Messi began his youth career with Newell’s Old Boys, Rosario Central’s fiercest local rivals, which explains why the kid felt the need to declare his support (I guess he didn’t want anyone thinking he was a Real Madrid fan). Given all the witnesses to the incident, I’m sure there will be more on this to come.

However, Messi himself has stated to Ole and on his Facebook:
“About a supposed accident when leaving a restaurant, I just want to say I didn’t get any punch of anyone. I’m perfectly fine. They didn’t even touch me, I felt nothing. It was just afterwards I heard about the commotion. Nothing really happened. I’m surprised about all the commotion it has caused. Nonetheless thanks for your messages and your interest.”

According to police reports, the Barcelona star’s brother and mother, who was visiting at the time, narrowly avoided tragedy as bullets showered the house in an unexplained attack. Two men on a motorbike pulled up outside the house on the south side of Rosario and opened fire with a 9mm pistol, leaving at least eight bullet holes in the walls and gates as well as several in neighbouring properties, according to witnesses in the area.

Despite the hail of gunfire nobody inside the house was hurt, and the assailants took off immediately afterwards. The motives for the shooting are unknown, and Messi’s neighbours were quick to defend him and his family against any suggestion of unsavoury dealings. “The kids are all lovely, the sister-in law, the children, Messi’s brother, all lovely people,” one lady who didn’t wish to be identified told a local newspaper reporter. Another specified that the attack occurred around 11pm on Friday evening and her shop was hit three times, but nothing else happened. So far there has been no comment on the situation from the Messi family or Rosario police.

Lawyer Ricardo Giusepponi said Messi would take legal action against legislator Alfredo Olmedo because ‘he never consented’ to having his photo used in the campaign. The picture shows Lionel Messi hugging a legislator, with the slogan ‘Say yes to sport, say no to drugs.’

Ricardo Giusepponi said: ‘The photo may be a sham. It may have been taken at Ezeiza airport (in Buenos Aires), where Lionel is greeted by so many people. He certainly did not know who that person was and his position,’ ‘Lionel supports no one. He has nothing to do with party politics,’ “With the injunction want to know why they have done, and we reserve the right to initiate legal action,” the lawyer added.

The story came to light last Friday in Salta deputy campaign posters showing him with Lio Messi under the caption: “Yes the sports, not drugs. Olmedo governor.” “No one can act freely bandied about,” said Giusepponi, and clarified that the Barça star “is not triggering on partisan politics and is not supporting any candidate.” It also expressed “disappointment” that the appearance of the posters produced in the family of Lio Messi, whose father George was asked to initiate the judicial path

Dolce & Gabbana have previously dealt with football fashion, with the Italian national side and also club teams AC Milan and Chelsea. Past players to wear Dolce & Gabbana has included Cannavaro, Pirlo, Gattuso and Zambrotta, now it is turn of the best in Lionel Messi.

What do you think about this deal? Will it effect Messi’s on future clothing brand?

Meanwhile, Carlos Puyol believes that Inter Milan would struggle to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona after Inters president Massimo Moratti recently said he would like to recruit the Barcelona ace.

Carlos Puyol said: “I do not find it strange that they dream about signing him,” the Spain international told the club’s official website. “But I think it would be difficult. I hope that Leo never leaves Barca.”

The diminutive Argentina forward had been due to take part in a match at Hackney Marshes, home to hundreds of amateur football sides. Yet as he arrived by helicopter Messi was mobbed by excited fans – who had been tipped off about the event via Facebook – prompting security guards to pull the plug on the star’s scheduled appearance as a substitute.

Messi did appear at a subsequent football boot giveaway near Brick Lane, but his scheduled appearance at a five-a-side match in Stepney Green was cancelled – and when representatives of sponsors Adidas told the crowd that Messi would not be showing up, the scene turned violent. Fans threw bottles, cans and cups on to the caged five-a-side pitch, forcing police to call in reinforcements to disperse the assembled throng.

One of the event stewards admitted that the PR stunt had been a disaster. “It was a bit of a shambles actually,” he told Metro. “I don’t think Adidas thought it through… it was pandemonium.” An Adidas spokesperson apologised for the disastrous publicity stunt, saying: “We had planned for Messi to play in a five-a-side game in Tower Hamlets. “Unfortunately, time and safety pressures made this impossible to complete. Adidas would like to apologise to all those loyal fans who turned out but did not get to see Messi.”

