In a niggly and fractious match on Saturday, five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and Chile captain Gary Medel were given their marching orders eight minutes from half-time after tangling on the goalline. read more

The 32-year-old Barcelona star, who infamously quit international football after Argentina’s defeat in the 2016 Copa America Centenario final, said he had no plans to hang up his boots after a 2-0 semi-final loss to Brazil. read more

Paris Saint Germain winger Angel Di Maria was also included but there was no place for striker Gonzalo Higuain, who is on loan at Chelsea from Juventus. read more

Klopp could only smile after Messi’s curling shot nestled in the top corner but this result was harsh on his side. read more

Messi’s second goal was the 600th of his Barca career and he reached the landmark in stunning style, majestically curling a free-kick into the top corner. read more

The Argentine star struck his league-leading 34th goal of the campaign after coming off the bench for the second half to help Barca wrap up the title with three games remaining. read more

Lionel Messi started on the bench at Mendizorrotza on Tuesday in a move that made clear just how comfortable Barca are in this title race, its conclusion surely now only a matter of when rather than if. read more

Messi, meanwhile, extends his own hefty lead as the division’s all-time top scorer, which currently stands at 89 goals, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. read more

Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had both won it five times each in the last 10 years. Here Hindustan Times looks at five players who could be vying for the Ballon d’Or over the next decade. read more

Argentina will face traditional rivals Brazil, also in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday. read more

Pele said it is difficult to compare Messi and Ronaldo as both have very different styles. He said Ronaldo is a centre forward while Messi is more organised. read more

Messi returns to Wembley to face Tottenham on Wednesday with happy memories but all of this weighing on his shoulders. Arch-rivals Real Madrid have been crowned European champions four times and three times in a row since 2016. read more

Messi was a surprise absentee from the starting line-up, along with Sergio Busquets, but he and the Spain midfielder were both called into action in the second half after Oscar de Marcos had put the visitors ahead. read more

Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup after losing 3-4 to eventual champions France in a last 16 match. read more