Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Lionel Messi is out of contract at Barcelona next year

Barcelona president has 'no doubt' that Messi will stay

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says he has "no doubt" that captain Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with the La Liga club.

Soccer • 27 Jul 20

Barca boss: Messi's right but we can win Champions Lgue

Barcelona coach Quique Setien says his side still have what it takes to win this season's Champions League despite their dismal end to the La Liga campaign.

Soccer • 18 Jul 20

Messi bemoans 'weak' Barcelona after title surrender

Lionel Messi believes "weak and vulnerable" Barcelona must improve quickly if they are to have any chance in the Champions League next month.

Soccer • 17 Jul 20

Lionel Messi still has a year to go on his current deal

Barcelona president confident Messi will stay put

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is convinced Lionel Messi has a long future with the Catalan club.

Soccer • 13 Jul 20

The Real Mallorca-Barcelona interloper is escorted away from the field of play

La Liga to pursue legal action against pitch invader

La Liga's organising body has said it is filing for criminal action against the man who ran on to the pitch during Real Mallorca's behind-closed-doors match against Barcelona on Saturday to try to get a photo with Lionel Messi.

Soccer • 15 Jun 20

Messi rounded off the scoring after laying on two assists

Messi shines as Barcelona win first game back

Lionel Messi scored and grabbed two assists as La Liga leaders Barcelona eased to a 4-0 win away to struggling Real Mallorca, making the perfect return to action.

Soccer • 13 Jun 20

Suarez thought his season was over before the campaign's conclusion was delayed

Messi and Suarez fit for Barcelona's La Liga resumption

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will be available for selection when Barcelona return to La Liga action at Mallorca on Saturday night.

Soccer • 12 Jun 20

Federer first tennis player to top Forbes' Rich List

Roger Federer has become the first tennis player to top Forbes' list of the best-paid athletes in world sport as overall earnings dropped amid the coronavirus pandemic

Tennis • 30 May 20

'There's a risk everywhere' - Messi happy to play again

Lionel Messi believes he is better off not thinking too much about the risk of being infected by the coronavirus as Spanish soccer clubs step up their return to activity, saying he looks forward to getting back to playing matches.

Soccer • 15 May 20

Lionel Messi arrives to undergo coronavirus tests at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi near Barcelona

Barca and Real Madrid players undergo Covid-19 testing

Players at Barcelona and Real Madrid started to undergo coronavirus tests today as La Liga clubs planned to return to restricted training ahead of the proposed resumption of the season next month.

Soccer • 06 May 20

'He will always be welcome in the changing room'

Luis Suarez lays Barcelona welcome mat for Neymar

Neymar "will always be welcome" back at Barcelona, the Spanish giants' striker Luis Suarez told Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday.

Soccer • 08 Apr 20

Late Messi penalty sees Barca bounce back from Clasico

Lionel Messi's late penalty - given after a VAR review - saw Barcelona edge out Real Sociedad 1-0 at the Nou Camp to move back to the top of La Liga, having lost last weekend's El Clasico.

Soccer • 07 Mar 20

Real Madrid and Barcelona renew rivalries in El Clasico on Sunday night at 8pm

Madrid v Barca: Five times 'El Clasico' was just that

Real Madrid host Barcelona on Sunday night as the top two teams in LaLiga go toe-to-toe in El Clasico.

Soccer • 01 Mar 20

European wrap: More Messi magic, Ronaldo milestone

Lionel Messi ended his recent goal drought in style as he scored four during Barcelona's emphatic 5-0 win over Eibar.

Soccer • 22 Feb 20

Brilliant Messi scores four in Barca tour de force

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was in a prolific mood as his side crushed Eibar 5-0 at home in La Liga on Saturday, scoring four goals to placate supporters who began the game by showing their discontent with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Soccer • 22 Feb 20

Leo Messi (L) with Neymar when they were spearheading Barca's attack

Neymar still wants to come back to Barcelona - Messi

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi says Neymar remains determined to return to the club and the Argentine wants him to turn them into an all-conquering force again, adding that he does not believe they are good enough at the moment to win the Champions League.

Soccer • 20 Feb 20

Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal came in for criticism from Lionel Messi

Messi weirded out by social media controversy at Barca

Lionel Messi admits he sees "weird things happening" at Barcelona after the club president was forced to deny accusations of unethical social media practices.

Soccer • 19 Feb 20

Guardiola dismisses Messi to Man City speculation

Pep Guardiola poured cold water on the idea of Manchester City signing Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the summer, saying he would prefer the Argentine forward to finish his career at the Spanish club.

Soccer • 07 Feb 20

(L-R) Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, coach Quique Setien

Setien steers clear of Barcelona crisis talk

Barcelona manager Quique Setien has refused to be drawn on problems at the club in response to Lionel Messi's public rebuttal of comments by Eric Abidal

Soccer • 05 Feb 20

Maddison is the highest-ranked midfielder in a list dominated by attackers

Maddison ranked Europe's 'most valuable' midfielder

Kylian Mbappe is the highest-ranked player in CIES' list of 'most valuable' players in Europe. But Premier League-based players dominate the Top 10

Soccer • 07 Jan 20

Messi bags 50th goal as Barca thrash Alaves

Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal of the year as Barcelona wrapped up 2019 in style with a 4-1 victory over Alaves at the Nou Camp.

Soccer • 22 Dec 19

Messi's 35th La Liga hat-trick moves the recently crowned Ballon d'Or ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo's tally

Messi hits 53rd career hat-trick as Barca rout Mallorca

Lionel Messi scored the 53rd hat-trick of his astonishing career to help Barcelona crush Mallorca 5-2 at the Nou Camp to retain their place at the top of La Liga.

Soccer • 07 Dec 19

Lionel Messi (L) tries to skip past Alex Sandro

Messi fires Argentina past Brazil in Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi made a successful return to international football as Argentina gained a measure of revenge on Brazil for this summer's Copa America semi-final defeat with a 1-0 win in Riyadh.

Soccer • 15 Nov 19

Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ruben Blanco Veiga fails to stop a Leo Messi free-kick

'With Leo, anything is possible' - Valverde hails Messi

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde praised the perfect display of Lionel Messi after his treble, including two superb free-kicks, helped beat Celta Vigo 4-1 and put the team back top of La Liga.

Soccer • 10 Nov 19

La Liga wrap: Messi hits hat-trick as Barca go top

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, with two stunning free-kicks, as Barcelona saw off Celta Vigo 4-1 at the Nou Camp to regain top spot in La Liga.