Lionel Messi "is not a leader",&nbsp;said Diego Maradona of the current Argentina talisman in an interview in Mexico.

"It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona said on Fox Sports.

"Before speaking to the coach and players he will be on the PlayStation. Then, on the field, he wants to be the leader," Maradona said as he answered questions in a stumbling voice, sometimes seeming to contradict himself.

"He is the best in the world along with Cristiano [Ronaldo]," &nbsp;Maradona said. "But he's not a leader."

Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986, said Messi, who was again unable to emulate that feat in Russia this summer was expected to be "the saviour of the fatherland."

"Let's stop making a god out of Messi. Messi is Messi for Barcelona, but playing in an Argentina shirt he is another Messi."

Maradona, who is in Mexico coaching second-division Sinaloa, said that if he was Argentina coach he would "not call on Messi" before adding "never say never."

"You have to take the leadership away for him to be the Messi we want him to be," Maradona said.

Messi, who is 31, has not played for Argentina in three low-key friendlies since a 4-3 loss to eventual champions France in the first knock-out round at the World Cup, but has not officially retired from the national team.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi "is not a leader", said Diego Maradona of the current Argentina talisman in an interview in Mexico. "It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona said on Fox Sports.

Lionel Messi "is not a leader", said Diego Maradona of the current Argentina talisman in an interview in Mexico. "It's useless to try and make a leader out of someone who goes to the bathroom 20 times before a game," Maradona said on Fox Sports. "Before speaking to the coach and players he will be on the PlayStation. Then, on the field, he wants to be the leader," Maradona said as he answered questions in a stumbling voice, sometimes seeming to contradict himself. "He is the best in the world along with Cristiano [Ronaldo]," Maradona said. "But he's not a leader." Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986, said Messi, who was again unable to emulate that feat in Russia this summer was expected to be "the saviour of the fatherland." "Let's stop making a god out of Messi. Messi is Messi for Barcelona, but playing in an Argentina shirt he is another Messi." Maradona, who is in Mexico coaching second-division Sinaloa, said that if he was Argentina coach he would "not call on Messi" before adding "never say never." "You have to take the leadership away for him to be the Messi we want him to be," Maradona said. Messi, who is 31, has not played for Argentina in three low-key friendlies since a 4-3 loss to eventual champions France in the first knock-out round at the World Cup, but has not officially retired from the national team.

Messi 'is not a leader', says Maradona

Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent slump with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday.

The Argentine maestro scored two goals to take his Champions League haul to 105, was the instigator in two others and was twice denied by the woodwork as he lit up Wembley Stadium.

Messi, 31, was applauded off by both sets of fans at the end of an absorbing contest that kept Barca at the top of the group and Tottenham in trouble after two defeats.

Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic scored in clinical fashion as Barcelona went in 2-0 ahead at halftime.

But Barcelona needed Messi at his best to repel a tenacious Spurs fightback as Harry Kane and Erik Lamela gave the hosts hope.

Only when Messi struck his second in stoppage-time could Barca coach Ernesto Valverde breathe a little easier.

Barcelona, without a win in their last three La Liga games, were supposed to be vulnerable but on a pitch baring the scars of British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's fight against Alexander Povetkin they took only two minutes to land a blow straight in the solar plexus.

Tottenham allowed Messi time and space to curl a pass to Jordi Alba on the left and with keeper Hugo Lloris, back from injury, charging out of his goal Alba cut the ball back to Coutinho who drilled home through a gaggle of defenders.

The hosts responded with Kane firing in a shot that did not have enough venom to worry Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Messi opened up Tottenham again in the 28th minute. His floated pass was chested down by Luis Suarez to Coutinho whose volley sliced up in the air before the quick-thinking Brazilian hooked the ball back to Rakitic who rifled a picture-perfect right-foot volley in off the post from 25 yards.

Messi ran riot at the start of the second half, twice teasing the Spurs defence before thudding shots against Lloris's right-hand post.

Tottenham capitalised on their good fortune and Kane halved the deficit in the 52nd minute with a clinical finish.

Messi shook his head in disbelief but he silenced the home crowd again -- this time side-footing inside the post from Alba's cross to finish a flowing move he had started.

There was no let-up in the furious pace and after Kane worked hard to win the ball, Lamela gave Spurs another lifeline when his 66th-minute shot flicked off Clement Lenglet and spun past Ter Stegen.

A gallant Tottenham side, missing the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen, swarmed forward looking for a point that had earlier seemed inconceivable.

They left yawning gaps at the back, though, and Messi finally ended their resistance when he struck again in stoppage time.

Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent slump with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi lifted Barcelona out of their recent slump with a magical display as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday. The Argentine maestro scored two goals to take his Champions League haul to 105, was the instigator in two others and was twice denied by the woodwork as he lit up Wembley Stadium. Messi, 31, was applauded off by both sets of fans at the end of an absorbing contest that kept Barca at the top of the group and Tottenham in trouble after two defeats. Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic scored in clinical fashion as Barcelona went in 2-0 ahead at halftime. But Barcelona needed Messi at his best to repel a tenacious Spurs fightback as Harry Kane and Erik Lamela gave the hosts hope. Only when Messi struck his second in stoppage-time could Barca coach Ernesto Valverde breathe a little easier. Barcelona, without a win in their last three La Liga games, were supposed to be vulnerable but on a pitch baring the scars of British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's fight against Alexander Povetkin they took only two minutes to land a blow straight in the solar plexus. Tottenham allowed Messi time and space to curl a pass to Jordi Alba on the left and with keeper Hugo Lloris, back from injury, charging out of his goal Alba cut the ball back to Coutinho who drilled home through a gaggle of defenders. The hosts responded with Kane firing in a shot that did not have enough venom to worry Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Messi opened up Tottenham again in the 28th minute. His floated pass was chested down by Luis Suarez to Coutinho whose volley sliced up in the air before the quick-thinking Brazilian hooked the ball back to Rakitic who rifled a picture-perfect right-foot volley in off the post from 25 yards. Messi ran riot at the start of the second half, twice teasing the Spurs defence before thudding shots against Lloris's right-hand post. Tottenham capitalised on their good fortune and Kane halved the deficit in the 52nd minute with a clinical finish. Messi shook his head in disbelief but he silenced the home crowd again -- this time side-footing inside the post from Alba's cross to finish a flowing move he had started. There was no let-up in the furious pace and after Kane worked hard to win the ball, Lamela gave Spurs another lifeline when his 66th-minute shot flicked off Clement Lenglet and spun past Ter Stegen. A gallant Tottenham side, missing the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen, swarmed forward looking for a point that had earlier seemed inconceivable. They left yawning gaps at the back, though, and Messi finally ended their resistance when he struck again in stoppage time.

Champions League: Maestro Messi lights up Wembley as Barcelona sink Tottenham Hotspur

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, who is known for making controversial statements, on Tuesday suggested Lionel Messi to hang his boots.

Maradona reckoned that the Argentina striker should not bother coming back as he always gets the blame for everything.

When asked Maradona to clarify his statement, he said, "Yes, because if the U15 team loses, it’s Messi’s fault, an Argentina fixture messes up the domestic calendar for Racing against Boca and Messi is to blame. I’d say-Don’t play anymore, it’s crazy, but let’s see if they’re (AFA) brave,” Maradona said as per an online portal.&nbsp;

Messi, who has scored 65 goals in 128 appearances since making his debut with Argentina in August 2005, has taken an indefinite leave of absence from international football.

When asked to comment, the retired striker, who coached Messi and Argentina from 2008 to 2010, was of the view that Messi should have broken his silence, post their elimination from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;

“Yes, I wish he had sent us all to shit because he’s not to blame for not being world champion. Okay, we had all the hopes in him, but when you go to the racecourse you have the hope that your horse will win and it finishes eighth,” he said.

On the professional front, Maradona has recently been appointed as the coach of the Mexican professional football club, Dorados de Sinaloa. 
&nbsp;

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, who is known for making controversial statements, on Tuesday suggested Lionel Messi to hang his boots. Maradona reckoned that the Argentina striker should not bother coming back as he always gets the blame for everything.

Argentina football legend Diego Maradona, who is known for making controversial statements, on Tuesday suggested Lionel Messi to hang his boots. Maradona reckoned that the Argentina striker should not bother coming back as he always gets the blame for everything. When asked Maradona to clarify his statement, he said, "Yes, because if the U15 team loses, it’s Messi’s fault, an Argentina fixture messes up the domestic calendar for Racing against Boca and Messi is to blame. I’d say-Don’t play anymore, it’s crazy, but let’s see if they’re (AFA) brave,” Maradona said as per an online portal. Messi, who has scored 65 goals in 128 appearances since making his debut with Argentina in August 2005, has taken an indefinite leave of absence from international football. When asked to comment, the retired striker, who coached Messi and Argentina from 2008 to 2010, was of the view that Messi should have broken his silence, post their elimination from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. “Yes, I wish he had sent us all to shit because he’s not to blame for not being world champion. Okay, we had all the hopes in him, but when you go to the racecourse you have the hope that your horse will win and it finishes eighth,” he said. On the professional front, Maradona has recently been appointed as the coach of the Mexican professional football club, Dorados de Sinaloa.

Diego Maradona tells Lionel Messi to quit Argentina team

The 2018 FIFA The Best Awards event saw worthy footballers being rewarded for their efforts in the year under review, in London.&nbsp;

The biggest winner on the night was Luka Modric, who was voted 'Player of the Year' after beating off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

The Real Madrid star deserved the award, having played a key role in Los Blancos’ run to Champions League glory, as well as Croatia’s surge to the final of the World Cup.

However, one other thing that has got the world talking is the fact that Lionel Messi voted for rival Cristiano Ronaldo in his three-man list for the FIFA Best Player award.

After the votes of each player were made public by FIFA, Twitter went berserk with some praising Messi for his genuine vote while some labelling his decision a stunt to stay in news.&nbsp;

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When Lionel Messi voted for Cristiano Ronaldo but Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't voted for him. 
Messi :<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAFootballAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAFootballAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/f5Xk3BOCSA">pic.twitter.com/f5Xk3BOCSA</a>
— Abiodun Ajide (@AbiodunLV) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbiodunLV/status/1044353228857470976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Messi fans trying to bring out character because Messi voted for Ronaldo and Ronaldo didn’t vote for Messi. It’s really not our fault Messi and Ronaldo both know the facts.
— KB9 (@IconicCristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/IconicCristiano/status/1044335613196062720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The reason Messi's Votes stands out to people is that he put his Differences with Ronaldo aside and Voted for him. 
 
Now that shows how much respect and Love Messi has for the game. You can't love soccer and hate /dislike Messi
— Blvck_Divergent (@SkylaGrey1) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkylaGrey1/status/1044518017651142656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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For the first time in my life I must admit my admiration for Lionel Messi in the FIFA Awards. 
 
Messi wasn't part of the Top Three Nominees but he voted for Cristiano Ronaldo in the Top Three ranks. 
 
Cristiano... <a href="https://t.co/uAWiwOF6ba">https://t.co/uAWiwOF6ba</a>
— El Akyereko Jefazo😉 (@AkwasiAkyereko) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkwasiAkyereko/status/1044487650307117057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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They never voted for eachother before and Messi knew Ronaldo wouldn't vote for him so he did it on purpose to make headlines. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/besmart?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#besmart</a>
— TheRonaldoBible (@TheRonaldoBible) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRonaldoBible/status/1044342496002805760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Argentina star voted Modric first, picked Kylian Mbappe second and put Ronaldo third on his list, to the surprise of many.&nbsp;

Ronaldo, however, did not vote for Messi in his top three candidates for the award. The Portuguese opted for Raphael Verane, Modric and Antoine Griezmann in that order.&nbsp;

The 2018 FIFA The Best Awards event saw worthy footballers being rewarded for their efforts in the year under review, in London. The biggest winner on the night was Luka Modric, who was voted 'Player of the Year' after beating off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

The 2018 FIFA The Best Awards event saw worthy footballers being rewarded for their efforts in the year under review, in London. The biggest winner on the night was Luka Modric, who was voted 'Player of the Year' after beating off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah. The Real Madrid star deserved the award, having played a key role in Los Blancos’ run to Champions League glory, as well as Croatia’s surge to the final of the World Cup. However, one other thing that has got the world talking is the fact that Lionel Messi voted for rival Cristiano Ronaldo in his three-man list for the FIFA Best Player award. After the votes of each player were made public by FIFA, Twitter went berserk with some praising Messi for his genuine vote while some labelling his decision a stunt to stay in news. When Lionel Messi voted for Cristiano Ronaldo but Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't voted for him. Messi :#FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/f5Xk3BOCSA — Abiodun Ajide (@AbiodunLV) September 24, 2018 × Messi fans trying to bring out character because Messi voted for Ronaldo and Ronaldo didn’t vote for Messi. It’s really not our fault Messi and Ronaldo both know the facts. — KB9 (@IconicCristiano) September 24, 2018 × The reason Messi's Votes stands out to people is that he put his Differences with Ronaldo aside and Voted for him. Now that shows how much respect and Love Messi has for the game. You can't love soccer and hate /dislike Messi — Blvck_Divergent (@SkylaGrey1) September 25, 2018 × For the first time in my life I must admit my admiration for Lionel Messi in the FIFA Awards. Messi wasn't part of the Top Three Nominees but he voted for Cristiano Ronaldo in the Top Three ranks. Cristiano... https://t.co/uAWiwOF6ba — El Akyereko Jefazo😉 (@AkwasiAkyereko) September 25, 2018 × They never voted for eachother before and Messi knew Ronaldo wouldn't vote for him so he did it on purpose to make headlines. #besmart — TheRonaldoBible (@TheRonaldoBible) September 24, 2018 × The Argentina star voted Modric first, picked Kylian Mbappe second and put Ronaldo third on his list, to the surprise of many. Ronaldo, however, did not vote for Messi in his top three candidates for the award. The Portuguese opted for Raphael Verane, Modric and Antoine Griezmann in that order.

