LIONEL MESSI

The tributes continue to pour in for Lionel Messi following Argentina's World Cup triumph. Messi also received replicas of the World Cup and the Finalissima trophy, which Argentina won against Italy, during the ceremony before the Copa Libertadores draw. “We are living a very special and beautiful moment, getting a lot of love,” Messi said during the tribute.

A steakhouse in the trendy Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo was mobbed by hundreds of frenzied soccer fans late Monday night when word spread that Lionel Messi was inside having dinner. People rushed to the exclusive Don Julio restaurant eager to get a glimpse of the man who led Argentina to its third World Cup title. Messi eventually needed a police escort to leave.

The World Cup group stage format for 2026 was changed to 12 groups of four teams from 16 groups of three teams by FIFA’s Council on Tuesday, increasing the total to 104 matches from 64 in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will be re-elected this week to lead a richer-than-ever soccer body with an ambition to add new and bigger competitions despite growing wariness of him in Europe.

Police in Argentina have detained a man on suspicion of killing a 12-year-old boy and neighbors wrecked his house amid anger over escalating drug-related violence in the city of Rosario

Less than three months after Argentina won its third soccer World Cup trophy in Qatar, there is growing excitement about the possibility that the country could take home another major prize – an Academy Award

Less than three months after Argentina won its third soccer World Cup trophy in Qatar, there is growing excitement about the possibility that the country could take home another major prize – an Academy Award.

Nobody was hurt in the attack.

Police in Argentina said Thursday that two gunman left a threatening message for international soccer star Lionel Messi after opening fire on his in-laws' grocery store.

Gunmen left a note reading “We’re waiting for you” at the scene of a shooting in Messi’s hometown in Argentina, police said.

Police say gunmen have left a threatening message for Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi and opened fire at a supermarket owned by his in-laws in Argentina’s third-largest city.

Gunmen left a threatening message Thursday for Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi and opened fire at a supermarket owned by his in-laws in Argentina’s third-largest city, police said. Nobody was injured in the early morning attack, and it was unclear why assailants would target Messi or the Unico supermarket in Rosario, owned by the family of his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo. The city’s mayor, Pablo Javkin, lashed out at federal authorities over what he called their failure to curb a surge in drug-related violence in Rosario, located about 190 miles ( 300 kilometers) northwest of the capital of Buenos Aires.

Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been racially abused on social media after voting for Lionel Messi and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has accused FIFA of disrespect in fallout from the soccer body’s annual awards ceremony.

World Cup winner Lionel Messi has won FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award for 2022.

The biggest winner in the Major League Soccer offseason transfer market ended up being the rumor mill.

Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have urged FIFA not to sign a sponsor deal with the tourism authority of Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Messi spoke in depth about the experience of winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, including his actions in the quarterfinal against Netherlands.

World Cup winner Lionel Messi says in a radio interview aired on Monday that he regrets his testy exchanges with the Netherlands coach and players during their controversial quarterfinal in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo won Man of the Match for scoring two goals against Lionel Messi's PSG on Thursday.

Grimacing in pain from his bruised cheekbone Cristiano Ronaldo steadied himself before scoring from the penalty spot for his first goal in Saudi Arabia against a Paris Saint-Germain team featuring old foe Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could add another chapter to their rivals when PSG visit Saudi Arabia for a friendly on Jan. 19.

Lionel Messi was honored by PSG in his return to training with the club on Wednesday.

Argentina's victory in the soccer World Cup tournament in Qatar has suddenly meant that many tattoo artists across the country are fully booked.

Less than two weeks after his great rival Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and likely signalled the end of his career in elite club soccer.

Arguments over who was the greatest player in the history of men’s soccer can often see cheap hits aimed at Pelé.

Without question, 2022 will forever go down as a memorable one in the sports world with all that was achieved by athletes and teams around the world.

Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and was dubbed "The King" of soccer.

Pelé won a record three World Cups and was widely regarded as one of his sport’s greatest players.

Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of soccer, has died.

Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup title gives the EA Sports FIFA four straight correct World Cup champion predictions dating back to 2010.

