News for 'Messi'

FIFA World Cup: 'Anyone can beat anyone': Argentina brace for Egypt

FIFA World Cup: 'Anyone can beat anyone': Argentina brace for Egypt

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Argentina's national football team anticipates a challenging last-16 World Cup match against Egypt, following a hard-fought victory over Cape Verde. Players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina emphasised the increasing competitiveness of international football, highlighting that no easy games remain in the tournament, as they prepare for a stern test from the highly motivated Egyptian side.

FIFA World Cup: Spain's Yamal says the best is yet to come

FIFA World Cup: Spain's Yamal says the best is yet to come

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Spain's teenage winger Lamine Yamal says he has plenty of improvement left in his fledgling career with fans not yet having seen the best.

FIFA World Cup: Argentina's bizarre ritual to stop Kane before semis

FIFA World Cup: Argentina's bizarre ritual to stop Kane before semis

Rediff.com2 days ago

Ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash against England, Argentina fans are engaging in traditional 'cabalas' or superstitions, including freezing captain Harry Kane's name, to bring their national team good fortune on the pitch.

Kylian Mbappe's penalty takes France into World Cup quarter-finals

Kylian Mbappe's penalty takes France into World Cup quarter-finals

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty in the 70th minute to give France a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16, setting up a quarter-final clash with Morocco. The goal also brought Mbappe level with Lionel Messi as the tournament's top scorer.

40 Years After 'Hand Of God' Diego Maradona Still Argentina's World Cup Hero

40 Years After 'Hand Of God' Diego Maradona Still Argentina's World Cup Hero

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Monday marks 40 years since Diego Maradona's defining performance in Argentina's 2-1 win over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium.

Argentina's title defence faces first test against fearless Algeria

Argentina's title defence faces first test against fearless Algeria

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Argentina start their bid for back-to-back World Cups on Tuesday with a side full of familiar faces from Qatar 2022, facing an Algerian team buoyed by warm-up wins and featuring a 20-year-old rising star nicknamed after Diego Maradona.

Messi's Argentina Football Team Accused Of Cheating Kerala

Messi's Argentina Football Team Accused Of Cheating Kerala

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has accused the Argentina football team of deceiving the state by failing to play a match after allegedly receiving payment.

Don't copy Sooryavanshi blindly, youngsters must find their own game: Hayden

Don't copy Sooryavanshi blindly, youngsters must find their own game: Hayden

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Matthew Hayden cautions young cricketers against blindly copying Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless batting style, backs Shubman Gill's consistency, and raises concerns over the future of bilateral ODI cricket amid the franchise boom.

Kane focused on England team, not Haaland or Golden Boot

Kane focused on England team, not Haaland or Golden Boot

Rediff.com6 days ago

England captain Harry Kane addressed comparisons with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match, downplaying direct comparisons while praising Haaland's physical prowess and finishing. Kane emphasised his priority is team success in the World Cup over individual accolades like the Golden Boot, despite being in contention. He also spoke about equalling Wayne Rooney's cap record and received high praise from coach Thomas Tuchel.

Messi joins 900-goal club, but Miami exit Champions Cup

Messi joins 900-goal club, but Miami exit Champions Cup

Rediff.com19 Mar 2026

Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal, but Inter Miami CF were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Nashville SC.

Egypt's Pharaohs get heroes' welcome after best-ever World Cup campaign

Egypt's Pharaohs get heroes' welcome after best-ever World Cup campaign

Rediff.com6 days ago

Thousands of ecstatic supporters welcomed the Egyptian national football team home after their historic World Cup campaign, which saw them reach the last 16 for the first time, despite a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina.

FIFA World Cup: What Every Fan Must Know

FIFA World Cup: What Every Fan Must Know

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

Packed with legendary players and remarkable milestones, these fascinating FIFA World Cup facts offer a glimpse into the tournament's rich history.

Klopp's Humorous Chat with Mbappe After World Cup Win

Klopp's Humorous Chat with Mbappe After World Cup Win

Rediff.com6 days ago

Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp shared a humorous exchange with France captain Kylian Mbappe after France's 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final, joking about Mbappe's prolific scoring and calling him a 'detector'.

