Lionel Messi

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after the the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Bayern won the match 8-2. (Rafael Marchante/Pool via AP)

Barcelona wants face-to-face meeting to change Messi’s mind

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi holds his head during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Gerard Piqué says Barcelona &quot;hit rock bottom&quot; in an 8-2 humiliation from Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. It's 74 years since Barcelona conceded eight goals in a game. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez/Pool)

Waiting for Messi, Barcelona to start season vs Villarreal

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

In this Aug. 13, 2020 file photo, Barcelona's Lionel Messi waves as he arrives at the team hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club after nearly two decades with the Spanish giants. The club has confirmed that the Argentina great has sent a note expressing his desire to leave. The announcement comes 11 days after Barcelona's humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of the worst in the player's career and in the club's history.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) **FILE**

Messi skips required coronavirus testing with Barcelona

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi leaves he pitch at half time during the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Rafael Marchante/Pool via AP)

Barcelona unwilling to negotiate Messi departure

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Roberto Mensi, the leader of the Autoconvocados Newells fans group, poses for a photo standing next to a mural depicting a young Lionel Messi, at a soccer field used by the Newell's Old Boys youth teams, Messi's childhood soccer club, in Rosario, Argentina, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Newell's Old Boys' fans hope to lure him home following his announcement that he wants to leave Barcelona F.C. after nearly two decades with the Spanish club. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

After Barcelona, Messi’s Argentine hometown dreams of return

By DÉBORA REY - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Gerard Piqué says Barcelona &quot;hit rock bottom&quot; in an 8-2 humiliation from Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. It's 74 years since Barcelona conceded eight goals in a game. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez/Pool)

Messi’s departure jeopardizes Barcelona’s restructuring plan

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo runs with the ball during a round of sixteen, first leg, soccer match between Lyon and Juventus at the at the Lyon Olympic Stadium in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Ronaldo pledges to ‘reach higher’ in 3rd year with Juventus

Associated Press

In this Aug. 13, 2020 file photo, Barcelona's Lionel Messi waves as he arrives at the team hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club after nearly two decades with the Spanish giants. The club has confirmed that the Argentina great has sent a note expressing his desire to leave. The announcement comes 11 days after Barcelona's humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of the worst in the player's career and in the club's history.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) **FILE**

Lionel Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave, signaling end of era

By Tales Azzoni and Joseph Wilson - Associated Press

PSG's Neymar celebrates at the end of the Champions League semifinal soccer match between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. PSG won the match 3-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Neymar gets his shot at glory in Champions League final

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi holds his head during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Gerard Piqué says Barcelona &quot;hit rock bottom&quot; in an 8-2 humiliation from Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. It's 74 years since Barcelona conceded eight goals in a game. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez/Pool)

Messi’s silence raises more doubts about Barcelona future

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Gerard Piqué says Barcelona &quot;hit rock bottom&quot; in an 8-2 humiliation from Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals. It's 74 years since Barcelona conceded eight goals in a game. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez/Pool)

Questions surround Messi’s future amid Barcelona chaos

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's Gerard Pique reacts after the the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Bayern won the match 8-2. (Rafael Marchante/Pool via AP)

Barcelona fears grim future after Bayern meltdown

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Bayern's Thomas Mueller, bottom center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (Rafael Marchante/Pool via AP)

Bayern humbles Barcelona 8-2 to reach Champions League semis

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Napoli's head coach Gennaro Gattuso, left, reacts as he interacts with Barcelona's Lionel Messi during the Champions League round of 16, second leg soccer match between Barcelona and Napoli at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi set to recover from knock ahead of quarterfinals

Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi dejected as walks after the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Osasuna at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, July 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi blasts ‘weak’ team after Barcelona loses league title

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, scores his side's second goal on a penalty kick during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi scores 700th goal, Barcelona held 2-2 by Atlético

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi is no Maradona for Napoli as it prepares for Barcelona

By DANIELLA MATAR - Associated Press

Messi restores peace at Barca; Madrid in slump before City

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Eibar at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Feb. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi nets 4 goals against Eibar to end scoreless streak

Associated Press

A bar tender prepares an espresso coffee inside the Bar Nilo where a makeshift shrine of soccer legend and former Napoli player Diego Armando Maradona is displayed, in downtown Naples, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Maradona achieved some of his most memorable exploits and in Naples is still revered with god-like status. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

For Napoli fans, the team is a religion and Maradona is god

By ANDREW DAMPF - Associated Press