Lionel Messi voted for Ronaldo at FIFA Best Awards, Twitter goes berserk

Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's individual awards by being crowned FIFA's best player of the year on Monday.

The Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder starred for both club and country as Madrid won a third straight Champions League, and he inspired Croatia to reach the World Cup final for the first time.

"The emotion is huge because it is thanks to the work of everyone. So many people have come together and so many have supported me," said Modric.

Modric beat out Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Ronaldo, who along with Messi did not attend the glitzy awards ceremony in London.

Both are in action for Juventus and Barcelona on Wednesday, but their no-show attracted criticism after so many years on top.

"Everyone has their own reasons," said Modric. "Obviously I would have liked them to be here but they aren't."

Modric's success means Ronaldo remains tied with Messi having won FIFA's award in different guises five times each.

At 33, Croatia's run to the final was the culmination of a brilliant career for Modric that had often been overshadowed by Ronaldo's goalscoring in their time together in the Spanish capital, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in July.

Modric scored twice and also netted in penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, but it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye in winning the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup.

"It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life," said Modric.

"I'm still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I'm very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever."

For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League's top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal's campaign.

However, Portugal's last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo's failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League opened the door for Modric.

Salah scoops best goal

For the first time in 12 years, Messi was not among the finalists with Salah earning a place on the podium for his incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final.

Salah did not go away empty-handed, however, as he picked up the Puskas award for best goal for his strike against Everton in the Merseyside derby last December.

Modric was joined by Real team-mates Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo in the FIFPro team of the year, also featuring David De Gea, Dani Alves, N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Messi and Ronaldo.

"I am as happy as if I had won it," said Ramos of Modric's success. "He deserves it, he is an excellent player and has marked an important era in the history of Real Madrid."

France's World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps won the best coach of the year prize in recognition for his work in leading Les Bleus to success in Russia.

Deschamps, who became just the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach, beat off competition from Dalic and his former France team-mate Zinedine Zidane, who won a third consecutive Champions League title with Real Madrid before resigning in June.

Thibaut Courtois won the best goalkeeper award for helping Belgium reach the World Cup semi-finals as well as the FA Cup with Chelsea before a summer move to Madrid.

Brazil's Marta was crowned best women's player for a record sixth time for her role in winning the Copa America to beat out Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan.

Lyon boss Reynald Pedros did win the award for best women's coach, though, after winning the Champions League with the French giants.

Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's individual awards by being crowned FIFA's best player of the year on Monday.

Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's individual awards by being crowned FIFA's best player of the year on Monday. The Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder starred for both club and country as Madrid won a third straight Champions League, and he inspired Croatia to reach the World Cup final for the first time. "The emotion is huge because it is thanks to the work of everyone. So many people have come together and so many have supported me," said Modric. Modric beat out Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Ronaldo, who along with Messi did not attend the glitzy awards ceremony in London. Both are in action for Juventus and Barcelona on Wednesday, but their no-show attracted criticism after so many years on top. "Everyone has their own reasons," said Modric. "Obviously I would have liked them to be here but they aren't." Modric's success means Ronaldo remains tied with Messi having won FIFA's award in different guises five times each. At 33, Croatia's run to the final was the culmination of a brilliant career for Modric that had often been overshadowed by Ronaldo's goalscoring in their time together in the Spanish capital, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in July. Modric scored twice and also netted in penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, but it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye in winning the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup. "It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life," said Modric. "I'm still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I'm very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever." For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League's top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal's campaign. However, Portugal's last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo's failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League opened the door for Modric. Salah scoops best goal For the first time in 12 years, Messi was not among the finalists with Salah earning a place on the podium for his incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final. Salah did not go away empty-handed, however, as he picked up the Puskas award for best goal for his strike against Everton in the Merseyside derby last December. Modric was joined by Real team-mates Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo in the FIFPro team of the year, also featuring David De Gea, Dani Alves, N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Messi and Ronaldo. "I am as happy as if I had won it," said Ramos of Modric's success. "He deserves it, he is an excellent player and has marked an important era in the history of Real Madrid." France's World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps won the best coach of the year prize in recognition for his work in leading Les Bleus to success in Russia. Deschamps, who became just the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach, beat off competition from Dalic and his former France team-mate Zinedine Zidane, who won a third consecutive Champions League title with Real Madrid before resigning in June. Thibaut Courtois won the best goalkeeper award for helping Belgium reach the World Cup semi-finals as well as the FA Cup with Chelsea before a summer move to Madrid. Brazil's Marta was crowned best women's player for a record sixth time for her role in winning the Copa America to beat out Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan. Lyon boss Reynald Pedros did win the award for best women's coach, though, after winning the Champions League with the French giants.

End of Ronaldo-Messi era as Modric crowned world's best

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's&nbsp;individual awards is under threat from Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah when FIFA's player of the year is announced on Monday.

For the first time in 12 years, Messi is not even nominated among the three finalists for the award after early exits for Argentina at the World Cup and Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have won FIFA's award in different guises five times each, and the Portuguese can move out on his own after winning a third straight Champions League title with Real Madrid before heading for pastures new with Juventus in July.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-best-fifa-football-awards-2018-a-complete-list-163409#photo-163402">The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018, </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-best-fifa-football-awards-2018-a-complete-list-163409#photo-163402">complete</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/the-best-fifa-football-awards-2018-a-complete-list-163409#photo-163402"> list</a>

For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League's top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal’s campaign.

However, Portugal's last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo's failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League has opened the door for Modric.

'The year of Luka'

Croatia's captain was an inspirational figure as they surpassed all expectations to reach the World Cup final and also played a big role in Madrid's Champions League and Club World Cup wins.

"I hope that Luka will be the best player in the world," Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic told AFP.

"He deserves it because he was the best player in the Club World Cup and the best player in the World Cup.

"Messi and Ronaldo are fantastic players, but this year is the year of Luka."

Salah also makes the podium for the first time after an incredible 44-goal debut season for Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final.

However, a shoulder injury suffered early on in the final robbed him of the chance to help Liverpool lift the trophy and also meant he wasn't in peak condition to lead Egypt's World Cup bid.

Despite scoring in each of his two appearances in Russia, The Pharaohs bowed out at the group stage with three defeats.

France's World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps is favourite to win the best coach award ahead of Dalic and former Real coach Zinedine Zidane, who stepped down in June after overseeing three Champions League triumphs in just two and a half years in charge.

Even if they lose out on the best player award, Messi and Ronaldo could walk away with a prize as they are both nominated for the Puskas award for best goal.

Messi's solitary World Cup goal against Nigeria and Ronaldo's spectacular overhead kick against his future employers in the Champions League quarter-finals are two of 10 goals on the shortlist, also including Gareth Bale's acrobatic strike for Real in the Champions League final.

The best goalkeeper prize is to be contested by France captain Hugo Lloris, Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois, whose World Cup heroics earned him a move to Madrid from Chelsea.

Lyon's Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg and German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan are joined by Brazilian five-time winner Marta of Orlando Pride in the running for the best women's player after winning the Champions League with the French giants.

Reynold Pedros of Lyon, Japan boss Asako Takakura and Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman are in the running for best women's coach.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's individual awards is under threat from Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah when FIFA's player of the year is announced on Monday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of football's individual awards is under threat from Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah when FIFA's player of the year is announced on Monday. For the first time in 12 years, Messi is not even nominated among the three finalists for the award after early exits for Argentina at the World Cup and Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Both Messi and Ronaldo have won FIFA's award in different guises five times each, and the Portuguese can move out on his own after winning a third straight Champions League title with Real Madrid before heading for pastures new with Juventus in July. The Best FIFA Football Awards 2018, complete list For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League's top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal’s campaign. However, Portugal's last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo's failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League has opened the door for Modric. 'The year of Luka' Croatia's captain was an inspirational figure as they surpassed all expectations to reach the World Cup final and also played a big role in Madrid's Champions League and Club World Cup wins. "I hope that Luka will be the best player in the world," Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic told AFP. "He deserves it because he was the best player in the Club World Cup and the best player in the World Cup. "Messi and Ronaldo are fantastic players, but this year is the year of Luka." Salah also makes the podium for the first time after an incredible 44-goal debut season for Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final. However, a shoulder injury suffered early on in the final robbed him of the chance to help Liverpool lift the trophy and also meant he wasn't in peak condition to lead Egypt's World Cup bid. Despite scoring in each of his two appearances in Russia, The Pharaohs bowed out at the group stage with three defeats. France's World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps is favourite to win the best coach award ahead of Dalic and former Real coach Zinedine Zidane, who stepped down in June after overseeing three Champions League triumphs in just two and a half years in charge. Even if they lose out on the best player award, Messi and Ronaldo could walk away with a prize as they are both nominated for the Puskas award for best goal. Messi's solitary World Cup goal against Nigeria and Ronaldo's spectacular overhead kick against his future employers in the Champions League quarter-finals are two of 10 goals on the shortlist, also including Gareth Bale's acrobatic strike for Real in the Champions League final. The best goalkeeper prize is to be contested by France captain Hugo Lloris, Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois, whose World Cup heroics earned him a move to Madrid from Chelsea. Lyon's Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg and German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan are joined by Brazilian five-time winner Marta of Orlando Pride in the running for the best women's player after winning the Champions League with the French giants. Reynold Pedros of Lyon, Japan boss Asako Takakura and Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman are in the running for best women's coach.

Footballer of the year: Who will win in the year of Luka Modric?

A die-hard Argentina fan in Kolkata has painted his house in the team's blue and white colours ahead of the football World Cup, saying his love for Lionel Messi's men knows no bounds. 
 
Shib Shankar Patra's passion for Argentina began during the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona helped the team win the coveted trophy. 
 
"For me Messi is an extension of Maradona. Everyone in my family loves Messi. We love his behaviour, we love everything about him," Patra told AFP. 
 
Patra who sells tea from a shop on the ground floor of his house wanted to travel to Russia to see his football heroes in person but ran short of money. 
 
"I had saved 60,000 rupees ($890) but it was not enough for the trip. I will now watch Argentina's games on TV and cheer for my favourite footballers."

The family has also made elaborate plans for Messi's birthday which will fall during the World Cup on June 24. 
 
"We will cut a cake and distribute T-shirts among kids with Messi's face embossed on them," said Patra, a father of two. 
 
Patra has even decorated the walls of each room in his house with life-size posters of Messi. 
 
India is currently ranked 97 in FIFA's rankings but that has not deterred football crazy fans from cheering for their favourite teams over the world. Especially, Kolkata which has an avid following of the sport.

Argentina launches their World Cup campaign against Iceland on Saturday in Moscow, with games to follow against Croatia and Nigeria in Group D. 
 
"I will be praying every day for Argentina's success. Nothing gives me more happiness than seeing them win on the field," said Patra.

Shib Shankar Patra's passion for Argentina began during the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona helped the team win the coveted trophy

A die-hard Argentina fan in Kolkata has painted his house in the team's blue and white colours ahead of the football World Cup, saying his love for Lionel Messi's men knows no bounds. Shib Shankar Patra's passion for Argentina began during the 1986 World Cup when Diego Maradona helped the team win the coveted trophy. "For me Messi is an extension of Maradona. Everyone in my family loves Messi. We love his behaviour, we love everything about him," Patra told AFP. Patra who sells tea from a shop on the ground floor of his house wanted to travel to Russia to see his football heroes in person but ran short of money. "I had saved 60,000 rupees ($890) but it was not enough for the trip. I will now watch Argentina's games on TV and cheer for my favourite footballers." The family has also made elaborate plans for Messi's birthday which will fall during the World Cup on June 24. "We will cut a cake and distribute T-shirts among kids with Messi's face embossed on them," said Patra, a father of two. Patra has even decorated the walls of each room in his house with life-size posters of Messi. India is currently ranked 97 in FIFA's rankings but that has not deterred football crazy fans from cheering for their favourite teams over the world. Especially, Kolkata which has an avid following of the sport. Argentina launches their World Cup campaign against Iceland on Saturday in Moscow, with games to follow against Croatia and Nigeria in Group D. "I will be praying every day for Argentina's success. Nothing gives me more happiness than seeing them win on the field," said Patra.

