Lionel Messi is expected to stay in European football at least until 2024, despite reports he is close to agreeing a deal to join MLS club Inter Miami next year.

Sky Sports News has been told that Messi is not close to a new agreement with any club – including his current team Paris Saint-Germain, who want to keep him beyond his current deal which expires in 2023.

However, remaining at PSG is Messi’s first option and the French club are understood to have approached him about entering negotiations over an extension.

Messi is concentrating on the World Cup with Argentina so will not consider his future options formally until January, when he can also speak to other top clubs outside France.

The 35-year-old believes he still has more years left in him at the top European level, having settled and impressed further in his second season at PSG.

Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has made no secret of his desire to bring Messi back to the Nou Camp, if they can afford him, stating earlier this month: “Leo knows that Barcelona is always his home.”

The MLS is an interesting option for Messi in the future, having spoken openly about wanting to play there in the past, but Sky Sports News has been told this is unlikely to be a destination for him until at least 2024 or even 2025.

And – despite reports they are confident of landing the Argentina star and close to agreeing a deal – his MLS destination is by no means assured to be David Beckham’s Inter Miami either at this stage.

Messi: Another World Cup starts for Argentina

Messi restored some faith in Argentina’s bid for what will be his last World Cup on Saturday, scoring in a 2-0 win over Mexico in their second Group C game, following the shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.

The goal was Messi’s eighth at a World Cup, taking him level with the legendary Diego Maradona, putting him just two shy of Argentina’s record World Cup goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta.

Messi said the win has signalled Argentina’s arrival at the World Cup, insisting the only way now is forward.

“Another World Cup starts for Argentina,” Messi said.

“I tell people the same thing, that they continue to believe. Today we did what we had to do.

“We had no other choice. We had to win so that we depended only on ourselves.

“The first half we didn’t play as we should and in the second, when we calmed down, we started to play the ball better and after the goal we went back to being what we are.”

Messi will hope to secure Argentina’s passage to the knockout stages when they play Poland in their final World Cup Group C match on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi’s superb long-range strike helped revive Argentina’s flagging World Cup hopes as they claimed a crucial 2-0 win over Mexico at the Lusail Stadium.

Argentina came into the game knowing defeat would mean elimination after their shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia and they laboured again until Messi’s 65th-minute intervention.

The 35-year-old, playing at what is expected to be his last World Cup, picked up Angel Di Maria’s pass outside the box and arrowed a precise shot into the bottom corner to break the deadlock in a scrappy and ill-tempered encounter.

Messi then turned provider as Argentina made the game safe three minutes from time, his pass finding substitute Enzo Fernandez who cut inside and curled a sumptuous finish past Guillermo Ochoa.

The victory looked unlikely at times during a game disrupted by constant fouls and featuring little in the way of quality, but it takes Argentina up to second in Group C, a point behind Poland, who they face in their final game as they bid to clinch their place in the last 16.

“Today another World Cup starts for Argentina,” Messi said after the game. “I tell people the same thing, that they continue to believe. Today we did what we had to do.

“We had no other choice. We had to win so that we depended only on ourselves.

“The first half we didn’t play as we should and in the second, when we calmed down, we started to play the ball better and after the goal we went back to being what we are.”

How Argentina emerged victorious

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had sought to shake things up following the Saudi Arabia defeat, making five changes to his team, with Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister among those included.

But there was no sign of improvement in a dire first half, with Messi unable to influence proceedings and Lautaro Martinez cutting an isolated figure ahead of him as Argentina, flat and disjointed, picked up where they left off in Tuesday’s game.

Mexico looked more threatening in the first period, but, like Argentina, they struggled to produce any real moments of quality, with an Alexis Vega free-kick, comfortably saved by Emi Martinez, the only effort on target from either side before the interval.

There was more of the same after the break despite the crackling atmosphere inside the ground, with a wayward Messi free kick seemingly summing up his evening as he struggled to spark.

