Lionel Messi

With five Balon d’Or awards apiece and numerous other individual and team recognition awards, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are no more at top of the pile. In fact, they are way ahead in a legendary pile. And while their rivalry in Spain lasted just a year short of a decade, Ronaldo has openly invited Lionel Messi to continue that rivalry. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Serie A front-runners Juventus in summer for $114 mn after spending nine trophy-laden seasons at Real Madrid. But what

While ambitious players move away to different clubs to come out of his shade, Lionel Messi was shrugged off by all-time football great Pele. The Brazilian icon seemed to not be a great fan of the five-time Balon d’Or winner, citing he only had one skill. Despite clinching the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Pichichi trophy last season, Lionel Messi astonishingly finished 5th on the Balon d’Or list behind the winner Luka Modric followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian

Lionel Messi is having an absurd season and apparently, no one is talking about that. Midweek Champions League action saw Messi inspiring Barcelona to a 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven with a goal and an assist. But it's not really headlining as the news as it is not new. We’re very much used to this level. But maybe we should not be so used to it. Messi has been the man of the match in all the last five matches he has played

La Liga table-toppers Barcelona have lost a league game at home for the first time in the last two years as a spirited Real Betis beat the defending champions with some dazzling display at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi was back in the starting XI for Barcelona following his recovery from a broken arm, but the little magician couldn’t help his side avoid defeat on a night that belonged to Betis. Barcelona's previous home league game defeat came on 10th September 2016, where

The new La Liga season is a few days away and the anticipation is slowly building. What a difference a year makes, huh? Last year around this time, Barcelona were supposedly in a turmoil having being beaten comprehensively by Real Madrid in the Supercup. In the subsequent months, though, Barcelona played as a unit while Real Madrid just couldn’t keep up. This season, the tables seem to have turned. Barcelona are being seen as the favourites to retain their crown as Real Madrid

It almost feels surreal even before the first kick of the upcoming La Liga season. Current La Liga holders Barcelona will be without Andres Iniesta who left the club after 22 years. The midfielder was still at his influential best but you can’t begrudge him for not finishing his career at the club. The other obvious absentee will be Cristiano Ronaldo. No opponent had tested Barcelona like Ronaldo did and despite all the bad blood between the Blaugrana and Real Madrid, Ronaldo has