Messi's magic in India: Kolkata tea-seller paints home in Argentina colours

The chance to see Lionel Messi up close unleashed a certain madness Monday as the Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup in this town roughly 60 km (30 mi) southeast of Moscow. 
 
Some 500 people packed the stands at the Bronnitsy training center on the banks of a river with sandy shores and just a short distance from a traditional Russian Orthodox Church with gilded domes. 
 
The fans never stopped chanting the name of FC Barcelona's star player, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners. 
 
"Argentina will win the World Cup. It doesn't matter that it's not the best team, it has Messi. With him, all is possible," Dima, a 10-year-old boy wearing a replica Barcelona shirt with the striker's name, told EFE. 
 
Added to the Argentina fans were more than 200 reporters covering the training session. 
 
Messi decided to thank the fans for their support and their patience by signing autographs and having photos taken with his countless admirers after the practice. 
 
While it wasn't sure that Paulo Dybala would make the starting lineup for the World Cup, the Juventus striker also attracted a lot of attention among the fans and, though Javier Mascherano has opted for a golden retirement in China, he was also very much sought after. 
 
Despite having a tough time qualifying for the World Cup and thanks to a sterling performance by Messi, the Argentines are once again one of the big favorites to win the championship. 
 
Argentina, which lost 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup against Germany, will debut on June 17 against Iceland before going up against Croatia on June 21 and will close the group stage against Nigeria on June 26.

The Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup and the fans never stopped chanting Messi's name, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners

The chance to see Lionel Messi up close unleashed a certain madness Monday as the Argentine national team held their first open practice for the 2018 World Cup in this town roughly 60 km (30 mi) southeast of Moscow. Some 500 people packed the stands at the Bronnitsy training center on the banks of a river with sandy shores and just a short distance from a traditional Russian Orthodox Church with gilded domes. The fans never stopped chanting the name of FC Barcelona's star player, while waving both Argentine flags and Barca banners. "Argentina will win the World Cup. It doesn't matter that it's not the best team, it has Messi. With him, all is possible," Dima, a 10-year-old boy wearing a replica Barcelona shirt with the striker's name, told EFE. Added to the Argentina fans were more than 200 reporters covering the training session. Messi decided to thank the fans for their support and their patience by signing autographs and having photos taken with his countless admirers after the practice. While it wasn't sure that Paulo Dybala would make the starting lineup for the World Cup, the Juventus striker also attracted a lot of attention among the fans and, though Javier Mascherano has opted for a golden retirement in China, he was also very much sought after. Despite having a tough time qualifying for the World Cup and thanks to a sterling performance by Messi, the Argentines are once again one of the big favorites to win the championship. Argentina, which lost 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup against Germany, will debut on June 17 against Iceland before going up against Croatia on June 21 and will close the group stage against Nigeria on June 26.

Messi fans flock to Argentine open practice in Russia

Indian Football Team on Sunday lifted the Intercontinental Title 2018 cup after defeating Kenya 2-0 in the final.

With the victory, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri also equalled Argentina football star Lionel Messi's record of International goals.&nbsp

Both the goals against Kenya were scored by Chhetri, with first being scored in the 8th and second in the 29th minute.&nbsp

With a stunning brace, Chhetri equalled Lionel Messi's tally of 64 international goals in the finals.&nbsp

However, the Indian star said that he doesn't think the comparison is right as 'Messi is of different level'. &nbsp

"I don't take the comparison seriously. Messi is of different level. I'm just happy that I've scored 64 goals for my country." Sunil said.&nbsp

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Chhetri said he is living a dream and added that he is a big fan of both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the list of active international goalscorers, the 32-year-old is now only behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo who has netted the ball 81 times in 124 appearances.&nbsp

The Indian Football captain scored a stunning brace against Kenya

Indian Football Team on Sunday lifted the Intercontinental Title 2018 cup after defeating Kenya 2-0 in the final. With the victory, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri also equalled Argentina football star Lionel Messi's record of International goals. Both the goals against Kenya were scored by Chhetri, with first being scored in the 8th and second in the 29th minute. With a stunning brace, Chhetri equalled Lionel Messi's tally of 64 international goals in the finals. However, the Indian star said that he doesn't think the comparison is right as 'Messi is of different level'. "I don't take the comparison seriously. Messi is of different level. I'm just happy that I've scored 64 goals for my country." Sunil said. #WATCH: 'I'm happy that people understood it & I was really happy to get such support', says Sunil Chhetri, Captain, Indian football team on the video in which he urged the people to support the Indian football team. pic.twitter.com/y0YxqJkKQV — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2018 × Chhetri said he is living a dream and added that he is a big fan of both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In the list of active international goalscorers, the 32-year-old is now only behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo who has netted the ball 81 times in 124 appearances.

'Messi is of different level': Sunil Chhetri on equalling Lionel's tally of 64 international goals

Sunil Chhetri became the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players along with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the country against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup summit on Saturday.

The Indian team skipper, who had come into the match with 62 goals, gave his team the lead in the eighth minute before scoring the second goal in the 29th minute to put him on par with Messi.&nbsp;

He chested down a long pass from Anas Edathodika between two Kenyan defenders before hitting just inside the box.&nbsp;

The 33-year-old Chhetri and Messi are behind Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals from 150 matches.

Chhetri and Messi are currently in joint 21st in the all-time list of goal scorers.&nbsp;

Chhetri is only the second Indian to feature in 100 international matches after former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia.

In today's game, Chhetri led from the front once again, scoring a brace of spectacular goals to fashion India’s 2-0 victory over Kenya in the final of the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai Football Arena.

The Indian team skipper gave his team the lead in the eighth minute

Sunil Chhetri became the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players along with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the country against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup summit on Saturday. The Indian team skipper, who had come into the match with 62 goals, gave his team the lead in the eighth minute before scoring the second goal in the 29th minute to put him on par with Messi. He chested down a long pass from Anas Edathodika between two Kenyan defenders before hitting just inside the box. The 33-year-old Chhetri and Messi are behind Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals from 150 matches. Chhetri and Messi are currently in joint 21st in the all-time list of goal scorers. Chhetri is only the second Indian to feature in 100 international matches after former skipper Bhaichung Bhutia. In today's game, Chhetri led from the front once again, scoring a brace of spectacular goals to fashion India’s 2-0 victory over Kenya in the final of the Intercontinental Cup at Mumbai Football Arena.

Sunil Chhetri equals Lionel Messi's record of international goals

The president of the Palestinian Football Association on Wednesday accused Israel of trying to use superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentinian national soccer team as political tools, following the cancellation of the Argentina-Israeli friendly. 
 
Speaking at a press conference, Jibril Rajoub accused Israel mixing sports with politics, alluding to the fact that the game was to be held in Jerusalem, the eastern half of which is considered occupied by Israel under international law. 
 
"Israel sought to use the game to send a political message that has nothing to do with sports," Rajoub was quoted as saying in the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. 
 
"It wanted to use Messi to 'sport-wash' its crimes against the Palestinian people and Palestinian sports."

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/israeli-minister-slams-argentina-team-over-football-cancellation-142582">Israeli minister slams Argentina team over football cancellation</a> 
 
Rajoub stressed that moving the match to Jerusalem, after it was originally planned to take place in the city of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast, was a violation of United Nations resolutions and international law. 
 
"We took the initiative right from day one and exerted all efforts to work according to FIFA rules in order to prevent the game from taking place in Jerusalem," he said. 
 
The change in venue was promoted by the Israeli minister of culture and sports, Miri Regev, who announced that the Argentinean team would tour the Old City of Jerusalem and that Messi would kiss the Wailing Wall, the most important place of prayer in Judaism, which is considered Israeli-occupied territory. 
 
After the press conference, Rajoub went to the Consulate of Argentina in Ramallah, where dozens of Palestinians gathered to thank the national team for their decision not to play the game in Jerusalem. 
 
Palestinians see East Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in 1980, as the capital of their future state.

The president of the Palestinian Football Association accused Israel of trying to use superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentinian national soccer team as political tools

The president of the Palestinian Football Association on Wednesday accused Israel of trying to use superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentinian national soccer team as political tools, following the cancellation of the Argentina-Israeli friendly. Speaking at a press conference, Jibril Rajoub accused Israel mixing sports with politics, alluding to the fact that the game was to be held in Jerusalem, the eastern half of which is considered occupied by Israel under international law. "Israel sought to use the game to send a political message that has nothing to do with sports," Rajoub was quoted as saying in the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. "It wanted to use Messi to 'sport-wash' its crimes against the Palestinian people and Palestinian sports." Israeli minister slams Argentina team over football cancellation Rajoub stressed that moving the match to Jerusalem, after it was originally planned to take place in the city of Haifa on the Mediterranean coast, was a violation of United Nations resolutions and international law. "We took the initiative right from day one and exerted all efforts to work according to FIFA rules in order to prevent the game from taking place in Jerusalem," he said. The change in venue was promoted by the Israeli minister of culture and sports, Miri Regev, who announced that the Argentinean team would tour the Old City of Jerusalem and that Messi would kiss the Wailing Wall, the most important place of prayer in Judaism, which is considered Israeli-occupied territory. After the press conference, Rajoub went to the Consulate of Argentina in Ramallah, where dozens of Palestinians gathered to thank the national team for their decision not to play the game in Jerusalem. Palestinians see East Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed in 1980, as the capital of their future state.

Palestinian football chief accuses Israel of using Messi as political tool

Visitors gathered at the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New Delhi on Wednesday for the unveiling of the wax figure of India's cricket captain, the highly popular Virat Kohli.

The cricketer's likeness is the latest entry to the museum that opened its doors last year in the Indian capital - after Lionel Messi, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev and Usain Bolt.

"Presenting #TussaudsDelhi's next big unveil! The run machine, the chase master, @imVkohli is here!", Tussauds said in a post on Twitter. "Come 6th of June, let's play statue! Excited to be at MadameTussauds,"&nbsp;

Kohli had tweeted earlier this week.&nbsp;

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Come 6th of June, let’s play statue! ? Excited to be at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadameTussauds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadameTussauds</a> ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TussaudsDelhi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TussaudsDelhi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MadameTussauds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MadameTussauds</a><a href="https://twitter.com/tussaudsdelhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tussaudsdelhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/074c3lQF0o">pic.twitter.com/074c3lQF0o</a>
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In his wax avatar, Kohli, who has won several national and international awards for his performances, including the ICC World Cricketer of the year and three BCCI international cricketer of the year awards, is seen wearing the Indian national team colors and striking his signature batting pose.&nbsp;

Madame Tussauds New Delhi currently features 50 wax figures of personalities from Bollywood, sports, music, history and politics.

The cricketer's likeness is the latest entry to the museum that opened its doors last year in the Indian capital - after Lionel Messi, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev and Usain Bolt

Visitors gathered at the Madame Tussauds wax museum in New Delhi on Wednesday for the unveiling of the wax figure of India's cricket captain, the highly popular Virat Kohli. The cricketer's likeness is the latest entry to the museum that opened its doors last year in the Indian capital - after Lionel Messi, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev and Usain Bolt. "Presenting #TussaudsDelhi's next big unveil! The run machine, the chase master, @imVkohli is here!", Tussauds said in a post on Twitter. "Come 6th of June, let's play statue! Excited to be at MadameTussauds," Kohli had tweeted earlier this week. Come 6th of June, let’s play statue! ? Excited to be at #MadameTussauds ?#TussaudsDelhi@MadameTussauds@tussaudsdelhi pic.twitter.com/074c3lQF0o — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 5, 2018 × In his wax avatar, Kohli, who has won several national and international awards for his performances, including the ICC World Cricketer of the year and three BCCI international cricketer of the year awards, is seen wearing the Indian national team colors and striking his signature batting pose. Madame Tussauds New Delhi currently features 50 wax figures of personalities from Bollywood, sports, music, history and politics.

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli makes debut at Delhi's Madame Tussauds

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer and referred to as the greatest of all times (G.O.A.T.). He plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Thirty-year-old Lionel Messi said that he was "just another player" despite being considered among the all-time greats. The 21st edition of football World Cup is very important for the Argentine star as he has&nbsp;suggested that he will retire from international football&nbsp;if Argentina fail to win. Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2018, here are some interesting facts that you probably&nbsp;did not know:

1. On 14 December 2000, Barcelona's sporting director Carles Rexach held a meeting with 13-year-old Lionel Messi's father Jorge so as to determine the future of the young prodigy. Interestingly, the contract was signed on a napkin which was the only piece of paper available at the time.

2. He became the first player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year 4 year in a row. He won his first Golden ball at the age of 22.

3. His international debut for Argentina lasted for just 47 seconds when he received a red card after coming&nbsp;as a substitute.

4. He was once offered a chance to play for the Spanish national team but he denied it.

5. Whenever he scores a goal, his simple celebration of raising his arms in the air is a gesture of gratitude to his grandmother who passed away when he was 10.

6. He has won the European Golden Shoe award a record five times and is the all-time record winner with 50 goals in 2011–12.

