The All India Football Federation believes that the FIFA U-17 World Cup, beginning October 6, can be a catalyst for the sport.
It will have made uneasy viewing for coach Jorge Sampaoli and emphasised more than ever how reliant his side are on their talisman Messi, who has been struggling with a muscle problem.
Maradona was a uniquely gifted player who rose from the tough streets of Buenos Aires to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
Brazil's Willian told reporters he will be doing everything he can to send his team mate Eden Hazard home early from Russia.
Argentina are seen at the World Cup as playing the beautiful game normally associated with Brazil but according to winger Jonas Gutierrez they simply want to produce no-frills, winning soccer in South Africa.
The Netherlands finished second after a goalless draw with the South Americans.
Maradona's inheritance process is likely to be a messy affair between his large family, with eight children from six different partners
Rediff.com's Norma Godinho and Laxmi Negi glance at the athletes and disciplines likely to win medals for India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The teenager could be the youngest ever to win senior World Cup gold medals for India though the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) could not confirm.
Carlos Alberto, who scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history while captaining Brazil to glory in the 1970 final against Italy, has died aged 72 following a heart attack. The marauding right back scored his team's fourth goal in a 4-1 win over Italy in Mexico's Azteca Stadium, a thumping drive that ended a move involving eight players, before hoisting the Jules Rimet trophy as Brazil won the title for the third time. "I am saddened by the death of my friend and brother Carlos Alberto, our beloved Captain, and I remember the times that we were together at Santos, Brazil and the (New York) Cosmos, where we formed a winning partnership," Pele said in one of the many tributes from former greats.
Holders Brazil landed a tricky draw for the Copa America on Wednesday as they were thrown into Group B along with Mexico, Ecuador and Chile.
Impressed with the performance of the Indian shooting contingent in Gold Coast, ace marksmen Jitu Rai is worried about the adverse effect that non-inclusion of the sport in the 2022 Birmingham Games will have on young talents.
The abundance of talent is complemented by a confident approach which the likes of Manu Bhaker, Mehuli Ghosh, Anish Bhanwala and Anjum Moudgil will display at the Games.
It was a mistake to show replays of Argentina's controversial opening goal against Mexico on giant stadium screens during Sunday's World Cup game, world soccer's governing body said on Monday.
Indian junior team finished fourth in the Junior Davis Cup competition after losing 1-2 to Russia in the World Finals in Mexico.
Formula One will have a record 24 races next season with Las Vegas making its floodlit debut in November and Monaco signing a new deal to secure its place on the calendar until at least 2025.
One of India's most consistent rifle shooters in recent times, Ravi was down after failing to win an Olympic quota despite displaying good form in the last World Championship.
The Copa America was played as a 12-team tournament from 1993 when the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) invited two teams from CONCACAF, the North and Central America and Caribbean region, to join in.
Javier Hernandez has been a bit-part player at Real Madrid since joining on loan from Manchester United but injuries handed the Mexico striker a rare chance on Wednesday which he took with aplomb.
The 17th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India today turned out to be a milestone event as it became the most attended in the history of the tournament.
Aseem Chhabra rates the movies he's watched in 2023, and tells you where you can watch them!
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
England and France qualified in style for the last 16 of the women's World Cup.
America's chances of hosting the 2026 World Cup are not likely to be hurt by a US led corruption investigation that has ensnared key figures in FIFA, world soccer's governing body, analysts said on Thursday.
Barcelona host the Dutch league leaders and Van Bommel wants his players to stay professional as they face the player he described as the best in the world.
Diego Maradona was forced to stub out his fat cigar but no one could take the smile off his face -- or stop him talking -- after Argentina's 3-1 last 16 World Cup defeat of Mexico on Sunday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Brazil coach Dunga faces his former mentor Sven-Goran Eriksson on the touchline when the five-times world champions meet Ivory Coast in a mouthwatering World Cup Group G clash at Soccer City on Sunday.
'I don't like the title, and if I don't like the title I am not going to like the film. Don't go and see it'
He might be travelling halfway across the globe to promote youth football through Subroto Cup but Brazilian legend Pele on Friday declared that there won't be another like him and the man who draws constant comparisons with him, the inimitable Diego Maradona.
Extraordinary award-winning photographs from more than 20,000 images from all over the world.
Companies ready to cash in if FIFA accepts goalline technology after World Cup refereeing howlers say they are not yet convinced soccer's governing body will adopt measures common in other sports.
Argentina's goalkeepers weighed in against different forms of technology on Monday with one saying aids would rob soccer of its essence while another reckoned the World Cup ball may be causing Lionel Messi's goal drought.
Striker Nicolas Anelka was kicked out of France's World Cup squad on Saturday for insulting coach Raymond Domenech and refusing to apologise, the French Football Federation (FFF) said.
Three Greek World Cup players had money stolen from their hotel rooms and Chinese journalists were robbed at gunpoint, officials said on Thursday.
Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero struck two goals apiece in Argentina's 7-0 romp against an out-of-sorts Bolivia while Mexico were held 3-3 by Trinidad & Tobago in friendlies in the United States on Friday.
Coutinho has as many man-of-the match awards in this tournament as Neymar has different haircuts.
Carlos Tevez struck twice as Argentina set up a rematch of their 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals with Germany, beating Mexico 3-1 in their second round match in Soccer City on Sunday.
Germany, fuelled by a second half double from Thomas Mueller, thrashed long-standing rivals England 4-1 in a controversy-filled encounter on Sunday to book a spot in the last eight of the World Cup.
