Page 13 - Lionel Messi

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.

After 17 seasons, post-Lionel Messi era begins in Spanish league

The Spanish league season begins this weekend and it will be unlike any other in the last 17 years. It will be the first without Lionel Messi, its all-time top scorer and one of its greatest players ever. For the first time since 2004, Barcelona will be without Messi because it couldn't sign the Argentina star to a new contract due to its troubled financial situation. The last time the league didn't feature Messi, the likes of Diego Simeone, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enrique were still playing instead of coaching. Real Madrid forward Vincius Jnior and Atltico Madrid forward Joo Flix were only 4 years old. Former Barcelona player Neymar was entering his teenage years and had just signed his first contract with the youth squad of Brazilian club Santos. Real Madrid target Kylian Mbapp was a 5-year-old whose bright future was as yet unknown. Barcelona won the league only twice in the decade before Messi debuted. In the next 17 seasons, it won it 10 times. He won the league's scoring ti

Emotional Lionel Messi says he wasn't prepared to leave Barcelona

Messi says club's salary caps scuttled a deal; hinting at Paris Saint-Germain as 'a possibility' for next season

We can't mortgage future to keep Messi: Barcelona president Laporta

Barca shocked the football world on Thursday with the announcement that Messi would leave the club

Messi's departure from Barca is a mess everyone could see coming

To come so close to losing Messi once might be regarded as unfortunate. To do so twice looks an awful lot like carelessness

As Messi's Barcelona career ends, a look at his top 10 goals for the club

Lionel Messi scored a club record 672 goals in his 17 seasons with Barcelona. Here are 10 of his best and most important strikes for the blue-and-burgundy: April 18, 2007 Messi emulates fellow Argentine great Diego Maradona with an epic goal, ghosting through half of Getafe's side while his teammates could only gape in awe. Taking the ball from Barcelona's own half, Messi pokes the ball behind the first would-be tackle to make him miss. He then nutmegs a second challenger before taking off and sliding past two more defenders and the goalkeeper. He finishes his move by lifting a shot from an angle over the desperate slide of the last man. May 2, 2009 Messi scores twice in a 6-2 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in one of the most lopsided clsico matches ever. Messi gets his second goal after exchanging passes with Xavi Hernndez inside the box before he uses a feint to freeze Iker Casillas and fires home. May 27, 2009 Messi hangs in the air to meet Xavi Hernndez's

A timeline of Lionel Messi's incredible 17-season career at Barcelona

Lionel Messi's incredible 17-season career at Barcelona appears to have come to an end.

Lionel Messi moves closer to signing new contract with Barcelona

A person with knowledge of the negotiations between club and player told AP on Friday that Messi was prepared to accept Barcelona's offer of a five-year contract at 50 per cent of his previous salary

Copa America: Argentina beats Brazil 1-0; Messi wins his 1st major title

When the match ended, a tearful Messi was thrown into the air by some of his joyous teammates

Dreamt of winning Copa America for long time says Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi struggled to contain his emotions and "immense happiness" after he ended the 28-year-long wait for Argentina to win an international trophy

Google CEO Pichai hails Lionel Messi as 'best ever' after Copa triumph

Google CEO Sundar Pichai hailed Lionel Messi as the 'best ever' after Barca star guided Argentina to the historic Copa America triumph