Lionel Messi

Latest Stories

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, controls the ball past Elche's Alberto Rivera Pizarro, left, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Messi set to get a big raise from Barcelona

Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, controls the ball past Elche's Alberto Rivera Pizarro, left, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona, Messi to improve current deal

Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina reacts after failing to score against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Tevez excluded from Argentina World Cup roster

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

Bayern head coach Pep Guardiola watches the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in Munich, southern Germany, Tuesday, April 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Column: Tiki-taka dead? Long live tiki-taka!

By JOHN LEICESTER - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 30, 2013 file photo, FC Barcelona's coach Tito Vilanova attends a press conference at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in San Joan Despi, Spain. FC Barcelona announced on their web page Friday April 25, 2014 that Vilanova has died after a long battle against cancer. He previously stepped down as coach when he became seriously ill and was unable to continue. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Former Barcelona coach Vilanova dies at 45

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, from Argentina, gestures after scoring against Athletic Bilbao during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday April 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Messi helps Barcelona end skid, beat Bilbao 2-1

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's coach Gerardo Martino of;;owe the action from the side line during the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barcelona defends Messi, offers better contract

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after Real Madrid won the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona faces end of winning era

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after Real Madrid won the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona faces end of winning era

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Granada and FC Barcelona at Los Carmenes stadium in Granada, Spain, Saturday, April 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Tejedor)

Barcelona faces Ronaldo-less Madrid in Copa final

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Atletico's Koke celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Atletico beats Barcelona to reach Champions semis

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS - Associated Press

Atletico's Raul Garcia, center right, celebrates his goal with teammates during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Villarreal at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Atletico eyes Champs semifinals at Barca expense

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS - Associated Press

Dortmund's Marco Reus, right, scores a goal against Wolfsburg goalkeeper Max Gruen during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, April 5, 2014, 2014. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Real holds comfortable 3-0 lead in Dortmund

By NESHA STARCEVIC - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi gestures after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Betis at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atletico wins to stay top, Messi keeps Barca 2nd

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Neymar celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during a first leg quarterfinal Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday April 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Atletico draws 1-1 at Barca in Champions League

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, from Argentina, left, and Neymar, from Brazil, right, attend a a training session at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in San Joan Despi, Spain, Monday, March 31, 2014. FC Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in a first leg quarter-final Champions League soccer match on April 1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Neymar lighting up social media, not Barcelona

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS - Associated Press

Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak, right, tussles with Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during their English Premier League soccer match at Selhurst Park, London, Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

Chelsea loses but stays top; Spain’s leading 3 win

Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi gestures after scoring a penalty during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella Llobregat, Spain, Saturday, March 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Atletico, Barcelona win to say 1-2 in Spain

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FC Barcelona's Neymar, from Brazil, reacts after scoring against Celta Vigo during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Madrid loses to slip in race; Atletico, Barca win

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina, left, celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Barcelona, Messi stay top of AP global footy poll

By JACK BEZANTS - Associated Press