Mates, mate and freedom - how Argentina got the best out of Messi
Guillem Balague examines how the Argentina squad is built around Lionel Messi as they prepare to play against England in the World Cup semi-finals.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"The best moments of all, by far, are celebrations of the group. I coach for this, not because I like a 4-3-3."
— Lionel Scaloni , Athlete
Key People
Lionel Messi is a renowned Argentine soccer player, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Lionel Scaloni is the head coach of the Argentina national soccer team.
Rodrigo De Paul is an Argentine professional footballer known for his role as a midfielder.
Locations
All Coverage
Guillem Balague examines how the Argentina squad is built around Lionel Messi as they prepare to play against England in the World Cup semi-finals.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Palmer signs new Chelsea contract until 2034
Cole Palmer signs a new Chelsea contract on improved terms until 2034, one of the longest active deals in the Premier League.
October 10, 2026 at 09:51 AMDelight for Scotland's Cuthbert after long summer of recovery
Erin Cuthbert expresses joy and relief at making her first appearance of the season in Scotland's impressive 2-0 win over Czech Republic.
October 10, 2026 at 08:28 AMRaphinha's brilliant Barcelona start interrupted by injury concerns
Raphinha will miss Barcelona's next two fixtures after returning from international break with an injury.
October 10, 2026 at 08:27 AMWho am I? Plus today's other quizzes
Test your ball knowledge against today's Who Am I?, Five in Five and Brainteaser.
October 10, 2026 at 05:28 AMRenshaw century puts Australia on top against South Africa - scorecard
Latest scorecard from the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban.
October 10, 2026 at 12:00 AMArteta's conscience clear over Man City charges
Mikel Arteta says his conscience is clear over Manchester City's rule breaches during a period when he was assistant manager at the club.
October 9, 2026 at 09:30 PM