Martina Alcheva

Lionel Messi’s name is already on everyone’s lips, but the biggest question—Is the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner playing?—remains shrouded in deliberate mystery, even as the world champions conclude a year of relentless preparation.

As France swept aside Ukraine and sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the story was not only about the victory, nor the history made, but about the bold challenge the 26-year-old issued to himself.

As news spread that he had withdrawn from the national-team camp and returned to Madrid, the question pivoted sharply: problems for France, Mbappe injured—what exactly is going on?

The USMNT captain has once again found himself at the center of a debate involving three of the biggest names in American soccer history — Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, and Landon Donovan.

The Argentine, who had given two decades of his life to the Catalan giant, always hinted that his story at Camp Nou was unfinished. And for a brief, electrifying moment in 2023, that fairytale seemed within reach again — until it wasn’t.

Speculative reports linked him not just to Tottenham and AC Milan, but even to Barcelona. However, while Milan has reportedly seriously monitored the situation, Son is already preparing to extinguish the noise.

While fans in Italy are celebrating his recovery, supporters of the U.S. men’s national team were left asking why their captain was omitted from the November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay.

Could the man who left in tears in 2021 return for one last dance in the Blaugrana shirt? Could Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s new coach, be the man to bring him back?

Ousmane Dembele’s name has been conspicuously absent from France’s squad list ahead of their 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Ukraine at the Parc des Princes — and fans are wondering why.

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham — three of the club’s brightest stars — have found themselves at the heart of growing tensions inside the dressing room under manager Xabi Alonso.

The Polish striker’s agent, however, has now stepped forward with a decisive two-word claim that has silenced the speculation, for now.

This week, Joan Laporta—the president who oversaw Messi’s emotional exit—sparked fresh controversy after making a bombshell seven-word confession about that painful chapter, one that has reignited internal tensions and provoked demands from within the club’s board for “the real reason” behind the Argentine’s departure.

The Argentine icon's reported stance on a possible comeback has been revealed, and though a reunion could still happen, it comes with one very specific condition.

The Barcelona chief shared an emotional eight-word reaction that perfectly captured the essence of Messi’s relationship with the club, while also giving a much-awaited update on the long-promised farewell tribute to the club’s greatest ever player.

The image of Messi standing inside the partially renovated stadium reignited dreams that had never really faded among the Catalan faithful. But Joan Laporta had a very different message in mind, one that would leave no room for imagination.