7. Messi scored 91 goals in 2012, a feat no one else has accomplished.

8. When Lionel Messi was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) at the age of 11, the treatment that cost $900 a month all those years ago was something Messi's family were not financially up for. It was Barcelona who intervened and, knowing Messi's potential, it wasn't long until he was called for a trial at the club. The club then offered to pay Messi's medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain.

9. Messi holds two passports - Argentina's and Spain's. He became a Spanish citizen in September 2005.

10. Messi inherited the No. 10 Barca jersey from another great footballer Ronaldinho in the summer of 2008.

Messi's international debut for Argentina lasted for just 47 seconds when he received a red card after coming as a substitute

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer and referred to as the greatest of all times (G.O.A.T.). He plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Thirty-year-old Lionel Messi said that he was "just another player" despite being considered among the all-time greats. The 21st edition of football World Cup is very important for the Argentine star as he has suggested that he will retire from international football if Argentina fail to win. Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2018, here are some interesting facts that you probably did not know: 1. On 14 December 2000, Barcelona's sporting director Carles Rexach held a meeting with 13-year-old Lionel Messi's father Jorge so as to determine the future of the young prodigy. Interestingly, the contract was signed on a napkin which was the only piece of paper available at the time. 2. He became the first player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year 4 year in a row. He won his first Golden ball at the age of 22. 3. His international debut for Argentina lasted for just 47 seconds when he received a red card after coming as a substitute. 4. He was once offered a chance to play for the Spanish national team but he denied it. 5. Whenever he scores a goal, his simple celebration of raising his arms in the air is a gesture of gratitude to his grandmother who passed away when he was 10. 6. He has won the European Golden Shoe award a record five times and is the all-time record winner with 50 goals in 2011–12. 7. Messi scored 91 goals in 2012, a feat no one else has accomplished. 8. When Lionel Messi was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) at the age of 11, the treatment that cost $900 a month all those years ago was something Messi's family were not financially up for. It was Barcelona who intervened and, knowing Messi's potential, it wasn't long until he was called for a trial at the club. The club then offered to pay Messi's medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. 9. Messi holds two passports - Argentina's and Spain's. He became a Spanish citizen in September 2005. 10. Messi inherited the No. 10 Barca jersey from another great footballer Ronaldinho in the summer of 2008.

Lionel Messi got a red card in his 1st match: 10 interesting facts about the striker

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri is currently on a record-breaking spree. Recently, he scored a hat-trick in India's 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei at the Intercontinental Cup on Friday and now he has joined the ranks with legendary footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become the third-highest active international goalscorer.

He surpassed USA international striker Clint Dempsey when he scored the hat-tricks and joint-third in the active goalscorers' list with Spain' David Villa.

Sunil Chhetri has scored a total of 59 goals in his illustrious career so far.

Now, level with David Villa (59), behind Cristiano Ronaldo (61) and Lionel Messi (64) in the list of an active international goalscorer.

Lionel Messi: 62

Cristiano Ronaldo: 61

David Villa: 59

Sunil Chhetri: 59

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/abuse-us-scream-at-us-but-come-watch-us-urges-indian-football-team-captain-sunil-chhetri-141860">‘Abuse us... but </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/abuse-us-scream-at-us-but-come-watch-us-urges-indian-football-team-captain-sunil-chhetri-141860">come</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/abuse-us-scream-at-us-but-come-watch-us-urges-indian-football-team-captain-sunil-chhetri-141860"> watch us,’ urges Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri</a>

"I am very happy when I score. I do not take it for granted. I am very fortunate to score so many goals for my club and country. I am very happy from inside," Chhetri said during a post-match press conference.

Sunil Chhetri has scored a total of 59 goals in his illustrious career so far

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri is currently on a record-breaking spree. Recently, he scored a hat-trick in India's 5-0 win over Chinese Taipei at the Intercontinental Cup on Friday and now he has joined the ranks with legendary footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become the third-highest active international goalscorer. He surpassed USA international striker Clint Dempsey when he scored the hat-tricks and joint-third in the active goalscorers' list with Spain' David Villa. Sunil Chhetri has scored a total of 59 goals in his illustrious career so far. Now, level with David Villa (59), behind Cristiano Ronaldo (61) and Lionel Messi (64) in the list of an active international goalscorer. Lionel Messi: 62 Cristiano Ronaldo: 61 David Villa: 59 Sunil Chhetri: 59 ‘Abuse us... but come watch us,’ urges Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri "I am very happy when I score. I do not take it for granted. I am very fortunate to score so many goals for my club and country. I am very happy from inside," Chhetri said during a post-match press conference.

After Ronaldo & Messi, this Indian footballer is the 3rd-most active international goalscorer

The 21st edition of football World Cup is set to start from June 14&nbsp;and the madness is already begun. With just 11 days remaining, we've collated the best XI from the tournament squads in a 4-3-3&nbsp;formation.&nbsp;

Coach: Joachim Low

Goalkeeper -

David De Gea: The Manchester United goalkeeper has been exceptionally well since the last September with some mind-blowing saves. This is the reason he is listed ahead of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Defender -&nbsp;

Joshua Kimmich: Joshua Walter Kimmich is a German professional footballer who plays as a right back for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. The 23-year-old ended the 2017/18 campaign with his third successive Bundesliga winner's medal. Being a defender, he also scored in the&nbsp;semi-finals (first Leg) of Champions League at a very crucial stage which is commendable.&nbsp;

Mats Hummels: Mats Julian Hummels is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team.

Sergio Ramos: Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for and captains both Real Madrid and the Spain national team. Although, he is a central defender but can play as a right back.

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior: Marcelo is a Brazilian professional footballer for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. He plays mainly at left-back but can also operate as a left winger. He has always played a vital role in Real's success and definitely a player to watch out for in Brazilian squad.

<img alt="De Gea.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="770" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/De%20Gea.jpg" width="430" />

Midfielders -&nbsp;

Toni Kroos: Toni Kroos is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team. His&nbsp;campaign in&nbsp;the previous season at Bayern Munich has been a roaring success.

N'Golo Kante: N'Golo Kante is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for English club Chelsea and the France national team. His performance for Chelsea was outstanding&nbsp;in the previous season and he also won the club's Player of the Year prize for the 2017/18 campaign.

James Rodriguez: J. Rodriguez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for German club Bayern Munich on loan from Real Madrid, and captains the Colombia national team.

Forwards -&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Portugal national team. His recent performance in the recently concluded Champions League was&nbsp;remarkable. He took his country towards victory in last Euro Cup.

Harry Edward Kane: Harry Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the English national team.

Lionel Andres Messi: Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentine national team.

A collation of dream XI for the football World Cup which will kick off from June 14

The 21st edition of football World Cup is set to start from June 14 and the madness is already begun. With just 11 days remaining, we've collated the best XI from the tournament squads in a 4-3-3 formation. Coach: Joachim Low Goalkeeper - David De Gea: The Manchester United goalkeeper has been exceptionally well since the last September with some mind-blowing saves. This is the reason he is listed ahead of German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Defender - Joshua Kimmich: Joshua Walter Kimmich is a German professional footballer who plays as a right back for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. The 23-year-old ended the 2017/18 campaign with his third successive Bundesliga winner's medal. Being a defender, he also scored in the semi-finals (first Leg) of Champions League at a very crucial stage which is commendable. Mats Hummels: Mats Julian Hummels is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Sergio Ramos: Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for and captains both Real Madrid and the Spain national team. Although, he is a central defender but can play as a right back. Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior: Marcelo is a Brazilian professional footballer for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. He plays mainly at left-back but can also operate as a left winger. He has always played a vital role in Real's success and definitely a player to watch out for in Brazilian squad. Midfielders - Toni Kroos: Toni Kroos is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team. His campaign in the previous season at Bayern Munich has been a roaring success. N'Golo Kante: N'Golo Kante is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for English club Chelsea and the France national team. His performance for Chelsea was outstanding in the previous season and he also won the club's Player of the Year prize for the 2017/18 campaign. James Rodriguez: J. Rodriguez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for German club Bayern Munich on loan from Real Madrid, and captains the Colombia national team. Forwards - Cristiano Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Portugal national team. His recent performance in the recently concluded Champions League was remarkable. He took his country towards victory in last Euro Cup. Harry Edward Kane: Harry Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the English national team. Lionel Andres Messi: Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentine national team.

With 11 days to go, here is WION's Dream XI for the World Cup

There are&nbsp;13 days left for the football frenzy to begin as the football World Cup 2018 will kick off from June 14. It is difficult to not believe in the powerful force of black cats and broken mirrors and when it comes to football, the same omen apply as well. Here is a list of 13 unlucky or jinxed footballers in the football world:

Ledley King: Ledley Brenton King is a former English footballer who spent his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur. He played 321 competitive matches for the Spurs before retiring in 2012. He was a great defender and reader of the game from the back but unfortunately, he was extremely injury-prone. A chronic knee injury has plagued his entire career.

Theo Walcott: Theo James Walcott is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Everton and the English national team. He was once tagged as the as having bags of potential and speed but recurrent injuries hampered his development from star player to a legend.

Gareth Bale: Bale is a Welshman and currently plays for the Spanish giants Real Madrid. His excellence can be seen in the recently concluded Champions League where he scored twice in the finals against Liverpool to clinch the trophy for the third time in a row. He's arguably one of the best wingers, if not players, in the league at the moment but has been struggling with injuries and treated a substitute.

Steven Gerrard: It is difficult to put Steven Gerrard in this category because as a player and captain of Liverpool, Gerrard has won everything: the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Community Shield but missed out the most prestigious title of England which is the English Premier League trophy.

Tomas Rosicky: Even Rosicky's name is not worth keeping in the list of jinxed players as he arrived in England with a massive reputation but failed to adopt the demand and pace of the English game. A series of injuries, including one year-long one, meant he was demoted from automatic starter to backup player.&nbsp;

Neymar Jr: Star player of Brazil who has a horrific memory of World Cup 2014 when he fractured a vertebra in his spine in the quarter-finals and was ousted from the tournament. His absence in semi-finals was one of the reasons for Brazil's disastrous defeat against Germany in the semi-final. The poor luck prevailed as just four months before the World Cup 2018 when he got another major injury in the form of metatarsal fracture. It is expected that he will play for Brazil but let's see how he will cope up.

John Terry: This video depicting John Terry's horrid penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final is enough explanation and reason as to why he's included on this list.

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Manuel Neuer: He is a German professional footballer/goalkeeper who is the captain of both Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. He received the award of Golden Gloves in the World Cup 2014 and is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in today's scenario but from the last September, he has not played any major game. This might affect his performance in the World Cup 2018 which will kick off from June 14.

Mario Gotze: It is nothing less than a poor luck when the World Cup winner scorer has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018. Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues reduced the shine and luster of 'once in a century talent.'&nbsp;

Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi has entered the World Cup 2018 with the jinx not winning the finals of any major international competition. This has happened thrice in his career when he lost in the finals of Copa America twice and also the World Cup 2014. He said that he will retire if Argentina does not win the World Cup.

Arjen Robben: Sometimes the greatness of a player is not compared with the trophies he has won but a lot of other things matter. He has won, including a UCL, a UEFA Super Cup, a La Liga, three Bundesligas, two Premier Leagues. Although, it is important to look through all the glittery trophies and see the number of chances he missed throughout his entire career.

Andres Escobar: Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He was shot dead for scoring an own goal in a second-round match between the United States and Colombia in the world cup finals held in the United States in 1994 which makes him the most unlucky footballer in history.

Michael Ballack: One of the greats of German football and a classic mid-fielder. Although, major titles have always been escaped from him which is nothing but a poor luck. He ran for Ballon d'Or three times but didn't win it once. In the end, one more thing to be told, Ballack wore jersey no. #13 all his career, which might explain why.

