Lionel Messi

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Lionel Messi scored his 800th top-level goal as Argentina beat Panama 2-0 in their first match since winning the World Cup.

The 35-year-old Paris St-Germain forward becomes the second player to reach the milestone after Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's tally includes 672 goals over 17 seasons for Barcelona and 29 for PSG.

He also has 99 international goals, with two coming in the World Cup final.

The Argentina captain scored an 89th-minute free-kick at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires to add to Thiago Almada's opener 11 minutes earlier.

Messi will have the opportunity to score his 100th international goal when Argentina play Curacao on Tuesday.

It is yet another milestone in an extraordinary career during which he has won almost every major trophy, including four Champions Leagues, 10 La Liga titles, the Copa America and, finally in December, the World Cup.

Established as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won the Ballon d'Or - awarded to the best player of the year in European football - a record seven times, twice more than Ronaldo.

The only major competition Messi has played in but failed to win so far is the French Cup.

Messi's haul of 35 trophies with Barcelona, whom he joined at the age of 13, makes him the most decorated player in the Spanish club's history and he unsurprisingly holds Barca's all-time scoring and appearance (778) records.

He has also scored more goals (474) and provided more assists (192) than any player to have featured in La Liga and has the record for the most goals in a single season in the Spanish top flight - 50 in 37 games during 2011-12.

He has the most La Liga hat-tricks (36) and shares the record for the most trebles in a single season with Ronaldo, who also has eight.

While the Portugal forward remains the Champions League's all-time top scorer with 140 goals, Messi - who has 129 - was the first player to register five goals in a match in the competition and his sequence of scoring in 18 consecutive years is also unmatched in the European club game's elite tournament.

BBC

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Lionel Messi Passes 100-Goal Mark For Argentina As He Adds Curacao To List Of Nations He Has Scored Against

Lionel Messi has become the third player to score at least 100 goals in men's international soccer.

The 35-year-old joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Iran legend Ali Daei in the 100 Club by scoring against Curacao in a friendly on Tuesday.

Messi's 100th international goal arrived 20 minutes into the game at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.

It was scored with his weaker right foot after he jinked past a Curacao defender inside the penalty area.

Messi then scored his 101st international goal 34 minutes into Tuesday's game before completing his hat-trick moments later as Argentina ran riot against the side ranked 86th in the world by FIFA.

Argentina went on to win Tuesday's game 7-0, with Nicolas Gonzalez, Enzo Fernandez, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Montiel joining Messi on the scoresheet.

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https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/...ing-vs-curacao

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Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi about returning to the club, says vice-president Rafael Yuste.

The 35-year-old Argentina forward is Barcelona's all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 games and left the Nou Camp for financial reasons in 2021.

His two-year contract with Paris St-Germain expires this summer and his preference is thought to be staying with the French club.

"Leo and his family know the affection I have for them," Yuste said.

Messi agreed a new deal with Barcelona on reduced wages two years ago, but it was dependent on the club selling players following new financial rules.

That did not happen in time and ended his storied spell at the club which yielded four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles - plus six Ballons d'Or.

"I participated in the negotiations which unfortunately did not lead to a certain result," said Yuste.

"I've always had this thorn in my side that Leo couldn't continue at our club.

"Messi knows how much we appreciate him. I would love for him to come back. We're in contact, of course, with them."

Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, has scored 29 goals in 66 games for PSG.

He recently claimed his 100th international goal and 800th career strike.

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Paris St-Germain have told Lionel Messi they will pay whatever it takes to keep hold of the Argentine forward, 35, amid reports Barcelona have made contact about a potential return. (Mundo Deportivo)

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Lionel Messi is increasingly likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract runs out this summer.

Messi's representatives have been in talks about a contract renewal with PSG and everything was looking positive during the World Cup in Qatar.

However, the dynamic has now changed and his departure from Paris this summer would suit all parties.

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Messi is yet to commit his future to the Parisian giants, with his contract up at the end of the season.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or previously signed a deal staggering £25million-a-year deal last May, as he became a tourist ambassador for the Arabian nation.

According to L’Equipe, PSG announced players would report to training on Monday following the defeat, but have the day off on Tuesday.

The report adds the trip was planned before Sunday’s defeat and had previously been postponed on two occasions.

All players were expected at the clubs Camp des Loges training base on Monday, though Messi was not present.

Instead, he was in the Saudi capital Riyadh as part of his deal with the Saudi tourist office.

TalkSports

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According to RMC Sport, PSG have suspended Messi for two weeks with immediate effect after he missed training on Monday.

