Lionel Messi
Gonzalo Higuain happy at Napoli despite Barcelona interest
Gonzalo Higuain insists he is happy to stay at Napoli despite the interest shown from La Liga giants Barcelona.
Jul 9, 19:22
Argentine journalist dies in Brazil
Argentine journalist Jorge Lopez, known to be a friend of Lionel Messi, dies in a car crash in Brazil.
Jul 9, 16:51
Raul: Netherlands a "Himalayan task" for Lionel Messi
Raul expects Lionel Messi to find it difficult to get the better of the Netherlands in the semi-final of the World Cup.
Jul 9, 14:29
Louis van Gaal not focusing on Lionel Messi
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal insists that his players will not be focusing all of their attention on Argentina talisman Lionel Messi in their World Cup semi-final.
Jul 9, 12:35
Alejandro Sabella: 'Argentina must cope without Angel di Maria'
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella urges his team to cope without Angel di Maria against the Netherlands in the World Cup semi-finals.
Jul 9, 12:11
Ezequiel Lavezzi prepared to offer help to Lionel Messi
Ezequiel Lavezzi insists that Argentina are ready to get the best out of Lionel Messi against the Netherlands.
Jul 8, 22:10
Louis van Gaal: 'Lionel Messi under pressure to deliver'
Louis van Gaal believes that Lionel Messi has struggled to deliver on the biggest stage ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final.
Jul 8, 21:25
Arjen Robben: 'There is more to Argentina than Lionel Messi'
Arjen Robben insists that the Netherlands must be prepared for more than just Lionel Messi against Argentina on Wednesday night.
Jul 8, 21:14
Javier Mascherano: 'Lionel Messi needs our help'
Javier Mascherano challenges Argentina to offer more help to Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands.
Jul 8, 20:49
Stefan de Vrij relishing prospect of facing Lionel Messi
Stefan de Vrij insists that he is not afraid of facing Lionel Messi ahead of the World Cup semi-final between the Netherlands and Argentina.
Jul 8, 20:11
Kitten named after Lionel Messi seeking new home
A homeless kitten named after footballer Lionel Messi is living up to his name by showing a surprising interest in the World Cup.
Jul 8, 18:15
Guus Hiddink: 'Netherlands should be confident of beating Argentina'
Guus Hiddink insists that the Netherlands can be confident of beating Argentina to reach the World Cup final.
Jul 8, 05:41
Bruno Martins Indi: 'Netherlands must stop Lionel Messi'
Bruno Martins Indi believes that stopping Lionel Messi will be the big test for the Netherlands when they meet Argentina on Wednesday.
Jul 8, 02:59
Video: Will Netherlands knock out Lionel Messi and Argentina in the semi-finals?
The Sports Mole Sofa dissect the second World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Netherlands before picking their winner.
Jul 7, 17:47
Lionel Messi: 'Argentina want more'
Argentina forward Lionel Messi insists that Argentina "want more" after reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
Jul 6, 18:14
Patrick Kluivert expecting "very hard" semi-final game
Patrick Kluivert admits that it will be "very hard" for his side to overcome Argentina in the semi-final of the World Cup.
Jul 6, 16:59
Alejandro Sabella hails Lionel Messi performance
Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella believes that Lionel Messi produced a fantastic display in his side's quarter-final win over Belgium at the World Cup.
Jul 5, 21:35
Player Ratings: Argentina 1-0 Belgium
Sports Mole assesses who impressed during Argentina's 1-0 win over Belgium at the World Cup finals.
Jul 5, 20:45
Argentina oust Belgium to reach World Cup semi-finals
Gonzalo Higuain's eighth-minute strike is enough for Argentina to overcome Belgium in Brasilia and reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Jul 5, 18:53
Half-Time Report: Gonzalo Higuain fires Argentina in front against Belgium
Gonzalo Higuain gives Argentina a half-time lead in their World Cup quarter-final against Belgium in Brasilia.
