Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

"It's difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he's done"

Guardiola: 'No doubt' that Messi is greatest of all

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has no doubt that Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time and his opinion would not change even if the forward had not guided Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar, the Spaniard said on Wednesday.

Soccer • 21 Dec 22

Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup following the final

Messi breaks Instagram record with World Cup post

Lionel Messi has added another record to his remarkable roll of honour, however, this time the achievement has come off the pitch rather than on it.

Soccer • 20 Dec 22

The Argentinian team make their way through Buenos Aires on an open top bus

Argentina return home to a hero's welcome

Thousands of ecstatic fans gave Argentina's football squad a hero's welcome in Buenos Aires in the early hours before dawn on Tuesday after the plane carrying Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning team-mates touched down at Ezeiza airport.

Soccer • 20 Dec 22

Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup as thousands watch on a big screen back in Buenos Aires

'I want them to wait for me' - Messi heading home

Argentina's national team will celebrate their World Cup triumph on Tuesday in Buenos Aires at the Obelisk, the monument that is the traditional epicentre of sporting celebrations.

Soccer • 19 Dec 22

Argentina supporters show their support with a drum adorned with the images of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi

Ardiles: Messi played like Maradona in this World Cup

Argentina's 1978 World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles speaks to RTÉ's Game On about his country winning the 2022 tournament and Lionel Messi's place in the pantheon of the greats alongside his former 1982 team-mate Diego Maradona.

Soccer • 19 Dec 22

A mural depicting Lionel Messi and the late Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires

GOATs gallery at the mercy of the generation game

As Lionel Messi cements his place among football's GOATs, the true ranking of the pantheon is dependent on which generation you belong to, writes Raf Diallo.

Soccer • 20 Dec 22

Enzo Fernandez of Argentina - holding the World Cup

World Cup 2022 - team of the tournament

After one of the most entertaining World Cup tournaments in living memory, we take a look at the 11 players who made the biggest impression in Qatar.

Soccer • 19 Dec 22

Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy

Messi not ready for international retirement just yet

World Cup winner Lionel Messi is not ready to call time on his glittering international career just yet.

Soccer • 19 Dec 22

Lionel Scaloni celebrates with the World Cup trophy

Scaloni 'saving a spot' for Messi at next World Cup

Head coach Lionel Scaloni promised to "save a spot" for Lionel Messi in Argentina's 2026 World Cup squad after the captain finally got his hands on football's most coveted trophy.

Soccer • 18 Dec 22

World Cup Podcast: Argentina and Messi's pulsating feat

Former Ireland international Keith Treacy joins Raf Diallo and Peter Branigan to react to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final which saw Argentina beat France on penalties after one of the most dramatic finals in living memory and picks his Team of the Tournament.

Soccer • 18 Dec 22

Argentina and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez

Martinez: GOAT Messi gives us edge over favoured French

Emiliano Martinez is ready to fight for World Cup glory alongside "the greatest player of all time" as Lionel Messi's Argentina take on reigning champions France in Sunday's mouth-watering final.

Soccer • 17 Dec 22

Has Lionel Messi one final moment of magic to reveal in what will be his World Cup swansong?

Messi's final waltz must be magical to allay Les Bleus

Will the 2022 tournament be remembered as Messi's World Cup or can this famous France side stand shoulder to shoulder with that great back-to-back Brazil squad of the Pele era?

Soccer • 18 Dec 22

Antoine Griezmann has reinvented himself at this tournament

Messi 'a different challenge' for France - Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann says playing Lionel Messi is "a totally different proposition" to anything else they have faced in Qatar as France gear up for a World Cup title defence against Argentina.

Soccer • 15 Dec 22

Sunday's final will be Lionel Messi's last World Cup game

Messi confirms final will be his last World Cup game

Lionel Messi has confirmed he will play his last World Cup game when Argentina take on France or Morocco in Sunday's final in Qatar.

Soccer • 14 Dec 22

World Cup Podcast: Houghton on mega Messi's semi show

Ireland legend Ray Houghton joins Raf Diallo and Mikey Stafford to react to Argentina's 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia with Messi magic to the fore. He also previews France v Morocco and talks penalty techniques amid stark conversion stats in Qatar.

Soccer • 13 Dec 22

There was no love lost in the quarter-final clash

Scaloni defends Argentina's behaviour in Dutch victory

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni defended his team's behaviour during the fiery quarter-final victory against the Netherlands as Lionel Messi and squad turn their attention to reaching the World Cup final.

Soccer • 12 Dec 22

Preview: Argentinian fire meets Croatia's cool resolve

The first World Cup semi-final is a game of fire and ice; the passionate Argentinians driven on by their huge support, taking on the highly experienced, and technically excellent, Croatians.

Soccer • 13 Dec 22

Virgil van Dijk (L) and Lionel Messi will face off on Friday

Van Dijk: It's not Netherlands versus Messi

Virgil Van Dijk insists the Netherlands are preparing for far more than Lionel Messi alone in Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.

Soccer • 07 Dec 22

Lionel Messi is the leading man in Argentina's game plan, but Virgil van Dijk is impressed by his supporting cast

Van Dijk: More to Argentina than Messi threat

Virgil van Dijk insisted Argentina are not a one-man team as he played down his upcoming duel with Lionel Messi.

Soccer • 06 Dec 22

Leo Messi (C) celebrates with team-mates and fans

Messi rejoices in 'beautiful' relationship with fans

Lionel Messi described Argentina's relationship with their fans as "something beautiful" after they beat Australia 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

Soccer • 03 Dec 22

Lionel Messi scores his first goal in World Cup knockout stages

Magical Messi takes Argentina through to Dutch showdown

Lionel Messi scored on his 1,000th career appearance in Argentina's 2-1 win over Australia at the World Cup on Saturday to surpass his great predecessor Diego Maradona's tournament total and set up a quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.

Soccer • 03 Dec 22

Leo Messi salutes the fans after Argentina's win

Argentina find their groove to seal progression

Argentina advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Poland in their final Group C match on Wednesday even though skipper Lionel Messi saw a first-half penalty saved at Stadium 974.

Soccer • 30 Nov 22

Messi's magic sparks Argentina to victory over Mexico

Argentina's World Cup flame flickered on as moments of class from Lionel Messi and substitute Enzo Fernandez settled a bad-tempered clash against Mexico.

Soccer • 26 Nov 22

Germany were planning to wear the armband at the World Cup

World Cup digest: Germany lose major sponsor

Major grocery chain Rewe has scrapped its advertising campaign with the German Football Association after soccer's global governing body cracked down on players wearing 'OneLove' armbands in support of diversity at the Qatar World Cup.

Soccer • 22 Nov 22

"Many people outside Argentina want us to be champions and that it's largely because of me."

Messi feeling fit and fine ahead of World Cup quest

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said he was physically ready for the World Cup in Qatar and that it will be a special occasion as his side are one of the favourites in what is likely to be his last appearance in the global tournament.

Soccer • 21 Nov 22