La Liga

Barcelona president Joan Laporta hopes that Lionel Messi's story with his former club hasn't completely concluded.

"Messi was everything," Laporta told ESPN. "To Barca, he's been possibly its greatest player, the most efficient. To me he's only comparable to Johan Cruyff. But it had to happen one day. We had to make a decision as a consequence of what we inherited. The institution is in charge of players, coaches.

"I would hope that the Messi chapter isn't over. I think it's our responsibility to try to ... find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have, and that it has a more beautiful ending."

Barcelona's financial woes ahead of last season meant that the club could no longer afford Messi's wages, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after spending the first 17 years of his professional career with the Catalan giant.

That transition wasn't seamless for either side. Messi had six goals and 15 assists in 26 total Ligue 1 appearances, pedestrian stats for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, while Barcelona finished trophyless, failed to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League and finished second in La Liga behind rivals Real Madrid.

It seemed clear that Messi never wanted to leave the only European club he had ever known, as he was emotional during the press conference announcing his departure last summer.

"As president of Barca, I did what I had to do," Laporta told ESPN. "But also as president of Barca, and on a personal level, I think I owe him."

What exactly that means is unclear. Barça has already made several splashy signings this summer in attacking positions, including superstar striker Robert Lewandowski and promising winger Raphinia, so it seems highly unlikely that the club would make a move for Messi this summer.

But the Argentine superstar has just one more year remaining on his PSG contract (with an option for an additional year as well), so perhaps a reunion in the future isn't out of the question.

There has been speculation that Messi could join the MLS' Inter Miami after his PSG contract runs up, perhaps even becoming a minority owner in the process. But a Barcelona reunion would be the storybook ending Laporta, at least, seems to be hoping is still in the cards.

Robert Lewandowski is saying goodbye to Bayern Munich and hello to Barcelona as the two clubs have reached a deal for his transfer, according to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

Lewandowski is expected to be announced as Barcelona's newest player over the weekend, ESPN added. The agreement is worth $45 million and an additional $5 million in potential add-ons.

The Polish striker revealed his intent to leave Bayern Munich in May, saying that he didn't want to play for the club anymore and that he believed a transfer was the "best solution." The Blaugrana have been linked to him since then and were intent on striking a deal.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta also confirmed earlier this month that his club made an offer for Lewandowski. The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan reported that the offer was worth $40 million, so Barca had to up their offer to land him.

"We absolutely respect Bayern," Laporta said, per The Athletic's Luke Bosher. "You know we have made an offer for the player and that we are waiting for a response, and we believe it will be positive."

Lewandowski has spent the last eight seasons of his career with the Bavarians, helping the club win the Bundesliga title in each of those seasons and a UEFA Champions League title in 2020.

The 33-year-old has tallied 344 goals and 72 assists in 375 matches across all competitions in his tenure with Bayern Munich. He was named the Best FIFA Men's Player in each of the past two seasons and has been named Polish Footballer of the Year 10 times.

Before joining Bayern Munich, Lewandowski played for Lech Poznan of the Polish Ekstraklasa from 2008-10 and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund from 2010-14.

Lewandowski is only the latest star to join Barcelona this summer, joining Raphinha, who came over in a transfer from Leeds United. The Blaugrana also signed Ousmane Dembele to an extension through 2024.

Barcelona finished the 2021-22 season second in La Liga behind Real Madrid. However, the club did not advance past the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Adding Lewandowski and Raphinha should give Barcelona a boost in 2022-23 and help the club produce its best finish since 2018-19.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and music superstar Shakira announced Saturday the end of their 11-year relationship.

The former couple, who met in 2010 and began dating a year later, have two children together, sons Milan and Sasha.

"We regret to confirm that we are parting ways," they said in a joint statement to E! News. "For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect their privacy. Thank you for your understanding."

They met when Pique appeared in a music video for Shakira's track "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," which was used as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The superstar center back, who played a key role in the Spain national team's golden era, helped La Roja capture the 2010 World Cup title.