It all changed, though, when he finally found himself in a pocket of space around 25 yards from goal, taking a touch to control Di Maria’s pass before rifling an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

The goal sparked wild celebrations among Argentina’s players and fans and there was another outpouring of relief when substitute Fernandez ran onto Messi’s pass following a corner and dispatched a sublime finish from the left-hand side of the box.

Mexico offered little in response, registering only four shots over the course of the game, leaving Argentina to celebrate a victory that maintains their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.

What it means in Group C

Having avoided a defeat to Mexico which would have ended their World Cup participation, Argentina have their Group C destiny in their own hands again. Victory against Poland on Wednesday night will guarantee not only their progression but also put them in pole position to advance as group winners – to deny them top spot in that scenario, Saudi Arabia would not only need to beat Mexico but also win by a larger margin than Argentina.

Poland will progress if they avoid defeat to Argentina – a win would guarantee their progression as group winners – while a draw for Saudi Arabia against Mexico and a defeat for Poland would only see the Saudis qualify if Poland lose heavily.

As for Mexico, they have to beat Saudi Arabia to have any hope of qualifying. A win for Mexico and a defeat for Argentina against Poland would definitely be sufficient for Mexico to finish as runners-up while a win for Mexico and a draw between Argentina and Poland would see the two South American teams finish level on points and runners-up status determined by goal difference.

Keane: Moments of quality won it

Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane told ITV: “As these great players get older, it’s all about moments and that bit of end product. We’ve talked about Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo recently, the finish was brilliant, but other than that he was very average.

“But he produced that moment. He’s now got two goals in two games and considering people are saying he’s almost finished, you can’t write these players off.

“In the second half, I was looking at Argentina thinking ‘what kind of characters have you got, because you’re up against it’, but they turned it around. They found a way to win the game with two bits of quality.

“Credit to the manager, he made changes before the game and just as important, made changes during the game. They got the job done and they’ll be feeling a lot better tonight.”

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville credited Argentina’s switch to five at the back as another key factor in the victory.

“In the first half, I couldn’t see a way for Argentina in terms of the overall competition,” he said on ITV.

“But I liked it when they went to five at the back, they did it at the start of the second half by dropping one of the midfield players in, but then they bought Romero on.

“All of a sudden, they looked a lot more aggressive and the three in midfield had a lot more energy.

“Then with Alvarez and Messi up front as a two, you can build from a solid foundation and have the players up front who can actually deliver in moments, which is how Argentina are going to win this tournament if they’re going to do it.”

Analysis: Messi still a game-changer

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Lionel Messi had endured a deeply frustrating evening at the Lusail Stadium, his struggles mirroring those of the Argentina team as a whole, but his sensational opening goal was a reminder he can still change a game in an instant.

Messi had floated on the periphery of a poor-quality encounter for the preceding hour, a wayward free kick early in the second half his only attempt on goal. But when his opportunity finally came, in a pocket of space just outside the box, he seized it.

The goal, guided into the bottom corner, was his 93rd for his country and his eighth at the World Cup, putting him level with Diego Maradona. It may prove to be one of his most significant too.

Argentina had been awful until that moment but their belief gradually returned after it and when the second goal came it was no surprise to see Messi involved, the 35-year-old feeding Enzo Fernandez, whose stunning finish made the game safe.

Argentina’s work is not done. A difficult final group game against Poland awaits. They will need to show considerable improvement on this performance if they are to navigate it successfully and plot a route into the latter stages of the tournament.

But in Messi, they know they have a trump card, a player who, even at 35, is still capable of elevating them when they need it most. With the Saudi Arabia debacle now behind them, and with Messi chasing his World Cup destiny, Argentina can dream again.

Messi level with Maradona – Opta stats

• Lionel Messi has scored in six successive appearances for Argentina, his joint-longest ever scoring run in international football (also 6 between November 2011 – September 2012).
• Lionel Messi has now scored as many World Cup goals as Diego Maradona (8), with only Gabriel Batistuta (10) netting more for Argentina at the tournament overall.
• Since 1966, only Rivellino (5) has scored more World Cup goals from outside the box than Messi (4).
• Andres Guardado became just the sixth player to feature at five different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) and the third different Mexican to do so after Rafael Márquez and Antonio Carbajal.
• Argentina are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Mexico in all competitions (W8 D3) since a 1-0 loss in the 2004 Copa America.

