Messi is back : Takes part in training

The Argentine picked up an injury on international duty, forcing him to miss the clash with Venezuela, but he is nearing his return, while Andres Iniesta could play this week.

Lionel Messi has returned to training with Barcelona as he nears his return from injury. The Argentine damaged his hamstring after firing his national team to victory over Uruguay, forcing him to drop out of the squad ahead of their meeting with Venezuela. The Barca star insisted that his recovery was going well and took a step towards his return to first-team action by taking part in training on Wednesday. Messi participated in the first part of the session with the rest of the team before doing some specific exercises.

Messi did the first part of training with the group and afterwards did specific exercises. #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/tYmGdAPnxu

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 7, 2016

Meanwhile, Andres Iniesta is hoping to make his return against Alaves this weekend after a month on the sidelines with a knee injury. The 32-year-old has not featured for Luis Enrique's side since last month's Supercopa de Espana first-leg win over Sevilla due to a strained right knee. Iniesta had spoken positively about his rehabilitation earlier this week and he now hopes to prove his fitness to enable him to feature at Camp Nou.

[VIDEO + PHOTOS] The Wednesday training session featuring Paco Alcácer https://t.co/goIu0WYxxe pic.twitter.com/1qpfM01lmm

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 8, 2016

"I started to do things with the ball this week, but we will have to see how it reacts," he is quoted as saying by AS . "Right now I cannot say because I have not trained with the team. I am optimistic because the knee is responding well.

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Neymar on target to give Selecao hard-earned victory: Brazil 2-1 Colombia

The hosts made it two wins from two under new coach Tite thanks to the Barcelona star, who struck after Miranda's early header had been cancelled out by a Marquinhos own goal

This is some text!Neymar was the hero for Brazil as the home side overcame Colombia 2-1 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 24-year-old, fresh off guiding Brazil to gold at the Olympic Games in Rio, netted the match-winner with 16 minutes remaining in Manaus. Brazil had a dream start after Miranda opened the scoring in the second minute at the Arena da Amazonia. The Inter defender headed the home side into the lead courtesy of Neymar's early corner, but Colombia struck back in the first half. It was not a Colombia player who found the net, however, with Marquinhos putting the ball past his own goalkeeper Alisson from a teasing James Rodriguez cross. But it was Brazil who came out on top, with Neymar firing home a low strike after being set up by Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho. The win put Brazil up to second in the CONMEBOL standings, equal on points with Argentina and one behind leaders Uruguay after eight games. Brazil coach Tite went in unchanged from his first game at the helm - a 3-0 win away to Ecuador last Friday. The Brazilians got off to an ideal start, with Miranda heading in a Neymar cross in just the second minute of the match.

Martinez felt he should have been awarded a penalty midway through the half, but the referee saw nothing wrong with the challenge from Otamendi and instead gave Argentina a free-kick for a handball by Martinez. However, Venezuela's persistence paid off 10 minutes before half-time. Juanpi showed great feet on the right-hand side of the box to wriggle away from Javier Mascherano and Marcos Rojo before bending a sublime left-footed shot into the far corner. It could have been worse for Argentina had Pablo Zabaleta not produced an excellent last-ditch tackle to stop Martinez slotting Alexander Gonzales' cross home in the 39th minute, but Dudamel's side did extend their advantage eight minutes after the restart. Salomon Rondon showed great strength to outmuscle Otamendi before cutting back to Martinez, who committed Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero before slotting home. Argentina responded positively, halving the deficit five minutes later when Pratto made the most of ricochets off Jose Velasquez and Villanueva to stab home. Di Maria came close to levelling but had his strike from an acute angle batted away by Hernandez in the 67th minute, but the Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder played a role in the equaliser. His corner found Otamendi inside the six-yard box, and the centre-back poked home a first-time finish to spare Argentina's blushes. Villanueva struck the upright after a moment of madness from Romero near the death, but Venezuela will remain pleased with an unlikely point.

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Everything is fine: 'Messi talked about his Injury'

The Barcelona forward was forced to return from international duty due to a fitness problem, but he believes he can make a speedy return to first-team action.

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

The Barcelona star had been doubtful for the Albiceleste's clash against Uruguay, but played the whole 90 minutes and scored during Edgardo Bauza's first game in charge. 

La Pulga dropped out of the squad the following day, and after returning to Spain Barca physios confirmed the hamstring problem which could keep him out against Alaves at the weekend.

-LEO

"Everything is fine, I have to slow things down as I recover with physio, but it's nothing to worry about," he wrote.

"Thanks to you all for your support."

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Blonde bombshell Messi reveals why he changed his look

The disappointment of another final defeat for the Albiceleste and his decision to walk away from the national team motivated La Pulga to pull out the peroxide.

Barcelona's blonde bombshell Lionel Messi has revealed the reason behind his drastic change of hairstyle over the summer. 

The Argentina captain caused ripples throughout the world of football when he appeared with a platinum blonde do while on holiday with his family. 

And when quizzed about the dye-job, he affirmed that it was part of a time of soul-searching following his nation's Copa America failure. 

"One particularly tough day I dyed my hair, I had to start again from scratch. I said to myself, 'I have to make a clean break and start over", he explained during an interview with cult Argentine comedy figure 'Mingo' on Telefe's 'Polemica en el bar'. 

The star donned 'Mingo's' iconic hat and checked scarf during the chat, while he also saw the actor save one of his penalties.

