Sports / Lionel Messi

Muted not magical, Messi misses again

Lionel Messi walked up the steps at the Maracana. It was at the end of 120 minutes of Sunday's gripping World Cup final and the Argentine was collecting a revered golden trophy, one befitting his status as the greatest player of his generation.

Messi was not in right condition - Vilanova

2013-05-03 11:28

Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova defended the decision to field Lionel Messi over the weekend after the Argentine was forced to sit out Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal.

Bayern defeats Barca 3-0 in Camp Nou to reach final

2013-05-03 09:46

There were no surprises and no miracle fightback in FC Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium this Wednesday night as Bayern Munich won 3-0 on the night to qualify 7-0 on aggregate for the final of the Champions League。

Bayern stuns Barca 4-0 in CL semis

2013-04-24 09:19

Bayern Munich all but assured their place in the final of the Champions League with a crushing 4- 0 win over FC Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday night.

Ailing Messi inspires Barca to comeback against PSG

2013-04-11 17:18

A clearly ailing Lionel Messi came off the bench to galvanise Barcelona and help salvage a 1-1 draw with Paris St Germain on Wednesday which put the favourites through to the Champions League semifinals for a sixth straight season.

Doubts over Messi's fitness are keeping PSG guessing

2013-04-10 08:03

Lionel Messi has gone from being the first name on Barcelona's team sheet to the last, as it awaits a late fitness test ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg at home to Paris St. Germain.

Late drama as PSG scramble draw with Barca

2013-04-03 10:45

Barcelona stayed on track for a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance despite conceding a last-gasp goal by Blaise Matuidi in a pulsating 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

Messi and Mascherano add to Barca injury woes

2013-04-03 09:33

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi injured his hamstring and defender Javier Mascherano sustained a more serious knee problem in Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw at Paris St Germain.

Beaten Barca complains about pitch after setback

2013-02-22 07:11

Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura hit out at the state of the pitch after his side was left staring at an early Champions League exit following a shock 2-0 loss to AC Milan on Wednesday.

Messi signs new contract with Barca until 2018

2013-02-08 10:07

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona which ties him until June 30 2018, the Spanish league leaders said on Thursday.

Messi wins Player of the Year for fourth time

2013-01-08 03:59

Argentina's Lionel Messi, still only 25, was named the world's best player for an unprecedented fourth year running on Monday. Factbox on four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi

World's top 10 sports news in 2012

2013-01-07 15:47

The world's top sports news stories in 2012 selected by Xinhua News Agency.

Yearender soccer: Glory for Spain and Messi but problems never far away

2012-12-25 16:33

Spain's glorious third successive triumph in a major tournament and individual goalscoring brilliance from Argentine Lionel Messi will be remembered as soccer's golden hallmarks of 2012.

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