Lionel Messi has been called up by Argentina to make a farewell appearance in a home friendly in October following his international retirement, the Argentinian football association (AFA) has confirmed. “We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andrés Messi, to have a deserved farewell … Read more
Anyone who was present at Lionel Scaloni’s press conference immediately after the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey on 19 July and saw his tears, the sobs which prevented him from speaking while he got up and walked out, could tell this was a man weeping not because of defeat in … Read more
As the tears streamed down Lionel Messi’s cheeks in the moments after Spain beat Messi’s Argentina in extra time of last month’s FIFA World Cup final, the greatest player in soccer history must have known in his heart that he’d never pull the famous sky-blue-and-white-striped Albiceleste jersey on again. Messi made it official on Monday, … Read more
There is no greater feeling in life than experiencing the purest example of beauty. It is, as Oscar Wilde once said, the one thing time cannot harm. It’s an everlasting rainbow that never stops showing you its colors, and even when the actual act of witnessing something so gorgeous, so exquisite disappears — you still … Read more
Lionel Messi has played his last match for Argentina. The iconic soccer superstar has announced that he will be retiring from international play, ending his career with Argentina after 22 years and a World Cup title. However, Messi will continue to play for his MLS club, Inter Miami. “After all this time since the final, … Read more
FIFA banned three Argentina players on Friday, including a 10-match suspension for midfielder Leandro Paredes, for striking Spain opponents after losing the World Cup final. The ban for Paredes — who grabbed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground — ranks with the FIFA sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suarez … Read more
The Mexican football federations have broken ranks with the rest of Concacaf by issuing their public backing for beleaguered Fifa president Gianni Infantino in a move that has deepened world football’s civil war. Concacaf has called for a thorough review of Fifa’s governance in the light of the World Cup sell-off debacle, and is backing … Read more
Chelsea have signed the Argentina international Valentín Barco from their sister club Strasbourg on a seven-year deal. The 22-year-old, who played seven times for Brighton including six Premier League appearances during the 2023-24 season, becomes the eighth arrival of new manager Xabi Alonso’s reign. A versatile player who can be used in central midfield as … Read more
FIFA lodged disciplinary charges against two Argentina players Wednesday for striking Spain opponents moments after the World Cup final and charged Argentina’s soccer federation for players showing a political banner about the Falkland Islands after beating England in the semifinals. A list of disciplinary cases opened by FIFA against Argentina also include “discriminatory chants and … Read more
Soccer’s law-making panel clarified its guidance to referees which confirmed Switzerland forward Breel Embolo should not have been sent off in the World Cup quarterfinals against Argentina. Embolo’s second yellow card, after a video review for simulating being fouled, changed the momentum of the game in the 72nd minute soon after Switzerland tied the score … Read more