Argentina’s government on Wednesday defended the mammoth parade held to welcome home the World Cup winners even though the event was abruptly cut short amid organizational chaos. After days of high-profile activity, team captain Lionel Messi and most of the other members of the national soccer squad were largely staying out of sight and spending time with family and friends. There had been speculation that Rosario, Argentina’s third-largest city, would put on its own celebration for hometown hero Messi.

Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in penalty kicks in the World Cup final has become the most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States.

It's never too soon to place your bets on the World Cup, as early title odds for 2026 are out. We look at the early lines, including France being the betting favorite.

Messi's post celebrating Argentina's World Cup win racked up almost 70 million likes — beating a photo of an egg to become the most-liked ever on Instagram.

So many jubilant Argentine fans swarmed the streets of Buenos Aires that the soccer team had to abandon the open-air bus transporting them to the city and board helicopters for a capital flyover.

A parade to celebrate the Argentine World Cup champions was abruptly cut short Tuesday, as millions flooded the streets.

The team flew over the crowd in what the government billed as an aerial parade, "because it was impossible to continue by land due to the explosion of people's happiness."

Lionel Messi's Instagram post celebrating Argentina's win over France in the World Cup final has broken the record for most-liked Instagram post with 65 million likes and counting.

Argentina’s dramatic World Cup final victory over France is the second most-watched soccer match of any kind in the United States.

The post has more than 62 million likes, topping the previous record-holder, a 2019 photo of a brown egg.​​

Star Lionel Messi and the rest of the Argentina men's soccer team arrived home Tuesday morning to crowds of cheering fans following their victory in the FIFA World Cup.

A parade in Buenos Aires to celebrate the return of Argentina’s World Cup champion team was abruptly cut short as millions of people poured onto streets, highways and overpasses in a chaotic attempt to catch a glimpse of team members.

Suffering is an essential part of the story that we Argentines tell about ourselves.

Lionel Messi's post on Instagram celebrating Argentina's World Cup win is the most-liked post by an athlete in the app's history.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was calling it “the best World Cup ever” in Qatar even before an epic final won by Lionel Messi and Argentina against France.

Gambling Insider Patrick Everson reports bettors had a strong weekend thanks to the wild Raiders ending, Messi & Argentina and an improbable prop bet.

Alex Ovechkin is one of the happiest athletes around about Lionel Messi winning the World Cup with Argentina.

We looked back at every World Cup final in the tournament's history and picked the five greatest. Where does Sunday's thriller rank?

One Argentinian fan took their country's World Cup win over France on Sunday a bit too far, as she was caught by TV camera topless in celebration of the victory.

When it comes to soccer, money can buy the world.

The monthlong tournament in Qatar was filled with excitement, surprise and controversy. Argentina's victory in the final — which gave Lionel Messi his first title — cemented it as one of the best.

If you, like many Americans, caught the soccer bug watching the World Cup but aren't sure where to turn next, we're here to help.

Lionel Messi ended his long wait for the World Cup title in one of the most memorable finals in history.

Lionel Messi's and Argentina's World Cup win was celebrated by massive crowds in Buenos Aires and around the world. Check out the scenes here!

The streets of Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario erupted in celebration on Sunday after Argentina beat France to win its third World Cup title. “We’re champions, which is all we wanted, more than anything for (Messi) and for the whole team,” Santiago Ferraris, 25, said. Argentina’s three goals in the 3-3 draw were scored by Rosario natives, with Messi, who came up from local team Newell’s Old Boys, scoring two and Angel Di Maria, who once played in rival local team Rosario Central, one.

Who were the standout performers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Our analysts form their best XI.

The difference with this Argentina squad is the supporting cast. Rather than be weighed down by helping Messi achieve immortality, they embraced the responsibility.

On the stage where the Argentine cemented his claim to being the best ever, his likeliest challenger took a bow.

While he likely has played in his final World Cup, Lionel Messi said Sunday that his international career with Argentina is not over yet.

Sunday's final was a thrilling reminder of why the game is great – and why the 2026 World Cup in North America can't be missed, Martin Rogers writes.

