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Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
The latest stories and features on footballer Lionel Messi, including professional football news and updates.
Born
24 Jun 1987
Industry
Sport
Job Title
Athlete
Lionel Messi, then 20, helps to bathe Lamine Yamal, who was six months old, during a photo shoot in the dressing room of Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium in 2007. Photo: AP
Fifa

2 stars and a bathtub: when World Cup leading men Messi and Yamal first met

The two superstars face each other for the first time on the pitch in the final, but they share an incredible backstory from 19 years ago.

Fifa

True team, strong defence, unbeatable coach: why Spain are in the World Cup final

Fifa World Cup 2026

While you were sleeping: England blow it, Argentina march into World Cup final

Fifa World Cup 2026

Fifa World Cup: Tuchel tactics leave England wondering what might have been

Argentina come from behind again, but England boss Thomas Tuchel will face plenty of questions in coming days after his side’s defeat.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after teammate Lautaro Martinez scores the winner. Photo: AP
Fifa

Fifa World Cup: England are ‘hungry, ready to go’ in semi-final against Argentina

Head coach Thomas Tuchel says finals are ‘draining and nerve-racking’ but make him ‘feel alive’ before highly-anticipated clash in Atlanta.

Fifa

6 million sign petition to kick Argentina out of World Cup, citing favouritism

Organisers of argentinaout.com claim Fifa and match officials have favoured the defending champions and their captain, Lionel Messi.

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Fifa

All eyes on Mbappe, Yamal as Spain, France meet in ‘final before the final’

France, Fifa’s No 1 team, face No 3-ranked team in first semi-final, but Spain may have upper hand, having won their past two meetings.

(COMBO) This combination of files photos created on July 12, 2026, shows France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe in Foxborough on July 9, 2026 (L); and Spain’s forward #19 Lamine Yamal in Arlington on July 6, 2026. France and Spain will meet in a 2026 World Cup semi-finall football match at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 14, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL and Thomas COEX / AFP)
Fifa

Fifa World Cup semis: 4 previous champions, a bitter rivalry, race for Golden Boot

Top four in Fifa rankings meet over two blockbuster matches, with Mbappé v Yamal and Messi v Kane just two of many intriguing storylines.

Hong Kong economy

Fifa World Cup: Hong Kong pubs, restaurants enjoy net gains from big matches

Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman says business ‘up 60 to 70 per cent’ in nightlife district and set to get ‘crazier’ for the final.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup: Argentina beat Switzerland to book blockbuster England date

Defending champions given run for money before extra-time goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez break 10-man Swiss resistance.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates celebrate their World Cup quarter-final victory over Switzerland. Photo: AFP
Fifa World Cup 2026

Latest Mbappe goal makes him first to score at least 8 at multiple World Cups

Current World Cup is also first in history in which two players have scored at least eight goals in the same tournament.

Kylian Mbappe scores France's first goal in their quarter-final 2-0 win over Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Fifa World Cup: Kylian Mbappe fires France past Morocco

Africa must wait at least another four years to crown first world champion, Belgium or Spain stand in way of France and third straight final.

Hong Kong Jockey Club

Fifa World Cup: Berbatov explains why Lionel Messi outdid Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Manchester United striker keen for Harry Kane Premier League move, in Hong Kong for Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit launch.

Fifa

Has Argentina’s chances of winning World Cup improved? Supercomputer says no

Holders are considered fourth-most-likely team among the quarter-finalists to win the tournament, though their betting odds remain unchanged.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina side join three other European countries as the teams considered to have double-digit chances of winning the World Cup. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Messi, Morocco and same old story as Europe dominates World Cup quarter-finals

The rest of the world has seen its share of spots shoot up, but this tournament could still end up with all-European semi-finals.

Moroccan and French flags, and jerseys with the names of Lionel Messi and Spain's Lamine Yamal, outside a sports shop in Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Teary Argentina, Messi face World Cup’s last Cinderella team in quarter-finals

Switzerland have not qualified for the last eight since 1954, when they were hosts, and have never advanced to the semi-finals.

Fifa

France face Morocco in 2022 World Cup semis rematch as quarter-finals kick off

Match between tournament’s form team and African champions the pick of final-eight line-up, with race for Golden Boot an intriguing subplot.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

World Cup while you were sleeping: VAR robs Egypt, Messi magic saves Argentina

Another day, another example of VAR not being used properly. Argentina escape potential upset, while Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties.

Lionel Messi (right) created one and scored another as Argentina booked a place in the last eight of the World Cup.
Fifa

Argentina ‘not feeling pressure’ of being World Cup co-favourites, Messi to start

Defending champions face Mohamed Salah-led Egypt on Tuesday for a place in quarter-finals as Messi looks to reclaim lead in Golden Boot race.

Belt and Road Initiative

Cabo Verde wows at World Cup – with an economic assist from China

From boots to building a stadium, China played a vital role in helping the West African nation qualify for football’s biggest tournament.

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Fifa World Cup 2026

Cabo Verde’s fairytale World Cup run wins hearts of Chinese football fans

Argentina also acknowledged the tiny nation off the coast of West Africa on their official Weibo account after the hard-fought victory.

Cabo Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds, surprised football fans again by pushing Argentina all the way to extra-time. Photo: Xinhua
Fifa World Cup 2026

Messi adds to World Cup goals tally as Argentina just survive Cabo Verde scare

Defending champions need extra-time before finally reaching last 16 after being pushed all the way in five-goal thriller.

Argentina celebrate after finally getting the better of Cabo Verde. Photo: AP
Fifa World Cup 2026

Cabo Verde ready for ‘match of our lives’ against Argentina at World Cup

Winner will face either Australia or Egypt, who have fitness concerns about talismanic former Liverpool player Mohamed Salah.

China-EU relations

China’s Fifa fever, EU’s trade deadline: 7 global relations reads

From the Quad’s critical mineral agenda to Shein’s Paris ousting, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in June 2026.

While you were sleeping

World Cup while you were sleeping: Haaland’s inevitable, Mbappe unstoppable

Erling Haaland powers Norway into the last 16, Kylian Mbappe double eases France past Sweden, and Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman resigns.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for France in their 3-0 win over Sweden. Photo: Reuters
Fifa World Cup 2026

Messi makes more World Cup history, Iran out after Algeria, Austria thriller

Lionel Messi adds to his goals tally as Argentina beat Jordan, while last-second equaliser saves Austria in six-goal draw.

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring Argentina’s third against Jordan. Photo: AP
While you were sleeping

World Cup while you were sleeping: England, Ronaldo v Messi, Scotland boss quits

England top Group L with victory over Panama, while Croatia finish second. Later, Portugal take on Colombia and DR Congo face Uzbekistan.

Fifa World Cup 2026

Haaland’s hairbands: the latest must-have for star-struck Chinese football fans

Norway star’s popularity in China has soared on the back of goalscoring exploits and play persona on mainland social media.

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