There are 13 days left for the football frenzy to begin as the football World Cup 2018 will kick off from June 14

There are 13 days left for the football frenzy to begin as the football World Cup 2018 will kick off from June 14. It is difficult to not believe in the powerful force of black cats and broken mirrors and when it comes to football, the same omen apply as well. Here is a list of 13 unlucky or jinxed footballers in the football world: Ledley King: Ledley Brenton King is a former English footballer who spent his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur. He played 321 competitive matches for the Spurs before retiring in 2012. He was a great defender and reader of the game from the back but unfortunately, he was extremely injury-prone. A chronic knee injury has plagued his entire career. Theo Walcott: Theo James Walcott is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Everton and the English national team. He was once tagged as the as having bags of potential and speed but recurrent injuries hampered his development from star player to a legend. Gareth Bale: Bale is a Welshman and currently plays for the Spanish giants Real Madrid. His excellence can be seen in the recently concluded Champions League where he scored twice in the finals against Liverpool to clinch the trophy for the third time in a row. He's arguably one of the best wingers, if not players, in the league at the moment but has been struggling with injuries and treated a substitute. Steven Gerrard: It is difficult to put Steven Gerrard in this category because as a player and captain of Liverpool, Gerrard has won everything: the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Community Shield but missed out the most prestigious title of England which is the English Premier League trophy. Tomas Rosicky: Even Rosicky's name is not worth keeping in the list of jinxed players as he arrived in England with a massive reputation but failed to adopt the demand and pace of the English game. A series of injuries, including one year-long one, meant he was demoted from automatic starter to backup player. Neymar Jr: Star player of Brazil who has a horrific memory of World Cup 2014 when he fractured a vertebra in his spine in the quarter-finals and was ousted from the tournament. His absence in semi-finals was one of the reasons for Brazil's disastrous defeat against Germany in the semi-final. The poor luck prevailed as just four months before the World Cup 2018 when he got another major injury in the form of metatarsal fracture. It is expected that he will play for Brazil but let's see how he will cope up. John Terry: This video depicting John Terry's horrid penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final is enough explanation and reason as to why he's included on this list. × Manuel Neuer: He is a German professional footballer/goalkeeper who is the captain of both Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. He received the award of Golden Gloves in the World Cup 2014 and is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in today's scenario but from the last September, he has not played any major game. This might affect his performance in the World Cup 2018 which will kick off from June 14. Mario Gotze: It is nothing less than a poor luck when the World Cup winner scorer has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018. Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues reduced the shine and luster of 'once in a century talent.' Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi has entered the World Cup 2018 with the jinx not winning the finals of any major international competition. This has happened thrice in his career when he lost in the finals of Copa America twice and also the World Cup 2014. He said that he will retire if Argentina does not win the World Cup. Arjen Robben: Sometimes the greatness of a player is not compared with the trophies he has won but a lot of other things matter. He has won, including a UCL, a UEFA Super Cup, a La Liga, three Bundesligas, two Premier Leagues. Although, it is important to look through all the glittery trophies and see the number of chances he missed throughout his entire career. Andres Escobar: Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He was shot dead for scoring an own goal in a second-round match between the United States and Colombia in the world cup finals held in the United States in 1994 which makes him the most unlucky footballer in history. Michael Ballack: One of the greats of German football and a classic mid-fielder. Although, major titles have always been escaped from him which is nothing but a poor luck. He ran for Ballon d'Or three times but didn't win it once. In the end, one more thing to be told, Ballack wore jersey no. #13 all his career, which might explain why.

From Michael Ballack to Lionel Messi: 13 'unlucky' players in world football

There are 13 days left for the football frenzy to begin as the football World Cup 2018 will kick off from June 14. It is difficult to not believe in the powerful force of black cats and broken mirrors and when it comes to football, the same omen apply as well. Here is a list of 13 unlucky or jinxed footballers in the football world:

Ledley King: Ledley Brenton King is a former English footballer who spent his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur. He played 321 competitive matches for the Spurs before retiring in 2012. He was a great defender and reader of the game from the back but unfortunately, he was extremely injury-prone. A chronic knee injury has plagued his entire career.

Theo Walcott: Theo James Walcott is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Everton and the English national team. He was once tagged as the as having bags of potential and speed but recurrent injuries hampered his development from star player to a legend.

Gareth Bale: Bale is a Welshman and currently plays for the Spanish giants Real Madrid. His excellence can be seen in the recently concluded Champions League where he scored twice in the finals against Liverpool to clinch the trophy for the third time in a row. He's arguably one of the best wingers, if not players, in the league at the moment but has been struggling with injuries and treated a substitute.

Steven Gerrard: It is difficult to put Steven Gerrard in this category because as a player and captain of Liverpool, Gerrard has won everything: the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Community Shield but missed out the most prestigious title of England which is the English Premier League trophy.

Tomas Rosicky: Even Rosicky's name is not worth keeping in the list of jinxed players as he arrived in England with a massive reputation but failed to adopt the demand and pace of the English game. A series of injuries, including one year-long one, meant he was demoted from automatic starter to backup player.&nbsp;

Neymar Jr: Star player of Brazil who has a horrific memory of World Cup 2014 when he fractured a vertebra in his spine in the quarter-finals and was ousted from the tournament. His absence in semi-finals was one of the reasons for Brazil's disastrous defeat against Germany in the semi-final. The poor luck prevailed as just four months before the World Cup 2018 when he got another major injury in the form of metatarsal fracture. It is expected that he will play for Brazil but let's see how he will cope up.

John Terry:&nbsp;Watch the video to know why&nbsp;John Terry is included in this&nbsp;list.&nbsp;The horrid penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final is enough explanation.

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Manuel Neuer: He is a German professional footballer/goalkeeper who is the captain of both Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. He received the award of Golden Gloves in the World Cup 2014 and is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in today's scenario but from the last September, he has not played any major game. This might affect his performance in the World Cup 2018 which will kick off from June 14.

Mario Gotze: It is nothing less than a poor luck when the World Cup winner scorer has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018. Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues reduced the shine and luster of 'once in a century talent.'&nbsp;

Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi has entered the World Cup 2018 with the jinx not winning the finals of any major international competition. This has happened thrice in his career when he lost in the finals of Euro Cup twice and also the World Cup 2014. He said that he will retire if Argentina does not win the World Cup.

Arjen Robben: Sometimes the greatness of a player is not&nbsp;compared with the trophies he has won but a lot of other things matter. Robin&nbsp;has won a UCL, a UEFA Super Cup, a La Liga, three Bundesligas, two Premier Leagues. Although, it is important to look through all the glittery trophies and see the number of chances he missed throughout his entire career.

Andres Escobar: Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He was shot dead for scoring an own goal in a second-round match between the United States and Colombia in the world cup finals held in the United States in 1994 which makes him the most unlucky footballer in history.

Michael Ballack: One of the greats of German football and a classic mid-fielder. Although, major titles have always been escaped from him which is nothing but a poor luck. He ran for Ballon d'Or three times but didn't win it once. In the end, one more thing to be told, Ballack wore jersey no. #13 all his career, which might explain why.

There are 13 days left for the football frenzy to begin as the football World Cup 2018 will kick off from June 14. It is difficult to not believe in the powerful force of black cats and broken mirrors and when it comes to football, the same omen apply as well. Here is a list of 13 unlucky or jinxed footballers in the football world: Ledley King: Ledley Brenton King is a former English footballer who spent his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur. He played 321 competitive matches for the Spurs before retiring in 2012. He was a great defender and reader of the game from the back but unfortunately, he was extremely injury-prone. A chronic knee injury has plagued his entire career. Theo Walcott: Theo James Walcott is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Everton and the English national team. He was once tagged as the as having bags of potential and speed but recurrent injuries hampered his development from star player to a legend. Gareth Bale: Bale is a Welshman and currently plays for the Spanish giants Real Madrid. His excellence can be seen in the recently concluded Champions League where he scored twice in the finals against Liverpool to clinch the trophy for the third time in a row. He's arguably one of the best wingers, if not players, in the league at the moment but has been struggling with injuries and treated a substitute. Steven Gerrard: It is difficult to put Steven Gerrard in this category because as a player and captain of Liverpool, Gerrard has won everything: the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Community Shield but missed out the most prestigious title of England which is the English Premier League trophy. Tomas Rosicky: Even Rosicky's name is not worth keeping in the list of jinxed players as he arrived in England with a massive reputation but failed to adopt the demand and pace of the English game. A series of injuries, including one year-long one, meant he was demoted from automatic starter to backup player. Neymar Jr: Star player of Brazil who has a horrific memory of World Cup 2014 when he fractured a vertebra in his spine in the quarter-finals and was ousted from the tournament. His absence in semi-finals was one of the reasons for Brazil's disastrous defeat against Germany in the semi-final. The poor luck prevailed as just four months before the World Cup 2018 when he got another major injury in the form of metatarsal fracture. It is expected that he will play for Brazil but let's see how he will cope up. John Terry: Watch the video to know why John Terry is included in this list. The horrid penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final is enough explanation. × Manuel Neuer: He is a German professional footballer/goalkeeper who is the captain of both Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. He received the award of Golden Gloves in the World Cup 2014 and is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in today's scenario but from the last September, he has not played any major game. This might affect his performance in the World Cup 2018 which will kick off from June 14. Mario Gotze: It is nothing less than a poor luck when the World Cup winner scorer has not been included in the provisional squad of Germany for FIFA 2018. Mario Gotze had the potential of a lot more but injuries and health issues reduced the shine and luster of 'once in a century talent.' Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi has entered the World Cup 2018 with the jinx not winning the finals of any major international competition. This has happened thrice in his career when he lost in the finals of Euro Cup twice and also the World Cup 2014. He said that he will retire if Argentina does not win the World Cup. Arjen Robben: Sometimes the greatness of a player is not compared with the trophies he has won but a lot of other things matter. Robin has won a UCL, a UEFA Super Cup, a La Liga, three Bundesligas, two Premier Leagues. Although, it is important to look through all the glittery trophies and see the number of chances he missed throughout his entire career. Andres Escobar: Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He was shot dead for scoring an own goal in a second-round match between the United States and Colombia in the world cup finals held in the United States in 1994 which makes him the most unlucky footballer in history. Michael Ballack: One of the greats of German football and a classic mid-fielder. Although, major titles have always been escaped from him which is nothing but a poor luck. He ran for Ballon d'Or three times but didn't win it once. In the end, one more thing to be told, Ballack wore jersey no. #13 all his career, which might explain why.

From Michael Ballack to Lionel Messi: List of 13 'unlucky' players in football world

Argentina's national team was bid farewell by President Mauricio Macri and a throng of fans as they set off for Barcelona on Wednesday (May 30), where they will train ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

With Barcelona striker Lionel Messi at the helm, the team hopes to consolidate a group of strong individual players, particularly strikers, who have struggled to reproduce their club form at international level.

Coach Jorge Luis Sampaoli's team has struggled on the field, only qualifying for this year's tournament thanks to a win in their final qualifying match.

Messi, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has said winning the World Cup with his country would be a unique experience, and he does not wish he chose to play for Spain, who lifted the trophy in 2010.

The twice world champions and runners-up four years ago in Brazil also play Israel on June 9 before heading to Russia.

Argentina&nbsp;will play in Group D against Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria. Their first match will be against Iceland on Saturday, June 16, with later matches scheduled on June 21 and June 26.

Fans, president bid Argentine team farewell as they depart for World Cup in Russia

Argentina's national team was bid farewell by President Mauricio Macri and a throng of fans as they set off for Barcelona on Wednesday (May 30), where they will train ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. With Barcelona striker Lionel Messi at the helm, the team hopes to consolidate a group of strong individual players, particularly strikers, who have struggled to reproduce their club form at international level. Coach Jorge Luis Sampaoli's team has struggled on the field, only qualifying for this year's tournament thanks to a win in their final qualifying match. Messi, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has said winning the World Cup with his country would be a unique experience, and he does not wish he chose to play for Spain, who lifted the trophy in 2010. The twice world champions and runners-up four years ago in Brazil also play Israel on June 9 before heading to Russia. Argentina will play in Group D against Croatia, Iceland and Nigeria. Their first match will be against Iceland on Saturday, June 16, with later matches scheduled on June 21 and June 26.

Watch: Messi-led Argentina leaves for World Cup 2018

&nbspArgentina showed once again how reliant they are on Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 World Cup warm-up win over Haiti on Tuesday.

With Javier Mascherano making his 143rd appearance to put him one ahead of Javier Zanetti as Argentina's most capped player, Messi got the opener from the penalty spot after 17 minutes.

He doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second half with a simple tap-in after the goalkeeper could only parry a header, scored Argentina's third after 65 minutes, and then set up Sergio Aguero to make it four just two minutes later.

Argentina failed to add to their tally but should have been further ahead against Haiti, whose sole appearance at the World Cup finals came in 1974 and are ranked 108th in the world, 103 places below them in the world rankings.

"More than the result we were able to say goodbye to our fans and show that we are going to Russia with hope," Messi said.

"We're not going as favourites because we had a complicated time in the qualifiers, but we are training well and we will give it our all."

Aguero was fit again after a knee injury but began the game on the bench, with Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria starting up front alongside Messi.

However, both men failed to shine and instead it was Aguero and Boca Juniors' Christian Pavon who staked their claim for a World Cup place when they came on after an hour.

Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland on June 16, Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.

Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland

&nbspArgentina showed once again how reliant they are on Lionel Messi as the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 World Cup warm-up win over Haiti on Tuesday. With Javier Mascherano making his 143rd appearance to put him one ahead of Javier Zanetti as Argentina's most capped player, Messi got the opener from the penalty spot after 17 minutes. He doubled their lead 12 minutes into the second half with a simple tap-in after the goalkeeper could only parry a header, scored Argentina's third after 65 minutes, and then set up Sergio Aguero to make it four just two minutes later. Argentina failed to add to their tally but should have been further ahead against Haiti, whose sole appearance at the World Cup finals came in 1974 and are ranked 108th in the world, 103 places below them in the world rankings. "More than the result we were able to say goodbye to our fans and show that we are going to Russia with hope," Messi said. "We're not going as favourites because we had a complicated time in the qualifiers, but we are training well and we will give it our all." Aguero was fit again after a knee injury but began the game on the bench, with Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria starting up front alongside Messi. However, both men failed to shine and instead it was Aguero and Boca Juniors' Christian Pavon who staked their claim for a World Cup place when they came on after an hour. Argentina now fly to Barcelona to prepare for World Cup matches against Iceland on June 16, Croatia on June 21 and Nigeria on June 26.

