ROSARIO, Argentina (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived back in Argentina on Tuesday, July 21, for a few days of rest following the World Cup final loss to Spain. Messi 's private jet landed near his hometown of Rosario from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6:27 a.m. Although many fans were waiting with...
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) — Lionel Messi could conjure no more magic. Twenty years after his World Cup debut and a career that lifted him above Pelé and Diego Maradona as soccer’s greatest player, at 39 he could not will Argentina to become the first repeat champion in more than a...
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) — Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year 's World Cup was the goal of his life, and it put Spain back atop the soccer world. Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated would be his final World Cup match, Torres came off the bench...
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Lionel Messi rarely loses. Spain never loses. That 's been how things have worked in recent years, anyway. Soccer 's best player and soccer 's dominant team are set to collide Sunday, July 19, in a World Cup final worthy of the sport...
NEW YORK (AP) — The lineup of sports legends simultaneously on the stage at Fanatics Fest on Friday night, July 17, was almost absurd. There was Tom Brady, the greatest Super Bowl champion of all time. There was Novak Djokovic, the winner of more men 's Grand Slam tennis tournaments than...
Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina 's detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.” The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the...
ATLANTA (AP) — England desperately wanted to protect its lead as time was winding down in its World Cup semifinal against Argentina. Coach Thomas Tuchel made lineup and strategy changes to build a wall in front of the goal. Argentina and Lionel Messi simply kicked it down. England led 1-0 late in...
The best offense. The best defense. The World Cup final is set, and fittingly, a clash of styles awaits. Lionel Messi — the most prolific goal scorer in the tournament 's history — and defending champion Argentina will take on Spain 's defensive juggernaut on Sunday, July 19, in East...
ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi delivered for his teammates. With one more win, he 'll be delivering another World Cup trophy to Argentina. Messi didn 't add to his tournament-leading goal total, but the 39-year-old assisted on two late strikes that carried La Albiceleste to another...
ATLANTA (AP) — Defending champion Argentina rallied to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, July 15, and reach the World Cup final. Trailing 1-0 going into the last five minutes of regulation time, Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez scored for Argentina. Anthony Gordon had given...
ATLANTA (AP) — It 's England vs. Argentina in the World Cup semifinals. It 's also Lionel Messi vs. Jude Bellingham. The battle of the two No. 10s could be pivotal to deciding Wednesday 's match in Atlanta. “We know how good Messi is,” England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford...
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and France haven’t trailed at all in this year 's World Cup. Neither has Spain with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and clutch goal-scoring substitute Mikel Merino. Only one of those teams can make it to the final. France and Spain, both at their 17th...
