+18 or +21, depending on state | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
player-image

LionelMessi

Lionel Messi news

Latest news

Ballon d'Or Power Rankings GFX

BDO Power Rankings: Magestic Messi catapults into contention

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

Valencia CF v FC Barcelona - LaLiga EA Sports

Lewandowski agrees Chicago Fire transfer

Major League Soccer is set to welcome another global icon as Robert Lewandowski has reached an agreement to join the Chicago Fire. The legendary Polish striker is in line for a free transfer to the United States following the conclusion of his trophy-laden spell with Barcelona.

GFX Lionel Messi Lamine Yamal

Yamal set World Cup challenge in order to match Messi & Co

Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has been warned that he still has plenty to prove on the international stage despite his meteoric rise at Barcelona. Argentina legend Mario Kempes has challenged the teenager to replicate his club form at the World Cup if he wants to be considered a true superstar of the game.

Winners losers World Cup group stage GFX

Winners & losers of the World Cup group stage

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, as Austria scored a 96th-minute equaliser against Algeria to qualify for the knockout stage while simultaneously eliminating Iran, who had been set to progress as one of the tournament's third-placed finishers. Elsewhere, Lionel Messi came off the bench to help Argentina maintain their 100 percent winning record with a 3-1 victory over Jordan and, in doing so, the No.10 extended his record-breaking goals tally at the finals to 19.

Argentina ratings

Messi makes history (again) as Argentina stay perfect

If this is Lionel Messi’s final World Cup, he seems determined to leave with every attacking record he can. The Argentina icon became the first player in tournament history to score in seven straight games, icing a closer-than-expected 3-1 win over a determined Jordan side. Manager Lionel Scaloni also found more attacking answers, with Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez joining in the scoring.

Argentina v Austria: Group J - FIFA World Cup 2026

Messi dropped as Scaloni rotates Argentina XI

Lionel Scaloni has confirmed Lionel Messi will start on the bench for Argentina's final group-stage match after qualification was already secured. The head coach wants to manage his captain's workload while giving other members of the squad an opportunity to impress before the knockout stages.

Messi Latuaro Alvarez Argentina GFX

'Messi-dependencia' - Argentina can't keep relying solely on Leo

The fact that Lionel Messi already has five goals at the 2026 World Cup is obviously a great thing for Argentina. The worry, though, is that none of his team-mates have even managed to score one. Admittedly, relying on Messi was always part of the plan. As striking legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Fox Sports, "Messi isn't just Argentina's best player. He's Argentina's system."