Jul 5, 17:47
Lionel Messi wishes Neymar quick recovery
Lionel Messi wishes Neymar a swift return to fitness after the Brazil talisman was sidelined for the rest of the World Cup with a back injury.
Jul 5, 13:56
On this day: Hernan Crespo was born
Back on this day in 1975, former Chelsea and Argentina striker Hernan Crespo was born.
Jul 5, 09:56
Jamie Carragher: 'Lionel Messi has tweaked his game'
Jamie Carragher says that Lionel Messi has adapted his game at this year's World Cup.
Jul 5, 09:08
Alejandro Sabella: 'We haven't reached our peak form'
Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella is adamant that his side have to better their performance at the World Cup to keep their campaign alive ahead of their clash with Belgium.
Jul 5, 03:50
Diego Maradona: 'Argentina have no idea'
Argentina legend Diego Maradona says that his country's chances of winning the World Cup are "bleak".
Jul 5, 01:24
Marc Wilmots: 'Belgium will stick to philosophy against Argentina'
Belgium manager Marc Wilmots insists that his side will 'stick to their philosophy' when they meet Argentina for a place in the World Cup semi-finals tomorrow.
Jul 4, 19:59
Alejandro Sabella: 'Argentina not over-reliant on Lionel Messi'
Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella insists that his side are not over-reliant on Lionel Messi, but are instead playing well as a team.
Jul 4, 19:23
Alejandro Sabella admits Lionel Messi dependence
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella says that his side are not a one-man team but admits that Lionel Messi is key to their aspirations.
Jul 4, 18:31
Paul Scholes: 'It would be a mistake for Luis Suarez to join Barcelona'
Paul Scholes believes that Luis Suarez will be making a "mistake" if he joins Barcelona over Real Madrid this summer.
Jul 4, 17:30
Jan Vertonghen: 'We will stop Lionel Messi as a team'
Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen admits that it will be the task of every player in his side to stop Lionel Messi in their quarter-final clash with Argentina on Saturday.
Jul 4, 04:20
Diego Maradona: 'Don't blame Lionel Messi if Argentina fail at the World Cup'
Argentina legend Diego Maradona warns his country not to hold Lionel Messi responsible should they fail to get past Belgium at the World Cup on Saturday.
Jul 3, 14:16
Preview: Argentina vs. Belgium
Sports Mole previews the World Cup quarter-final action between Argentina and Belgium at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia on Saturday.
Jul 3, 13:25
Belgium's Eden Hazard "not afraid" of facing Argentina star Lionel Messi
Eden Hazard insists that Belgium are "not afraid" of Lionel Messi ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
Jul 3, 11:22
On this day: Germany thrash Argentina at World Cup
On this day in 2010, Germany thrashed Argentina 4-0 to progress through to the semi-finals of the World Cup in South Africa.
Jul 3, 09:59
Diego Maradona: 'Lionel Messi has not been given enough help'
Diego Maradona believes that Lionel Messi is being relied on too heavily by his Argentina teammates.
Jul 3, 03:59
Pablo Zabaleta: 'Argentina are lucky to have Lionel Messi'
Pablo Zabaleta believes that Argentina are lucky to have a player like Lionel Messi who they can rely on in matches.
Jul 3, 03:09
Thibaut Courtois: 'Lionel Messi is unpredictable'
Thibaut Courtois admits that studying the "unpredictable" Lionel Messi does not have an impact ahead of their clash in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Jul 3, 02:24
Vincent Kompany confident of Argentina scalp
Belgium captain Vincent Kompany invites quarter-final opponents Argentina to attack them and feels that an open game would give the Europeans a great chance of victory.
Jul 2, 19:15
Josep Bartomeu: 'Lionel Messi will lead Barcelona renovation'
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu says that Lionel Messi "will lead the renovation" at the Catalan outfit next season.
Jul 2, 18:43
World Cup quarter-finals: Four talking points
Sports Mole picks out the main talking points from each of the four World Cup quarter-finals.
Jul 2, 11:47
