Lionel Messi

Latest Stories

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Ronaldo inspires praise, and more goals, from Messi

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right and Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrate after Messi scored his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Messi helps Barcelona beat Lyon 5-1 to reach CL quarters

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Montpellier at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

Soccer symmetry as Mbappe, Messi reach milestones

By JEROME PUGMIRE - Associated Press

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Sevilla's Jeus Navas fight for the ball during La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain. Saturday, February 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti)

Messi hits 50th hat trick to give Barca 4-2 win at Sevilla

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, left, fails to score past Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, right, during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Lyon and FC Barcelona in Decines, near Lyon, central France, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Barcelona’s attacking stars disappoint in 0-0 draw at Lyon

Associated Press

In this Jan. 31, 2019 photo, soccer player Macarena Sanchez poses for a photo at her home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sanchez is taking legal action against her club and the Argentine soccer association for not recognizing her as a professional player. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In soccer-mad Argentina, women fight sexism and inequality

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, gestures next to his coach Ernesto Valverde during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valencia at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barca optimistic about Messi, Madrid all fit for Copa semi

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi falls during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valencia at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Messi doesn’t practice ahead of ‘clasico’ because of injury

Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valencia at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Messi has injury scare after scoring 2 goals in Barca draw

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Girona and FC Barcelona at the Montilivi stadium in Girona, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Messi scores as Barcelona wins 8th straight league game

Associated Press

Small piggy banks in the likeness of Argentina's Lionel Messi, Brazil's Neymar Jr. and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, stand for sale by artisan Ramiro Suxo at the Alasita Fair in El Alto, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Suxo puts the finishing touches on coin holders depicting the players, hoping Bolivians will buy them and fulfill their dreams of becoming international soccer stars. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Tiny Messi, Ronaldo show little dreams of glory In Bolivia

By Associated Press - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez smiles during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Suarez, Messi lead Barca to 3-0 win over Eibar to keep lead

Associated Press

India's forward Sunil Chhetri kicks the penalty to score the opening goal during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between Thailand and India at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

India striker overtakes Messi in national team scoring

By JOHN DUERDEN - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's forward Lionel Messi during their La Liga soccer match between Levante UD and FC Barcelona at Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018.(AP Photo/Jose Miguel Fernandez de Velasco)

Messi receives 5th Golden Shoe award for Europe’s top scorer

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 file photo, five-year-old Afghan Lionel Messi fan Murtaza Ahmadi poses for photograph, as he wears a shirt signed by Messi, in Kabul, Afghanistan. A young Afghan soccer fan who shot to fame after he was photographed in a Messi shirt made from a plastic bag has been forced to flee with his family to the Afghan capital after criminal gangs and the Taliban threatened to kill or kidnap him. Shafiqa Ahmedi said Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 that criminals threatened to kidnap her now-7-year-old son Murtaza, a fan of Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, after demanding money. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, file)

Young Afghan Messi fan threatened by criminals, Taliban

By AMIR SHAH - Associated Press

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's first goal during a Group B Champions League soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Lionel Messi leads Barcelona to 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven

By MIKE CORDER - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi gestures during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Betis at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barcelona loses 4-3 to Betis despite 2 goals by Messi

Associated Press

Suarez scores 2 as Barca rallies late to beat Rayo 3-2

Associated Press

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, Group B soccer match between Barcelona and Inter Milan, at the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Barca outclasses Inter in 2-0 win without injured Messi

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks painful injured during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Messi breaks right forearm, out for about 3 weeks

Associated Press