Football World Cup friendly: Messi's hat-trick sinks Haiti

Portuguese footballer Cristiano&nbsp;Ronaldo&nbsp;topped the ESPN World Fame 100 list for a third straight year, pipping American basketball player Lebron James and long-term Argentine rival Lionel Messi.

Real Madrid forward&nbsp;Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, was named the most popular athlete in the world on the basis of his social media following, endorsement deals and search score.

Three-time NBA champion Lebron James retained his second spot on the list, while Messi came third on the back of his ninth league title with Barcelona.

Brazil's Neymar, who became the world's most expensive footballer after his 222 million euros ($261.6 million) move from Barcelona to Paris St Germain last August, took the fourth spot.

Swiss Roger Federer, one of the most decorated players in tennis history, came fifth ahead of NBA star Kevin Durant and Spanish rival Rafa Nadal.

American tennis icon Serena Williams replaces former UFC fighter Ronda Rousey as the most famous female athlete, with twelve women making the 2018 list compared to eight last year.

Three-time NBA champion Lebron James retained his second spot on the list, while Messi came third on the back of his ninth league title with Barcelona

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo topped the ESPN World Fame 100 list for a third straight year, pipping American basketball player Lebron James and long-term Argentine rival Lionel Messi. Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, was named the most popular athlete in the world on the basis of his social media following, endorsement deals and search score. Three-time NBA champion Lebron James retained his second spot on the list, while Messi came third on the back of his ninth league title with Barcelona. Brazil's Neymar, who became the world's most expensive footballer after his 222 million euros ($261.6 million) move from Barcelona to Paris St Germain last August, took the fourth spot. Swiss Roger Federer, one of the most decorated players in tennis history, came fifth ahead of NBA star Kevin Durant and Spanish rival Rafa Nadal. American tennis icon Serena Williams replaces former UFC fighter Ronda Rousey as the most famous female athlete, with twelve women making the 2018 list compared to eight last year.

Cristiano Ronaldo retains top spot in ESPN World Fame 100 list for third straight year

Mauro&nbsp;Icardi, the joint top goalscorer in Italy's Serie A this season, was left out of Argentina's World Cup squad on Monday as coach Jorge Sampaoli named his 23 players for next month's tournament in Russia.

Sampaoli named just four forwards in his squad with Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain all selected.

That meant there was no place for&nbsp;Icardi, who scored 29 league goals for Inter Milan this season.

Although Argentina boasts some of world football's most prolific strikers, they have struggled for goals in competitive matches, scoring just 19 times in 18 qualifying matches in the South American group. Only Bolivia scored fewer.

Another surprise in Sampaoli's 23 was the inclusion of Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi.

Ansaldi has yet to play a competitive match for the two-times world champions, with his five starts all coming in friendlies, the last of which was four years ago.

"I decided on Cristian Ansaldi because he is a fullback who can play on both sides of the field," Sampaoli told reporters.

His inclusion suggests the coach is seeking to revamp a defence that lost two of its last three friendlies 4-2 to Nigeria and 6-1 to Spain.

Uncapped River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani was also a surprise inclusion, named along with Manchester United's Sergio Romero and Chelsea's Willy Caballero.

Sampaoli said the squad is one "that attacks with the ball, that plays the game, that goes looking for a result. I think that Argentina have great potential with lads who really know what do to with the ball."

The South Americans, who lost in the World Cup final four years ago but only qualified for this year's tournament thanks to a win in their final qualifying match, have been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

"If we are up for it and play our game then we are going to be a complex opponent for anyone," Sampaoli said, adding that both Aguero, who missed the end of the English season with a knee injury, and Messi, are training normally.

"I have spoken with Messi and I see he is very enthusiastic about what is ahead," Sampaoli said. "Physically, he is in good shape."

Sampaoli named just four forwards in his squad with Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain all selected

Mauro Icardi, the joint top goalscorer in Italy's Serie A this season, was left out of Argentina's World Cup squad on Monday as coach Jorge Sampaoli named his 23 players for next month's tournament in Russia. Sampaoli named just four forwards in his squad with Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain all selected. That meant there was no place for Icardi, who scored 29 league goals for Inter Milan this season. Although Argentina boasts some of world football's most prolific strikers, they have struggled for goals in competitive matches, scoring just 19 times in 18 qualifying matches in the South American group. Only Bolivia scored fewer. Another surprise in Sampaoli's 23 was the inclusion of Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi. Ansaldi has yet to play a competitive match for the two-times world champions, with his five starts all coming in friendlies, the last of which was four years ago. "I decided on Cristian Ansaldi because he is a fullback who can play on both sides of the field," Sampaoli told reporters. His inclusion suggests the coach is seeking to revamp a defence that lost two of its last three friendlies 4-2 to Nigeria and 6-1 to Spain. Uncapped River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani was also a surprise inclusion, named along with Manchester United's Sergio Romero and Chelsea's Willy Caballero. Sampaoli said the squad is one "that attacks with the ball, that plays the game, that goes looking for a result. I think that Argentina have great potential with lads who really know what do to with the ball." The South Americans, who lost in the World Cup final four years ago but only qualified for this year's tournament thanks to a win in their final qualifying match, have been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria. "If we are up for it and play our game then we are going to be a complex opponent for anyone," Sampaoli said, adding that both Aguero, who missed the end of the English season with a knee injury, and Messi, are training normally. "I have spoken with Messi and I see he is very enthusiastic about what is ahead," Sampaoli said. "Physically, he is in good shape."

FIFA 2018: Argentina's Mauro Icardi out of World Cup squad

Antoine Griezmann, a talismanic figure at Atletico Madrid, will not enjoy the same status at Barcelona if he joins the Liga champions in the close-season, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has said.

Griezmann stole the headlines by scoring twice as Atletico beat Olympique de Marseille 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday, although his decisive display could be one of his last acts for the club.

Barca can capture the France international for 100 million euros ($118 million) when his buy-out clause is cut in half on July 1.

Gil Marin, however, told him to consider the fact that he would be seen as just another player in Ernesto Valverde's side, where he would line up alongside fellow attackers Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

"He needs to decide if he wants to make history at Atletico where everything is built around him or go to a club where he will never go down in history," Gil Marin told reporters.

"A few days ago I spoke to his sister and agent to make them an offer and they will have to give us an answer in a few days. I don't know what will happen, it's not something he can decide in the heat of the moment after winning the final."

Griezmann's starring role in the final was hailed by Madrid newspaper AS, who headlined their edition on Thursday "Super Griezmann, Super Atletico".

The Frenchman was also lauded by Barcelona-based dailies Mundo Deportivo and Sport, who described him as "colossal" and "magical", rubbing their hands at the prospect of him moving to Barca.

The striker said he would not discuss his future after the final, but added that he had grown ever more fond of Atletico and his teammates in the four years since he joined from Real Sociedad for 25 million euros.

Griezmann was substituted in stoppage time to allow Atletico's long-serving, departing forward Fernando Torres to come on for the final minutes and win his first major trophy for the club.

Spanish media reported Griezmann had volunteered to go off in order to give Torres the chance to play.

Atletico defender Juanfran said the departing veteran striker had warned Griezmann to give careful consideration to his next move.

"In the dressing room Torres said to Griezmann that first of all, he should enjoy the night," Juanfran said. "And then in a couple of days, he should think long and hard about what he does next."

Griezmann stole the headlines by scoring twice as Atletico beat Olympique de Marseille 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday

Antoine Griezmann, a talismanic figure at Atletico Madrid, will not enjoy the same status at Barcelona if he joins the Liga champions in the close-season, Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has said. Griezmann stole the headlines by scoring twice as Atletico beat Olympique de Marseille 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday, although his decisive display could be one of his last acts for the club. Barca can capture the France international for 100 million euros ($118 million) when his buy-out clause is cut in half on July 1. Gil Marin, however, told him to consider the fact that he would be seen as just another player in Ernesto Valverde's side, where he would line up alongside fellow attackers Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. "He needs to decide if he wants to make history at Atletico where everything is built around him or go to a club where he will never go down in history," Gil Marin told reporters. "A few days ago I spoke to his sister and agent to make them an offer and they will have to give us an answer in a few days. I don't know what will happen, it's not something he can decide in the heat of the moment after winning the final." Griezmann's starring role in the final was hailed by Madrid newspaper AS, who headlined their edition on Thursday "Super Griezmann, Super Atletico". The Frenchman was also lauded by Barcelona-based dailies Mundo Deportivo and Sport, who described him as "colossal" and "magical", rubbing their hands at the prospect of him moving to Barca. The striker said he would not discuss his future after the final, but added that he had grown ever more fond of Atletico and his teammates in the four years since he joined from Real Sociedad for 25 million euros. Griezmann was substituted in stoppage time to allow Atletico's long-serving, departing forward Fernando Torres to come on for the final minutes and win his first major trophy for the club. Spanish media reported Griezmann had volunteered to go off in order to give Torres the chance to play. Atletico defender Juanfran said the departing veteran striker had warned Griezmann to give careful consideration to his next move. "In the dressing room Torres said to Griezmann that first of all, he should enjoy the night," Juanfran said. "And then in a couple of days, he should think long and hard about what he does next."

Griezmann warned he will 'never go down in history' at Barcelona

Former England's professional footballer, David Beckham has turned 43 today and wishes have poured in from family and friends.

Beckham is one of the most iconic sportspersons of the United Kingdom not only by his dribbling skills but also by his stunning looks.

Throughout his career, he played for some very elite clubs like Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain.

He announced his retirement in May 2013 after a 20-year long career, during which he won 19 major trophies.

Recently, after a four-year wait, he launched a &nbsp;Major League Soccer franchise in Miami after.&nbsp;

On his 43rd birthday, let's Rewind to the time in the 70s, 80s and 90s dominated by Juninho Pernambucano, Michel Platini, Gheorghe Hagi, Ronaldinho and Alessandro Del Piero who were exponents of the free-kick.

Also, decode David Beckham's famous free-kick.

Watch the video:

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David Beckham in the late 90s and early 2000s is colossus of the free-kick, a player whose dynamic ‘curve’ stunned opponents and mathematicians alike.

Beckham's free-kick against Greece in the 93rd minute at Old Trafford took England to the World Cup 2002, it confirmed Beckham’s status as a master craftsman of the free-kick. 
&nbsp; 
The Superman-like stunt was definitely a new theory postulated by Beckham. But, was he a mathematician? Guess not, but some physics students have derived a formula to simplify the most famous free kick.

The mathematical formula is:

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The mathematical formula to 'bend it like Beckham'. (Others)
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Four physics students found that the distance a ball bends as a result of the 'Magnus effect'.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
In this scenario the air travels faster on the left-hand side of the ball because it is travelling in the same direction as the ball spins – it is dragged along by the ball. On the right-hand side, the ball is spinning against the direction of air flow and so the air travels slower over that part of the ball. 
&nbsp; 
If the velocity of a fluid increases then a drop in pressure results. This means, air pressure drops on the left-hand side of the ball and increases on the right. The pressure difference creates a force acting away from the area of high pressure than the ball moves to the left. 
&nbsp; 
This phenomenon is responsible for the spinning of the ball and its curving arc as it travels through the air. 
&nbsp; 
That phenomenon is depended on the above-mentioned formula. Where in the formula, R= Radius of the ball, ρ= Density of the air, &nbsp;ω= Ball's angular velocity, v= Velocity through the air, m= mass and x= The distance travelled by the ball in the direction it was kicked. 
&nbsp; 
Beckham, of course, had no clue about the ‘formula’ – that is for scientist’s job to decode, he was just practicing his trade. 
&nbsp; 
So every time you watch the ball hitting the cross-bar or simply curving inside, remember there’s a science to it but don’t tell the players this because they are just displaying their natural gift, a god gifted talent meant to impress the crowd.

