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Collective sport, individual conclusions
After Argentina's World Cup elimination, Lionel Messi is sure to be judged harshly - whether he deserves it or not
Saturday 30 June: Back to the False Nine?
With Lionel Messi apparently set to return to his old position against France, we review the pros and cons
Wednesday 27 June: Argentina-Nigeria reaction
Reviewing a night which kept Argentina's World Cup hopes alive as Messi shone - with some help
Tuesday 26 June: Just play, Leo. Just play
Why Messi needs to stop the noise and forget everything in Tuesday's game against Nigeria
Monday 25 June Nigeria: Messi's favourite opponents
Learn about Lionel Messi's happy personal history against his opponents in Tuesday's crunch clash
Wednesday 20 June: Another Messi solo show against Croatia?
Looking ahead to Argentina's crunch clash as Jorge Sampaoli plans significant changes in the hope of supporting Messi
Monday 18 June 2018: The Quest Continues
Lionel Messi's penalty miss against Iceland was the latest in a long line of setbacks. Now he's ready to bounce back
Saturday 16 June: ANALYSIS: Messi's miserable half-hour against Iceland
Reflecting on a hugely frustrating start to the World Cup for Messi, who is now under more pressure than ever
Friday 15 June: Is this Messi's World Cup?
Just a few hours before Argentina's opening fixture, we answer the question the whole world is asking: can he do it?
Wednesday 13 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #7
The last in our series of Messi's World Cup memories recalls a dream turned into a nightmare
Wednesday 13 June: What Messi needs
Even Lionel Messi can't do everything by himself. Here's the help he will need from his Argentina teammates.
Tuesday 12 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #6
Our series of Messi's World Cup highlights with a joyous night in the 2014 semi-final
Tuesday 12 June: Dybala's challenge: replace Messi
Explaining why the Juventus star has a major role to play from the bench in Russia
Tuesday 12 June: Aguero heavily backed to start
Voters on our Twitter poll were in no doubt about the identity of Argentina's starting striker.
Monday 11 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #5
Was this Lionel Messi's greatest World Cup moment so far?
Sunday 10 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #4
An occasion Messi would rather forget as Argentina suffered humiliation in 2010.
Saturday 9 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #3
Recalling Messi's first big win as a starter at the World Cup Finals.
Friday 8 June: Where are the Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup stories?
Everyone is asking whether Messi will win the World Cup. Nobody is asking the same about Ronaldo. Why?
Friday 8 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #2
A daily review of Messi's key World Cup memories. Today: how his first tournament ended.
Thursday 7 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #1
The start of a new series, a daily review of Messi's most important World Cup moments, starts at the very beginning...
Thursday 7 June: Messi's Palestine quotes: the truth
Dissecting how thousands of people were tricked into believing fictional quotes after the Israel-Argentina game was cancelled.
Monday 4 June: Messi, Palestine and Israel
Messi finds himself dragged into the middle of a divisive political issue as the Argentine FA chases dollar signs.
SEE OLDER STORIES IN OUR ARCHIVE
After Argentina's World Cup elimination, Lionel Messi is sure to be judged harshly - whether he deserves it or not
Saturday 30 June: Back to the False Nine?
With Lionel Messi apparently set to return to his old position against France, we review the pros and cons
Wednesday 27 June: Argentina-Nigeria reaction
Reviewing a night which kept Argentina's World Cup hopes alive as Messi shone - with some help
Tuesday 26 June: Just play, Leo. Just play
Why Messi needs to stop the noise and forget everything in Tuesday's game against Nigeria
Monday 25 June Nigeria: Messi's favourite opponents
Learn about Lionel Messi's happy personal history against his opponents in Tuesday's crunch clash
Wednesday 20 June: Another Messi solo show against Croatia?
Looking ahead to Argentina's crunch clash as Jorge Sampaoli plans significant changes in the hope of supporting Messi
Monday 18 June 2018: The Quest Continues
Lionel Messi's penalty miss against Iceland was the latest in a long line of setbacks. Now he's ready to bounce back
Saturday 16 June: ANALYSIS: Messi's miserable half-hour against Iceland
Reflecting on a hugely frustrating start to the World Cup for Messi, who is now under more pressure than ever
Friday 15 June: Is this Messi's World Cup?
Just a few hours before Argentina's opening fixture, we answer the question the whole world is asking: can he do it?
Wednesday 13 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #7
The last in our series of Messi's World Cup memories recalls a dream turned into a nightmare
Wednesday 13 June: What Messi needs
Even Lionel Messi can't do everything by himself. Here's the help he will need from his Argentina teammates.
Tuesday 12 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #6
Our series of Messi's World Cup highlights with a joyous night in the 2014 semi-final
Tuesday 12 June: Dybala's challenge: replace Messi
Explaining why the Juventus star has a major role to play from the bench in Russia
Tuesday 12 June: Aguero heavily backed to start
Voters on our Twitter poll were in no doubt about the identity of Argentina's starting striker.
Monday 11 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #5
Was this Lionel Messi's greatest World Cup moment so far?
Sunday 10 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #4
An occasion Messi would rather forget as Argentina suffered humiliation in 2010.
Saturday 9 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #3
Recalling Messi's first big win as a starter at the World Cup Finals.
Friday 8 June: Where are the Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup stories?
Everyone is asking whether Messi will win the World Cup. Nobody is asking the same about Ronaldo. Why?
Friday 8 June: Messi Mundial Memories: #2
A daily review of Messi's key World Cup memories. Today: how his first tournament ended.
Thursday 7 June: Messi's Mundial Memories: #1
The start of a new series, a daily review of Messi's most important World Cup moments, starts at the very beginning...
Thursday 7 June: Messi's Palestine quotes: the truth
Dissecting how thousands of people were tricked into believing fictional quotes after the Israel-Argentina game was cancelled.
Monday 4 June: Messi, Palestine and Israel
Messi finds himself dragged into the middle of a divisive political issue as the Argentine FA chases dollar signs.
SEE OLDER STORIES IN OUR ARCHIVE