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Lionel Messi

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Edin Dzeko, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Golden oldies’ World Cup: How these ageing stars are still going strong at 40

Not since 1994 has an outfield player aged 40 or older appeared at the tournament. Eight editions and 32 years later, a high-profile trio are set to join the club.

  • Emma Kemp

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Shakira performing at the Global Citizen Festival in September 2025 in New York.

Pop star Shakira wins $90 million payout in court victory over Spanish government

The decision follows years of tax troubles in Spain for the Colombian superstar.

Disgruntled fans vandalise stadium chairs as they run on to the field after failing to get a glimpse of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi.

Angry India fans rip up seats, storm pitch after Messi makes brief appearance

Fans threw ripped-up seats and other objects onto the field, while several people climbed a fence around the field and hurled objects.

  • Reuters
Lionel Messi at the World Cup in 2022.

Socceroos offered rematch with Messi’s Argentina … in India

An independent promoter is in talks to facilitate a third showdown between Australia and the reigning world champions – and, again, it could take place on neutral territory.

  • Vince Rugari
Lionel Messi and World Cup in 2022.

How Messi’s magic is powering the Pumas in Townsville

When Argentina’s rugby players take the field against the Wallabies on Saturday, they will have their nation’s world champion soccer stars in their corner.

  • Jonathan Drennan
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Aziz Behich in February 2024.

Wait for the ‘Siuuu’: What Melbourne City’s captain learnt from Cristiano Ronaldo

Aziz Behich is ‘straight out of Meadow Heights’ in Melbourne’s working class north. He dreams of leading his team to A-League glory in his home town.

  • Roy Ward
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GOAT Lionel Messi

Nobody else comes close to this GOAT. I know – I saw his genius

Who is the greatest of them all, and how do you measure greatness anyway? Vince Rugari continues our series on the sporting GOATs, before we reveal our top 50.

  • Vince Rugari
Soccer megastar Lionel Messi was a no-show.

One of America’s highest honours was bestowed on a sporting megastar. He didn’t show up

The sporting icon was on Joe Biden’s Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient list, which was stocked with old-guard icons and political backers.

  • Michael D. Shear and Zach Montague
Usain Bolt celebrates as he wins the men’s 200-metre final  at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The greatest athlete of the 21st century? Bolt runs away with it

ESPN’s American-centric list of the top 100 athletes of this century is a blatant attempt to bait hopeless chumps into pointless arguments – so let’s join in.

  • Malcolm Knox
Lionel Messi capped his remarkable career with Argentina’s third World Cup triumph in Qatar in December.

Messi’s World Cup provides a different portrait of the world’s greatest footballer

Lionel Messi, like Diego Maradona before him, is a totem of worship in Argentina, especially after winning the 2022 World Cup.

  • Craig Mathieson