News for 'Lionel Messi'

In-form Neymar gets Brazil recall for WC qualifiers

In-form Neymar gets Brazil recall for WC qualifiers

Rediff.com7 Mar 2025

Brazil, who are fifth in the CONMEBOL table with 18 points from 12 games, host Colombia on March 21 and visit Argentina five days later in a match that could see Neymar come up against former Barcelona and Paris St Germain teammate Lionel Messi.

Messi seeks redemption against dangerous Croatia

Messi seeks redemption against dangerous Croatia

Rediff.com19 Jun 2018

The Argentina captain turns 31 in a few days and may be playing his last World Cup. He would need to win it to rival fellow great Diego Maradona for the eternal love of his compatriots.

Barcelona 'fully support' Messi after fraud sentence

Barcelona 'fully support' Messi after fraud sentence

Rediff.com25 May 2017

La Liga club Barcelona have expressed their support for Argentine striker Lionel Messi and his father after the Spanish Supreme Court upheld their prison sentences over tax fraud charges, although neither are expected to go to jail.

Defiant Messi ditches Barca training

Defiant Messi ditches Barca training

Rediff.com1 Sep 2020

Reuters television footage showed players arriving for the session which began at 1730 local time (1530 GMT) and Messi did not appear.

'Phenomenal Messi greatest player of all time'

'Phenomenal Messi greatest player of all time'

Rediff.com26 Nov 2014

Praise comes in from all quarters as Argentine breaks Raul's Champions League record.

WATCH Mateo Messi: Like father, like son...

WATCH Mateo Messi: Like father, like son...

Rediff.com15 Sep 2019

Mateo has inherited great goal-scoring skills from his father.

Messi, Scaloni expect hard fight with old foes Netherlands

Messi, Scaloni expect hard fight with old foes Netherlands

Rediff.com4 Dec 2022

Argentina captain Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni predicted a tough but beautiful encounter with the Netherlands when the sides meet in Friday's World Cup quarter-final.

Messi 1st, LeBron 2nd, Ronaldo 3rd...

Messi 1st, LeBron 2nd, Ronaldo 3rd...

Rediff.com12 May 2022

Lionel Messi earned $130 million, a figure which includes $55 million of endorsements, during the 12-month period ended May 1, 2022, to sit atop the list of the 10 highest-paid athletes.

PIX: Argentina edge Colombia to win record 16th Copa America

PIX: Argentina edge Colombia to win record 16th Copa America

Rediff.com15 Jul 2024

Argentina won a record 16th Copa America title by beating Colombia 1-0 thanks to an extra-time goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez.

PIX: Messi leads Barcelona to flying return

PIX: Messi leads Barcelona to flying return

Rediff.com14 Jun 2020

Lionel Messi scored and grabbed two assists as La Liga leaders Barcelona eased to a 4-0 win away to struggling Real Mallorca on Saturday, making the perfect return to action after Spanish football's three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The win takes Barca on to 61 points after 28 games, five clear of nearest challengers Real Madrid, who host Eibar on Sunday in their first game back.

'He's great but he's not God': Pope on Messi

'He's great but he's not God': Pope on Messi

Rediff.com1 Apr 2019

Pope Francis is known to be a football fan, and he is also a club member of Buenos Aires side San Lorenzo.

Legends missing from Ballon d'Or nominations

Legends missing from Ballon d'Or nominations

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

Ronaldo had won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 while he was playing for Manchester United and still holds the record of the last Premier League player to claim the top prize. Messi won his first in 2009 and was nominated for 16 years.

Leicester title triumph makes a poet of Messi

Leicester title triumph makes a poet of Messi

Rediff.com3 May 2016

Lionel Messi spoke for the great and the good of world soccer, not to mention millions of grassroots fans, when he acclaimed Leicester City's extraordinary Premier League triumph by tweeting: "The reason why we all love football. Congratulations"

Captain Chhetri eclipses Messi in top scorers' list

Captain Chhetri eclipses Messi in top scorers' list

Rediff.com8 Jun 2021

India captain Sunil Chhetri added another feather to his illustrious cap as he overtook Argentina star Lionel Messi to become the second-highest goalscorer among the current players in international football.

Difficult for Messi to remain with Barcelona, says his father

Difficult for Messi to remain with Barcelona, says his father

Rediff.com2 Sep 2020

It will be difficult for Lionel Messi to remain at Barcelona after he made public his desire to leave the Spanish club, his father and agent Jorge Messi said on Wednesday as he arrived in the city to negotiate his son's future.

Messi salutes Maradona as Barca trounce Osasuna

Messi salutes Maradona as Barca trounce Osasuna

Rediff.com29 Nov 2020

The Argentine then lifted his shirt to reveal a red and black replica kit of his hometown club Newell's Old Boys bearing the number 10 which Maradona wore during his brief spell at the Rosario side in 1993.

Messi's penalty miss not to blame for Iceland draw: Maradona

Messi's penalty miss not to blame for Iceland draw: Maradona

Rediff.com18 Jun 2018

Diego Maradona says Lionel Messi's second-half penalty miss was not the reason Argentina failed to defeat Iceland at the World Cup on Saturday.

'Genius' Messi is just 'unstoppable'

'Genius' Messi is just 'unstoppable'

Rediff.com14 Mar 2019

Messi opened the scoring at the Nou Camp with an audacious chipped penalty then restored control in the tie after Lyon had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, hitting a decisive third goal after a trademark dazzling run to shake off four defenders.

SEE: Messi gets birthday surprise from Argentina teammates

SEE: Messi gets birthday surprise from Argentina teammates

Rediff.com25 Jun 2021

Messi and his Argentina teammates are currently participating the Copa America in Brazil where he is hoping to lead his team to the title, having finished runners-up in the 2016 edition.

