lionel Messi has finally become a free agent after his contract with Barcelona expired on June 30

Messi breaks Argentina's record for caps at Copa America win

Lionel Messi became Argentina's most capped international player, marking the occasion with two goals as he led his national team to a 4-1 win over Bolivia at the Copa America. The 34-year-old Messi's 148th appearance for Argentina beat the mark previously held by retired defender Javier Mascherano. His two goals and one assist helped Argentina ensure top spot in Group A, setting up a quarterfinal against Ecuador on Saturday. Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 in a 2-1 win in a friendly against Hungary. He was sent off during that match after hitting a rival with his elbow. The Barcelona striker, who holds the all-time Argentina high of 75 goals, is also seeking to break two South American records: Pele's as the top goal scorer of a national team (77 for Brazil), and Chile's Sergio Livingstone mark of 34 for most Copa America appearances (Messi has 31). Diego Maradona scored 32 goals in 87 matches for Argentina, including the 1986 World Cup triumph. Messi, despite his impressi

Messi dominates Copa America group stage with Argentina

Lionel Messi is used to being No. 1 with Barcelona. Hours before his contract with the club was due to expire, he was getting that kind of feeling while wearing the Argentina shirt at Copa America. The 34-year-old Messi has some of the best statistics so far at the South American championship. He capped the group stage on Monday with two goals and an assist in Argentina's 4-1 win over Bolivia. Messi's contract with Barcelona ends on June 30 after 17 seasons. The Argentine forward won a record six Balon d'Or awards at the Catalan club, where he's the all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances. But he's yet to lift a major title with his national team. Messi leads the Copa America scoring list with three goals in four matches. He gave two assists, as many as Brazil's Neymar. Sports data site SofaScore places him on top in the tournament so far in successful dribbles (21), shots on target (10), total duels won (40) and goals from outside of the box (2). There was some

Copa America bracket favors Brazil; Argentina spots Uruguay

Defending champion Brazil may have the smoothest path to the final of the Copa America tournament it is hosting. The hottest competition could be on the other side of the draw, where arch rivals Argentina and Uruguay have the chance to meet in the semifinals. The knockout stage of the Copa America was finalized Tuesday after the last two matches in Group A. Argentina beat Bolivia 4-1 to ensure it finished atop the group, setting up a game against Ecuador in the quarterfinals. Ecuador is yet to win in the tournament, but held Brazil to a 1-1 draw on Sunday and is in third position in South American World Cup qualifiers. We have the utmost respect for Ecuador, they have proven to be a good, young and dynamic team that will sure give us a war, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. If Lionel Messi's lineup beats Ecuador, coached by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, its semifinal will be against either Uruguay or Colombia. That head-to-head showdown has produced great encounters recently, incl

Copa America: Messi stars in record-breaking appearance for Argentina

Lionel Messi rose to the occasion as Argentina defeated Bolivia in the ongoing Copa America here at the Arena Pantanal.Messi scored two goals as Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-1 to finish at the top of Group A in the ongoing Copa America with 10 points from four games. The side will now lock horns against Ecuador in the quarterfinals on Sunday.As he stepped onto the field to play against Bolivia, Messi broke Argentina's record for most national team caps. This was the 148th time that Messi walked out to the pitch to represent Argentina.Messi went past Javier Mascherano to achieve the feat. In the game, Messi scored two goals in the 33rd and 42nd minutes respectively.In the game against Bolivia, Alejandro Dario Gomez had opened the scoring for Argentina as he netted the ball into the goalpost in the 6th minute.Bolivia did manage to score one goal in the 60th minute as Erwin Saavedra got the better of Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani.Lautaro Martinez scored the final goal for Argentina .

No rest for Argentina's record-chasing Lionel Messi at Copa America

Record-chasing Lionel Messi doesn't want to rest at the Copa America despite Argentina already having secured its place in the quarterfinals

Argentina beats Paraguay, secures Copa America knockout spot

Papu Gmez scored in the 10th minute as Argentina beat Paraguay 1-0 and secured its place in the Copa America knockout stage. The result at the Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia moved Argentina atop Group A with seven points from three matches. The game also gave Lionel Messi a record 147th cap for the national team, equalling the mark of retired defender Javier Mascherano. Chile, which also advanced to the quarterfinals, is second in the group with five points after the 1-1 draw with Uruguay. Paraguay has three points, followed by Uruguay (1) and Bolivia (0). Captain Messi, seeking his first major title with the national team, had to work with a team impacted by six changes in the starting lineup. Defenders Germn Pezzella and Nicols Tagliafico, midfielders Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes; and forwards Sergio Aguero and ngel di Maria started. Nicols Otamendi, Marcos Acua, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martnez and Nico Gonzlez were left out of the starting lineup. T

