…brighter start and took the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister flicked5 Lionel Messi’s corner into the net at the near post. However, Switzerland gradually took control and were rewarded in the 67th minute. Dan Ndoye combined with Ricardo Rodriguez before firing a low effort through the legs of goalkeeper…
…were pushed to breaking point by first World Cup debutants Cape Verde and then Egypt. Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the group phase, has again been the talisman for the South Americans, his genius repeatedly getting his team out of tight spots. But there is just a suggestion that the Swiss, a well-organised unit m…
…its greatest individual rivalry. The endless debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has too often been reduced to simplistic opposites, as though one represented talent while the other represented work. Reality was infinitely richer. Messi possessed astonishing discipline, and Ronaldo’s natural gifts had bee…
…doing business with anyone who believes Cristiano Ronaldo is a better footballer than Lionel Messi. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), he claimed a person's opinion on the long-running football debate could reveal how they think and make decisions in real life. According to him, there is nothing wrong with pref…
…surrendered a two-goal advantage as Argentina mounted a late comeback. Captain Lionel Messi inspired the turnaround by creating one goal before scoring the equaliser, with Enzo Fernandez netting the decisive winner in stoppage time. Following the match, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan claimed his team had been treated u…
…with just 11 minutes remaining, Argentina rallied through goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernández to snatch a dramatic victory and book a quarter-final clash with Switzerland. Their match against Egypt was marred by controversies. The Pharaohs were denied a penalty moments before Julian Alvarez star…
…first time but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level. In the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have instead been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy. “Aburida dem…
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has explained why he broke down in tears after his side secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The South American champions mounted a stunning comeback after falling two goals behind during Tuesday night’s Round of 16 clash. Egypt…
…surrendered a two-goal lead in Atlanta as Argentina fought back through Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez to book a place in the quarter-finals. However, the aftermath of the match was dominated by complaints from the Egyptian camp over several key officiating decisions. Egypt question officiating decisi…
…held their nerve from the spot to prevail 4-3 and book a quarter-final showdown with Lionel Messi’s Argentina. The knockout stage has already produced several memorable moments, including England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in what many consider one of the matches of the tournament. The Rou…
Lionel Messi led a stunning late fightback as Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, the reigning champions recovering from a two-goal deficit to escape a monumental upset. Egypt looked poised to score a famous victory at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium after goals from Yasser Ib…
…and Netherlands forward Rob Rensenbrink on four goals from the spot. Argentina captain Lionel Messi also has four World Cup penalties but from seven attempts after missing against Austria in the ongoing tournament. Mbappe joined the group of players with three successful penalties after converting against Paraguay in t…
…possible to do some things, but I guess I'm wrong." Haaland's brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament. For Brazil, who hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the sixth straight tournament where they have been knocked out by European opposition. Sunday's…
…Cup quarter-finals for the first time, taking his tournament tally to seven - level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. "I couldn't quite believe it because I never dreamed of this in my life. "I dreamed of playing in the World Cup with Norway and helping them qualify for the World Cup,…
…time with Brazil's second spot-kick of the match. Haaland's brace took him level with Lionel Messi on seven goals for the tournament as Norway booked a showdown against either co-hosts Mexico or England in Miami on July 11. For Brazil, which hired Carlo Ancelotti in a bid to end a 24-year World Cup drought, it is the s…
…was playing for a European club when crowned. Winners including Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé all represented European clubs at the time of their triumphs. The only exception came in 2023, when Messi became the first men’s Ballon d’Or winner officially repr…
…ended 1-1 in Texas. Egypt, who won a World Cup knockout game for the first time, face Lionel Messi’s Argentina or Cape Verde next. The 34-year-old Salah was clearly hampered by a hamstring strain, but played the whole 120 minutes and stepped up for his country when they needed him. “If somebody was going to do it, it w…
…goals per game is the highest among active players on the list. Argentina captain Lionel Messi is among four players with six knockout-stage goals after adding to his tally in Argentina's 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde on Friday. According to FIFA, only 20 players in World Cup history have scored at least five…
Argentina were given a huge scare before ending Cape Verde’s fairytale run as Lionel Messi netted his 20th World Cup goal in a 3-2 win after extra-time to reach the last 16. Messi’s sublime control and finish for his seventh goal at this tournament in four games put the defending champions in command, but the Blue Shar…
Cape Verde head coach Bubista said a showdown against Argentina and Lionel Messi will be the “match of our lives” but said they will not fear the defending World Cup champions in Friday’s last 32 clash. The African archipelago of just over 500,000 people have progressed to the knockout stages in their first ever World…
…for Mbappe to complete a convincing victory. Mbappe’s strikes saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the all-star golden boot race at this World Cup. The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, meaning he is just one behind Messi’s overall record of 19 — a mark which 27-year-old Mbappe will ke…
Lionel Messi has reflected on his latest World Cup milestone after becoming the highest goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history, describing the achievement as "truly spectacular" while insisting there is still work to do. The Argentina captain reached the landmark during his country's 2-0 victory over Austria at the…
Argentina's attacking play was led by captain Lionel Messi, who remained the focal point of their attack throughout the match
Argentina captain Lionel Messi further strengthened his claim as one of football’s greatest-ever players after becoming the FIFA World Cup’s
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, on Monday became the third player in history to score in six successive World Cup matches. This comes after the Inter Miami forward scored a brace in Argentina’s World Cup 2-0 win against Austria. Prior to the encounter, Messi had scored a hat-trick against Algeria a few days ago. The B…