France join England as statement makers

Are you watching Gareth Southgate?

The World Cup was waiting to see if any team could match England’s dismantling of Iran on the second day of the tournament. Reigning champions France have run them close at this early stage.

France had a shaky start by conceding early to Australia but the sign of champions is how you respond to setbacks. Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud turned on the style as they ran out 4-1 winners, but the whole team performance was equally impressive.

Theo Hernandez showed great efficiency off the bench and was France’s best attacker at times from left-back. Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni were an unstoppable pivot at times as they ran Australia ragged.

It was far from a perfect performance from France, but neither was England’s. In fact, there are very similar trends between the two teams so far in this tournament.

While England’s depth off the bench was noted by their substitutes, it was the replacements France did not use – the likes of Saliba, Raphael Varane and Eduardo Camavinga – which helps their case for back-to-back triumphs.

England will face France in the quarter-final should both teams win their group and their last-16 encounter. It is already a possible blockbuster clash to bookmark for December 10.
Sam Blitz

Is Mbappe the best in the world? It feels like it when you watch him…

The four World Cup games on Tuesday stretched across the day. In the morning, we saw one epic era beginning to fade. In the night, we saw the star of the next generation shining bright.

Lionel Messi is not done yet and it would be foolish to write off his Argentina. His country recovered from the shock of defeat to Cameroon back in 1990 to reach the World Cup final and, after the underwhelming afternoon fare between Mexico and Poland, there is a strong chance this group will still make it into the knockouts.

But the emphatic display from France, and Mbappe in particular, in the final match of the day was irresistible. Messi may be searching for one final triumph with Argentina but Mbappe is riding the rocket to the skies.

The flying forward gave his markers – and there were often two of them – a torrid time down that left flank.

A blur of brilliance, Mbappe fired off seven shots – the most by any player at this tournament so far – and sent in a game-high nine crosses, including the centre for Giroud’s second. His clever flick had already helped Rabiot set up the target man for his first.

Mbappe scored himself with a towering header and it seemed a good example of his completeness. Four years ago he was a remarkable but raw talent. Now he is the leader of this hugely-talented French side, knows his strengths and believes in his ability.

“Kylian has been one of the best players in the world for some time now,” said France boss Didier Deschamps afterwards. But when you see him play like this, it is hard to think Mbappe does not rank inside the top one.
Peter Smith

Underrated Giroud takes his place in the record books

When Karim Benzema stated a few years ago he was a Formula One car and Giroud was a go-kart in comparison it highlighted a rather unfair perception of Giroud across football. Perhaps he is not in the absolute elite bracket of Ballon d’Or winners such as his compatriot but this is a player who has put together a formidable career.

A Champions League winner at Chelsea, where he also won a Europa League and FA Cup to go with the three FA Cups he won with Arsenal. League titles in France and Italy and of course that World Cup win with France four years ago. Individually there was the Puskas Award in 2017 for his iconic scorpion kick.

It is some CV and on Tuesday night Giroud added to it, with his two goals against Australia making him joint-top scorer in his country’s history, alongside Thierry Henry, with 51 strikes. He has a better strike-rate than Henry, too, and, for the record, is 14 clear of Benzema.

Perhaps a Premier League title would have elevated his status. And failing to score throughout Russia 2018 was an oddity. But those who watched him and certainly those who played with him will have appreciated his contribution in that competition, freeing up Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

The celebrations of the whole team when he headed in his record-equalling second against Australia underlined his popularity among Les Bleus.

At 36 years and 53 days he became the second oldest player to score a double at a World Cup. It follows a 2021/22 season where he helped fire AC Milan to their first title in over a decade.

