"Beijing does not plan, for the moment, to organise the match in which Lionel Messi was to participate," said the Beijing Football Association

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez channelled his inner Lionel Messi when he scored his side’s third goal in a classy 3-1 win in a fourth-round FA Cup tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Thursday. 

Argentine Messi, record eight-times Ballon D'Or winner, did not warm up in front of the 40,000 fans in Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday as he was being assessed by medical staff who decided it was too risky for him and team mate Luis Suarez to play.

Chinese state media, Hong Kong politicians and fans swiftly condemned Argentine player Lionel Messi's participation in a Japan match on Wednesday after staying on the bench just days earlier in a highly anticipated match in Hong Kong.

The announcement came after he did not play in a Sunday friendly in Hong Kong, prompting the ire of tens of thousands of fans who booed the World Cup-winning Argentinian and the team's co-owner David Beckham.

"I don't know if I can (play) or not but I feel a lot better and really want to do it," Messi told reporters

Organisers of a Hong Kong football match which drew boos after star man Lionel Messi failed to play said Monday they deeply regretted the no-show, and would withdraw a bid for a HK$16 million ($2 million) government grant.

Lionel Messi and David Beckham were booed on Sunday after the Argentina superstar sat out Inter Miami's pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.

Al Nassr crushed Inter Miami 6-0 as injury ruled Cristiano Ronaldo out of a much-hyped showdown with Lionel Messi, who was limited to a late substitute appearance in Thursday's friendly in Riyadh.

Inter Miami are defending champions in the tournament, which brings together all 47 top-flight teams from MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.

Argentina forward Angel Di Maria has snubbed five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in his best eleven of players he has played with throughout his career when he named the lineup in an interview with TYC Sports yesterday. 

Clubs worldwide spent a record $9.63 billion on international transfers in 2023, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2022, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in its Global Transfer Report published on Tuesday.

An 88th-minute header from Brazilian forward Malcom settled an entertaining friendly at the Kingdom Arena after Miami fought back to 3-3 from 3-1 down early in the second half.

The 38-year-old Ronaldo apologised to fans as he confirmed he was struggling with a fitness issue.

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami slumped to a 1-0 defeat against FC Dallas in a pre-season friendly on Monday before the team set off on a hectic international tour.

Al Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he ‘no longer believed’ in two of football’s greatest individual accolades after he won three awards at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on Friday.

The respect for Messi from players, fans and journalists has forced the next wave of superstars to wait another year for the big individual awards

Messi voted as the captain of Argentina and the Inter Miami player picked Haaland as his first choice

Messi edged Haaland in the voting by the barest of margins.

Messi claimed the award for the third time, but the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was a surprise victor ahead of Erling Haaland on an otherwise glorious night for Manchester City.