Growing up, Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi confessed that he had one player he deeply admired and idolised, openly admitting that he "loved him."

Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or last year at age 36. We take a trip down memory lane and remember the five oldest players to win the prestigious award.

Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami after his injury layoff and scored just two minutes after entering as a second-half substitute in his team's 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Lionel Messi made an immediate impact for Inter Miami in a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. Messi returned to the lineup and scored less than two minutes after subbing into the Saturday's match early in the second half.

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian professional footballer and captain of Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. He is considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. He has also played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Could Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi really join forces at Inter Miami? Unpack the rumors and realities behind football’s most tantalizing "what-if."

Lionel Messi during his Barcelona prime predictably features prominently in the 10 players that have notched the most assists in a single season since 2000, but who else makes the top 10? Playmaking has become a more polished role and fans place great importance on ‘assist figures’ as a way to decide who are the most creative individuals.

In a triumphant return, Lionel Messi scored quickly to secure a 2-1 victory for Inter Miami, putting them in first place in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.

We’ve broken down the two rivals’ numbers, including goals and assists, over their past 100 appearances for club and country. Ronaldo’s last 100 appearances go back to Augus