A Miami-based events company has filed a suit against Lionel Messi and the Argentine football federation after the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was rested in a friendly last year. Messi opted not to play in the exhibition against Venezuela, and VID Music Group claim that Messi promised to play a minimum of 30 minutes in the fixture - unless he was injured.
Lionel Messi has officially completed the purchase of Spanish club UE Cornellà. The Inter Miami superstar, who spent two decades in La Liga with Barcelona, has acquired full ownership of the Tercera RFEF side to further solidify his legacy in the region of Catalonia.
In the winter of 2022, under the lights of Lusail, Lionel Messi finally realised the dream he'd carried with him his entire life. After years of unrelenting pressure, bitter heartbreak and agonising near-misses, Argentina’s captain rose above expectation on football’s grandest stage to deliver his country the perfect ending - and to fulfill his own destiny. Welcome to the latest episode of Icons - a GOAL podcast that revisits the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament vividly back to life.
Kylian Mbappe has firmly etched his name into the history books of European football once again following a record-breaking night for Real Madrid. The forward took centre stage during the Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich to surpass a mark previously held by Lionel Messi.
It is not yet clear how much longer Manuel Neuer will continue to play. Should he stay at FC Bayern for another year, he stands to set a historic record.
Javier Mascherano has stepped down as head coach of Inter Miami, the club confirmed Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, Mascherano said he stepped away for "personal reasons." The Argentine, a close friend of star Lionel Messi, won MLS Cup with the Herons in 2025, a first in franchise history, and had been in charge since the end of 2024.
Former New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has warned Cristiano Ronaldo against moving to Major League Soccer. Wright-Phillips believes the Al-Nassr forward may struggle to replicate the "magic" still shown by Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and could risk damaging his legacy.
German Berterame finally got among the goals and Inter Miami created chances aplenty, but defensive lapses cost them in an enthralling 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls. Lionel Messi, too, was uncharacteristically quiet, yet the visitors offered plenty of attacking quality and were good value for the result.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged to "pack it in" and retire from professional football following the 2026 World Cup rather than attempting a final career move to the United States. Former Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Anders Limpar believes the Al-Nassr superstar should focus on protecting his unmatched legacy rather than testing himself in a league that might provide a harsh reality check.
The age-old debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has seen another heavyweight chime in with a definitive verdict. Despite spending nearly a decade as a teammate and close friend of the Portuguese superstar at Real Madrid, former Brazilian international Marcelo has revealed who truly caused him the most problems on the pitch.
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