In these final laps of his career, Giroud keeps on delivering. When the chequered flag waves on his career he will have a legacy which demands respect.
Peter Smith

Fearless Green Falcons tear Group C wide open

Lionel Messi looked shell-shocked at the final whistle. This may not yet be a defining defeat for Argentina’s World Cup hopes but it was a humbling story to send shockwaves around the world.

The little magician did not know where to turn. Surrounded at one point in stoppage time deep in Saudi Arabia’s penalty box, Messi ran out of ideas.

Quite where the second half came from is anyone’s guess. Argentina looked in total control and appeared unaffected by the three disallowed goals during a one-sided opening period.

No matter, we will score again soon – that was the misplaced sentiment. But the chances dried up. The emboldened Yasser Al-Shahrani alongside the imperious Hassan Al-Tambakti formed a wall as tall as the Jabal Sawda. On one occasion, Al-Tambakti celebrated a sliding tackle on Messi as though he had won the World Cup.

This was their final, but no nation in Group C will now fancy facing them in the coming days. After just a second World Cup win in 28 years, head coach Herve Renard will be confident of masterminding more success against Poland and Mexico.

Defensively, this was as close to perfection as you are likely to see as Lionel Scaloni threw on Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez. It was some forward line by the end – garnishing players from Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Inter Milan – but the nation ranked outside of the world’s top 50 would not be beaten.

Al-Shahrani was forced off with a sickening head injury in stoppage time but his heroics had epitomised these fearless Falcons as a collective. The group has well and truly been ripped wide open.
Ben Grounds

‘Deserved’ defeat leaves Argentina’s World Cup hopes in the balance

Argentina were on the end of one of the greatest shocks in the history of the World Cup after losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C clash on Tuesday, but perhaps the most worrying aspect of the defeat for one of the pre-tournament favourites was that it was no fluke by the underdogs.

Scaloni’s side arrived at Qatar 2022 unbeaten in their previous 36 matches, a run that included winning the 2021 Copa America, and with hopes high that Messi could finally get his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy.

Heading into half-time at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, everything was going according to plan as far as Messi and co were concerned, leading 1-0, and yet less than 10 minutes into the second half, they found themselves trailing.

But as much as they huffed and puffed, Argentina never really threatened to blow the opposition house down thereafter as they showed a worrying lack of invention and imagination when trying to break down the massed ranks of Saudi defenders.

“Argentina were very, very close to breaking the all-time record for the number of games unbeaten, 36, and no one in Argentina was expecting this result,” South American football expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports News after the game.

“But it ended up being deserved, this is not one of those fluke underdog wins and it is one of the all-time great World Cup results. There was a worry in Argentina that things had been going too well and that things would go wrong when they mattered most, but no one imagined it going wrong today.”

The two-time winners are not out of the tournament by any stretch of the imagination, however, they cannot afford any more slip-ups in their remaining two group contests against Mexico and Poland.
Richard Morgan

Australia have enough heart to progress

Not many fancied Australia to produce a result against France. Pre-match, many analysts could only point to Saudi Arabia’s shock win over Argentina as a reason why they could, without discussing the Socceroos’ own plus points.

But in the opening quarter, it looked like Graham Arnold’s side were set for another shock. France were rattled, Australia were comfortable and confident. It had all the makings of a positive outcome.

In the end, the quality came through. Arnold could only admit that France were “bigger, faster and stronger” than his side. While they dominated the opening exchanges, the overall momentum looked a lot more negative.

But the heart they showed in the first half shows they do have enough to get out of this group. Only the woodwork denied them, namely Jackson Irvine, an equaliser for 2-2. Harry Souttar, Nathaniel Atkinson and Riley McGree did not look out of place at this level, while Garang Kuol showed some nice touches after coming on.

Furthermore, Denmark and Tunisia showed earlier in the day that France are the standout team in this group.

Apply the same heart showed against France in their next two games, Australia could come away with six points and a spot in the knockout rounds.
Sam Blitz

Stars don’t win games, teams do

One of the tournament’s highly-rated teams Denmark failed to make a winning start due to a flat performance, which relied on star players, especially Christian Eriksen to save the day.

