Messi

Messi breaks Ronaldo's record, scores 702 goals in top 5 European Leagues

Lionel Messi has gone past Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring his 702nd goal in the top 5 European Leagues. He has also scored his 100th goal in PSG this season

Epochal football moments: Pele's passing, glory for Messi, India's FIFA ban

Pele's demise just two days before the world prepared to welcome the new year and Lionel Messi-led Argentina lifting the World Cup trophy were undoubtedly the two epochal moments, which will be remembered for decades to come even as Indian football made more noise for its administrative mess than the on-field achievements in 2022. If Messi worked his magic to guide Argentina to its third World Cup triumph on December 18, Pele's legion of fans kept praying as he battled cancer in a Sao Paulo hospital before he departed the world on December 29. Fans in India shed tears of joy when Messi lifted the World Cup trophy, and cried inconsolably when Pele left, given their connect with the 'Beautiful Game'. However, on the home front, things are far from hunky-dory even though global football icons are revered here and millions in the country tune in when the World Cup, Euros or the UEFA Champions League are beamed on the television screens. The year saw Indian football go into a downward .

From Commonwealth Games to Fifa WC, 2022 was a year of reset for sports

2022 was about one sporting great finally realising his dream and another bowing out after having done it all

Will continue to play, not retiring from international games: Lionel Messi

After helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in a stunning penalty shootout victory over France on Sunday, Lionel Messi has said he would not retire from international football

Congress MP Khaleque says Messi was born in Assam, gets trolled on Twitter

Congress Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khaleque was brutally trolled on social media after claiming in a tweet that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi was born in 'Assam'

'I am not going to retire': Leo Messi after Argentina's World Cup victory

Messi has been monumental in his team's success in the tournament, becoming the only player in World Cup history to score in every knockout game

All eyes on Lionel Messi as Argentina brace for Fifa World Cup 2022 final

As Lionel Messi approaches his second and likely last World Cup final, the stakes could hardly be higher. The same goes for Argentina after more than 30 years of disappointment since it last won soccer's ultimate prize. For Messi, victory against France at Lusail Stadium on Sunday is a chance to finally get his hands on the one major trophy that has eluded him in his storied career. In doing so, he would push ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also never won a World Cup, in the long-running rivalry between the two greatest players of their generation. While 37-year-old Ronaldo exited the tournament at the quarterfinals stage, benched by Portugal and in tears in the likely recognition that his last chance had passed, Messi is summoning some of his finest moments in an Argentina shirt to inspire his country's run to the final. "Each time we see him play, he makes us and the players feel something special," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "There's something about him that peop

Messi becomes highest goalscorer for Argentina in Fifa World Cup history

Lionel Messi broke Gabriel Batistuta's record to become the highest goalscorer for Argentina in the history of the Fifa World Cup. This was Messi's 11th goal

Alvarez, Messi help Argentina beat Croatia to enter Fifa World Cup final

Julian Alvarez's brace and Lionel Messi's goal help Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 here at Lusail Stadium to enter the final of the Fifa World Cup 2022

Messi will play for Argentina after Fifa World Cup, hopes coach Scaloni

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is pinning hopes that Lionel Messi will continue to play for Argentina much after the FIFA World Cup is over

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Football's hottest debate rages on

It may have been a rest day at the World Cup on Thursday but there was no stopping the football discussion that never ends - who is the better player, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

Messi leads Argentina to 2-0 win over Mexico at FIFA World Cup 2022

Lionel Messi came up with another crucial goal for Argentina in a 2-0 win over Mexico on Sunday that ignited the team's World Cup chances. Messi took a touch from Angel Di Maria's pass across the face of the area and drove a low shot from 25 metres into the bottom corner in the 64th minute. He ran towards Argentina's fans with his arms outstretched before getting mobbed by his jubilant teammates. He looked emotional as he grabbed and shook his jersey, then blew a kiss to the crowd. Substitute Enzo Fernandez added a second goal in the 87th minute. Argentina bounced back from a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening match. The team is in second place in Group C ahead of its last match against Poland on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Messi is likely playing in his last World Cup, which is the only major title missing from his collection.

Why FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday, will be one of its kind

Qatar on yellow card with accusations of sportswashing, curbs on fan freedom; many high-profile players to retire

No Ronaldo as Salah joins Messi, Lewandowski for FIFA award

Six-time FIFA award winner Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are also candidates to win the award on Jan. 17

Argentina cruises with Messi, Brazil and Uruguay win in qualifiers

Lionel Messi shone once more in South American World Cup qualifiers, leading Argentina with all the goals in its 3-0 home win against Bolivia

Two long droughts end as Messi's Argentina lifts Copa America trophy

The trophy is a relief for Argentina, which won its last major title when Messi was only 6 years old.

Impossible for Barcelona to match previous salary of Messi: La Liga prez

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes it would be impossible for FC Barcelona to match the salary Lionel Messi was on as the Catalan club is currently going through a financial predicament.

Argentina's legend Maradona begs Messi not to quit

He left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday

Chile manager Pizzi labels Messi as 'the best player of all time'

Although Messi missed his crucial penalty kick in final match, Pizzi's opinion about his fellow countryman remains same

Lionel Messi absent as his tax fraud trial opens in Spain

Under Spanish law, a defendant is not obliged to attend full trial if prosecutors seek a jail sentence of less than 2 years