Plenty of teams in multiple sports have had to learn to live without a great player, some with much more success than others

The spotlight will be firmly on Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who is expected to play the final World Cup match of his career. The 39-year-old will become only the second player…

Having conquered the sport's biggest prize in 2022, Lionel Messi now heads into anonther World Cup final against Spain with little left to prove. | Football News

This year, we seem to be enjoying a ‘short king summer’ of which Lionel Messi is just one face – or, rather, body.

From a frail boy in Rosario fighting a growth disorder to the man who conquered football's greatest stage, Lionel Messi's story is one of genius, heartbreak, redemption and…

Lionel Messi faces a chance to cement his legacy in the World Cup final. He previously retired from international football after a painful loss at MetLife Stadium. Messi had…

Messi is yet to confirm his future plans but will be 43 at the next World Cup in 2030

Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday brought star forward Lionel Messi's dream of winning back-to-back trophies crashing down to earth.

Argentina's defeat brought the curtain down on one of the greatest World Cup careers the sport has ever witnessed. | Football News

Lionel Messi's dream of another World Cup title ended in tears as Argentina lost the final to Spain. Read about Messi's final World Cup match.

It feels almost sacrilegious to say it about arguably the greatest footballer of all time, but Messi simply did not influence this final. | Football News

As the champion wept on the pitch after the World Cup final defeat, Argentina may well have wondered with trepidation what life will look like in the post-Messi era.

Messi played all 120-plus minutes as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time, but he only recorded one shot. Now the 39-year-old will face questions about retirement from the…

Lionel Messi could have ended all debate over who is the greatest player of all time by winning another World Cup with Argentina on July 19, but he was left in tears following…

Whether Lionel Messi has played his final international match remains unknown. Scaloni admitted he had not yet discussed retirement with his captain. | Football News

Messi's tearful 2026 World Cup farewell revives the Pele-Maradona debate, but leaves his place beside football's greatest legends beyond any doubt forever. | Football News

Messi broke Argentina's cycle of suffering with four titles, but a defeat in WC 2026 final leaves his legacy forever marked by glory, pain and fate. | Football News

Messi seems sure to retire after falling short in the World Cup final – and, Richard Jolly writes, replacing the irreplaceable is just one of several issues they face

Lionel Messi took to Instagram to issue his first reaction on Argentina failing to defend the FIFA World Cup 2026 title. | Football News

Messi has surely played his final ever World Cup game after missing out on back-to-back titles against Spain

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