Lionel Messi struck another trademark free-kick as Barcelona moved to within a one point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Lionel Messi's prodigious talent is matched by his startling humility, which he displayed again on Thursday by denying that Barcelona's fate is determined by his presence in the team.

Lionel Messi plays down the seriousness of a hamstring injury which forced him to come home early from international duty with Argentina.

Considered as the best football player in the world and rated by many in the sport as the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, the La Pulga Atomica gets leveled by his teammates as Barcelona enjoy their bout of bubble soccer.

Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after a court in Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a statement from the court said on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi will bid to gild his legacy as the greatest footballer of his generation here Sunday by ending Argentina's 23-year wait for a major title in a dream final against holders Chile in the Copa America Centenario.

La Liga (LFP) president Javier Tebas has warned that the departures of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively could seriously damage future TV rights deals for the Primera Division.

For this weekend, Neymar and Suarez must prove Barcelona can win El Clasico without the rivalry's all-time top scorer Lionel Messi.