FIFA WC 2022: Brazil odds-on favourites

FIFA WC 2022: Brazil odds-on favourites

Rediff.com17 Nov 2022

Following are the betting odds for the winners of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the top goalscorer at the tournament, which will be held in Qatar from Nov. 20-Dec. 18.

Setback! Messi ruled out of Club World Cup semi-final

Setback! Messi ruled out of Club World Cup semi-final

Rediff.com17 Dec 2015

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was ruled out of their Club World Cup semi-final on Thursday after suffering from abdominal pain, the European champions said.

Nobody can match Messi's level, says Xavi

Nobody can match Messi's level, says Xavi

Rediff.com19 Jul 2016

Barcelona legend Xavi believes nobody will ever be able to replace his former teammate Lionel Messi with respect to his abilities and achievements. Comparing the Argentine with Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi said that Messi was way above the Portugal's Euro 2016 winner. The 36-year old said, "There will be many good players in the future but no one would come close to Messi's level, when he eventually decides to call it quits."

Messi on his way out of Barca?

Messi on his way out of Barca?

Rediff.com3 Jul 2020

The Argentine's representatives and Barcelona did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Messi claims record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or

Messi claims record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or

Rediff.com30 Nov 2021

Argentina's Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world for a record-stretching seventh time on Monday, beating Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to lift soccer's most prestigious trophy yet again.

Argentina fans ask Messi: If not now, when?

Argentina fans ask Messi: If not now, when?

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

Messi has spoken at length about the dream of winning a title with Argentina and his compatriots know how much an international trophy means to him.

'Messi will stay at Barcelona for next four-five years'

'Messi will stay at Barcelona for next four-five years'

Rediff.com11 Nov 2019

Messi was at his devastating his best during the Celta Vigo clash as he netted a hat-trick, helping Barcelona secure a 4-1 win on Sunday.

Champions League: 77 -- Messi and the magic number

Champions League: 77 -- Messi and the magic number

Rediff.com7 May 2015

Barcelona and Bayern fought hard but failed to break the shackles until the 77th minute in the match when Messi struck the first and three minutes later struck his 77th Champions League goal to double Barca's advantage.

Messi 'would love to return to Barca as technical director'

Messi 'would love to return to Barca as technical director'

Rediff.com1 Nov 2021

'If there is a possibility, I would like to contribute again because it's the club that I love and I would love for it to continue doing well, to continue growing and to continue being one of the best in the world.'

King Messi lights up Nou Camp with 100th Champions League goal

King Messi lights up Nou Camp with 100th Champions League goal

Rediff.com15 Mar 2018

A majestic solo dribble shredded Chelsea's defence before Messi played in Dembele for the second and the Argentine maestro killed the tie off when he smashed a third through the legs of Courtois again in the second half.

Another international title eludes Messi

Another international title eludes Messi

Rediff.com3 Jul 2019

Argentina lose to Brazil in Copa America semis

Messi to take call on his Barca future at end of season

Messi to take call on his Barca future at end of season

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Last month, Barcelona had announced that the club's presidential election will be held on March 7. The election had previously been scheduled for January 24 but got postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

'Modric should win all that Messi can't'

'Modric should win all that Messi can't'

Rediff.com15 Sep 2018

Croatian footballer Ivan Rakitic has said that his national team-mate Luka Modric should win everything that star striker Lionel Messi cannot.

Messi grabs hat-trick as Argentina canter to victory

Messi grabs hat-trick as Argentina canter to victory

Rediff.com30 May 2018

Argentina showed once again how reliant they are on Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 World Cup warm-up win over Haiti on Tuesday.

Messi's PSG nightmare: The story of his unhappy stint

Messi's PSG nightmare: The story of his unhappy stint

Rediff.com4 Aug 2023

Lionel Messi didn't enjoy his time with the Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain.

Messi imitated Maradona's skills but not his lifestyle

Messi imitated Maradona's skills but not his lifestyle

Rediff.com30 Nov 2020

Argentina's two iconic players may be contrasting characters but they shared many traits

'I'll never forget the year my dream came true': Messi pens emotional New Year tribute

'I'll never forget the year my dream came true': Messi pens emotional New Year tribute

Rediff.com1 Jan 2023

Messi signed off for 2022 by hailing the year when he won the World Cup as one he "will never be able to forget".

Will Messi get into coaching post retirement?

Will Messi get into coaching post retirement?

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

Koeman grateful for Messi support in transitional season for Barca.

Messi's conviction, a dent in Tata Motors' plan?

Messi's conviction, a dent in Tata Motors' plan?

Rediff.com7 Jul 2016

Tata Motors might have to rethink its association with sportstar Lionel Messi.

Fit-again Messi ready to play against Mallorca

Fit-again Messi ready to play against Mallorca

Rediff.com13 Jun 2020

Messi's fitness was a major concern ahead of the resumption -- the talismanic forward was dealing with a quadriceps injury. But he has suffered no further setbacks since returning to training with the rest of the squad at the start of the week.

Young Afghan Messi fan flees over kidnap fears

Young Afghan Messi fan flees over kidnap fears

Rediff.com3 May 2016

A young Afghan fan of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi has fled his home and gone to Pakistan because his family feared he could be kidnapped after he became an unlikely Internet sensation, the boy's uncle said on Tuesday. Five-year-old Murtaza Ahmedi grabbed world headlines after being photographed in a shirt improvised from a plastic bag in the colours of the Argentine national team bearing Messi's name and number 10 playing number. After pictures of Murtaza went viral on social media, his family feared that after becoming famous worldwide, he could be abducted by kidnappers for ransom. His home is in the central region of Ghazni where security has been fragile and where kidnappings are common.