Lionel Messi

Messi vows to keep playing for Argentina

Lionel Messi promised he would play on for Argentina to experience "a few more games being world champion" after inspiring their triumph in Qatar.

The World Cup belongs to Messi and Argentina after Sunday's spectacular final that saw Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick for France but still end up on the losing side.

A 4-2 victory on penalties after a 3-3 draw gave Argentina their third World Cup success, after lifting the trophy in 1978 and 1986, and means Messi's final appearance on the biggest stage of all ended in a fairy tale manner.

Magic Messi leads Argentina into World Cup final

  • Lionel Messi thumped home penalty for Argentina lead
  • Julian Alvarez struck either side of half-time to wrap-up comprehensive victory
  • South Americans will target third World Cup in final on Sunday

Argentina 3-0 Croatia

Goals: Argentina: Messi (34 pen), Alvarez (39, 69)

Match review

Lionel Messi wins award as best player in world football for seventh time

Messi, 34, helped his country win the Copa America, his first international honour, and has scored 40 goals in 2021 - 28 for Barcelona, four for Paris St-Germain and eight for Argentina.

Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski came second, Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho was third and Real Madrid's French striker Karim Benzema finished fourth.

The Ballon d'Or is voted for by 180 journalists from around the world, although there was no award in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘It is incredible’: Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or as Ronaldo is snubbed in 11-year low

Robert Lewandowski was considered a strong chance of denying Messi the honour after a record-breaking campaign.

The Bayern Munich and Poland striker scored a Bundesliga record 41 goals in just 29 games last season to better the record set by the late Gerd Mueller.

The big tease in Messi’s PSG debut as own teammates are left ‘starstruck’

While Messi’s first turnout in PSG colours following his bombshell move from Barcelona was the story of the day, it was Kylian Mbappe who stole the show in a two-goal performance.

Mbappe, rumoured to be going to Real Madrid at the end of the season, scored in the 16th and 63rd minutes to set up the win.

Messi, meanwhile, was held back until about 25 minutes left when he replaced his old Barcelona teammate Neymar and the travelling PSG fans went wild.

‘This is not a drill’: $110m Lionel Messi transfer confirmed to create new Euro super team

Messi, 34, will wear the number 30 as revealed in a video by the club, the number he had when he began his professional career at Barcelona between 2004-2006.

“I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain,” said Messi in a statement on the club’s website.

Messi is joining other stars at PSG such as France forward Kylian Mbappe, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Spain center-back Sergio Ramos and Brazil’s Neymar to complete a super team.

It comes after Messi arrived in the French capital to a hero’s welcome and undergoing a medical.

Lionel Messi agrees Paris St-Germain deal after Barcelona exit - Guillem Balague

The deal, which has the option of a third year, is subject to a medical.

The Argentina captain, 34, left Barca - the only club he has played for - as they could not afford a new deal under La Liga's financial fair play rules.

A PSG news conference will take place in the auditorium of the Parc des Princes on Wednesday at 10:00 BST.

Mauricio Pochettino's PSG finished second to Lille in Ligue 1 last season.

Messi to leave Barcelona as contract talks collapse

The Blaugrana great's contract at Camp Nou expired at the end of last season, but he was expected to commit to a new deal ahead of the coming campaign.

Messi reportedly agreed a 50 per cent reduction in wages, with news of the contract anticipated this week ahead of Monday's Joan Gamper Trophy match against Juventus.

But Barca's dire financial situation means they are unable to register new players due to La Liga's salary restrictions.

Messi, like new signings Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Emerson Royal, had been left in limbo.

Messi equals Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club

The Argentinian star, 33, hit the milestone goal with a diving header just before halftime immediately after his penalty was saved by Valencia keeper Jaume Domenech.

Pele scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Brazilian side Santos.

     

Lionel Messi wins nine-year fight to trademark his surname

The European Court of Justice dismissed an appeal from Spanish cycling company Massi and the EU's intellectual property office, EUIPO.

The Barcelona footballer first applied to trademark his surname as a sportswear brand in 2011.

But Massi argued the similarity between their logos would cause confusion.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said that the star player's reputation could be taken into account when weighing up whether the public would be able to tell the difference between the two brands.