Also Saturday, Shakira addressed rumors about her health after she was recently seen in an ambulance, saying she was accompanying her father after he'd suffered injuries in a fall:

Pique, a Barcelona native, emerged as a promising prospect at Barca's famed La Masia youth academy before starting his professional career at Manchester United in 2004.

He returned to the Blaugrana in 2008 and has spent the past 14 years at the Camp Nou while establishing himself as one of the best defenders of the generation.

Now 35, he faced speculation about retirement early in the 2021-22 season but told Barca TV+ in March (via Abdi Rashid of the Daily Mail) he plans to continue playing.

"For me, it has been a dream this journey, and I hope to keep it going as long as I can—keep playing and keep helping the club," Pique said. "I hope this journey does not end yet; I want it to go on a bit more. I am very proud."

Pique retired from international football in 2018, but there have been rumors he could return to the Spain squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off in November.

Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi believes Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, which is presented to the player who is considered to be the best in the world, after helping Los Blancos win the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles.

"There are no doubts, it's very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League," Messi said on Argentine television, according to Reuters (h/t ESPN). "He was fundamental in all the matches from the round of 16 onwards. I think there is no doubt this year."

It's no surprise Messi believes Benzema should win the award after the Frenchman scored a hat trick against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 matchup. 

"The Real Madrid game killed us, me and everyone in the dressing room. We had a lot of hope. It makes me want to win again," Messi said. "But the best team doesn't always win the Champions League. I don't take credit away from Real Madrid, they weren't the best in this competition and yet they beat everyone."

Benzema, who has spent the last 13 seasons with Real Madrid, tallied 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 games across all competitions en route to winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. 

Benzema scored 27 La Liga goals, nine more than the next-best player, and 15 Champions League goals. Of his 15 Champions League goals, 10 came in the tournament's knockout stages.

The 34-year-old would become the second-oldest player to win the Ballon d'Or. Blackpool's Stanley Matthews is the oldest, having won the inaugural award in 1956 when he was 41. He would also become the first Frenchman to win the award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 to win it. 

After winning the Champions League title, Benzema admitted to reporters that he was thinking about the possibility he could win the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his 18 professional seasons.

"Of course," Benzema said. "Now I will join up with the national team but I don't think I can do much more with my club. We will see what happens, but in any case I am proud of what I have done."

Benzema added: "Let's see what happens. I have trophies and I have nothing else [to prove] on the pitch. The important thing is to enjoy it."

Other possible Ballon d'Or candidates include Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. 

The nominees will be announced August 12 and the award will be presented nearly two months later on October 17. 

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday at Stade de France for their first Champions League title since 2018 and 14th overall.

Impressive performances from Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who scored the match's only goal in the 59th minute, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois highlighted the play. That said, it was an incredibly disappointing result for Liverpool, which entered with hopes of avenging its 2018 UCL final loss to Real Madrid.

With one of the biggest matches of the year now complete, we'll break down Saturday's biggest winners and losers below.

Winner: Real Madrid Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

Real Madrid invested nearly $43 million to sign Courtois in August 2018, and that investment has paid off in a big way. The Belgian was brilliant in goal for Real Madrid in the final, making nine saves to help his team earn the victory.

According to Statman Dave, the 30-year-old finished the match with 65 total touches, 27 long balls played, nine saves, seven saves from inside the area and two high claims. Courtois is the first goalkeeper in UCL final history with that many saves, which only further highlights how dominant he was against Liverpool.

One of Courtois' best stops came in the 80th minute as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah came very close to finding the equalizer. That said, all of his saves were nothing short of incredible.

Courtois mentioned after the match that he didn't have much respect in England—he will get it now after shutting out Liverpool.

Winner: Real Madrid Forward Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior was the lone goal scorer in Saturday's match, which makes him an automatic winner. The 21-year-old Brazilian found the back of the net in the 59th minute to seal Real Madrid's victory.

Vinicius Junior made a run on the back post, and Federico Valverde found him on a gorgeous pass for the goal.

