IMAGE: Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the third goal for Barcelona. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Lionel Messi came off the bench to inspire Barcelona to a 3-1 win over a dogged Leganes side on Sunday, creating one goal and scoring another to keep the Catalans five points clear at the top of La Liga. The Argentine quickly provided the spark Barca needed by firing a venomous shot from the outside the area which was too powerful for goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar to hold, and Luis Suarez pounced to stab home on the rebound in the 71st minute. IMAGE: Lionel Messi tries to get the ball past a few Leganes players. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Dembele has shaken off previous criticism over lapses in discipline to become one of Barca's most productive players in recent weeks. Japan edge profligate Saudis to reach Asian Cup quarter-finals IMAGE: Japan players celebrate. Photograph: AFC Asian Games/Twitter A first-half goal from Takehiro Tomiyasu was enough to send Japan … [Read more...] about Football Extras: Messi comes off bench to rescue Barcelona
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King’s Cup: Messi double helps Barca reach quarters
IMAGE: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Celta Vigo’s Sergi Gomez. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters Lionel Messi scored twice as King's Cup holders Barcelona moved comfortably into the quarter-finals by thrashing Celta Vigo 5-0 at the Nou Camp in their last 16 second leg game on Thursday. The Argentine and his strike partner Luis Suarez were recalled by Barca coach Ernesto Valverde who put out his strongest team against the Galicians, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 after last week's game in Vigo.Messi again showed his special understanding with Jordi Alba by meeting the left back's low cross first time for the opener in the 13th minute and moments later played a one-two with the Spain international and slammed the ball into the bottom corner. Alba has set up seven goals for Messi this season in all competitions and Barca's all-time top scorer returned the favour with a curling pass from deep which his team mate slid in to poke inside the near post for the … [Read more...] about King’s Cup: Messi double helps Barca reach quarters
Why Messi’s Argentina comeback could be short-lived
IMAGE: A fan who jumped onto the field kneels to touch Argentina's Lionel Messi while Uruguay's Gaston Silva, right, and Diego Godin look on. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters. Lionel Messi’s triumphant Argentina comeback has been tempered by a hint he may not be fit to play in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Venezuela. Messi, who had gone back on his decision to quit the team following their Copa America final defeat in June, scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Uruguay on Thursday that sent Argentina to the top of the South American group.However, the Argentina captain said he had a groin pain and had to think about his fitness at the start of a busy season for his national side and his club Barcelona. "My groin is hurting a lot, from before this match," Messi told reporters. "We'll see, I always want to be (in the team)… but there are also a lot of important matches coming up." Messi explained why he had said he was retiring from international football … [Read more...] about Why Messi’s Argentina comeback could be short-lived
In my team I would love to have both Messi and Ronaldo: Pele
IMAGE: Football legend Pele waves to fans in Kolkata. Photograph: Abhiroop Dey Sarkar Football legend Pele has termed Argentine forward Lionel Messi as the "best in last 10 years", but also spoke highly of his fellow Brazilian Neymar and "It's very difficult to make a comparison of players of different generations. But in last 10 years Messi was the best. Ronaldo plays forward and tries to score while Messi plays with a different style. In my team I would love to have both... We have Neymar who also has good future," the only footballer to have won three World Cups said in his first news conference during his one-week sojourn in India. The 74-year-old agreed that the sport has become highly competitive, but Pele said he would have been successful had he played in this generation. "No doubt football today is more tough than before but when God gifts you to play football it's the same in any generation. Football is all … [Read more...] about In my team I would love to have both Messi and Ronaldo: Pele
PHOTOS: Music, big names light up Ballon d’or Gala night
FC Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi ended Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo's two-year grip on the FIFA Ballon d'Or award, winning the prestigious award for the fifth time.- PHOTOS: Messi 'grateful to football, fans and family' on claiming fifth Ballon d'Or A year after Barcelona re-established itself as the world's top football team, the 28-year-old has reclaimed his crown as the best player on the planet.Here are some special moments from the gala night in Zurich on Monday... IMAGE: British singer Leona Lewis (left) performs during the Ballon d'Or 2015 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich on Monday. Photograph: Ruben Sprich/Reuters (Left-Right) Master of Ceremony's British actor James Nesbitt takes a selfie with Houston Dash's Carli Lloyd, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, FFC Frankfurt's Celia Sasic and FC Barcelona's Neymar. Ruben Sprich TPX/Reuters IMAGE: Croatian cello duo '2Cellos' perform during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala. Photograph: Matthias Hangst/Getty … [Read more...] about PHOTOS: Music, big names light up Ballon d’or Gala night