While Denmark edged possession, and had almost double the completed number of passes, Tunisia were dogged, staying in the game through tenacious pursuit of the ball and chances. No wonder Ellyes Skhiri ran the highest distance (13.16km) and the young Hannibal had the highest average speed (8kph). Tunisia had the ball in the back of the net at one point too.

Player-of-the-match, Tunisia’s Aissa Laidouni speaking after the game, demonstrated the proactive Tunisian mindset. He said: “We didn’t come to get a draw. We wanted to get the win, and I think we did have chances for that, but at the end of the day we’re happy with the draw.”

Tunisia’s performance, like Saudi Arabia, reflected the ever-emerging pattern in this World Cup so far, however obvious it might seem, that stars don’t win games, teams do.

Yes, Tunisia didn’t win this one, but a draw against Denmark will certainly feel like victory.
Adam s

Toothless Mexico draw another blank

Argentina’s shock defeat to Saudi Arabia earlier on Tuesday blew Group C wide open but it was also a result that seemed to encourage Mexico and Poland to play it safe when they met in Doha.

Mexico had more possession and more shots but never truly threatened the scoresheet – something that has been a recurring theme in recent seasons.

Gerardo Martino’s side have only scored 18 goals in their 18 matches in 2022, while Alexis Vega – who started on the left of Mexico’s front three – is their top scorer this calendar year with just four goals.

Mexico did not set the world alight in CONCACAF qualifying either, coming through the eight-team section in second place after scoring 17 times and conceding only eight in 14 matches.

Their goalless draw with Poland has also extended an unwanted record at World Cups, with Mexico now failing to score in each of their last three matches at the tournament.

Saturday’s encounter with Argentina would be a perfect time for Mexico to find their shooting boots. If Martino can guide his side to victory against his former employers, they will not only give themselves an excellent chance of reaching the last 16, but also potentially eliminate one of the favourites from the tournament.
Joe Shread

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As Lionel Messi prepares for what he says may be his last World Cup, we look at the highs and lows of his Argentina career…

Sent off on debut

By the time Messi made his Argentina debut, the hype around this exciting teenage talent was surging. After opting for Argentina over Spain, he had shone for the U20s, scoring twice in the U20 World Cup final in July 2005, and earned his first senior cap in an August friendly that year against Hungary as an 18-year-old. It ended in tears. Literally.

Sent on as a second-half sub, Messi was only on the field for a couple of minutes before he flung his arm at Vilmos Vanczak. The defender had grabbed a clump of Messi’s shirt as he darted past and the little forward had barely caught his opponent as he tried to break free. But while it was a yellow for the Hungarian, the referee brandished a red card at Messi. He was later found crying in the dressing room, or so the story goes.

For all of Messi’s prodigious ability, this was perhaps a symbolic moment hinting at the frustrations and obstacles Messi would later face on the international stage. Just like his debut, his international career hasn’t panned out quite how he would have dreamed it…

Olympic Games glory

For all the disappointment in Argentina colours, Messi does at least have an Olympic gold medal in his possession. In 2008, with Messi already a key player for Barcelona, he had initially been barred from playing in Beijing by his club as the tournament clashed with Champions League qualifiers. Fortunately for Messi and Argentina, new Barca boss Pep Guardiola saw it differently.

Guardiola, an Olympic champion himself, knew the importance of the competition to Messi and his countrymen and permitted him to go. Messi seized the chance – and the tournament, playing a key role in Argentina’s progress to the final, where he set up the only goal of the game against Nigeria. It is a victory he treasures.

“The Olympic gold in 2008 is the win that I value the most,” he told Spanish outlet Esquire. “It is a tournament that you may only play in once in your life and involves many athletes from different disciplines.”

World Cup 2014 final heartbreak

After no goals but heaps of criticism in South Africa 2010, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil seemed the perfect stage for Messi to finally lead Argentina to glory on the biggest stage. Wearing the captain’s armband, he set about leading from the front, scoring important goals in all three group games.

