Barcelona must considerably reduce their wage bill in order to keep Lionel Messi, La Liga chief Javier Tebas said on Thursday, adding that the club would not be shown any leniency when it comes to obeying the league's strict financial control rules.
Brazil's preliminary Copa America squad includes Germany's Footballer of the Year Diego of Werder Bremen and Real Madrid forward Robinho.
Factbox on the Brazilian, who was named European Footballer of the Year.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said defending champions France and Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar as they have a core group of players who have played together for a long time.
No amount of preparation is enough to snuff out the threat of Argentina's "assassin" Lionel Messi, Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez said ahead of Friday's Copa America clash between the teams. Messi was an unused substitute in Argentina's 2-1 win over holders Chile in their opening Group D match in Santa Clara, California on Monday after a back injury but will reappear when they face Panama in Chicago. "Leo trained normally, he will play," coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference on Thursday. Both sides have three points after Panama marked their first appearance in the world's oldest international tournament with a surprise 2-1 win over Bolivia, who face Chile in Foxborough on Friday.
Brazilian police said on Tuesday they had recommended no rape charges against soccer star Neymar, after a woman he met online said he flew her to Paris and assaulted her in a hotel there.
Brazil playmaker Kaka said on Tuesday he is committed to AC Milan and had never asked for a transfer to Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Brazil's players have rejected the idea that Argentina will start as favourites in Sunday's Copa America final.
Brazil coach Dunga praised his team's courage in the face of adversity after they beat Uruguay on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their Copa America semi-final.
Defending champions Brazil will attempt to end a five-match winless run against their smaller neighbours Uruguay when they meet in Tuesday's Copa America semi-final.
Robinho scored a hat-trick to give Brazil a badly-needed 3-0 Copa America win over Chile.
Brazil registered a 3-1 win over Bolivia in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
"Our team fulfils our dreams!" and "Where is Messi? We beat him!", the green-clad Saudis chanted over and over in the Lusail Stadium, on their feet and greeting every clearance, including one headed off the goal line with a deafening roar.
There is only one team in the world which can rest high profile players and still win.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that all matches at the 2006 World Cup in Germany would be held on natural pitches.
Carlos Tevez scored from a free kick for the second game in a row in a 3-0 win in the Copa America football semi-final.
Messi doesn't need to win a World Cup to prove his greatness, feels iconic former Argentine striker Hernan Crespo.
Neymar went off injured 12 minutes into Brazil's 1-1 draw with Nigeria in a friendly in Singapore on Sunday.
Mexico will probably be without captain Rafael Marquez when they meet Brazil in Sunday's Confederations Cup clash.
Brazil begin the defence of their crown away to Colombia on Sunday.
The Olympics from July 24-August 9 in Tokyo have not been postponed or suspended. The Copa America from June 12-July 12 in Argentina and Colombia is set to go ahead.
Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner in 2002 along with Ronaldo, has transformed Barcelona since arriving at the Nou Camp at the beginning of last season from Paris St Germain.
Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Benfica to sign their Argentina midfielder Nicolas Gaitan for 25 million euros ($28.06 million), the La Liga club said on Thursday. The 28-year-old Gaitan, who is under contract at Benfica until June 2019, is currently with the Argentina squad competing at the Copa America. The deal is subject to a medical.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) will appeal what it says is FIFA's decision to force Brazil and Argentina to replay their World Cup qualifier, which was cancelled after five minutes due to a breach of COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Striker Andy Herron scored with virtually the last kick of the game to give his team a 2-1 win over Chile and a place in the Copa America quarter-finals.
The defeat pushed the world champions into the second qualifying berth in Group C of the Copa America football tournament.
Peru fought back to draw 2-2 with Colombia in the Copa America.
Argentina have reached three major finals in three years but the team who came so close to winning the 2014 World Cup face crunch games against Peru and Ecuador that will determine if they miss out on the global showpiece event for the first time since 1970.