Argentina counting on Messi - and history - against Paraguay

Argentina is looking to Lionel Messi to help it secure a spot in the Copa America knockout stages with a win against Paraguay on Monday. Argentina tops Group A with Chile and will hope for an inspired Messi at the Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia as the 33-year-old soccer great seeks his first Copa America trophy with Argentina. Argentina and Chile have four points, one more than third-place Paraguay which has a game in hand. Uruguay and Bolivia have zero points. The top four teams in each group advance to the knockout stages. "We will play match after match, but it is clear we have a great team and where we can go depends only on ourselves," said Argentina defender Cristian Romero. Messi played a key role in Argentina's 1-1 draw with Chile and its 1-0 win against Uruguay. Against Paraguay, Messi will be making his 147th appearance for Argentina, equaling the record of Javier Mascherano. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni might not be able to count on midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and

'Brand dissidence': Ronaldo eschewing Coca-Cola has a lesson for companies

In taking on Coke, Ronaldo may have unintentionally set a precedent for other players

Argentina and Uruguay riddled with doubts for Copa America clash

Argentina and Uruguay go into Friday's Copa America encounter with neither team having won in three games since November. The two sides seem unsure about which players to select for the Group A game at the Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia. The winner could ultimately go on to top the group and avoid an early knockout-stage meeting with defending champion Brazil, which is in Group B. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has received criticism since his team's opening 1-1 draw against Chile on Monday, a game that came a few days after a 2-2 draw with Colombia in World Cup qualifying. Scaloni appears unsure whether to use three or four defenders against Uruguay. He could also bring back Cristian Romero in the center of his rearguard in place of Lucas Martnez Quarta. If he opts for a line of three defenders, left-back Nicols Tagliafico may miss out. Scaloni is also undecided who should accompany Lionel Messi up front. Lautaro Martnez has been short of goals for Argentina while new Barcelo

Lionel Messi's Argentina draws 1-1 with Chile at Copa America

Lionel Messi scored a stunning free kick, repeatedly dribbled through the Chilean defense and created opportunities regularly for his Argentina teammates.

Copa America: Messi eyes Copa America for "biggest dream" with Argentina

Lionel Messi has won it all with Barcelona in a decorated career. Winning a title with Argentina remains one of his biggest ambitions. The 33-year-old Messi might have one of his final chances at the Copa America. Argentina's campaign will begin on Monday against Chile at the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Copa America opened Sunday in emergency mode in Brazil, where the tournament was shifted after Colombia and Argentina were dropped as co-hosts. "I am always available to my national team. My biggest dream is to win a title with this shirt," Messi told a news conference in Rio. "I was very close m "any times. It didn't happen, but I will keep trying. I will always fight for this dream." Messi said most of the group had played together for a while and "the way this Argentina plays is very clear." "That's why it is is time that we win this Copa," he said. "We know it will be a special one, different because of all that the world is going through." The Argentina captain

Copa America: My biggest dream is to get a title with Argentina, says Messi

Argentina football captain Messi has reiterated that his biggest dream is to win a title with the national team and feels the team is currently "on the right track" ahead of the opener against Chile

Chhetri overtakes Messi, one goal away from entering all-time top-10

Indian football talisman Sunil Chhetri has surpassed Argentina's global superstar Lionel Messi to become the second-highest active international goal-scorer with 74 strikes

Messi should not have doubts about this Barcelona team, says coach Koeman

After crashing out of the Champions League, coach Ronald Koeman said that Argentine striker Lionel Messi should not have any doubts about the quality of this Barcelona side.Messi missed the penalty against Paris Saint-Germain as the LaLiga giants played out a 1-1 draw in the Champions League second-leg clash of the round-of-16 fixture on Wednesday (local time).PSG had defeated Barcelona 4-1 in the first-leg and as a result, the French side progressed to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate."Leo's seen for a while that the team is improving with the changes we've made. There are many youngsters with quality and a big future coming in, so it's not a question of having doubts about this team," Goal.com quoted Koeman as saying.French striker Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the second-leg fixture as he converted the penalty in the 30th minute of the game. The lead did not last long as Messi's 37th-minute strike squared-off things for the visitors at Parc des Princes. No further goals ...