Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi's 100th Inter Miami goal seals 2-0 win over Cruz Azul

Lionel Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career and Casemiro added another as Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup. Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suarez for his 100th goal in 115 appearances across all competitions with Miami. The milestone came against the same club Messi scored his first Inter Miami goal against. He scored on a stoppage-time free kick to beat Cruz Azul 2-1 in his Miami debut in July 2023. Casemiro made it 2-0 in the 81st minute, heading in a corner from Messi. The Brazilian midfielder has scored four goals, all headers, in his last five matches after scoring in three consecutive games against CF Montreal, Atlanta United and Chicago before being held scoreless Saturday against Nashville. The victory gave Inter Miami another trophy three years after Messi's arrival. Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and MLS Cup in 2025.

Lionel Messi named in Argentina roster for Benin friendly as farewell match

Lionel Messi might have one last dance with Argentina after all. Despite announcing his international retirement, the 39-year-old Inter Miami star was included Tuesday in Lionel Scaloni's 28-man Argentina squad ahead of three home friendlies. Messi has yet to confirm whether he will join the team, but the head of Argentina soccer said the icon accepted the invitation for the Oct. 6 game against Benin in Buenos Aires for what will be a grand finale. "After a conversation with senior national team coach Lionel Scaloni, we decided to invite the best player in the world - our icon, our captain Lionel Messi - so that he can have the farewell he deserves on October 6," said Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association. Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and helped the Albiceleste reach the final at the 2026 edition. "Furthermore, having received Lionel's acceptance," Tapia said, "we want to invite all the Qatar World Cup champions to join him, along with t

Lionel Messi set to become majority shareholder at Spain's Eldense club

Lionel Messi is set to become the majority shareholder of Spanish second-division club Eldense. Eldense, based near the port city of Alicante in south-east Spain, confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had reached a preliminary agreement with the club's owners. The deal will see him buy the shares held by Grupo TH Soluciones, subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures. The club did not provide financial details and did not say when the deal would be completed. Eldense will become the second Spanish club the Argentina star has invested in. Earlier this year, he became the owner of a fifth-division side, Barcelona-based UE Cornella. Eldense fired coach Claudio Barragan on Sunday after claiming just two points from four league matches this season. Messi has built a strong bond with Spain. He arrived at Barcelona at age 13, when he and his family came to the country to try his luck at the club's youth ...

False nine, true champion

Messi exits the national team in a blaze of glory

From Tiago to Byju's: How Indian brands pitched Messi as their global face

Tata Motors, Byju's and KT Grooming tapped Lionel Messi's global appeal over the years; experts say retirement could now make him more accessible to Indian brands

World Cup to Copa America: How Messi performed for Argentina on big stage

Messi featured in six World Cups and seven Copa Americas before bringing the curtain down on his international career with Argentina

Messi's Argentina legacy: Records and milestones that are tough to match

In his 21-year-long career with the Argentina national team, Messi went on to break multiple records that would be hard to match or break for generations to come

Top 5 iconic moments that defined Lionel Messi's international legacy

If one moment defines Messi's international legacy above all others, it is the image of him lifting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Lusail

The pain before the glory: Messi's 5 biggest heartbreaks with Argentina

Messi ended his Argentina career as one of their greatest, but in his 21-year journey in the blue and white jersey, he also had to endure his fair share of heartbreaks before achieving success

From 2016 retirement to World Cup glory: Messi's Argentina redemption story

The retirement of 2016 looked like the end of Messi's Argentina story. Instead, it became the beginning of his greatest chapter

End of an era: Messi announces retirement from international football

Messi retires as Argentina's most-capped player and its all-time leading goalscorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals

Lionel Messi stars with four goals, assist as Inter Miami rout Montreal 7-1

Lionel Messi scored three times in the second half to finish off his first four-goal effort in MLS play while adding an assist, and Inter Miami scored six unaswered goals in a 7-1 romp over CF Montreal on Saturday night. Messi snapped a 1-1 tie in the 40th minute when he found the net for the 15th time, scoring off a free kick. The reigning Golden Boot Award winner and league MVP scored for a 3-1 lead in the 52nd minute. His 17th and 18th goals of the season came in the 83rd and sixth minute of stoppage time with the final one also coming off a free kick. Messi began the day two behind Petar Musa of FC Dallas in the goals race. Carlos Casimiro scored with a header off a corner kick by Telasco Segovia in the 20th minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal for the 34-year-old midfielder in his sixth league appearance and a career-best ninth assist for Segovia in his second MLS season. Montreal tied it in the 37th minute on a goal by Fabian Herbers - his first of the

