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Lionel Messi

The latest stories and features on footballer Lionel Messi, including professional football news and updates.

Born

24 Jun 1987

Industry

Sport

Job Title

Athlete

last updated:

7 October, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: sons’ fake record goal hauls fool social media

Reports that a new battle between the legends’ children was emerging turned out to be fake news.

7 Feb 2025 - 1:03PM

Neymar

Neymar says former teammate Mbappe ‘jealous’ over Messi during trio’s PSG spell

17 Jan 2025 - 2:06PM

Fame and celebrity

Who is Sofi Martínez – and is she secretly dating footballer Lionel Messi?

11 Jan 2025 - 4:00AM

Fifa

Chinese electronics firm Hisense becomes first sponsor for Fifa’s Club World Cup

Hisense will receive Video Assistant Referee branding during expanded 32-team competition set to take place in the US from June 15 to July 13.

30 Oct 2024 - 11:00PM

Fifa

Move over, Messi and Ronaldo – a new generation is lining up to win Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is favourite to be crowned world’s best player on Monday, while Mbappe and Haaland lead field of contenders.

27 Oct 2024 - 10:00PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet football megastar-to-be Lamine Yamal, who’s been dubbed a ‘mini Messi’

For a Lionel Messi fan, nothing could be better than playing against him – which Lamine Yamal now gets to do thanks to Spain’s Euros victory, but some think he could be even more talented than his idol

17 Jul 2024 - 6:00AM

Colombia

Messi enjoying “last battles” for Argentina as Copa America final beckons

Argentina star looks back to his old self in 2-0 win over Canada at MetLife Stadium, but has yet to commit to playing beyond tournament.

10 Jul 2024 - 12:53PM

Lionel Messi scored as Argentina reached the final of the Copa America. Photo: DPA

Hong Kong sports

Messi fans can seek refunds without dropping complaints to Hong Kong watchdog

But Consumer Council says those who bought tickets for February friendly match using e-payment systems may need to drop complaints to banks to collect cash.

19 Mar 2024 - 7:54PM

ESG investing

Omega raises US$600,000 for eye charity Orbis through watch auction

The Swiss luxury brand recently auctioned 11 suitcases, each containing 11 MoonSwatch Moonshine Gold Hong Kong edition watches via Sotheby’s as part of its CSR efforts to support Orbis.

9 Mar 2024 - 8:43PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Messi’s Argentina to play 2 matches in US to replace cancelled China games

The world champions will play in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in March after a pair of friendlies in China were axed following the Lionel Messi fiasco in Hong Kong.

23 Feb 2024 - 12:54PM

Lionel Messi is poised for a pair of Argentina friendlies in the US. Photo: AP

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Messi farce could have been avoided. Hong Kong player explains how

Kitchee’s former Manchester United player Charlie Scott also defends Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, saying, ‘It was not his fault, booing him was wrong.’

21 Feb 2024 - 7:06PM

Lionel Messi has been subject to furious criticism since he failed to appear in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong economy

Review of Hong Kong cash support for big sports events to be completed this year

Review of the ‘M’ Mark system, set up to back big events, was ordered in wake of row after football star Lionel Messi no-show in city friendly match.

21 Feb 2024 - 9:58PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Could Messi video open door to return to China? Social media hostility remains

Amid speculation over where Argentina will now play in March, a video in which Lionel Messi cites his ‘special relationship with China’ prompts plenty to respond saying he is not welcome.

20 Feb 2024 - 6:06PM

Hong Kong society

No politics involved, Lionel Messi says in defence of Hong Kong no-show

‘I’ve heard people say that I didn’t want to play for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally untrue,’ soccer player says in two-minute video posted on Weibo.

20 Feb 2024 - 5:41PMvideocam

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Lionel Messi appears in a social media post on Weibo. Messi spoke about his personal fondness for China and expressed hopes of seeing his fans there again. Photo: Weibo

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

As Hong Kong chases refunds, Messi plays an hour for Miami against Argentine club

Days after sitting out the Hong Kong match, Lionel Messi starts Miami’s preseason game against Argentine team Newell’s Old Boys and plays for an hour.