It means Messi will not play or train with the club for two weeks, while he has also had his pay suspended.

After penning a contract worth £52million-a-year, it will mean that the former Barcelona star will miss out on £2m in wages.

PSG chiefs were left dumbfounded when Messi failed to turn up to training on Monday, as were his teammates.

The Argentine has a contractual obligation to travel to Saudi Arabia after becoming their tourism ambassador.

In total, Messi will miss two matches for PSG as they look to win Ligue 1.

[The_KING]

Messi is bigger than PSG. I hope he leaves in the summer. PSG are a joke of a football club.

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Losing £2m for missing a day of training

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Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, will leave Paris St-Germain at the end of the season after the French champions decided against extending his contract. (Foot Mercato)

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Lionel Messi will leave Paris St-Germain this summer at the end of his current contract.

The Argentine World Cup winner had reached an 'agreement in principle' to extend his stay for another year but neither club nor player now want to sign the deal.

Messi is unconvinced the club can compete at the top of the European game, due to financial issues, while the French champions want to focus on developing young talent.

He signed a two-year deal in Paris in 2021 with an option to renew for another year but that will now not be activated.

It is understood his father Jorge Messi informed Paris St-Germain's football advisor Luis Campos a few weeks ago.

Watch: Messi - the documentary
Barcelona 'in contact' with Messi
Why Messi's dream return to Barca looks unlikely
The player believes PSG's budget could be limited next season to comply with Financial Fair Play rules - putting the quality of their squad at risk.

His reluctance to commit to a new deal in recent months has frustrated PSG's Qatari owners, who believe Messi's lack of response was a clear message he didn't want to stay

The 35-year-old was suspended by PSG for two weeks on Tuesday after travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club's permission.

Barcelona and Messi would be keen on securing a dream return for the forward to the Nou Camp but, with the La Liga leaders facing severe financial difficulties, a move back 'home' looks increasingly unlikely.

He also has interest from Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and an eyewatering offer of about 400m euros (£354m) to play in Saudi Arabia for a year with Al-Hilal.

Messi though believes he can still compete at the top of European football for another season - eyeing the chance to win a fifth Champions League trophy - but, with a move to Barcelona looking impossible, his options are looking increasingly limited.

Messi has scored 31 goals and contributed 34 assists in 71 games in all competitions for PSG, and won the Ligue 1 title last season.

He is set to miss matches against Troyes and Ajaccio as PSG, five points clear with five games to go, look to clinch a ninth league title in 11 seasons.

Messi, Barcelona's all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 games, left the Nou Camp in 2021 because of financial issues at the club.

He is favourite to win an eighth Ballon d'Or in October, which is three more than any other player, after winning the World Cup with Argentina in December.

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Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, could follow Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo, 38, to Saudi Arabia in a £320m-a-year move to the Gulf state after confirming he is leaving Paris St-Germain. (Telegraph)

Saudi club Al-Hilal could be rivalled for Messi's signature by Major League soccer side Inter Miami, co-owned by former Manchester United and England superstar David Beckham. (Guardian)

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Lionel Messi: Paris St-Germain forward apologises for unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi has apologised to his Paris St-Germain teammates and says he will wait for the club to decide what they want to do with him after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Argentina captain was suspended by the club for two weeks for the trip.

It followed PSG's home defeat by Lorient on Sunday - their third in six games - when Messi played 90 minutes.

"I am sorry for what I did and I wait to see what the club decides," Messi said in a video posted on Instagram.

"I honestly thought we were going to have the day off after the match as had happened in the previous weeks.

"I had organised this trip to Saudi Arabia having cancelled it previously. This time I couldn't cancel it."

Messi is set to leave PSG when his contract expires in the summer.

The 35-year-old, who has also been fined by the club, has a role as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia.

PSG manager Christophe Galtier says he had "nothing to do with" Messi's suspension, while also condemning fan protests outside players' homes.

"Leo's suspension has added to poor performances, we can't hide behind that," Galtier, 56, said on Friday.

"The decision was nothing to do with me. I was informed of the decision. I can't say it has been a pleasant period."

PSG top Ligue 1 by five points with five games to play but are out of the Champions League and lost in the last 16 of the French Cup. There were fan protests following their defeat to Lorient.

Fans also gathered outside the home of the club's Brazilian forward Neymar on Wednesday, chanting for him to leave the club.

The 31-year-old is out for rest of the reason because of an ankle injury.