David Beckham in the late 90's and early 2000's was a colossus of the free kick, a player whose dynamic curve stunned opponents and mathematicians alike

Former England's professional footballer, David Beckham has turned 43 today and wishes have poured in from family and friends. Beckham is one of the most iconic sportspersons of the United Kingdom not only by his dribbling skills but also by his stunning looks. Throughout his career, he played for some very elite clubs like Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, LA Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain. He announced his retirement in May 2013 after a 20-year long career, during which he won 19 major trophies. Recently, after a four-year wait, he launched a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami after. On his 43rd birthday, let's Rewind to the time in the 70s, 80s and 90s dominated by Juninho Pernambucano, Michel Platini, Gheorghe Hagi, Ronaldinho and Alessandro Del Piero who were exponents of the free-kick. Also, decode David Beckham's famous free-kick. Watch the video: David Beckham in the late 90s and early 2000s is colossus of the free-kick, a player whose dynamic ‘curve’ stunned opponents and mathematicians alike. Beckham's free-kick against Greece in the 93rd minute at Old Trafford took England to the World Cup 2002, it confirmed Beckham’s status as a master craftsman of the free-kick. The Superman-like stunt was definitely a new theory postulated by Beckham. But, was he a mathematician? Guess not, but some physics students have derived a formula to simplify the most famous free kick. The mathematical formula is: The mathematical formula to 'bend it like Beckham'. (Others) Four physics students found that the distance a ball bends as a result of the 'Magnus effect'. In this scenario the air travels faster on the left-hand side of the ball because it is travelling in the same direction as the ball spins – it is dragged along by the ball. On the right-hand side, the ball is spinning against the direction of air flow and so the air travels slower over that part of the ball. If the velocity of a fluid increases then a drop in pressure results. This means, air pressure drops on the left-hand side of the ball and increases on the right. The pressure difference creates a force acting away from the area of high pressure than the ball moves to the left. This phenomenon is responsible for the spinning of the ball and its curving arc as it travels through the air. That phenomenon is depended on the above-mentioned formula. Where in the formula, R= Radius of the ball, ρ= Density of the air, ω= Ball's angular velocity, v= Velocity through the air, m= mass and x= The distance travelled by the ball in the direction it was kicked. Beckham, of course, had no clue about the ‘formula’ – that is for scientist’s job to decode, he was just practicing his trade. So every time you watch the ball hitting the cross-bar or simply curving inside, remember there’s a science to it but don’t tell the players this because they are just displaying their natural gift, a god gifted talent meant to impress the crowd.

Decoding David Beckham's famous free kick on his 43rd birthday

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi won a legal battle today to register his name as a trademark to sell sports goods after an EU court ruled that he is too famous to be confused with other businesses.

The Argentine star, the world's highest earning footballer, rode out a challenge by a Spanish cycling gear manufacturer called Massi, which had challenged his trademark on the grounds that it was too similar to its own.

"Lionel Messi may register his trade mark 'MESSI' for sports equipment and clothing," said a ruling by the General Court of the European Union, the bloc's second-highest court.

"The football player's fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities between his trade mark and the trade mark 'MASSI' belonging to a Spanish company," the Luxembourg-based court said.

The ruling caps a seven-year legal fight since the footballer first tried in 2011 to trademark his name with the EU's intellectual property office.

The boss of the Massi cycling goods company filed an appeal the same year, saying there was a "likelihood of confusion" with its own trademark, and the trademark office agreed.

Judges admitted that the trademarks "are very similar phonetically" but said the IPO was wrong to assume that Messi was only known by people who were interested in football or sport.

"Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio," the court said.

The ruling comes days after it emerged that Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football, according to France Football magazine.

The Barcelona attacker is making 126 million euros ($154mn) in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue for the current season while his great Real Madrid rival is making 94mn euros.

An EU court ruled that he is too famous to be confused with other businesses.

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi won a legal battle today to register his name as a trademark to sell sports goods after an EU court ruled that he is too famous to be confused with other businesses. The Argentine star, the world's highest earning footballer, rode out a challenge by a Spanish cycling gear manufacturer called Massi, which had challenged his trademark on the grounds that it was too similar to its own. "Lionel Messi may register his trade mark 'MESSI' for sports equipment and clothing," said a ruling by the General Court of the European Union, the bloc's second-highest court. "The football player's fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities between his trade mark and the trade mark 'MASSI' belonging to a Spanish company," the Luxembourg-based court said. The ruling caps a seven-year legal fight since the footballer first tried in 2011 to trademark his name with the EU's intellectual property office. The boss of the Massi cycling goods company filed an appeal the same year, saying there was a "likelihood of confusion" with its own trademark, and the trademark office agreed. Judges admitted that the trademarks "are very similar phonetically" but said the IPO was wrong to assume that Messi was only known by people who were interested in football or sport. "Mr Messi is, in fact, a well-known public figure who can be seen on television and who is regularly discussed on television or on the radio," the court said. The ruling comes days after it emerged that Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football, according to France Football magazine. The Barcelona attacker is making 126 million euros ($154mn) in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue for the current season while his great Real Madrid rival is making 94mn euros.

Lionel Messi scores in EU court battle to trademark name

Lionel Messi, the Argentine star has spent his entire life with FC Barcelona. He started his career at Camp Nou and has earned accolades for the club. Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child and then he moved to Spain to join Spanish giants Barcelona, who agreed to pay for his medical treatment.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player on his 18th birthday and that contract had a validity till 2010, which eventually extended further.

On June&nbsp;24, 2005,&nbsp;he marked his entry in one of the most prestigious clubs of Spain.

In the presence of Messi, Barcelona have won 30 trophies, including eight LaLiga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, and five Copas del Rey titles.

Argentine star, Lionel Messi plays as a forward for Barcelona and the Argentina national team and is considered as one of the greatest players of all time. He scored over 600 senior career goals for club and country.

On April 18, in the season 2006-2007, Messi scored a stunner against Getafe CF, when he showcased his football skills to net almost an impossible goal. He started his run from the center and dribbled past the goalkeeper and several other defenders to score the stunning goal.

Let's take a look back at one of the most mesmerizing goals in the history of LaLiga.

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G⚽️AL MORNING!!! 
? OMG <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> 
? 11 years ago <a href="https://t.co/0EaBv55Wxs">pic.twitter.com/0EaBv55Wxs</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/986516046969372672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> 1⃣1⃣ years ago ?? Leo Messi did this for <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a> 
?...<a href="https://t.co/UvCBio57at">pic.twitter.com/UvCBio57at</a>
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/986578667244609536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner signed his first contract as a senior team player on his 18th birthday

Lionel Messi, the Argentine star has spent his entire life with FC Barcelona. He started his career at Camp Nou and has earned accolades for the club. Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child and then he moved to Spain to join Spanish giants Barcelona, who agreed to pay for his medical treatment. Five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player on his 18th birthday and that contract had a validity till 2010, which eventually extended further. On June 24, 2005, he marked his entry in one of the most prestigious clubs of Spain. In the presence of Messi, Barcelona have won 30 trophies, including eight LaLiga titles, four UEFA Champions League titles, and five Copas del Rey titles. Argentine star, Lionel Messi plays as a forward for Barcelona and the Argentina national team and is considered as one of the greatest players of all time. He scored over 600 senior career goals for club and country. On April 18, in the season 2006-2007, Messi scored a stunner against Getafe CF, when he showcased his football skills to net almost an impossible goal. He started his run from the center and dribbled past the goalkeeper and several other defenders to score the stunning goal. Let's take a look back at one of the most mesmerizing goals in the history of LaLiga. G⚽️AL MORNING!!! ? OMG #Messi ? 11 years ago pic.twitter.com/0EaBv55Wxs — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2018 × #OnThisDay 1⃣1⃣ years ago ?? Leo Messi did this for @FCBarcelona ?...pic.twitter.com/UvCBio57at — FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) April 18, 2018 ×

Throwback: This is what Lionel Messi did 11 years ago for FC Barcelona

Barcelona responded to their shock Champions League elimination to AS Roma by beating Valencia 2-1 on Saturday in a subdued atmosphere at the Nou Camp, setting a Liga record run of 39 games unbeaten and taking them ever closer to another title.

Luis Suarez gave Barca the lead after a quarter of an hour by meeting a delicious outside-of-the-foot pass from former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho, scoring with one touch from close range.

Club-record signing Coutinho then delivered an outswinging corner from which Samuel Umtiti headed in Barca's second in the 51st minute, shortly after Gerard Pique had saved Umtiti's blushes by clearing a shot from Valencia forward Santi Mina off the line following a slip by the France defender.

Captain Dani Parejo pulled a goal back for third-placed Valencia by squeezing an 87th-minute penalty under Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, but the Catalans withstood an exciting final spell to move to within seven points of their 25th league title.

Ernesto Valverde's side lead nearest challengers Atletico Madrid by 14 points in the standings, with Atletico hosting Levante and fourth-placed Real visiting basement club Malaga on Sunday.

The Barca coach praised his players for putting the Roma defeat behind them but said their European exit had punctured their enthusiasm for the unbeaten record.

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? The boss and his players on Saturday's vital win in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bar%C3%A7aValencia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BarçaValencia</a> <a href="https://t.co/macpxhIXaX">pic.twitter.com/macpxhIXaX</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/985341313636683776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"This wasn’t a week to think about records, we don’t give it too much importance. It was more important that we picked ourselves up after a difficult week," Valverde told a news conference.

"It's normal that these players keep on breaking records. But it was a fundamental win in many ways. First of all, I am happy with the three points. We needed 10 points to win the league, now it’s seven."

With heavy rain falling in the city throughout the day, 30,000 seats at the 99,000-capacity Nou Camp were unoccupied and even when Suarez provided a slick finishing touch to Coutinho's wonderful pass, celebrations were muted.

Valencia had made a good start and winger Goncalo Guedes hammered an early shot at Ter Stegen, who made another impressive save to thwart the Portuguese later in the half after Gerard Pique had surrendered the ball.

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? <a href="https://twitter.com/LaLiga?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaLiga</a> 
? Still unbeaten! <a href="https://t.co/aOdufHxMBr">pic.twitter.com/aOdufHxMBr</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/985202309075558401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The German goalkeeper also ran himself into trouble as he sent a pass straight at the feet of Valencia forward Rodrigo but redeemed himself by tipping the shot on to the crossbar and behind.

Lionel Messi was inactive for much of the first half but grew into the game in the second, narrowly volleying over the bar and fizzing a shot just wide after tearing through the Valencia defence.

"The atmosphere around the club this week has been a bit gloomy and we needed to put the brakes on that so I have to congratulate the players because it’s not been easy," added Valverde.

"The sensation is that we have failed, that we have disappointed the supporters, but we have to look forward and not lose sight of what we can still achieve this season."

FC Barcelona has set a new LaLiga record of 39 games unbeaten and moved closer to clinch the title after defeating Valencia 2-1

Barcelona responded to their shock Champions League elimination to AS Roma by beating Valencia 2-1 on Saturday in a subdued atmosphere at the Nou Camp, setting a Liga record run of 39 games unbeaten and taking them ever closer to another title. Luis Suarez gave Barca the lead after a quarter of an hour by meeting a delicious outside-of-the-foot pass from former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho, scoring with one touch from close range. Club-record signing Coutinho then delivered an outswinging corner from which Samuel Umtiti headed in Barca's second in the 51st minute, shortly after Gerard Pique had saved Umtiti's blushes by clearing a shot from Valencia forward Santi Mina off the line following a slip by the France defender. Captain Dani Parejo pulled a goal back for third-placed Valencia by squeezing an 87th-minute penalty under Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, but the Catalans withstood an exciting final spell to move to within seven points of their 25th league title. Ernesto Valverde's side lead nearest challengers Atletico Madrid by 14 points in the standings, with Atletico hosting Levante and fourth-placed Real visiting basement club Malaga on Sunday. The Barca coach praised his players for putting the Roma defeat behind them but said their European exit had punctured their enthusiasm for the unbeaten record. ? The boss and his players on Saturday's vital win in #BarçaValencia pic.twitter.com/macpxhIXaX — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 15, 2018 × "This wasn’t a week to think about records, we don’t give it too much importance. It was more important that we picked ourselves up after a difficult week," Valverde told a news conference. "It's normal that these players keep on breaking records. But it was a fundamental win in many ways. First of all, I am happy with the three points. We needed 10 points to win the league, now it’s seven." With heavy rain falling in the city throughout the day, 30,000 seats at the 99,000-capacity Nou Camp were unoccupied and even when Suarez provided a slick finishing touch to Coutinho's wonderful pass, celebrations were muted. Valencia had made a good start and winger Goncalo Guedes hammered an early shot at Ter Stegen, who made another impressive save to thwart the Portuguese later in the half after Gerard Pique had surrendered the ball. ? @LaLiga ? Still unbeaten! pic.twitter.com/aOdufHxMBr — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 14, 2018 × The German goalkeeper also ran himself into trouble as he sent a pass straight at the feet of Valencia forward Rodrigo but redeemed himself by tipping the shot on to the crossbar and behind. Lionel Messi was inactive for much of the first half but grew into the game in the second, narrowly volleying over the bar and fizzing a shot just wide after tearing through the Valencia defence. "The atmosphere around the club this week has been a bit gloomy and we needed to put the brakes on that so I have to congratulate the players because it’s not been easy," added Valverde. "The sensation is that we have failed, that we have disappointed the supporters, but we have to look forward and not lose sight of what we can still achieve this season."

Barcelona beat Valencia, set new LaLiga record of 39 games unbeaten

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Leganes on Saturday which took the Catalans 12 points clear at the top of La Liga and also meant they equalled a Spanish top-flight record of 38 games without defeat.

Messi curled in from a free kick to break the deadlock in the 27th minute. Five minutes later the Argentine doubled the lead, taking one touch to control a through ball from Philippe Coutinho before delivering a cool low finish.

