Page 12 - Lionel Messi

It was a mistake to let Lionel Messi go, says Josep Maria Bartomeu

Former Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu has claimed that it was a 'mistake' for Barcelona to let Lionel Messi leave Camp Nou in 2020

Grateful to PSG because they have treated me very well: Lionel Messi

Argentine striker Lionel Messi has said that he has no regrets about joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Champions League: Lionel Messi scores as PSG defeat Man City

Idrrisa Gueye and Lionel Messi got among the scoring chart as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Manchester City in the Group A encounter of the UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi may return for PSG against Manchester City in UCL

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that his star-studded team is still under construction, on the eve of hosting Manchester City in their Group A match in Paris on Tuesday

Messi was 'tyrant' during training, says Barca coach Ronald Koeman

Barca coach Ronald Koeman has said Lionel Messi was like "a tyrant" during training at Barcelona.The Argentina star raised the bar at the Camp Nou club as he developed into one of the greatest to ever play the game before departing to join Paris Saint-Germain this year."Lionel Messi has obscured everything. He was so good and he won," Koeman told Voetbal International, as reported by goal.com."Of course he had good players around him, but he made the difference. Everyone seems better than they are because of him. This is not a criticism, but an observation," said the Barcelona coach.Koeman, who worked with the Argentina star for a year before Messi left the club for Paris Saint-Germain said, "I knew how good he is, but it's still nice to see it up close every day. Everything you would like to teach a football player, in recognising situations, in taking the ball under pressure, in ball speed, in finishing; with Messi everything is a 10 Not normal, not normal!"When we did a finishing ..

Champions League: Messi and PSG held by Brugge; City, Liverpool, Madrid win

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp and Neymar lined up together in the near-perfect attack for Paris Saint-Germain and still could not score or deliver a win in the Champions League

Messi, Neymar set records as Argentina, Brazil edge closer to World Cup

Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar both broke scoring records on Friday (IST) as Argentina and Brazil continued their march toward next year's World Cup in Qatar.

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

Lionel Messi would back World Cup plans says Brazil legend Ronaldo

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo said that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would back FIFA's controversial plans to stage the World Cup every two years

Scaloni plays down Messi injury fears ahead of Brazil-Argentina duel

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said that that he is likely to make several changes to his starting lineup for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Brazil

French star Mbappe's non-transfer shows where soccer power lies

The deal that didn't happen best defines the landscape of European football after a summer transfer window that saw unexpected moves by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Kylian Mbapp will remain with Paris Saint-Germain this season, and the star French forward could leave for Real Madrid as a free agent at age 23 next summer for free rather than for a fee that could have exceeded $200 million now. A decade into ownership that leads to the emir of Qatar, PSG is among the few clubs able to weather the pandemic, protected by its sovereign wealth. The club benefits by UEFA's Financial Play Fair being in flux during an overhaul, rules that often appeared flimsily applied. PSG also could gamble on the hope Mbapp helps it win the Champions League for the first time in a strike force with Messi and Neymar, then extend his contract. Ultimately, there will be questions over whether Madrid could fund Mbapp's transfer. Club president Florentino Prez has been badly bruised by the spectacular

'He brought calmness to PSG', says Pochettino on Messi's debut

Mauricio Pochettino felt Lionel Messi brought calmness to Paris St Germain as he made his much-anticipated debut in Sunday's 2-0 win at Reims.

Soccer world awaits Lionel Messi's PSG debut; Nice routs Bordeaux

With the timing of Messi's eagerly awaited debut for Paris Saint-Germain getting nearly all the attention, Nice got on with the business of winning with a 4-0 rout of Bordeaux in the French league

Cristiano Ronaldo deal sees Manchester United outflank City, mollify fans

As the transfer talk heated up, the prospect of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in a Manchester City jersey increasingly dismayed greats from the red half of town particularly Rio Ferdinand.

Messi receives rapturous ovation from 49,000 fans as PSG beat Strasbourg

Lionel Messi was introduced to some 49,000 fans in a full Parc des Princess stadium before watching his teammates beat Strasbourg 4-2 on Ligue 1 action late on Saturday evening.

Lionel Messi's Paris St Germain package includes crypto fan tokens

Messi, 34, left Spanish side Barcelona and signed a two-year contract with Paris St Germain (PSG), with an option for a third year, on Tuesday

Lionel Messi to join Paris Saint-Germain for $41 million a year

The 34-year-old Argentina star has agreed a two-year deal with the option for a further season, according to reports

Lionel Messi arrives in Paris ahead of reported medical with PSG

Lionel Messi has arrived in Paris ahead of his reported medical with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine icon is set to put pen to paper with PSG in a new two-year deal

La Liga without Messi: A look at top contenders for Spanish league title

The Spanish league starts on Friday. Here is a look at the top contenders expected to fight for the title and top positions in the table. ATLTICO MADRID Atltico Madrid defends the title it won last season with the goals of Luis Surez and the tireless preparation of coach Diego Simeone. Its position as champion has been strengthened by the exit of top players from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atltico has kept all its talent and added Argentine midfielder Rodrigo de Paul. Simeone, who signed a contract extension in July through 2024, will have Surez back to lead his attack. The Uruguay striker was crucial to Atltico's title march, leading the team with 21 league goals. Can he, though, at the age of 34, maintain the same production? Expectations are big for Joo Flix to become a leader with his playmaking in an otherwise workmanlike squad. But Simeone has shown that with a strong defense anchored by goalkeeper Jan Oblak his side can grind out wins without many frills. REAL MADRID

Messi banner at Camp Nou taken down ahead of impending PSG move

A large banner of Lionel Messi on the side of the Camp Nou was taken down ahead of his impending move to PSG. Messi has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to join the Ligue 1 club and is believed to be flying to Paris later on Tuesday to finalise his agreement and complete a medical. Barcelona announced on Thursday it could not keep its greatest player because it wasn't able to fit a new contract within the Spanish league's financial fair-play regulations. Messi spent nearly two decades with the Catalan club since making his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2004. He played 17 seasons winning the Champions League four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times. Messi leaves as Barcelona's all-time leading scorer with 672 goals.