The actions of the supporters prompted the club to increase security at the homes of Messi, Neymar, Italy midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier, as well as at the club's training ground.

"Regarding the protests in front of a player's home, we have to be careful with that. Private life must remain private," said Galtier.

"I can understand the anger, the disappointment of our fans. You may protest at the training ground or at the PSG office or after a match at the Parc des Princes but I cannot accept it at anyone's house.

"There is a lot of these things happening at the moment, and they can be uncontrollable and dangerous."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65498845

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Messi after winning Laureus award: “It’s nice to receive recognition of this type, this year I was lucky to fulfill my great dream”.

“I went through everything, many joys with Barcelona and many sadness with the national team, but I never stopped”.

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Lionel Messi: Barcelona is forward's 'home', says club president Joan Laporta

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club is Messi's "home" as they look to re-sign the forward this summer.

The Argentine's contract at Paris St-Germain expires in June, with reports linking him to Saudi Arabia.

But in an interview with Spanish broadcaster TV3, Laporta said Barcelona can compete with anyone for the 35-year-old's signature.

"History backs us, the feelings are too strong, we have 400 million fans around the world too," he said.

Messi left the Catalan giants two years ago after 21 years at the club but has struggled during his two seasons in France, with fans booing him after their 5-0 win over Ajaccio at the weekend.

Laporta said there had been an "affectionate conversation" between the two and that he congratulated Messi on winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.

"He is a Paris St-Germain player and we have to wait until the end of the season, until it is over, and then we can talk more calmly about this," Laporta added.

"With all due respect to Saudi Arabia, Barca is Barca, and it is home."

The comments come after Barcelona won their first La Liga title in four years with a 4-2 win over Espanyol on Sunday.

Laporta appeared to be more reserved than during a late night Twitch stream after the win, on which he is reported to have said the club would do "everything possible" to sign Messi.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65597073

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Lionel Messi: Barcelona manager Xavi tells club president to bring Paris Saint-Germain forward back to the Nou Camp

Barcelona manager Xavi has called on the club hierarchy to bring Lionel Messi back to the Nou Camp this summer, but says the move depends on the Argentina forward.

Sky Sports News revealed earlier this month that Messi is set to leave current club Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract, with Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitting that the club are looking into bringing the him back.

Messi, who scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barca between 2003 and 2021, has spent the last two seasons at PSG after Barcelona let him move for a free due to being unable to renew his contract.

Asked about the impact Messi would have on this Barcelona team, who won the LaLiga title this season, Xavi told Barcelona-based newspaper SPORT: "I'm in no doubt that if Messi were to return, he would help us in what we are wanting to achieve with our football.

"I am in no doubt and I've told this to the president. He continues to be a determined footballer, he has the hunger still.

"He's still a winner, he's a leader and he's different. At Barcelona, we've not have the same level since what we reached as a pinnacle in 2010.

"Messi brings you the talent of being able to play the final pass, he opens doors, scores goals. In the final third he can provide the difference.

"There's no doubt that he would still help us a lot - but in the end it all depends on him.

"We're going to talk to him and his representatives. I think Leo has the upper hand, there is no doubt. Yes, it's true that we've already won in the post-Messi era and that has extraordinary merit, it's extraordinary, it's not valued anyway, but the fear that we had was when Leo leaves, what are we going to do?

"Well, Barca has survived, I think we have rebuilt the team and the group very well and this league title and this Super Cup have spectacular merit and without the best player in the history of football and this club has much merit.

"It's difficult to be in the skin of someone who has won it all. I'm not in his head, but I've been very clear about my relationship with him. We have the doors wide open. And if he wants to come, I'm in no doubt that it can happen and he would help us. But it's up to him. It's his personal choice."

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...o-the-nou-camp

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Messi back to Barca will have the same effect what Ronaldo back to ManU so better not to destroy your legacy and look for something else, why not have a taste of PL football so Arsenal Chelsea Newcastle can be good options

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Lionel Messi is expected to decide in the coming hours where he will be playing his football next season - the only thing that seems certain is that it will not be at Barcelona.

Messi would have liked nothing more than to return to the place that was his home since he left Argentina as a 12-year-old in pursuit of his footballing dream.

But his camp has told Barcelona the decision on his future is imminent and they cannot wait any longer for a proposal from them that has not arrived, despite promises the Catalan club would have something in place by now.

The 35-year-old World Cup winner wants to stay in Europe but, after it was decided he would leave Paris St-Germain this summer, the forthcoming offers from the continent have not been attractive enough.