Messi plays guitarist Noel Gallagher in the group, who are set to embark on a secret European tour. He has apparently recruited a Barcelona team mate to play Liam Gallagher, but has refused to reveal their identity.

“Our disguise is based on how Oasis looked in the mid-90s,” he told The Sun. “We have our wigs, clothes and glasses sorted. I also spent a lot of time getting the mannerisms right.” Messi has become an Oasis convert ever since Argentina team mate Carlos Tevez introduced him to the band before this summer’s World Cup. He recently described the Manchester group’s music as the best “I have ever heard”.

Believe these reports at your own risk.

However, in the reality of the footballing world, Adam Johnson thinks he can be England’s answer to Lionel Messi.

The Manchester City winger was named in Fabio Capello’s preliminary World Cup squad for South Africa before being axed ­before the tournament.

Despite that disappointment, the 23-year-old said: “If you look at Arjen Robben and Lionel Messi, they are playing on the right even though they are left-footed. I will play on the left or the right. “There are not many players who go past people properly. There are a lot of players who play on the wing who just go up and down and work hard.”

Discuss this at our forum here!

English rock band Oasis is said to have been the inspiration for pre-match preparations in the Argentina dressing room during the World Cup in South Africa. Now Messi, 23, wants to return the favour by inviting Oasis guitar legend and Man City fan Noel, 43, over to Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium.

“Maybe Noel could give the boys a live set after training and they could see how great Oasis are. At the moment they refuse to listen to anything other than Kasabian,” the Sun quoted him as saying. “We could also go for an Argentinian steak at this great South American restaurant in Barcelona. “And if my plan works, it will mean Oasis being played in the world’s greatest football club – after Man City, of course!” he added.

Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid on the last 4 occasions, with Messi scoring 4 goals within those encounters. This years Camp Nou Clasico takes place in late November.

Discuss this at our forum here!

“I promise to be back next year for the second edition of the tournament. I want you to have the same spirit. I’ll try to bring Lionel Messi with me, I’m sure he’ll accept my invitation.” Gifted with a lethal left foot, outstanding vision, near-unstoppable dribbling skills and sublime technique, Messi is a sight to behold. Add in his explosive changes of pace, timing and nose for goal – a trait particularly in evidence in La Liga 2010 – and you have an idea why fans from Laikipia can’t wait for 2011.

“I can’t wait to see that world class player. He’s the best in the world. Mimi hupenda vile yeye huchenga wasee jo, (I really admire how he dribbles past players),” said William Muhinja from Central Rhinos, who was voted the tournament’s best player.

“I didn’t expect what I saw here. I thought I would just find a few journalists and maybe some airport workers. But the many fans I saw impressed me. It was overwhelming,” said the Cameroonian star. The Inter Milan striker visited the country earlier this year at the invitation of Zeitz Foundation, when he launched the tournament aimed at boosting conservation efforts in the Laikipia region.

Discuss this at our forum here!

Discuss this at our forum here!

Lionel Messi said: “I have been working on it for a few months. It would be me in Barcelona. We’ve approached Wayne for Manchester, Frank for London, and Colin for Dublin. have spoken with Jay-Z for New York and the dream is to have David for LA. I already have (footballer) Alessandro Nesta and (rapper) Lupe Fiasco in Milan and Chicago. It will be high-end clothes and accessories for men. I’d like to open the initial shops by next summer. If we get all the names we are trying for, we can be the most famous and best men’s fashion brand in the world,” he added.

Meanwhile, patriotism and national divisions seemed to play a role in Lionel Messi getting booked in Deco’s charity match in Brazil on Sunday. The exhibition match, played in the Brazilian city of Indaiatuba between Deco’s XI and a Rest of the World XI, ended 3-3. However more important than the scoreline was that Lionel Messi failed to find the net in the contest and moreover, the pocket-sized Argentine left the field with a yellow card.

Messi was withdrawn in the 55th minute after he scored a goal that was ruled out for offside. According to reports the Barcelona star was whistled offside but nevertheless continued to play before rolling the ball into the net. That went down badly with match referee Tata, and Messi was booked as a result.

