Lionel Messi

Messi and the soccer show ponies thrive as slick suits shore up the shills

Astronomical gap between what Designated Players (high-profile imports) and ordinary pros take home is a troubling issue since the Beckham years in Los Angeles

Thu Nov 07 2024 - 06:00

All in the Game: Klopp’s Red Bull deal gives his German critics wings

Plus: Messi and Ronaldo battle it out at the perfume counter; Ireland rack up the z’s; Ronaldo’s sister rushes to his defence

Sun Oct 13 2024 - 19:00

Messi and Ronaldo miss out on Ballon d’Or nominations

It was the first time since 2003 that neither player was nominated for the award

Wed Sept 04 2024 - 22:12

‘I lost to a very strong eight-year-old’: how chess is capturing the imagination of a new generation in Ireland

Set to feature in a new Sally Rooney novel, the game is officially having a moment. But what makes it so appealing to young players?

Sat Aug 03 2024 - 05:00

Lautaro Martínez inspires Argentina to historic Copa América title in chaotic final

Lionel Messi wins third major tournament in a row as his career nears an end

Mon Jul 15 2024 - 14:30

Barcelona is the bad habitat that Xavi just can’t kick

Inspiration from Damien Duff’s wife; a heartfelt tribute to Jürgen Klopp; and pillow talk from John Terry

Mon Apr 29 2024 - 06:00

Your chance to buy a little square piece of the Lionel Messi story

All in the Game: Pep Guardiola makes Margaret Thatcher admission; Thomas Tuchel puts his foot in it; and Damien Duff gives hugs, kisses and kicks

Mon Mar 11 2024 - 06:00

‘Don’t come back’: Messi not the first high-profile target of online anger in China

Intense and sometimes destructive social media storms have been a regular occurrence for more than a decade

Thu Feb 22 2024 - 18:01

Lionel Messi’s non-show in Hong Kong sparks diplomatic tensions

Manchester United’s ultra-expensive team; Damien Duff quotes; Henderson the ‘water carrier’

Mon Feb 19 2024 - 08:00

Fall-out from Lionel Messi’s Hong Kong no-show is anything but friendly

Atletico Madrid president gets history listen on club’s past after Bilbao blunder

Mon Feb 12 2024 - 07:00

Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmatí named Fifa’s best players of 2023

Argentinian forward was not present at the awards as he beat Haaland and Mbappé

Mon Jan 15 2024 - 22:05

MLS cashing in on Lionel Messi factor to increase season ticket price

Andy Cole not impressed with Antony; Mourinho explains Roma’s bad away form; a young debutant for Milan

Mon Nov 27 2023 - 07:00

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says he may quit after win in Brazil

The World Champions hand Brazil third straight loss after crowd violence delay in Rio

Wed Nov 22 2023 - 12:07

Brazil president praises ‘real idol’ Lionel Messi in naked pop at Neymar

All in the game: Wrexham fans lay all their love on James McClean; and Liverpool player discusses ‘sick’ Erling Haaland

Mon Nov 06 2023 - 06:00

Lionel Messi wins record eighth Ballon d’Or

Aitana Bonmatí keeps the Ballon d’Or Féminin trophy in Barcelona and Spain for a third consecutive year

Mon Oct 30 2023 - 21:42

Saudi Pro League can’t rent a crowd even after spending a fortune

All in the Game: Pochettino not happy with Christmas fixtures; McCabe’s impressive record, Messi’s jetsetting

Mon Oct 30 2023 - 08:00

The Real Wagatha Story: Most interesting aspect of new documentary is the woman at the centre of it

Television: New Disney+ documentary follows the faux-scandal but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before

Wed Oct 18 2023 - 14:35

Dave Hannigan: Messi’s bodyguard catching the eye with his continuous shadow play

Vigilant bodyguard Yassine Cheuko has become a minor celebrity in is own right as he constanly shadows Lionel Messi, even when the great Argentinian is in action on the pitch for Inter Miami

Thu Sept 14 2023 - 05:00

Messi will move the needle for US soccer but he can never have the impact that Pelé had

Inter Miami will flog a lot of shirts but the game in the USA is as big as it will ever be

Thu Jul 27 2023 - 06:00

Lionel Messi scores last-ditch free-kick winner on debut for Inter Miami

Celebrities line out to see seven-time Ballon d’Or make eye-catching first game for MLS club

Sat Jul 22 2023 - 13:57

Lionel Messi’s move to Miami brings joy, disbelief, and potential pitfalls

The World Cup winner’s pending arrival will be transformative, but Inter Miami must grow up fast

Wed Jun 14 2023 - 10:29

Bigger than Beckham: Messi has the power to realise soccer’s potential in the US

Never before has MLS given up so much to sign a player. But with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the move could end up being a wise one

Thu Jun 08 2023 - 10:10

Jim McGuinness: Generational athletes can turn games in an instant while handling extreme pressure

Basketball wunderkind Victor Wembanyama, soccer players Lionel Messi, Ronaldo or GAA stars like Kerry’s David Clifford are all touched by greatness or potential for such exceptionalism

Tue Jun 06 2023 - 05:00

Galtier confirms Messi will leave PSG and defends Argentinian’s time at club

The Argentinian star moved to the French capital from Barcelona in 2021 on a two-year contract.

Thu Jun 01 2023 - 13:01

Messi and PSG: a warning from history – and for Manchester United

The ageing star being politically weaponised in two states’ soft-power games carries cautionary lessons for the Premier League

Fri May 05 2023 - 19:58

Lionel Messi makes public apology to PSG for taking Saudi Arabia trip

‘First of all, I want to apologise to my teammates and the club‘

Fri May 05 2023 - 18:33

Erling Haaland’s hunger for goals is like Messi’s, says Pep Guardiola

Striker’s penalty in Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Fulham took the Norwegian to 50 goals for the season

Tue May 02 2023 - 22:30

Lionel Messi scores 100th Argentina goal in seven-goal trashing of Curaçao

The Argentine talisman scored a hat-trick against Curaçao

Wed Mar 29 2023 - 15:42

Lionel Messi hits 800th goal as over 80,000 people welcome Argentina’s World Cup heroes

Forward claims 99th international goal from a free-kick sending crowd in Buenos Aires into raptures

Fri Mar 24 2023 - 07:49

Lionel Messi named Fifa player of 2022 after achieving World Cup ‘dream’

Catalan Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, was named women’s player of the year

Tue Feb 28 2023 - 07:42

Champions League: Kingsley Coman on target as Bayern Munich beat off-colour PSG

Superstar French team raised their game once Mbappé came off the bench but was not enough

Tue Feb 14 2023 - 22:18

Ken Early: Football is different in today’s generation, not better

Players such as Pelé and Lionel Messi have stood out by defying the norms of their different times

Mon Jan 02 2023 - 05:00

Best sporting moments of the year - No 2: Lionel Messi fulfils World Cup destiny with Argentina

Having played his part in all three Argentina goals he then scored the first goal in the penalty shoot-out

Fri Dec 30 2022 - 12:30

Ken Early: 2022 was the year I impressed myself with how frequently my predictions were wrong

My failure rate was far worse than random chance; it was as though some instinct was leading me unerringly to the exact opposite of the truth

Mon Dec 26 2022 - 06:00