Messi scores and assists as Inter Miami play out 2-2 draw against Union

Lionel Messi had a goal and assist as Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union played to a 2-2 draw. Messi's cross was headed by Luis Suarez into the path of forward Daniel Pinter for the first Inter Miami goal in the 21st minute Wednesday night. Messi cut inside to his preferred left foot from 12 yards out in the 26th and curled a shot into the corner of the net for his first goal since returning to action following the death of his father. Messi has 13 goals and nine assists in 17 MLS games this season. He has six goals and four assists in six matches in all competitions against the Union. Indiana Vassilev scored on a volley in the first half to give the Union the lead, then 18-year-old defender Neil Pierre headed home his third goal in five games this season in the 58th minute to tie the score. Cavan Sullivan, the Union's 16-year-old midfielder, was credited with his seventh assist of the season on Vassilev's goal. Union forward Milan Iloski appeared to put the Union ahead in the

Kerala govt may order probe into alleged lapses in Messi event proposal

The UDF government in Kerala is likely to order a probe into alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the previous LDF government's efforts to bring football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state. Indicating the possibility of an investigation, state Sports Minister O J Janeesh on Wednesday rejected former minister V Abdurahiman's defence of the proposal and alleged that government machinery was misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual. Janeesh said there was no substance in Abdurahiman's claim that the government had not suffered any financial loss in connection with the proposed event. He alleged that official procedures were not followed from the beginning and that there was a lack of transparency in selecting the sponsor and dealing with the proposal. "The government machinery was misused for a private event management company. From the Chief Secretary to the district collector, police and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA

Leagues Cup: Diego Rossi strikes late to sink Messi-less Inter Miami

Diego Rossi scored the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute to help Monterrey to a 2-1 win over Inter Miami, which played without Lionel Messi, in the group stage of the Leagues Cup on Saturday night. Messi returned to his native Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge, earlier in the day. It is not known when the 39-year-old star forward will return to the club. The 39-year-old Messi took a two-week break after leading Argentina to a runner-up World Cup finish. He made his first appearance as a reserve when Inter Miami tied Columbus 2-2 in an MLS match Aug. 1. Messi then had two goals and an assist in Inter Miami's first Leagues Cup match a 4-2 win against Atletico San Luis on Wednesday. Miami (1-1-0, 3 points) won the 2023 Leagues Cup and reached the final last year, but its chances of advancing to the knockout stage appear bleak with one match remaining in its 18-team group. The strike by Rossi, who was acquired July 3 from the Columbus Crew, capped a two-goal second hal

Lionel Messi's father Jorge Messi passes away after health battle, aged 68

According to multiple Argentine media reports, Jorge Messi, the father of Lionel Messi, has died at the age of 68 after battling health problems for some time.

Lionel Messi bags first post-World Cup double in Inter Miami 4-2 victory

Lionel Messi scored his first two goals since the World Cup and took the career scoring lead in the Leagues Cup as Inter Miami overcame an early deficit to beat Atletico San Luis 4-2 on a rainy night. The match at Nu Stadium was delayed 30 minutes in the second half because of lightning in the area. Messi scored in the 11th and the 44th minutes. He has 14 goals in 12 Leagues Cup matches - one ahead of Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga for most in the tournament's four-year history. Telasco Segovia and defender Micael also scored, and Noah Allen had three assists as Inter Miami extended its unbeaten streak to eight matches. Messi returned to Miami's starting lineup in his second match since the World Cup, where he led Argentina to its second straight final appearance before La Albiceleste lost 1-0 to Spain. The 39-year-old played 37 minutes as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday. After being held off the scoresheet against Columbus, it didn't take Messi long

Ronaldo to Neymar: Players who have made their last World Cup appearance

The 2026 FIFA World Cup likely marked the final appearance for Messi, Modrić, De Bruyne, Salah and others, ending a golden era alongside Ronaldo, Neymar, Neuer and Ochoa

1930 to 2026: Full list of FIFA WC Golden Boot and Golden Ball winners

Argentina's Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the Golden Ball award twice after being named the tournament's best player in 2014 and 2022

Messi retirement loading? Leo's emotional post before Argentina-Spain final

Messi shared a picture with the Argentina squad, thanking his teammates, coaching staff and everyone working behind the scenes for making the national team "a family"