The very notion that Lionel Messi needed to win a title with Argentina to justify his place in football’s pantheon was preposterous. …

I was a fortnight away from my 11th birthday when I watched the Heysel Stadium tragedy unfold on television. In many ways, it marked the end of childhood, and triggered the bouts of melancholy that punctuate my life to this day. …

Months ago, my nephews asked me to name the greatest footballer I’d watched. Though the process of sifting through dozens of mental highlights reels was a pleasurable one, there was only going to be one answer. I suspect it will be that way for most of my generation. You…

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” That line is usually attributed to Charles Baudelaire, though he almost certainly wasn’t the first to say something on those lines. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is no devil, but it’s hard to think of any marquee…

Mes Que Un Club. More than a club. That’s how FC Barcelona, and its supporters, has always viewed itself. …

He may have been known for gamesmanship as a player, but Diego Simeone the coach is usually unfailingly honest in his assessment of situations. After a fortuitous away win over Liverpool in the previous round of the Champions League, he called Jurgen Klopp’s team “the best opponent that we’ve…

There’s no such thing as a fairy tale. Even if there is, it doesn’t come with a happy ending. There’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, only muddy puddles. Water doesn’t turn into wine. Atalanta are out of the Champions League. Just as there was…

In a little over a week, the UEFA Champions League, once known as the European Cup, will celebrate its 65th champion. …

Can you stake a claim to the top of the podium without beating the best? It’s an intriguing question. But when it comes to European football, there’s one easy litmus test. …