In Saudi Arabia there are government officials already working on his arrival. They have been told Messi has accepted a very lucrative offer from Al-Hilal and are preparing for the move. This could simply be his camp preparing for his decision - or it is the most attractive proposition for the player.

American side Inter Miami are another option, although a reported loan deal between them and Barcelona - where he would end up temporarily at the Catalan club - is not on the cards.

The timing and announcement of his decision will be decided by his new club.

Once again the Barcelona media machine has been mobilised to persuade anyone and everyone that their failure to secure a deal is the fault of the player and La Liga.

A melange of misinformation, half-truths and outright lies emanating from a friendly press ignore the fact Barcelona have at no point put any proposal to the player and that they cannot offer any guarantee they will be able to do so before the September 1 deadline.

The Financial Fair Play limitations that will be in place for next season also make any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.

But, rather than admit this, Barcelona prefer to give the impression they are making tireless efforts to bring him home - only for them to be pushed back either by Messi or the allegedly 'draconian' limitations put on them by the league's governing body.

It is simply not true.

Manager Xavi said yesterday that 99% of what was required for the player to return to the club was down to Messi himself. Perhaps that is what Xavi has been told, but it is all words and putting the emphasis on his decision is based on an intentionally wrong reading of the affair.

These are the moments when teams start to put their plans in place. And with plans for his return seemingly now dead in the water, it is damage limitation time for Barcelona as they set about trying to show they did everything possible to bring him home.

Messi's team made it clear he was prepared to play for whatever wage that would have helped Barcelona stay the right side of FFP regulations and he would even be prepared to play for free if asked - although that is neither acceptable to La Liga or even legal under Spanish law.

The French newspaper L'Equipe said there was the possibility of Messi being signed by Inter Miami and then going on loan to Barcelona. This is an idea that has come from the American club, but never had any chance of going past the talking stage.

How can Inter convince Messi to be signed by them and go on loan to Barcelona for few months? The player, for many the best ever, would feel like a commodity.

In any case, despite being discussed by the two clubs, at no point has any proposal along those lines been made to the player himself.

The accusation La Liga is to blame is risible. They are followed by nonsensical accusations La Liga also has in place anti-Barcelona regulations. It is the exact opposite.

La Liga rules are in place to protect clubs, Barcelona included, from owners and directors financially ruining them.

The temptation when directors get money is to invest it in players when the reality is they should be as much or more concentrated on paying debts and improving infrastructure.

Due to the usage of 'financial levers' that allowed Barcelona to invest in the club last season, but won't be able to be used again, they presented a liquidity plan recently to La Liga. This was in addition to the budget plans that all clubs have to provide, to prove to the league they are living within their means.

The reason they have to provide these plans is to reassure the league that any extra incoming money will not be spent in a way that could jeopardise the future of the club.

The temptation of spending on players, rather than on much-needed repairs or debt repayments, is akin to buying prohibitively expensive designer furniture to place in a living room, while there is a massive hole in the roof.

Clubs present budget plans which show their income minus all non-sporting financial commitments and any outstanding debts that need to be serviced.

What is left is the money available to pay players. It is up to Barcelona if they want to use all that money to pay for Messi, but they have never indicated they want to do that, instead suggesting they need to register Ronald Araujo or Gavi with their new contracts first.

The reality is the club still have massive debts to cover and their spending capacity will be very limited.

That information will arrive officially from La Liga to Barcelona in the next few days, but the club is very aware of those limits, which will not be announced to the public until after the markets have closed to not affect transfers.

Meanwhile, you hear false stories in the Catalan media about how La Liga and Barcelona are holding meetings to talk about Messi, and there is only a shortfall of around 40m euros (£34.6m) between what the club have presented and what La Liga wants to resolve their FFP situation. This, again, is untrue.

The most worrying aspect is that, with the distraction of Messi, people are not realising since the arrival of president Joan Laporta, the debt is neither being reduced at the rate it needs to be, nor being reduced in sufficient quantities to allow them to have a budget for the players that will allow them to be competitive in Europe.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65770318

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�� PSG manager Christophe Galtier has just confirmed that Leo Messi will leave PSG at the end of the season.

“I had a privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. It will be Leo’s last match at the Parc des Princes against Clermont”. pic.twitter.com/hieCFUFBQm

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2023

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Inter Miami have offered Lionel Messi 50m euros per year (£42.9m) to spend four seasons in the MLS after the Argentina forward, 35, leaves Paris St-Germain this summer. (Sport)

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