Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Two team-mates will battle it out for the World Cup

Mbappe and Messi poised for blockbuster finale

Two of the world's best players go head-to-head for soccer's biggest prize on Sunday and while the Paris Saint-Germain team-mates are at opposite ends of their careers, the outcome and the World Cup are still very much up for grabs.

Soccer • 17 Dec 22

Can Argentina reach the World Cup quarter-finals?

World Cup 2022: What to expect on Day 14

After two weeks of four-game days, the festive football, pre-Christmas diet kicks in on Saturday with only two games to view on Day 14 of this unseasonal World Cup.

Soccer • 03 Dec 22

Senegal's Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from an injury

World Cup digest: Mane ruled out of World Cup

Lionel Messi was on target as Argentina warmed up for the World Cup with a 5-0 rout of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

Soccer • 17 Nov 22

Champions League wrap: Giroud leads Milan into last 16

French forward Olivier Giroud scored two goals and created another as AC Milan crushed Salzburg 4-0 to reach the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013-14.

Soccer • 02 Nov 22

Lionel Messi with his seventh Ballon D'Or before PSG's against against Nice

Lionel Messi: 'I've never tried to be the best'

Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi said he's grateful to be named among the greatest players in world soccer, but the Argentina forward stressed he does not attach too much importance to individual glory.

Soccer • 04 Dec 21

Lionel Messi will have to wait for his PSG debut

Pochettino won't rush Messi into making PSG debut

Paris St Germain will not rush Lionel Messi into action following his signing from Barcelona earlier this week.

Soccer • 13 Aug 21

Lionel Messi was officially unveiled as a Paris Saint-Germain player today.

Updated Messi sets sights on Champions League glory with PSG

Lionel Messi is impatient to start work on the task of winning trophies with Paris St Germain after his stunning departure from Barcelona.

Motorsport • 11 Aug 21

Lionel Messi had a night to remember at Arena Pantanal

Messi dazzles in record Argentina appearance

With his inauspicious Argentina debut nothing but a distant memory, Lionel Messi became his country's most capped player in their 4-1 Copa America victory over Bolivia.

Soccer • 29 Jun 21

Lionel Messi celebrates after giving Barcelona the lead

Europe: Messi bags 650th Barca goal, PSG beaten

Lionel Messi scored a fine free-kick and Antoine Griezmann netted the winner as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Nou Camp and moved up to second place in the LaLiga table while in Ligue 1, Paris St Germain suffered the maiden loss of boss Mauricio Pochettino's tenure.

Soccer • 31 Jan 21

Lionel Messi received his marching orders in the 120th minute of Sunday's match at Estadio La Cartuja

Barca to appeal against Messi suspension

Barcelona will appeal against Lionel Messi's first red card of his career with the Spanish club.

Soccer • 19 Jan 21

Lionel Messi pays tribute to Diego Maradona by revealing a Newell's Old Boys jersey

Lionel Messi fined €600 after Maradona tribute

Lionel Messi and Barcelona have been fined a combined €780 after the player was shown a yellow card for lifting his shirt to pay tribute to the late Diego Maradona following his goal in Sunday's 4-0 win over Osasuna.

Soccer • 02 Dec 20

Lionel Messi made it clear he wanted to leave during the summer

Leo Messi to remain Barcelona captain

Lionel Messi will remain as Barcelona captain despite his turbulent pre-season.

Soccer • 12 Sep 20

Jorge Messi (C) arriving at El Prat Airport in Barcelona today

'Difficult' for Messi to stay at Barca says father

It will be difficult for Lionel Messi to remain at Barcelona after he made public his desire to leave the Spanish club, his father and agent Jorge Messi said today as he arrived in the city to negotiate his son's future.

Soccer • 02 Sep 20

'There's a risk everywhere' - Messi happy to play again

Lionel Messi believes he is better off not thinking too much about the risk of being infected by the coronavirus as Spanish soccer clubs step up their return to activity, saying he looks forward to getting back to playing matches.

Soccer • 15 May 20

Lionel Messi: "We will have to wait to see if it is true or not. We can't say much and we have to wait and see what happens."

Messi on Barca: 'I see weird things happening'

Lionel Messi admits he sees "weird things happening" at Barcelona after the club president was forced to deny accusations of unethical social media practices.

Soccer • 19 Feb 20

Lionel Messi could not drive Barcelona past Valencia

New era, same old frustrations for stuttering Barca

Quique Setien suffered his first defeat as Barcelona boss as Valencia secured a 2-0 victory at Mestalla to preserve their unbeaten home record in La Liga this season.

Soccer • 25 Jan 20

Virgil van Dijk: "There are currently players walking around in this football world that are out of this world basically and they've been doing it for many years."

Van Dijk focused on shackling 'out of this world' Messi

Virgil Van Dijk has dismissed talk of winning the Ballon d'Or and insists he is fully focused on attempting to shackle "out of this world" Lionel Messi in the Champions League.

Soccer • 29 Apr 19

Lionel Messi was outstanding in Barcelona's win at Real Betis

Rival fans applaud magnificent Messi hat-trick

Lionel Messi was lauded by opposition supporters on Sunday after he scored an outstanding hat-trick in Barcelona's 4-1 win at Real Betis, which put the Catalans 10 points clear at the top of La Liga with 10 games remaining.

Soccer • 18 Mar 19

Leo Messi made one and scored one to swing it for Barca

Messi rises from bench to sprinkle magic on Barca

Lionel Messi came off the bench to inspire Barcelona to a 3-1 win over a dogged Leganes side on Sunday, creating one goal and scoring another to keep the Catalans five points clear at the top of La Liga.

Soccer • 20 Jan 19

Leo Messi registered his 400th La Liga goal in his 435th appearance in the competition

Valverde hails 'unbelievable' Messi after landmark goal

Ernesto Valverde hailed the "unbelievable" Lionel Messi after the Barcelona star chalked up yet another landmark in Sunday's defeat of Eibar.

Soccer • 14 Jan 19

Lionel Messi curls home a free-kick against Espanyol

La Liga: Messi sweeps home a brace of superb free-kicks

Barcelona moved three points clear at the top of La Liga after Lionel Messi scored two brilliant free-kicks in an impressive 4-0 win at derby rivals Espanyol.

Soccer • 08 Dec 18

Gerard Pique celebrates scoring the opening goal

Barca brush off Villarreal to go top of the tree

Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga after a comfortable 2-0 victory against Villarreal at the Nou Camp.

Soccer • 02 Dec 18

$Leo Messi fractured his arm in the win against Sevilla$

La Liga: Messi out of El Clasico after fracturing arm

Barcelona went top of La Liga and pulled four points clear of Real Madrid - but will face their rivals next week without talisman Lionel Messi.

Soccer • 20 Oct 18

Leo Messi has previously played for Pep Guardiola at Barcelona

Man City deny offering to triple Messi's wages

Manchester City have denied reports the club tried and failed to sign Barcelona striker Lionel Messi.

Soccer • 13 Oct 18

Messi comes off bench to help Barca salvage draw

La Liga champions Barcelona's domestic struggles continued as they dropped points for the third game in a row, drawing 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday after Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets had begun the match on the substitutes' bench.

Soccer • 29 Sep 18