Lionel Messi

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National

Why FIFA's revamped Club World Cup is off to a bumpy debut in the U.S.

12:01am June 13, 2025

The stage is set for 32 club teams — including some of the top ones around the world — to compete for the chance to emerge as the champion of a revamped tournament. It hasn't gone great so far.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami smiles in the game against CF Montréal during the first half at Saputo Stadium on May 11 in Montreal, Canada.

Sports
Arts

Napkin securing Lionel Messi's first contract fetches nearly $1 million at auction

3:09pm May 18, 2024

by Chloe Veltman

The handwritten restaurant napkin from the year 2000 was the starting point for an agreement between the then 13-year-old Messi and FC Barcelona.

The famous napkin is to be offered by Bonhams from March 18 to 27.

Sports

Napkin used to secure Messi's first contract with FC Barcelona to be sold at auction

5:08pm February 02, 2024

by Diba Mohtasham

Soccer star Lionel Messi's first unofficial contract with FC Barcelona was done on a napkin. It's now going to auction with a starting bid of nearly $400,000.

Lionel Messi celebrates the game-winning goal after defeating Cruz Azul on Friday.

Sports

Will Lionel Messi finally make the U.S. a soccer nation?

4:53pm July 24, 2023

After a move to Inter Miami, the world's biggest soccer star has more than a new team to take on — he's being counted on to popularize Major League Soccer too.

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Argentina's Lionel Messi waves after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Dec. 18, 2022.

Soccer shocker: Lionel Messi says he will join Miami's MLS team

4:29pm June 07, 2023

by The Associated Press

After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision Wednesday to join Inter Miami, a franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon in David Beckham since its inception.

Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner's Trophy during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Sports

Finally. Lionel Messi leads Argentina over France to win a World Cup championship.

6:15pm December 18, 2022

by Russell Lewis

Argentina beat defending-champion France in the final. It's the third World Cup title for Argentina but the first for Messi - the only trophy he hadn't won in his storied and remarkable career.

Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal match against the Netherlands on December 09, 2022.

Sports

Argentina beats the Netherlands in penalty kicks at the World Cup quarterfinals

5:53pm December 09, 2022

by Russell Lewis

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a quarterfinal victory over the Netherlands in a penalty kick shootout. Messi had a goal, an assist and scored in the shootout. Argentina will take on Croatia next.

Argentina's Lionel Messi smiles during the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Argentina in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi and Argentina advance at the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland

4:24pm November 30, 2022

by The Associated Press

Lionel Messi will grace the World Cup stage at least one more time. Argentina finished in first place in Group C to set up a match against Australia, a surprise qualifier for the knockout stage.

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi reacts during his team's opening round 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Sports

Argentina's shocking World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia has big reverberations for Messi

11:48am November 22, 2022

by Jasmine Garsd

For Lionel Messi, this World Cup, and the historic upset with Saudi Arabia, is about so much more than soccer. It's about whether or not he can finally come back home to Argentina as a hero.

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts in disappointment Tuesday during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.

Sports

Messi and Argentina lose to Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest World Cup upsets ever

9:15am November 22, 2022

by The Associated Press

Lionel Messi's quest to win the one major title to elude him had a shocking start in what may be his final World Cup, as Saudi Arabia scored twice in a five-minute span of the second half and won 2-1.