Lionel Messi

Suarez 'feels special' at Barca

Luis Suarez on Friday said he was delighted after signing his lucrative contract extension at Barcelona through to June 2021.
17 December 2016

Messi meets Afghan boy famed for plastic bag shirt

A six-year-old Afghan boy, who shot to Internet fame by sporting a Lionel Messi shirt made out of a plastic bag, fulfills his dreams by meeting the Argentine soccer great.
13 December 2016

Ronaldo caps dream year with fourth Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of best footballer on the planet.
12 December 2016

Ronaldo caps dream year with fourth Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of best footballer on the planet.
12 December 2016

Ronaldo's 4th?

Come 1900 GMT on Monday, what looks to be a poorly kept secret will officially be out -- Cristiano Ronaldo will bag his fourth Ballon d'Or as the world's top footballer.
11 December 2016

Football: Messi or Ronaldo? No thanks, says Leipzig boss

Neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo would be considered fresh enough at youthful Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig, says sports director Ralf Rangnick.
7 December 2016

Turan treble and Messi magic in Barca cruise

Arda Turan grabs a hattrick and Lionel Messi his 10th Champions League goal of the season as a much-changed Barcelona cruises past Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-0.
6 December 2016

Football: Five things we learned from El Clasico

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos rescued a draw and maintained the European champions' six-point lead at the top of La Liga in a 1-1 draw at Barcelona on Saturday.
4 December 2016

Football: Barcelona fans turn up the noise at Nou Camp

Barcelona's Nou Camp is the biggest soccer arena in Europe and has long been the home of the world's best players but visitors have often complained that it is lacking in atmosphere.
2 December 2016

Barcelona v Real Madrid: Fans' view

Real Madrid can open a nine-point lead over bitter rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga by winning Saturday's 'Clasico' at the Nou Camp.
2 December 2016

A touchline battle between Zidane and Enrique

Despite being former midfield heroes for the clubs they now manage, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and his Real Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane are afforded little credit for their achievements in management.
2 December 2016

Reports say Messi and Argentina flew by the same LAMIA airlines flight two weeks ago

A charter plane carrying a Brazilian football team which crashed in the mountains in Colombia late Monday killing 76 people so far flew Lionel Messi and his Argentina national team two weeks ago, according to media reports.
29 November 2016

Barca draw a 'miracle'

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique lamented what he described as the worst display of his time in charge as the Catalan giants escaped with a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
28 November 2016

Five probable reasons behind Barcelona's slump in form

AFP Sports looks at what has gone wrong so far this season for the Spanish champions Barcelona.
28 November 2016

Football: Pique fiercely critical of Barcelona after draw at Real Sociedad

Gerard Pique gives a scathing assessment of Barcelona's display after the champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Sociedad and casts doubt on his team's ability to retain the La Liga title unless their performances improve.
28 November 2016

Football: Lionel Messi downplays role in Barcelona success

Lionel Messi's prodigious talent is matched by his startling humility, which he displayed again on Thursday by denying that Barcelona's fate is determined by his presence in the team.
25 November 2016

Football: Arsenal's Sanchez wants to replicate Messi role

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is keen to play the same kind of role Lionel Messi performs at Barcelona, the Chilean international said.
24 November 2016

Messi back at the double to sicken Celtic

The dazzling Lionel Messi returned from illness to score yet another double to help Barcelona ease into the knockout stages of the Champions League for a 13th successive year with their 2-0 win at Celtic on Wednesday.
24 November 2016

Scandinavian scorpion kick goal shortlisted

A goal scored with a scorpion kick in the Swedish league was included on the shortlist for FIFA's goal of the year award on Monday along with efforts from Lionel Messi and Neymar.
22 November 2016

Messi set for Celtic return

Lionel Messi looks set to return for Barcelona's Champions League trip to Celtic on Wednesday after overcoming a sickness bug
21 November 2016