Haaland scores twice as Norway shock Brazil to make World Cup quarter-finals

Haaland scores twice as Norway shock Brazil to make World Cup quarter-finals

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Erling Haaland scored two crucial late goals to lead Norway to a stunning 2-1 victory over five-times champions Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16, securing their place in the quarter-finals. Neymar's late penalty was not enough for Brazil, who also missed an earlier spot-kick.

Smriti Mandhana Named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026

Smriti Mandhana Named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, joining global icons such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James after another record-breaking year in cricket.

Mbappe, Dembele shine as France cruise past Morocco into World Cup semis

Mbappe, Dembele shine as France cruise past Morocco into World Cup semis

Rediff.com7 days ago

France and Morocco were goalless at half-time in their World Cup quarter-final. Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty for France, whose early dominance did not translate into goals. Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a crucial save to deny Mbappe from the spot.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Egypt hits out at VAR after Argentina heartbreak

FIFA World Cup 2026: Egypt hits out at VAR after Argentina heartbreak

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

The Egyptian Football Association on Wednesday criticised refereeing decisions in Egypt's dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat by Argentina, saying it would not remain silent over what it described as the improper use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Peddi Review: Ram Charan's Aura-Show In A Messy Sports Drama

Peddi Review: Ram Charan's Aura-Show In A Messy Sports Drama

Rediff.com4 Jun 2026

Peddi buries its powerful story about caste identity and social inequality beneath hero worship, regressive romance and exhausting excesses bemoans Sreeju Sudhakaran.

Guess who became the 1st Asian to reach 5 FIFA World Cups

Guess who became the 1st Asian to reach 5 FIFA World Cups

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Japan's Yuto Nagatomo made history by becoming the first Asian player to feature in five FIFA World Cups during Japan's 1-1 draw against Sweden. This achievement places him among an elite group of players globally. The draw secured both Japan and Sweden's advancement to the Round of 32 in the 2026 tournament.

Security guard tackles Messi during Inter Miami match

Security guard tackles Messi during Inter Miami match

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

Lionel Messi was accidentally tackled by a security guard during Inter Miami's friendly win over Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico after a fan invaded the pitch.

PIX: Neymar With Family After Ending Illustrious International Career

PIX: Neymar With Family After Ending Illustrious International Career

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Brazilian football legend Neymar Jr. has announced his retirement from international football following Brazil's shocking 2-1 defeat to Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. The 34-year-old forward, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, confirmed his decision after the match, marking the end of a celebrated career with the national team.

FIFA World Cup: Argentina wary of 'tough' Cape Verde in round of 32 clash

FIFA World Cup: Argentina wary of 'tough' Cape Verde in round of 32 clash

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Following a dominant group stage performance, Argentina is now preparing to face Cape Verde in the Round of 32.

2026 FIFA World Cup Smashes All-Time Goals Record

2026 FIFA World Cup Smashes All-Time Goals Record

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals set in Qatar 2022. The record was broken during the United States vs. Turkey match, with Auston Trusty's goal marking the 173rd, and the total quickly rising to 175 goals by the 59th match. This achievement is attributed to FIFA's expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, leading to 104 matches compared to 64 in 2022.

Can Ronaldo finally end his FIFA World Cup knockout drought?

Can Ronaldo finally end his FIFA World Cup knockout drought?

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo, despite his prolific scoring record in six FIFA World Cups, has yet to score in a knockout stage match. As Portugal faces Croatia, the superstar aims to break this drought while also holding records for most World Cup appearances and being Portugal's all-time leading scorer in the tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Debut Patches Go Viral

FIFA World Cup 2026 Debut Patches Go Viral

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

FIFA's 'Debut FIFA World Cup' sleeve patch for the 2026 tournament is designed to celebrate first-time players and personalise kits.

