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Defector

Tom Ley

Chicago Fire fans celebrate from the stands at SeatGeek Stadium on June 6, 2023 in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Chicago Fire Tries Bribing Fans To Attend Game Messi Might Not Play In

Billy Haisley

Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi and NY Red Bulls' Colombian defender #04 Andres Reyes (R) vie for the ball during the Major League Soccer 2023 match between Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull arena in Harrison, New Jersey, August 26, 2023.

Soccer

Everyone Wants To Watch Lionel Messi


<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 15: A fan holds a sign in the stands during the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals match between Inter Miami CF and Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Messi Was The Attraction, But The Philadelphia Union Were The Story

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami hoist the trophy with his teammates after defeating the Nashville SC to win the Leagues Cup 2023 final match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on August 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Lionel Messi Shared The Spotlight

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half during the Leagues Cup 2023 semifinals match between Inter Miami CF and Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

A Little Messi Goes A Long Way

Leo Messi control ball in the first half time at Toyota Stadium on August 6, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

Lionel Messi Has Earned His American Victory Lap

Samer Kalaf

Karim Benzema at his signing with Al Ittihad

Saudi Arabia’s Plan Is To Make A Better Version Of MLS

Albert Burneko

Lionel Messi Chooses Inter Miami

La Liga

Barcelona’s Pursuit Of Lionel Messi Is A Degrading Farce

Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on April 30, 2023 in Paris, France.

Lionel Messi’s PSG Vacation Has Fallen Apart

Ray Ratto

To Think Of Soccer Is To Think Of Pelé

Lionel Messi right winger of Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain with the World Cup trophy after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

The World Cup Belongs To The Dreamers

Lionel Messi of Argentina poses with his Golden ball award following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Lionel Messi Is Done Chasing Ghosts

Lionel Messi, Captain of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following his team's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina Went To Hell And Back To Win The World Cup

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi outpasses Croatia's defender #20 Josko Gvardiol during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022.

Lionel Messi Makes The Difference

09 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer, World Cup, Netherlands - Argentina, final round, quarterfinal, Lusail Stadium, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez cheers with teammates after winning the penalty shootout.

Emi Martínez Saved Argentina From Itself

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

Christian Pulisic (R) of USA struggle for the ball against Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina during the 2016 Copa America Centenario Semi-final match between USA vs Argentina at the NRG Stadium on June 21, 2016 in Houston, USA.

Lionel Messi And Christian Pulisic Should Trade Each Other For Their Transfer Rumors

Argentina's Lionel Messi (l) cheers with Argentina's Julian Alvarez (r) after his goal for 1:0.

Internationals

Argentina Saved Its World Cup, And Can Now Begin Again

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the trophy after winning the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lionel Messi And Argentina Are Ready For World Cup Glory

Neymar Jr of Brazil celebrates after scoring their side's third goal with his teammates Raphinha and Lucas Paqueta during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, France.

The World Cup Is South America’s To Win

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (R) celebrates with Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Clermont Foot 63 and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Gabriel Montpied in Clermont-Ferrand, central France on August 6, 2022.

If An Overhead Kick Is Scored In Paris, Does It Make A Sound?

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (L) celebrates with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe after scoring three goals during the French L1 football match between Clermont Foot 63 and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Gabriel-Montpied stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, on April 9, 2022.

PSG Is Such A Waste

Football players, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil's Kaka and Argentina's Lionel Messi pose during a press conference prior to the FIFA World Player Gala 2007 award ceremony 17 December 2007 in Zurich.