Lionel Messi

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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

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, center, tries to dribble past Valencia's Geoffrey Kondogbia, left, and Valencia's Francis Coquelin during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valencia and Barcelona at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Valencia beats Barcelona 2-0 to inflict 1st loss on Setién

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Soccer coach Quique Setien answers journalists during a news conference with FC Barcelona's President Josep Maria Bartomeu, center, and director of football Eric Abidal, right, after being officially introduced as the club's new coach at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Barcelona made a rare coaching change midway through the season, replacing Ernesto Valverde with former Real Betis manager Quique Setien on Monday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Setién has difficult task of replacing Suárez at Barcelona

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

In this Dec. 5, 2019 photo, a boys pops a wheelie as he rides his bicycle past a mural featuring Lionel Messi in La Bajada, Rosario, Argentina. Soccer wasn't always Messi's favorite activity. When he was a child in the modest neighborhood of La Bajada in his hometown, he spent his time bicycling with friends, building forts out of branches and stones, playing hide and seek — and occasionally stealing lemons from a neighbor to make juice. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Messi’s hometown offers emotional trip to his childhood

By DEBORA REY - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Antoine Griezmann during a Champions League soccer match Group F between Barcelona and Dortmund at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Griezmann faces Atlético for first time since joining Barca

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates with teammate Lionel Messi, top, after scoring his side's third goal during a Champions League group F soccer match between Barcelona and Dortmund at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Messi leads Barca to 3-1 win over Dortmund in 700th match

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a friendly soccer match between Brazil and Argentina at King Fahd stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. (AP Photo)

Lionel Messi in Israel despite rockets and boycott threats

By ARON HELLER - Associated Press

In this Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, photo, President of FC Barcelona Josep Bartomeu pauses during and interview with the Associated Press at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Bartomeu told The Associated Press on Friday that &quot;we are preparing this post Messi era.&quot; (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

AP Interview: Barca president preparing for post-Messi era

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after missing a scoring chance during a Champions League Group F soccer match between Barcelona and Slavia Praha at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona held 0-0 by Slavia Prague in Champions League

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, shoots the ball next to Sevilla's Ever Banega during Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Sevilla at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. Messi scored once in Barcelona's 4-0 victory. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi says he considered leaving Barcelona after tax problem

Associated Press

Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the group F Champions League soccer match between F.C. Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Suárez scores 2 to give Barca 2-1 comeback win over Inter

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

Real Madrid's Raphael Varane jumps to kick the ball before Real Madrid's Marco Asensio, center right, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid stays top after 0-0 derby draw with Atlético

By TALES AZZONI - Associated Press

Barcelona's head coach Ernesto Valverde, left, stands near Lionel Messi after he left the field to get treatment on getting hurt during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi sidelined again because of muscle injury

Associated Press

Barcelona's head coach Ernesto Valverde, left, stands near Lionel Messi after he left the field to get treatment on getting hurt during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Messi goes off at halftime in 1st start since injury layoff

Associated Press

United States forward Megan Rapinoe arrives to attend the Best FIFA soccer awards, in Milan's La Scala theater, northern Italy, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk is up against five-time winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the FIFA best player award and Rapinoe is the favorite for the women's award. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Rapinoe, Messi win FIFA player of the year awards

By DANIELLA MATAR - Associated Press

United States forward Megan Rapinoe arrives to attend the Best FIFA soccer awards, in Milan's La Scala theater, northern Italy, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk is up against five-time winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the FIFA best player award and Rapinoe is the favorite for the women's award. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Megan Rapinoe, Lionel Messi win FIFA player of the year awards

Associated Press

Barcelona's Ansu Fati, right, celebrates with teammate Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Sep. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barca teen Ansu Fati leads rout of Valencia, sets new record

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press

FILE - In this June 21, 2018 file photo Argentina's Lionel Messi reaches for the ball during the group D match between Argentina and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Five-time winner Lionel Messi along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk are the three finalists for the FIFA best player award. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Messi unsure Barcelona did all it could to bring Neymar back

Associated Press

Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi, right, holds the award of UEFA Champions League forward of the season 2018/19 as he poses with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during the group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum, in Monaco, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Messi has option to leave Barca next summer

Associated Press

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann, right, reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona at San Mames stadium in Bilbao, northern Spain, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Ion Alcoba Beitia)

Griezmann could be the key for Barcelona against Betis

By JOSEPH WILSON - Associated Press