Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football does not just leave Argentina with an enormous sporting void to be fill. At a stroke it has also removed the country’s most valuable sporting commercial asset. For more
Every professional football match in Argentina this weekend will be brought to a temporary halt as part of a nationwide tribute to Lionel Messi. Play will stop during the tenth minute of each match, when
Although Argentina knew that it would happen one day, they must now plan for life without Lionel Messi after he announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39. In some ways he
There is no replacing Lionel Messi. Or Cristiano Ronaldo. Or Luka Modrić. Three players. Three nations. Three careers that redefined what was possible. Each became more than a footballer. They became an identity. Argentina played
Don't cry for me, Argentina. Not this time. Football has always been about more than talent. It's about how you conduct yourself when everything is on the line, and, perhaps more importantly, how you conduct
One of the enduring qualities of football is that everybody is entitled to an opinion. A person does not have to be a professional footballer or have represented their country multiple times to understand the
Thomas Tuchel retains the full backing of the Football Association despite growing the intense criticism of his tactical approach in England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. While England's campaign ultimately ended in disappointment, there
FIFA's decision to separate the world's four highest-ranked teams in the 2026 World Cup draw has been vindicated after all four reached the semi-finals. Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3) and England (4) have become
As Argentina and England prepare to renew their football rivalry, it is perhaps appropriate to note the passing of the man who was front and centre of the controversy that sparked it in the first
The latest World Cup has reinforced a trend that has been building for decades: European football is no longer just a collection of strong national teams — it is the global hub where the best