Lionel Messi

Argentina’s 1-0 defeat at home to Paraguay on Tuesday was a massively damning result for La Albiceleste. Most evidently, it left Argentina in fifth place in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, one point out of the automatic qualification places. While there’s still time to move up the table, there’s also the worrying reality that both Paraguay and Chile are immediately behind them in the table, ready to knock them out of the 2018 World Cup entirely.

GL!!!

In celebration of Lionel Messi’s status as the greatest number 10 of all-time, sorry Maradona, Adidas have released an extremely limited edition boot in commemoration of his career.

First things first, people. Lionel Messi is not going anywhere...any time soon, at least.

According to reports from Diario Gol, the Argentinian superstar is pushing for an escape clause in his new contract with FC Barcelona that would allow him to leave for Newell's Old Boys – his boyhood club in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina – presumably sometime in the future. 

Former non-league players Shaun Whiter and Joey Abbs were changing a tire when they were hit in a hit-and-run incident. Whiter lost both his legs and Abbs sufferes serious leg injuries.

The pair got help in their recovery effort from an unlikely source: the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.

Messi donated a signed shirt to be auctioned off when ambridge United host a Football Family Day on October 9.

Francesco Totti is an icon, having played for Roma for the entirety of his lengthy and successful career. Totti is in his last season for Roma, and he turned 40 years old Tuesday. Lionel Messi, the current best player in the world, sent Totti a nice message.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid tied 1-1 at the Camp Nou in a very well-played soccer game that was overshadowed by the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, going off with an injury.

Ivan Rakitic scored a header from a corner kick for Barcelona and Angel Correa took advantage of a Javier Mascherano slip for Atletico Madrid, but the real story was Messi's injury in the second half, which will keep the reigning World Player of the Year out for around three weeks.

In the intense and sometimes ruthless environment that is modern day soccer, depth is no longer a unique trait that teams can do without. It is a necessity. Unfortunately for Barcelona, they were one of the latest and greatest examples of this new reality. 

Last season was shaping up to be one of the best for the Blaugrana, with their striking trio on top form and the rest of the starting XI playing their part. However, by Barca’s ridiculously high standards, things didn’t necessarily go to plan over the final few months of the season.