It wasn't entirely clear if Lionel Messi would make it to the 2026 tournament. But his hat trick in the first game showed how ready he is.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi conquered his final peak at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as La Albiceleste won the ‘Jules Rimet’ trophy in Qatar. One of the world’s greatest ‘entered the galaxy of his own’ as poetically described by Peter Drury during ...

Lionel Messi stood motionless for a moment, his eyes fixed on the patch of grass where the ball had just skidded harmlessly wide. The grin that had briefly crossed his face twisted into frustration. It was not a penalty worthy of the player who has spent two decades redefining football greatness.

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. In the world of sports, certain names will always loom large. For modern soccer fans, it's impossible to overlook Lionel Messi.

The World Cup is only a few days away, and 48 nations are preparing for the greatest battles of their lives across North America, in what is the biggest iteration of the famed tournament in history. This will be an extremely telling game for how far ...