Nabil El Zhar pulled a goal back for 14th-placed Leganes in the 68th minute. However, Messi made sure&nbsp;Barca&nbsp;kept all the points by hitting his third with three minutes left, controlling the ball on his chest and calmly chipping goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar from close range.

Barca&nbsp;have not lost in the league since going down 2-0 at Malaga on April 8 last year and the win saw them match Real Sociedad's unbeaten run between 1979 and 1980. Ernesto Valverde's side are also undefeated in the Champions League this campaign.

"It's a historic record which gives you an idea of how competitive the team is," Valverde told a news conference, stressing that the record also belongs to predecessor Luis Enrique, who oversaw the first seven games of the unbeaten run at the end of last season.

"I can't explain how we have done it, all we try and do is focus on always winning the next game."

The Catalans are top of La Liga with 79 points after 31 games and have a 12-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who visit champions Real Madrid in a local derby on Sunday.

Despite the huge margin his side have at the top, Valverde continued to resist talk about his side being champions-elect.

"When you start to feel like you are the champions, that's the moment you begin to make a mistake," he said.

"We still haven't won anything and there's still a danger we won't win it. We have to keep fighting until the end, just like our other rivals."

Sevilla suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Celta Vigo as their former striker Iago Aspas struck a hat-trick in a rampant second-half display.

Spain forward Aspas scored all his goals in the space of 21 minutes, taking his La Liga goal tally this season to 19.

Sevilla's 20-year-old defender Guilherme Arana bundled the ball into his own net to put the home side ahead towards the end of the first half and Vincenzo Montella's side fell apart after the interval.

Sevilla are seventh in the standings and will drop down to eighth and out of the European places if Girona win at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Real Betis climbed up to fifth and edged closer to a return to European football next season by beating Eibar 2-0 at home, while Alaves beat Getafe 2-0.

Barca are now unbeaten in 38 games, matching Real Sociedad's unbeaten run between 1979 and 1980

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Leganes on Saturday which took the Catalans 12 points clear at the top of La Liga and also meant they equalled a Spanish top-flight record of 38 games without defeat. Messi curled in from a free kick to break the deadlock in the 27th minute. Five minutes later the Argentine doubled the lead, taking one touch to control a through ball from Philippe Coutinho before delivering a cool low finish. Nabil El Zhar pulled a goal back for 14th-placed Leganes in the 68th minute. However, Messi made sure Barca kept all the points by hitting his third with three minutes left, controlling the ball on his chest and calmly chipping goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar from close range. Barca have not lost in the league since going down 2-0 at Malaga on April 8 last year and the win saw them match Real Sociedad's unbeaten run between 1979 and 1980. Ernesto Valverde's side are also undefeated in the Champions League this campaign. "It's a historic record which gives you an idea of how competitive the team is," Valverde told a news conference, stressing that the record also belongs to predecessor Luis Enrique, who oversaw the first seven games of the unbeaten run at the end of last season. "I can't explain how we have done it, all we try and do is focus on always winning the next game." The Catalans are top of La Liga with 79 points after 31 games and have a 12-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid, who visit champions Real Madrid in a local derby on Sunday. Despite the huge margin his side have at the top, Valverde continued to resist talk about his side being champions-elect. "When you start to feel like you are the champions, that's the moment you begin to make a mistake," he said. "We still haven't won anything and there's still a danger we won't win it. We have to keep fighting until the end, just like our other rivals." Sevilla suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Celta Vigo as their former striker Iago Aspas struck a hat-trick in a rampant second-half display. Spain forward Aspas scored all his goals in the space of 21 minutes, taking his La Liga goal tally this season to 19. Sevilla's 20-year-old defender Guilherme Arana bundled the ball into his own net to put the home side ahead towards the end of the first half and Vincenzo Montella's side fell apart after the interval. Sevilla are seventh in the standings and will drop down to eighth and out of the European places if Girona win at Real Sociedad on Sunday. Real Betis climbed up to fifth and edged closer to a return to European football next season by beating Eibar 2-0 at home, while Alaves beat Getafe 2-0.

Messi scores hat-trick, Barca equal La Liga unbeaten record

Barcelona continues its unbeaten run as their star striker Lionel Messi came off the bench to score an 89th-minute 2-2 equaliser against Sevilla on Saturday.

Barca has not lost a single match in the season and with 8 matches left they are on the brink of creating history.

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Still unbeaten! 
Still ?! 
?? <a href="https://t.co/YdWyjGTAzX">pic.twitter.com/YdWyjGTAzX</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/980182998531366916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Lionel Messi, who is struggling with a muscle injury was not in the line-up but he came up trumps again and&nbsp;celebrated his goal.

With one more win, Barcelona will equalise Real Sociedad’s league record of 38 games unbeaten set over two seasons in 1978/79 and 79/80 as Barcelona have now gone 37 consecutive league games since losing to Malaga in April last year.

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...cometh the man! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> ?❤️ <a href="https://t.co/dusdeiSBwh">pic.twitter.com/dusdeiSBwh</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/980191787099787264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"If you have Messi and he does not play, it is clear that it has a lot of importance," coach Ernesto Valverde said.&nbsp;

"He is a player that is decisive every time he touches the ball."

Franco Vazquez and Luis Muriel put Sevilla 2-0 ahead at the Sanchez Pizjuan, but Luis Suarez struck with two minutes to play before Messi fired in from the edge.

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? The best pics from a pulsating game! 
? <a href="https://t.co/KFkxcWui0a">https://t.co/KFkxcWui0a</a> 
?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SevillaBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SevillaBarça</a> <a href="https://t.co/r9fwnyanrB">pic.twitter.com/r9fwnyanrB</a>
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/980248481251160064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Messi came off the bench to score an 89th-minute 2-2 equaliser against Sevilla

Barcelona continues its unbeaten run as their star striker Lionel Messi came off the bench to score an 89th-minute 2-2 equaliser against Sevilla on Saturday. Barca has not lost a single match in the season and with 8 matches left they are on the brink of creating history. Still unbeaten! Still ?! ?? pic.twitter.com/YdWyjGTAzX — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 31, 2018 × Lionel Messi, who is struggling with a muscle injury was not in the line-up but he came up trumps again and celebrated his goal. With one more win, Barcelona will equalise Real Sociedad’s league record of 38 games unbeaten set over two seasons in 1978/79 and 79/80 as Barcelona have now gone 37 consecutive league games since losing to Malaga in April last year. ...cometh the man! #Messi ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/dusdeiSBwh — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 31, 2018 × "If you have Messi and he does not play, it is clear that it has a lot of importance," coach Ernesto Valverde said. "He is a player that is decisive every time he touches the ball." Franco Vazquez and Luis Muriel put Sevilla 2-0 ahead at the Sanchez Pizjuan, but Luis Suarez struck with two minutes to play before Messi fired in from the edge. ? The best pics from a pulsating game! ? https://t.co/KFkxcWui0a ?? #SevillaBarça pic.twitter.com/r9fwnyanrB — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 1, 2018 ×

Messi's 89th-minute equaliser against Sevilla rescues Barcelona, they remain unbeaten

Recently, Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA warm-up matches. Although, former Argentine football legends have backed the team ahead of World Cup but the dependency of the team on Lionel Messi is very much visible by their current performance.

Lionel Messi, who is currently suffering from a muscle injury, was not there in the squad list of Argentina against Spain in the FIFA friendly match.

Though he was watching the game from the stands&nbsp;but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection.

Messi's reaction during the Argentina-Spain friendly match:

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Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat.<a href="https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K">https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/979015254964281345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Mario Kempes, formers Argentine player said, on recent Argentina's performance, "There is time to correct mistakes, there is time to form that team."

Ricardo Villa, 1978 Argentina World Cup champion, said, "I am quite critical with the authorities of Argentine soccer. They have changed the head coaches very often."

Ricardo further added, "For Sampaoli this is a problem, he still doesn't have the team but I think he's going to do it."

2018 World Cup trophy unveiled in Argentina:

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Lionel Messi has suffered a hoodoo in the finals of the major tournaments like World Cup and Copa America.

In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions.

Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties.

The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already&nbsp;in his thirties and has already said&nbsp;he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup.

Lionel Messi during practice session:

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[SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Último entrenamiento de <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Argentina</a> previo al duelo ante <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Espa%C3%B1a?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#España</a>. <a href="https://t.co/3ZSFnpKhsm">pic.twitter.com/3ZSFnpKhsm</a>
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina/status/978293612290113542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already in his thirties and has already said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup

Recently, Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA warm-up matches. Although, former Argentine football legends have backed the team ahead of World Cup but the dependency of the team on Lionel Messi is very much visible by their current performance. Lionel Messi, who is currently suffering from a muscle injury, was not there in the squad list of Argentina against Spain in the FIFA friendly match. Though he was watching the game from the stands but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection. Messi's reaction during the Argentina-Spain friendly match: Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat.https://t.co/TCQkHMeA3K — WION (@WIONews) March 28, 2018 × Mario Kempes, formers Argentine player said, on recent Argentina's performance, "There is time to correct mistakes, there is time to form that team." Ricardo Villa, 1978 Argentina World Cup champion, said, "I am quite critical with the authorities of Argentine soccer. They have changed the head coaches very often." Ricardo further added, "For Sampaoli this is a problem, he still doesn't have the team but I think he's going to do it." 2018 World Cup trophy unveiled in Argentina: × Lionel Messi has suffered a hoodoo in the finals of the major tournaments like World Cup and Copa America. In the last football World Cup in Brazil, the Barcelona sensation led the team in the finals but suffered a terrible fate when Germany scored the winner in the extra time and became world champions. Apart from the World Cup, he also faced defeats in the finals of Copa America. Not to forget the Copa 2016, when he suddenly announced retirement which he later overturned after facing a tragic defeat against Chile in the penalties. The upcoming football World Cup could be his last as he is already in his thirties and has already said he could retire from international matches if Argentina doesn't win the World Cup. Lionel Messi during practice session: [SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Último entrenamiento de @Argentina previo al duelo ante #España. pic.twitter.com/3ZSFnpKhsm — Selección Argentina (@Argentina) March 26, 2018 ×

'Messi-dependent' Argentina might suffer again in FIFA World Cup

Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a&nbsp;warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat.

Though the Argentine striker was watching the game from the stands for as long as he could, but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection.

Watch the video here:

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Messi after watching Argentina get battered 6-1 by Spain ? <a href="https://t.co/pXX3y5g8Wi">pic.twitter.com/pXX3y5g8Wi</a>
— True Soccer Life ⚽️ (@TrueSccrLife) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueSccrLife/status/978785968416264192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Cameras captured the injured captain leaving his seat, presumably to head for the dressing room to console his distraught teammates, but the image was symbolic as his hapless team was humiliated 6-1 by a rampaging Spain side.

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Heart aches ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Messi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreMessi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreMessi</a> <a href="https://t.co/uFTmdXjEXz">pic.twitter.com/uFTmdXjEXz</a>
— Leo Messi ? (@WeAreMessi) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreMessi/status/978753760133550080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The Argentine striker was watching the game from the stands for as long as he could, but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection

Messi is currently suffering from a muscle injury and was not there in the squad list of a warm-up match against Spain in which Argentina suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat. Though the Argentine striker was watching the game from the stands for as long as he could, but with 10 minutes remaining he had seen enough and left the stands with dejection. Watch the video here: Messi after watching Argentina get battered 6-1 by Spain ? pic.twitter.com/pXX3y5g8Wi — True Soccer Life ⚽️ (@TrueSccrLife) March 28, 2018 × Cameras captured the injured captain leaving his seat, presumably to head for the dressing room to console his distraught teammates, but the image was symbolic as his hapless team was humiliated 6-1 by a rampaging Spain side. Heart aches ?? #Messi #WeAreMessi pic.twitter.com/uFTmdXjEXz — Leo Messi ? (@WeAreMessi) March 27, 2018 ×

Watch: Messi storms out of stadium as Spain hammers Argentina 6-1

Argentina&#39;s soccer national team trained on Saturday (March 24) at Real Madrid&#39;s sports city of Valdebebas ahead of friendly match against Spain on Tuesday (March 27) at Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was not seen during training session due to physical discomforts neither striker Gonzalo Higuain nor Angel di Maria.

On Friday (March 23), late goals from Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini helped Jorge Sampaoli&#39;s side deprived of talisman Lionel Messi edge past Italy 2-0 at Manchester City&#39;s Etihad Stadium.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was not seen during training session due to physical discomforts neither striker Gonzalo Higuain nor Angel di Maria.

Argentina's soccer national team trained on Saturday (March 24) at Real Madrid's sports city of Valdebebas ahead of friendly match against Spain on Tuesday (March 27) at Wanda Metropolitano stadium. Barcelona star Lionel Messi was not seen during training session due to physical discomforts neither striker Gonzalo Higuain nor Angel di Maria. On Friday (March 23), late goals from Ever Banega and Manuel Lanzini helped Jorge Sampaoli's side deprived of talisman Lionel Messi edge past Italy 2-0 at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.

Messi absent from training as Argentina prepare to take on Spain

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