16 Feb 2024 - 5:34PM

Lionel Messi faces Newell’s Old Boys in Inter Miami’s last preseason match. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

My Take

My Take | Lionel Messi has only added to Beijing’s displeasure at Argentina

China’s cancellation of the Argentine football team’s mainland tour may have more to do with new president Javier Milei than the star player.

11 Feb 2024 - 9:00PM

Hong Kong society

‘No plans’ for games involving Messi after Hong Kong row: Beijing football body

Beijing Football Association says ‘no plans’ for Messi to play in China after Argentine national squad, captained by the star, scheduled two matches in country for March.

11 Feb 2024 - 11:39AM

Hong Kong society

Mainland China cancels planned Messi match after Hong Kong fiasco

Hangzhou Sports Bureau said in a statement on Friday evening that the conditions for hosting the match were not mature given the ‘reasons that everyone knows’.

10 Feb 2024 - 3:14AMvideocam

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Lionel Messi remains on the bench during an Inter Miami friendly in Hong Kong. Fans were left angry and disappointed after the football star missed the match entirely. Photo: Getty Images

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

Messi injury can take just days to heal, experts divided over recovery time

A sports injury specialist at an English Premier League club says nothing strange over Lionel Messi missing game, but leading health academic says severity should not have stopped Inter Miami star playing.

9 Feb 2024 - 11:11AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Home from Home | Why Messi is not to blame for the Hong Kong exhibition match fiasco

Lionel Messi sitting out the Inter Miami vs Hong Kong exhibition game was because of an injury and not his fault, and the idea he should have addressed fans to explain the situation is misconceived.

9 Feb 2024 - 7:54AMvideocam

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

From Messi fiasco to shoot-out woe for Hong Kong, but key men skip Guangzhou tie

Players who faced Inter Miami and starred in Asian Cup beaten in Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup second leg in mainland China, then lose on penalties – but had to do it without some vital personnel.

8 Feb 2024 - 1:13AM

Jesse Yu (right) was unavailable for the mainland leg after orchestrating Hong Kong’s first-leg win. Photo: Elson Li

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

Messi gives glimpse of star quality but Inter Miami lose on penalties in Japan

Lionel Messi comes on as substitute in Miami’s game against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo, but cannot prevent a penalty shoot-out defeat.

8 Feb 2024 - 12:42AM

Lionel Messi shoots during the second half against Vissel Kobe on Wednesday. Photo: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

Messi plays in Japan, fuels Hong Kong fans’ anger over missed game in city

Government says Hongkongers deserve explanation after Messi plays 30 minutes in Tokyo, as it emerges organisers paid almost US$7 million for Argentina star and Inter Miami to visit Hong Kong.

8 Feb 2024 - 12:11AMvideocam

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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

No Messi farce as Hong Kong’s footballers get back to real business in Guangzhou

Three days after their minor roles in the Inter Miami circus, several players feature in the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, joined by Ellison Tsang despite him quitting the city for UK because local pay was ‘insufficient to continue playing here’.

7 Feb 2024 - 7:45AM

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

As Messi fans cry ‘scam’ in Hong Kong, any takers for US$20,000 ticket in Tokyo?

Tickets are still available for Inter Miami’s friendly match on Wednesday against Japanese champions Vissel Kobe, while special packages can get you closer to Messi, at eye-watering prices.

7 Feb 2024 - 2:41PMvideocam

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

Messi ‘diplomatic crisis’ likened to crypto scam as Hong Kong social media reacts

Facebook and X users prove rather livelier than Lionel Messi had been at the match as they rip into the Argentina star over his no-show.

7 Feb 2024 - 1:17AMvideocam

Lionel Messi was lampooned and lambasted online over Inter Miami’s visit to Hong Kong. Photo: AP

Lionel Messi in Hong Kong

Will Messi play in Japan for Inter Miami after calls for refunds in Hong Kong?

Will-he-won’t-he countdown begins on eve of Inter Miami’s match in Tokyo, as Lionel Messi speaks about the injury cited for his no-show in Hong Kong before being seen moving with ease during training.

7 Feb 2024 - 2:43PMvideocam

Hong Kong society

‘It was bad luck’: Messi breaks silence after no-show in Hong Kong game

Argentinian says it was ‘bad luck’ that he couldn’t play in Hong Kong, after he felt discomfort with thigh muscle following match in Saudi Arabia last week.

6 Feb 2024 - 9:58PMvideocam

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