Lionel Messi hails Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘phenomenal’ after the Portugal star helped Real Madrid to retain the Champions League title.

Argentina's Superclasico showdown with arch-rivals Brazil is set to pump tens of millions of dollars into the Australian economy when they play in front of 100,000 fans on Friday.

Lionel Messi and Neymar show their pedigree as Barcelona outclass a determined Alaves side 3-1 to win the King's Cup for a third successive year, allowing coach Luis Enrique to leave the club on a high.

Argentina hope their new coach Jorge Sampaoli's magic touch, along with returning striker Lionel Messi's magic skills, will spirit them through a rocky qualifying campaign to the 2018 World Cup.

La Liga club Barcelona express their support for Argentine striker Lionel Messi and his father after the Spanish Supreme Court upheld their prison sentences over tax fraud charges, although neither are expected to go to jail.

Lionel Messi is set to draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo and win the European Golden Shoe for a record-equalling fourth time.

Lionel Messi will spearhead Argentina's attack against arch-rivals Brazil next month but there was no place in the squad for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

Former Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza has been appointed to lead the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf nation said on Thursday.

Lionel Messi is a singularly uninteresting man with his boots off, but at play he brings a worthiness to sport.

Zinedine Zidane criticised his Real Madrid players after their dramatic Clasico defeat to Barcelona, insisting they should have been smarter in the closing stages of their loss.

The records continue to tumble for Lionel Messi, with the Barcelona star now the leading goalscorer in El Clasico in La Liga after equalising against Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi scores his 500th Barcelona goal with the last kick of the game in a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a habit of defying his critics and will try to do so again by leading Real Madrid one step closer to the Spanish title on Sunday against bitter rivals Barcelona.

Lionel Messi requires two more goals to reach 500 for Barcelona and will have his sights set on achieving the milestone against great rivals Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico.

Diminutive, dynamic and armed with a deadly left foot, Paulo Dybala could be a prototype of a Lionel Messi clone.

Neymar is keeping the faith, confident Barcelona can complete another remarkable comeback to reach the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Juventus.

Four hundred and ninety eight and counting. Lionel Messi closed in on 500 goals for Barcelona with two against Real Sociedad on Saturday night and they turned out to be very important.

Lionel Messi kept Barcelona's title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2 as Spain's top two edged five-goal thrillers ahead of next weekend's El Clasico.

Lionel Messi's faltering Argentina team will reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia despite their precarious position in the qualifiers, sacked coach Edgardo Bauza said on Tuesday.

Barcelona's Brazilian superstar Neymar will miss a huge La Liga clash at Real Madrid on April 23 after being handed a three-game suspension, the Spanish federation said on Tuesday.