FIFA World Cup: Mbappe becomes France's record scorer

FIFA World Cup: Mbappe becomes France's record scorer

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

France captain Kylian Mbappe became his country's all-time leading scorer with a double against Senegal at the World Cup on Tuesday.

Argentina manager Scaloni on 'extremely difficult' Cape Verde win

Argentina manager Scaloni on 'extremely difficult' Cape Verde win

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni discussed his team's hard-fought 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup last-32, emphasising the unexpected difficulty of the match despite being heavy favourites. He praised his players' resilience and character, acknowledging the physical toll and the need for improvement, while also highlighting the unique "suffering" inherent in being Argentine in football.

'They thought we would turn up in tuxedos': Mbappe Slams Paraguay's Tactics

'They thought we would turn up in tuxedos': Mbappe Slams Paraguay's Tactics

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Kylian Mbappe's crucial second-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for France over a resilient Paraguay, propelling them into the World Cup quarter-finals where they will face Morocco.

USA's Balogun becomes fourth player to score and see red in FIFA World Cup knockout

USA's Balogun becomes fourth player to score and see red in FIFA World Cup knockout

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament but was later sent off, becoming only the fourth player to score and receive a red card in a FIFA World Cup knockout match.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Fired-up Mexico aim to extend dream run against England

FIFA World Cup 2026: Fired-up Mexico aim to extend dream run against England

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Mexico will bid to continue their remarkable World Cup run when they face England in the last 16 on Sunday, with Javier Aguirre's side standing one victory away from a first quarter-final appearance in 40 years.

Age is just a number as veterans take centre stage at FIFA World Cup

Age is just a number as veterans take centre stage at FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

A record eight players aged 40 or older have been selected to play at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States - one more than at all the past 22 tournaments combined.

Is Bumrah Cricket's Messi-Ronaldo? Vaughan Thinks So

Is Bumrah Cricket's Messi-Ronaldo? Vaughan Thinks So

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

Former England cricketers Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan share differing opinions on Jasprit Bumrah, with Vaughan comparing the Indian pacer to football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The story behind the music playing at FIFA World Cup stadiums

The story behind the music playing at FIFA World Cup stadiums

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

World Cup music isn't random; FIFA's 'Stadium Entertainment Team' curates over 750 songs, mixing global classics with country-specific favourites, with each team having signature, warm-up, and goal-scoring tracks.

Hong Kong seizes World Cup fakes worth $20 million

Hong Kong seizes World Cup fakes worth $20 million

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Wayne Chung, senior investigator at the city's Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau, told reporters on Thursday that 230,000 items had been seized.

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Cape Verde, a tiny island nation, has made history by advancing to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup.

World Cup 2026 Set to Shatter All-Time Sports Gambling Records

World Cup 2026 Set to Shatter All-Time Sports Gambling Records

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.

From 'Wonderwall' to K-Pop: The music behind the FIFA World Cup roar

From 'Wonderwall' to K-Pop: The music behind the FIFA World Cup roar

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

Watching the World Cup and hearing the music in the stadium may have left you wondering - how is that chosen? Is it just coincidence that "Wonderwall" plays after England matches? Are "Freed from Desire" or "Livin' on a Prayer" always played? And why?

Kylian Mbappe's Double Secures France's Easy World Cup Victory Over Iraq Amidst Weather Delays

Kylian Mbappe's Double Secures France's Easy World Cup Victory Over Iraq Amidst Weather Delays

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Dutch coach Koeman labels Morocco tie an early World Cup final

FIFA World Cup 2026: Dutch coach Koeman labels Morocco tie an early World Cup final

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

The meeting between Morocco and Netherlands in the last 32 might have come too early at the World Cup, Dutch coach Ronald Koeman suggested on the eve of Monday's clash between the two contenders in Monterrey.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Kerala fans pay tribute to Argentina with floating stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026: Kerala fans pay tribute to Argentina with floating stadium

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

Football fans in Kerala's Pullavoor village have created a unique floating stadium with cutouts of the Argentine squad in a river, showcasing their intense passion for the upcoming World Cup. This elaborate display continues a tradition of fervent fan support in the region.