‘MSN’ to ‘MSD’: What Dembélé can bring Barcelona

‘MSN’ to ‘MSD’: What Dembélé can bring Barcelona

Barcelona fans mourning the end of the club's 'MSN' strike force are now hoping for great things from the 'MSD' following Ousmane Dembélé's move from Borussia Dortmund. Together, Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar thrilled football fans around the globe while shattering goalscoring records, but their reign of terror drew to a close this summer when Neymar departed for Paris Saint-Germain.Already a big hit in France thanks to his jaw-dropping tricks and eye for goal, the Brazil forward was always going to be difficult to replace, yet Barça believe their new-look front three can strike fear into defences across Europe.

How Lionel Messi Really Feels About Cristiano Ronaldo, Their Soccer Rivalry

Share this: Lionel Messi is setting the record straight about Cristiano Ronaldo. The FC Barcelona and Argentina superstar hailed his Real Madrid and Portugal counterpart Thursday, describing Ronaldo to China’s Tencent as an enduring soccer sensation, according to The Telegraph. “He is a phenomenal player who has many qualities that year after year he improves and that is why he is one of the best in the world,” Messi said. He also clarified the nature of their storied rivalry. Rather than representing bitter enemies, Messi and Ronaldo drive each other to higher peaks. “That thing about our rivalry is something more invented by the press than by us,” he said. “What we want is to do our best every year, to do the best for

Graham Hunter on an ‘unbelievable’ night in Barcelona

Graham Hunter on an ‘unbelievable’ night in Barcelona

Football can be so stunningly unbelievable, when it is played like this, that people use the phrase: "There are no words!" But there are. They tumble out of you, but it is how to pack in all the visual images and in which order to put them.Lionel Messi running in the opposite direction to his team-mates when the definitive, sixth, goal went in and leaping up on to the wall behind the goal to celebrate, without any trace of restraint, in the arms of dozens of Barcelona supporters after the Liga leaders had overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit.

Denis delights Barcelona, Benfica’s cup runs dry

Denis delights Barcelona, Benfica’s cup runs dry

THURSDAY Barcelona 5-2 Real Sociedad, agg: 6-2 (Denis Suárez 17 82, Messi 55, Luis Suárez 63, Arda 80; Juanmi 62, Willian José 73)With a fifth straight win in all competitions, Barcelona built on a 1-0 first leg lead to march on to the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Denis Suárez, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez all scored for the second game in succession, having also found the target in Sunday's 4-0 Liga success at Eibar. The Argentinian has scored at least once in nine of his last

Barcelona, Juventus and Paris march on

Barcelona, Juventus and Paris march on

WEDNESDAYBarcelona 3-1 Athletic Club, agg: 4-3 (Suárez 35, Neymar 48p, Messi 78; Saborit 51)Lionel Messi's free-kick 12 minutes from time took Barcelona into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals over the next two midweeks after the holders overturned their first-leg deficit. Luis Suárez's 100th goal for Barcelona, in only his 120th appearance, put them ahead on away goals and Neymar converted a penalty which he won himself to edge his team in front on aggregate. Enric Saborit replied and extra time loomed before Messi joined his attacking colleagues on the scoresheet.

Cristiano Ronaldo crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player

Cristiano Ronaldo crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player

Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a clean sweep of major individual awards this season after being voted The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016 at a ceremony in Zurich.A month ago Ronaldo, 31, reclaimed the Ballon d'Or from Lionel Messi and in August was handed the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for a second time. Cristiano Ronaldo: My Portugal storyThose accolades were recognition for a memorable year in which Ronaldo lifted the UEFA Champions League before captaining his country to a first international... UEFA.com - News

Barcelona beaten by nine-man Athletic

Barcelona beaten by nine-man Athletic

THURSDAY Athletic Club 2-1 Barcelona (Aduriz 25, Williams 28; Messi 52)Having beaten Athletic 3-1 in the 2015 Copa del Rey final, Barcelona – winners in each of the last two campaigns – must come from behind to progress to this season's quarter-finals. The home side took the initiative in the first half of their last-16 tie at San Mamés thanks to two goals in four minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Iñaki Williams, before Lionel Messi's free-kick reduced the arrears soon after half-time. Athletic lost Raúl García