Messi also admitted that his young son Thiago might not be following in his footsteps, as he shows little interest in the beautiful game. 

"I try not to give Thiago balls as presents, he doesn't like football much," he said. 

"We'll see if he gets into it now as he's started playing in a club."

Blonde Lionel Messi - Barca legend's new haircut

Messi: My son doesn't really like football

It appears unlikely that there is to be any dynasty of great Messis, as the multiple Ballon d'Or winner's son has not immediately taken to the game.

Messi proves his love for his son Thiago

Barcelona star Lionel Messi revealed his son, Thiago, has little interest in the game his dad has become arguably the greatest player in.

The Argentine's plethora of individual awards, eight La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns seemingly are not enough to get the three-year-old interested.

So the Barca ace's biggest challenge yet may be trying to get Thiago loving the game his father dominates.

Lionel Messi with Mateo and Thiago Messi | The Most Beautiful Moments Ever


"I don't buy him many balls or force him to play with them because he doesn't like them that much," Messi told Telefe's 'Polemica en el Bar' in his homeland. There may be hope yet, with Messi saying Barca are working on a project for the players' children to play the game. "Let's see if he gets hooked that way, it would be a good start," Messi said.

Brazil vs. Ecuador, Neymar takes Over, Final Score 3-0

Brazil looked like they were doomed to a repeat of their scoreless draw against Ecuador in the Copa America — until Neymar decided he’d had enough.

Brazil rode a strong second-half performance from Neymar to trump Ecuador 3-0 in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying action on Thursday, earning their first-ever win on Ecuadoran soil in the process. Gabriel Jesus led the scoring with a brace, but the win was very much on a dominant display from Neymar. He put the team on his back in the second half, scoring the opening goal and putting on an absolute show to will his team to victory.

The first half saw a fairly disjointed-looking Brazil side who struggled to get forward effectively against Ecuador, looking on a whole very similar to when they met in the Copa America Centenario group stage. Just like in that game, Brazil struggled to string much together in attack against Ecuador’s energetic defending, and Ecuador lacked the attacking firepower to take advantage of the holes Brazil were leaving in defense as they threw more players forward.

Unlike that match early in the summer, however, Neymar took this game over in the second half, and he did it in style:


That’s just one of numerous examples of Neymar’s quality on display in the second half of the match, putting the team on his back and forcing the game forward. Ecuador were utterly unprepared for that to happen, and Neymar pretty much single-handedly threw Brazil’s opponents into chaos.

That led to a 72nd-minute penalty that Neymar himself took and scored easily. He followed it up by helping force the foul that saw Ecuador right back Juan Paredes earn his second yellow card, putting the opponent down a man for the rest of the match. From there, Neymar pretty much just played provider, helping create Gabriel Jesus’ first goal and assisting on his extra time exclamation mark to make it 3-0 — but there were still plenty of scintillating individual moments from the Barcelona star.

The performance should help silence many of Neymar’s critics, who call him a poor leader and a bad fit for the captain’s armband with Brazil. Some even have gone so far as to say that he’s a bad fit for Brazil in general, since they seem to force the ball his way when he’s on the pitch. But if Neymar can put in more strong, team-shifting performances like this, the critics will have precious little to complain about.

Now Brazil’s focus turns to Colombia on Tuesday, setting up what should be a very entertaining match between two sides jockeying for positioning in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table. Playing on home soil and with momentum on their side, Neymar and Brazil could put on one heck of a show.

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Argentina 1-0 Uruguay: Messi marks return with winner

The Barcelona wizard wasted no time in announcing his return to international football after ending his short-lived retirement, breaking the Celeste open in the first half

Lionel Messi struck the only goal of the game as 10-man Argentina secured a 1-0 win over rivals Uruguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 

Just over two months after retiring from international football, a decision he later reversed, Messi was the hero for Argentina in Mendoza.

The strike - which deflected off Uruguay defender Jose Maria Gimenez - was enough to separate the two sides in Edgardo Bauza's first game in charge. 

The win sends Argentina above Uruguay and to the top of the qualification standings after seven games. 

Bauza and Co. were also forced to play the entire second half with 10 men after striker Paulo Dybala received a second yellow on the stroke of half-time. 

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages, with Argentina dominating possession and Messi pulling the strings. 

Their first real chance was a free-kick by Messi which did not clear the wall, before Mathias Corujo skied a good opportunity for the visitors. 

Dybala was unlucky not to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark, with the Juventus attacker's shot coming off the post and off the back of Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera and out for a corner. 

Luis Suarez had a free-kick which went straight into the hands of Sergio Romero, before a Messi shot was blocked by Gimenez. 

But just two minutes later Messi found the back of the net - his 56th goal for Argentina - aided by a heavy deflection from Gimenez once again, leaving Muslera stranded. 

Suarez had the chance for an immediate response from the restart, but his shot was blocked by Pablo Zabaleta, before he attempted to set up Nicolas Lodeiro with a bicycle kick.

Things were looking good for Argentina until Dybala received a second yellow right before the break in rather harsh circumstances, following a soft foul on Corujo. 

The second half was largely dominated by Uruguay, who used the extra man to their advantage to control more of the possession. 

However, Messi almost doubled Argentina's lead in the 52nd minute with a superb curling free-kick, which was brilliantly tipped away by Muslera. 

Uruguay continued to attack but Suarez and strike partner Edinson Cavani failed to break through the Argentine defence, suffering their second defeat of the qualifying campaign.

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