Come the knockouts, he turned provider, assisting a late extra-time winner against Switzerland and kicking off the move that led to the only goal of the game against Belgium. His assured penalty then set the tone in the semi-final shootout win over the Netherlands.

But come the final he could not inspire his team-mates to make the last step. “It’s very painful to lose in the manner that we did,” Messi said after Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner grabbed Germany victory.

Messi was controversially awarded the Golden Ball as best player at the tournament. “The prize doesn’t interest me at all,” he said, as he reflected on Argentina’s defeat. The Golden Ball was his but the golden opportunity to emulate Diego Maradona with a World Cup win had escaped Messi’s grasp.

More final defeats and short-lived retirement

“For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can,” said a disconsolate Messi as he announced his international retirement after Argentina’s 2016 Copa America final defeat by Chile.

In a repeat of the 2015 Copa America final, Argentina had once again lost to their South American neighbours on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate. Messi had delivered at vital moments in both competitions but after heartbreak in the 2007 edition of the competition and the previous World Cup, his record in major finals reads: four finals, four defeats.

The disappointment had become too much.

Messi has so often been the target for criticism from the demanding Argentina supporters, but now they campaigned for him to change his mind. It worked. Messi reversed his decision and scored in the 1-0 win on his return, a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. Re-motivated for one more tilt at major honours with his country, Messi set his sights on Russia 2018.

Hat-trick hero sets up another World Cup shot

Despite running to the finals of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas, Argentina were in severe danger of missing out on Russia 2018, continually suffering setbacks during the extended South American qualifying campaign. Would Argentina miss out for the first time since 1970?

Not if Messi had anything to do with it. The Argentina captain was at his brilliant best in the decisive clash with Ecuador. Argentina were behind with just 38 seconds on the clock but Messi came up with a match-winning hat-trick to secure the comeback win and book a place at the World Cup.

From the close-range opener to the edge-of-the-box drive and superb solo third, it was a masterclass in performing under pressure. “Luckily the nationality of the best player in the world is Argentinian,” said boss Jorge Sampaoli. Unfortunately for Sampaoli, Argentina and the main man himself, Messi was unable to haul a poor national side to success in Russia.

Silverware finally arrives

It must have felt like Groundhog Day when Argentina kicked off their 2019 Copa America campaign with a dispiriting 2-0 defeat to Colombia, and it needed a Messi penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against Paraguay in their second game too.

A routine win over guest participants Qatar took them through to the quarter-finals, even as Argentina saw off Venezuela 2-0 at the Maracana in Brazil, Messi was criticised for his underwhelming performances and lack of goals. “I am not playing my best Copa America or as I hoped to do,” he admitted afterwards.

His and Argentina’s timid performance in the final third continued as they were beaten 2-0 by hosts Brazil in the semi-finals, and though they rallied to seal third place, it was scant consolation with time running out for Messi to lift the trophy.

With the 2021 competition with Messi on the cusp of his 34th birthday, it really felt like now or never. An opening-game goal to earn a draw with Chile felt like an early answer to his critics from two years earlier.

Argentina won their group, with Messi on target twice more and becoming Argentina’s highest-capped player in the process.

The records continued to tumble; after cruising past Ecuador in the quarter-finals, Argentina took an early lead against Colombia in the last four through Messi’s cut-back for Lautaro Martinez. That took him to nine goal involvements in the competition, matching his best ever contribution at an international tournament.

That game would end up going to penalties but Messi held his nerve with his hopes of ever lifting the Copa America on the line – and so did his team-mates. Though he didn’t score in Argentina’s win over Brazil in the final he was named player of the tournament, having played a part in nine of their 12 goals – and more importantly, he finally had some major silverware to call his own.

“It was clear to me that I had to try until the last tournament and that I couldn’t withdraw from the national team without winning something,” he later told Diario Sport. A year later he would play an integral part in Argentina’s victory the inaugural Finalissima, beating Euro 2020 winners Italy 3-0.

That winners’ medal would pale into insignificance on his mantelpiece compared to that from the Copa America – but there still remains a World Cup-shaped gap ready to outshine that too.