All articles tagged with #messi
Lionel Messi says he isn’t sure how much longer he’ll play after the death of his father Jorge, who was by his side throughout his career; the loss followed an emotionally charged World Cup, and though Messi is under contract with Inter Miami through 2028, his future this season remains uncertain.
Lionel Messi published an open letter to his late father, Jorge Messi, expressing grief and admitting he’s unsure how much longer he’ll continue playing football; the note reflects how his father’s death has prompted soul-searching and comes as Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami with no retirement announcement yet.
Lionel Messi, after the death of his father Jorge Messi, posted that he doubts he’ll keep playing for long, despite his Inter Miami contract through 2028. The Argentina captain reflected on his father’s crucial role as father, friend and agent, and vowed to honor him in raising his children. The news comes as Argentina failed to defend their World Cup title won in 2022, with Messi returning from the World Cup 2026 run and attending a private funeral in Perez near Rosario.
Lionel Messi said he isn’t sure how much longer he will play football after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who had been his longtime agent. In emotional posts, Messi thanked his father and hinted he may not continue playing for much longer. Jorge, 68, died after a long illness and a private funeral was held in Rosario. Messi, who captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and later helped them reach the 2026 final before returning to Inter Miami, described his heartbreak and the struggle of continuing his career without his father by his side.
Sidny Lopes Cabral of Cabo Verde won the 2026 World Cup Goal of the Tournament with a curling strike against Argentina in the Round of 32, beating a shortlist that included Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe; the goal, praised by Marcelo and rooted in Cabral’s rise from lower‑tier football to global fame, marks a notable rags‑to‑riches moment in World Cup history.
Inter Miami signed Casemiro on a one-year deal (with an option to extend to 2028-29) after acquiring his discovery rights from LA Galaxy, as MLS investigates possible tampering related to the transfer. The move adds Casemiro to a star-studded squad that already includes Messi, De Paul and Suárez as Miami defends its 2025 MLS Cup title.
The Defector piece argues that Messi’s 2026 World Cup marks the end of his era on the tournament stage, balancing awe at his continued brilliance with the realities of aging, while Argentina under Lionel Scaloni shifted from a Messi-centered approach to a cohesive, call-and-response style rooted in la nuestra, strengthening national identity and leaving Messi’s legacy intact even as the team evolves. The essay also touches on fan culture, national pride, and the mixed reactions to Argentina’s performance and symbolism.
Topps will turn a 2007 UNICEF photoshoot image of Lionel Messi holding infant Lamine Yamal into a 1-of-1 trading card, to be released in Topps Stadium Club UCC later this year, following Spain's World Cup win over Argentina.
The piece argues that Argentina must prepare for life after Lionel Messi, potentially his international retirement after the 2026 World Cup, and uses cross-sport history to illustrate how teams fare when a generational great leaves. It notes both negative outcomes (short-term slumps or droughts) and positive rebuilds (sustained success after a talisman departs), citing examples like Maradona and Pele, Brady/Belichick, Ronaldo at Real Madrid, and the Giants after Bonds, among others. While Messi's departure could trigger a dip, the article suggests Argentina could eventually rebound if they effectively rebuild around the next generation.
Messi posted on Instagram about the immense pain of Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain, thanking supporters and praising the team's resilience as they chase back-to-back titles; Messi finished with eight goals in the tournament, while Mbappé topped the Golden Boot with ten.
Trump’s remarks praising Lionel Messi before Argentina’s World Cup final reignited talk of a sports ‘curse’ tied to his presence at games. The piece points to a string of incident-driven losses linked to Trump at sports events (USMNT, Knicks, Commanders, Ryder Cup), noting the claims are largely anecdotal and part of a superstition rather than proven causation.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, with Messi largely quiet and isolated as his dream of a second title seemed to slip away; he removed his boots dubbed the Last Tango and wept after the whistle, a poignant symbol of a possible last World Cup and a career that many see as inseparable from Argentina’s footballing story.
Slate culture writer Alex Kirshner argues that Spain’s suffocating defense denied Messi and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, ending Argentina’s Houdini-like run of escapes. The piece uses the result to critique the modern sports dialogue that favors analytics or melodrama over aesthetic play, noting near-misses, controversial calls, and a shift in how fans judge teams that win with imperfect flair. Messi couldn’t conjure a late miracle as Unai Simón and Spain’s defense sealed the crown, bringing an end to Argentina’s unkillable narrative.
Argentina were edged 1-0 by Spain in the World Cup Final after Ferran Torres' 106th-minute goal, with Messi visibly emotional as Spain dominated and Emiliano Martínez made 11 saves; Messi had set the record for most World Cup goals in this tournament before Mbappé overtook him, and while he has two Golden Balls and led Argentina to the 2022 title, his 2026 World Cup participation remains uncertain.
Lionel Messi, 39, has eight goals and four assists in the 2026 World Cup and led the Golden Boot race entering the final games, but a high-scoring Bronze Final by Mbappé (finishing on 10 goals) reshuffled the standings; to win, Messi would likely need a hat-trick in the final against Spain (or a brace with an assist), with tie-breakers such as assists and minutes played potentially deciding the winner.