Will he or won't he? Lionel Messi has a massive decision to make and, just eight months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, we still don't know whether he'll lead Argentina's title defence. "At my age, it's only logical to think I might not," the 38-year-old told TyC Sports just last month. But, let's face it, there's never really anything logical about Messi's career.
Former Paris Saint-Germain star Rafinha has explained why the era of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the French capital never worked. The trio played together at PSG for two years from 2021, when Messi joined the club from Barcelona on a free transfer, and lasted until 2023 when both the Argentine and Neymar left for Inter Miami and Al-Hilal respectively.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has vowed not to take any risks with Lionel Messi during the October international friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Messi is doubtful for the Venezuela clash, which will be played on Saturday, only a day before Inter Miami face Atlanta United in a crucial MLS fixture. He will link up with his Argentine team-mates after playing seven matches in 21 days.
Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.
Lionel Messi has admitted it will be “strange” not playing alongside Jordi Alba in an emotional tribute to his Inter Miami team-mate following the defender’s decision to retire from professional football. The Argentina star took to social media to hail his close friend and former Barcelona colleague after he announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.
Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig, and FC Barcelona led the tributes to Jordi Alba after the Inter Miami full-back announced he will retire at the end of the MLS season. The 35-year-old’s decision marks another emotional moment for the club’s famed Barcelona core, with Alba set to join longtime teammate Busquets in closing out a remarkable chapter that bridged La Liga and MLS.
Lionel Messi’s nephew and godson, Tomas, admits that his family has “suffered a lot” down the years as a result of the Inter Miami superstar’s global celebrity status. After bursting onto the scene at Barcelona, it did not take Messi long to take up a standing alongside the greats. He is now an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and the most decorated player of all-time, with many highs and lows being experienced over the course of a remarkable career.
Barcelona legend Xavi has explained how “chosen one” Lamine Yamal compares to Lionel Messi and Neymar, with the teenage wonderkid becoming a global superstar in his own right. That standing has been achieved at just 18 years of age, with Yamal - who has been compared to Argentine GOAT Messi on a regular basis - rewriting the history books as a La Liga and European Championship title winner.
MLS has been told that it needs to change its recruitment strategy when it comes to bringing overseas stars to the United States, with Gus Poyet telling GOAL of how that process could be tweaked to the benefit of everybody. Efforts to expand the domestic game Stateside have tended to focus on the acquisition of household names on the field, but could that process be expanded to include bigger names in the dugout?
Sergio Busquets has revealed that he could have continued playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in MLS, but has chosen not to. Instead of prolonging a remarkable playing career, the legendary former Barcelona midfielder has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2025/26 season. A break from football is being planned, but he could return to the dugout at some point in the future.
Lionel Messi joined Carlos Vela in an exclusive MLS club after posting a hat-trick of assists for Inter Miami. The Argentine GOAT was at his brilliant best once again as the Herons eased to a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution. When it comes to combined goals and assists in 2025, Messi has burst beyond 40 - a mark that only one other player has passed at the highest level of North American soccer.
USMNT star Christian Pulisic has explained the quality that he shares with Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi. The United States international occupies a similar area of the field to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, with coaches and team-mates often looking to them for attacking inspiration. Pulisic has embraced that role down the years and believes that he has learned - much like an all-time great - how best to impact proceedings.
Inter Miami conceded five goals in a humbling defeat to the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, putting manager Javier Mascherano’s tactics under scrutiny. But the Herons made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat, allowing just one goal while Lionel Messi proved the catalyst with three assists in a convincing 4-1 win over the struggling New England Revolution on Saturday night.
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano quashed "nonsense" claims of fallout with Lionel Messi after a shock home defeat in MLS to Chicago Fire. The loss leaves Miami clinging to fourth place in the Eastern Conference on 56 points, seven adrift of table-toppers Philadelphia Union, and with the Supporters’ Shield slipping further from their grasp.
Lionel Messi's mooted contract renewal at Inter Miami could impact a number of other players on the club’s books, GOAL has been told in an exclusive interview, with Gus Poyet casting an eye over goings on in South Florida. He has seen Argentine GOAT Messi assemble a cast of close friends alongside him, with it possible that one of those - Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez - will also agree to extend his career in MLS.
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