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This handout photo released by UNICEF shows UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Argentina’s Lionel Leo Messi with Rikelme Marseil, who is holding a football, at the UNICEF office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Thursday. Rikelme was hit by a stray bullet two weeks after the earthquake, near his home in Cite Soleil, and he is still convalescing. He now lives with his family in Carrefour Aviation, and participates in recreation programmes managed by the Haitian Olympic Committee, with support from the Government, UNICEF and other partners.

Messi visited Haiti to draw attention to the situation of children six months after the January 12, 2010, earthquake. Messi also visited Carrefour Aviation, a tent camp housing some 50,000 people who were displaced by the quake.

An estimated three million people were affected by the quake; the Haitian Government reported that an estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 made homeless. They also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged. It was the most severe earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years.

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In an effort to raise money for poor Panamanians, Lionel Messi lead a team of stars against an equally talented Rest of the World XI in a high-profile exhibition match in Panama on Wednesday night.

Before 35,000 spectators who braved pouring rain to see their heros play, a terrible mistake at the back by Brazilia centre-half Lucio gifted the Rest of the World a simple seventh minute opener as Kevin Kuranyi teed up Fernando Morientes for the opener.

It didn’t take long for Lionel Messi’s XI to pull level as Lucio amended his earlier mistake in defence by racing through the opposition defence and slotting in a 13th minute leveller.

Just after the half hour mark the Leo Messi show began. From Martin Palermo’s defence-splitting though-ball Messi was able to round the keeper to walk the ball into the net, and on the stroke of half-time it was 3-1 as Messi played a delightful one-two with Brazil’s legendary full-back Cafu in the box before ‘The Flea’ bagged his brace.

Lionel Messi’s XI opened up a 4-1 lead early in the second half when, after more good work from Cafu down the right hand side, Argentine striker Franco Zuculini swept in his team’s fourth. But, just as it looked like the Rest of the World XI would be blown out of the match they hit back through an excellent hat-trick for local Club Leon forward Blas Perez.

Perez steered in his first goal in the 77th minute, and less than sixty seconds later it was 4-3 as Perez curled in a beauty inside the far left-hand post. The Rest of the World’s flow was punctured by futher strikes from Leo Messi and Franco Zuculini, while Blas Perez had the final say of the match when he completed his hat-trick with a stunning overhead-volley.

Highlights from the match can be seen below:

And the Barcelona Lord has fallen in love with the band, vowing to do everything in his power to get them back together if the Argies win the World Cup. Messi said: “Ever since he has been playing in Manchester, Carlitos has told me how great Oasis was. I kept promising I would listen to them, but I never got round to it.

“On the plane on the way to the World Cup Carlitos made me listen to their first two albums. I have to say I wasn’t expecting much but it is some of the best material I have ever heard. They are absolutely amazing. Their songs are incredible. I would have to say Supersonic and Live Forever are my favourites. I have been listening to their stuff on my iPod dock in the hotel room, on the way to the matches and in the dressing room. I can’t believe it’s taken me all this time to finally listen to them. I’ve been watching their live performances on YouTube and they look like they’d be amazing to see in concert. I asked Carlitos if we could go and see them in Manchester or London in concert, but he told me they have split up.

“I showed the rest of the boys in the Argentina squad their stuff and I promise you, everybody absolutely loves it. A few knew a couple of their songs but for most of them it was their first listen. We have agreed that if we win the World Cup we want to fly them over to Argentina for our celebration party. We just need them to name their price.”

Messi said: “I hope to do in the Argentine team what I do in Barcelona,” To the people asking the questions, he answered them by telling them he’ll answer his critics on the field. “The answer I’ll give it on the pitch.”

“The team problems should be talked about it behind closed doors. It should be a united to be strong”

A statements reads: Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona player, will work to highlight the challenges faced by especially vulnerable children. He will work with UNICEF on a series of activities aimed at supporting children’s rights. Messi joins an extraordinary list of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, including Orlando Bloom, Shakira Mebarak, Ricky Martin and Mia Farrow. FC Barcelona and UNICEF have established a fruitful collaboration. The name and logo of UNICEF appear on the club shirt, and the FCB Foundation continues to support UNICEF programmes for children in Africa.