Kylian Mbappé willed an otherwise drained France side into a game that looked lost for most of regulation, but the team still fell just short of repeating as champions.

Like any great artist, the aging soccer phenom showed a youth-obsessed world the potential glory of a late-style triumph.

Brazil great Pelé congratulated Lionel Messi and Argentina for winning the World Cup and Kylian Mbappé for his goal-scoring exploits in Sunday's final. Pelé, who won a record three World Cups as a player, has been in the hospital to treat a respiratory infection.

Antonela Roccuzzo joined her husband Lionel Messi on the field as Argentina celebrated defeating France in penalties for the World Cup championship.

The "World Cup Now" crew discussed everything that went down in Argentina's win, including where Lionel Messi's legacy stands.

Lionel Messi is not ready to walk away from Argentina yet despite ending his pursuit of a World Cup winner’s medal.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James faced ridicule for the timing of his tweet about the World Cup between Argentina and France on Sunday.

Argentines let loose and streets across the country became places of celebration after an epic World Cup final in which the national team beat France on penalties.

Thousands streamed onto the streets of Argentina's capital city almost immediately after La Albiceleste beat France on penalty kicks.

Lionel Messi made his strongest case yet to be considered soccer’s greatest player of all time after finally winning the World Cup.

Arguably the greatest World Cup final ever ended in a World Cup for Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Lionel Messi accomplished the final piece of his incredible career, winning a World Cup for Argentina.

Kylian Mbappé is the first Frenchman to win the Golden Boot.

Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in soccer.

Argentina beat defending-champion France in the final. It's the third World Cup title for Argentina but the first for Messi - the only trophy he hadn't won in his storied and remarkable career.

The World Cup final from Qatar came to an end on Sunday as Argentina and France battled it out in what could be considered one of the greatest matches of all time.

On FIFA World Cup final day in Qatar, there is a wedding with a conflict in South Florida. The bride is from Argentina and the groom is from France.

Lionel Messi has led Argentina to its third World Cup title by beating defending champion France in a penalty shootout.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé head the selections for the team of the tournament as chosen by writers covering the World Cup for The Associated Press.

Lionel Messi stands of the brink of a long-awaited World Cup winner’s medal as Argentina faces defending champions France in the final.

Argentina arguably has the World Cup’s most fervent fans.

Excitement for Sunday’s World Cup final in Argentina is rising fast and anxiety is running particularly high in Messi’s hometown as many are hoping he will finally win the one major trophy missing from his illustrious career.

The World Cup final between Argentina and France is rich in storylines as the 22nd edition of the tournament ends with a match fit for the occasion.

As Lionel Messi approaches his second and likely last World Cup final the stakes could hardly be higher.

World Cup history is beckoning for France, star player Kylian Mbappé and coach Didier Deschamps.

France and Kylian Mbappé are headed back to the World Cup final for a much-anticipated matchup with Lionel Messi after ending Morocco’s historic run at soccer’s biggest tournament.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui says the only regret he has about the team’s loss to France in the semifinals is conceding so early in the match.

Lionel Messi has gone into full-on Diego Maradona mode at the World Cup.

The streets of Argentina have turned into a party as the national team beat Croatia by a comfortable 3-0 and earned this soccer-crazed South American country a spot in the World Cup final.

Luka Modric pulled his shirt up over his face as he trudged over to the sideline.

Julián Álvarez carried Argentina into another World Cup final with his surging runs and a striker’s instinct.

Lionel Messi is back in the World Cup final with Argentina on his mission to win soccer’s biggest prize for the first time.

Argentina has beaten Croatia 3-0 to reach the World Cup final.

The Netherlands remains without a World Cup title, losing to Argentina 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw in the quarterfinals.

Lionel Messi’s quest to win the World Cup moves into the semifinals after Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

A fan ran onto the field in the 75th minute of Argentina’s World Cup quarterfinal match against the Netherlands.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not ready to say goodbye to the World Cup just yet.

Kylian Mbappe is living up to his reputation at the World Cup as the man best-placed to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer’s biggest star.

The dream is still alive for Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup.

This season has been quite an education for Julián Álvarez.