Vinicius Junior has been with Real Madrid since the 2018-19 season, though the 2021-22 campaign was a breakthrough year for the youngster. He tallied 17 goals and 10 assists in 35 La Liga matches (30 starts) this season.

Vinicius Junior also entered Saturday's game with three goals and six assists in 12 Champions League matches this season.

The Brazilian is only beginning to make a name for himself at 21 years old and should receive a pretty significant contract extension. According to Marca's Mario Cortegana (h/t MailOnline's Dominic Hogan), Real Madrid was ready to offer Vinicius Junior an extension through the 2027-28 season worth 10 million euros in net wages.

That's not a cheap salary by any means, though it's a steal in relation to what other elite players make.

Loser: Liverpool's Defense

The Liverpool defense of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson struggled. It nearly allowed Karim Benzema to score toward the end of the first half, but the goal was overturned after it was ruled he was offside on VAR.

The team's defense then had a major breakdown on Vinicius Junior's goal and was ultimately one of the reasons Liverpool failed to keep Real Madrid off the scoresheet.

Vinicius Junior's goal also ended up being Real Madrid's only shot on goal in the match, and Los Blancos had just three total attempts.

Real Madrid's defense, backed by Courtois' play, managed to avoid critical mistakes unlike Liverpool's defensive group. The Reds made just seven tackles, winning four, and also lost three tackles and had just one clearance completed. For comparison, the Real Madrid defense made 17 tackles, winning 15, and completed 11 clearances and managed to maintain a clean sheet.

That said, the Liverpool offense certainly had its chances with nine shots on goal and 23 total attempts, but Salah and Sadio Mane were left scoreless thanks to an incredible effort from Courtois and a solid effort from the Real Madrid defense.

La Liga announced it will report Paris Saint-Germain to UEFA after the Ligue 1 champion convinced Kylian Mbappe to sign a new contract.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez first reported the development.

Mbappe's deal was made official Saturday:

La Liga issued a statement arguing the contract "attacks the economic stability of European football":

It is scandalous that a club like PSG, which last season reported losses of more than 220 million euros after accumulating losses of more than 700 million euros in prior seasons (while reporting sponsorship income at doubtful valuation), with a squad cost around 650 million for this season, can close such an agreement, while those clubs that could afford the hiring of the player without seeing their wage bill compromised, are left without being able to sign him.

La Liga president Javier Tebas already voiced his criticism on social media, calling Mbappe's return to PSG "an insult to football":

Faez and Julien Laurens initially reported that Mbappe was snubbing Real Madrid in order to sign a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 23-year-old was widely seen as likely to sign with Real with his PSG deal expiring this summer. Discussions with the Spanish giants were far enough along that Laurens and Faez reported Mbappe personally spoke with Madrid president Florentino Perez to let him know he wouldn't be signing after all.

The specifics of Mbappe's new PSG contract are unclear. The Guardian's Ed Aarons and Fabrizio Romano only described it as a "lucrative extension" that runs until 2025.

It's fair to express a level of concern about how this move is part of a wider trend across world football, one in which an ever-shrinking number of clubs can realistically attract the best talent.

That has been the case to some degree for a long time, but it's telling when even a historically significant power such as Real Madrid is beginning to lose ground, as Miguel Delaney of the Independent noted:

Of course, English football legend and former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker noted there's a level of irony in La Liga drawing a line in the sand here:

Real Madrid, for example, has been siphoning off top talent from lesser opposition for years.

And in terms of spending above your means, the failed Super League was largely viewed as a vehicle for Real Madrid and other top clubs to begin addressing their sizable debts. Perez and past presidents have been savvy in finding inventive ways to balance the books.

It's unclear what kind of consequences PSG could face as a result of La Liga's legal measures. In May 2014, the club was fined 60 million euros ($63 million) and a squad reduction in UEFA competition for the following season for FFP breaches.

Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to choose between re-signing with Paris Saint-Germain or joining Real Madrid "over the next few days," but he's yet to communicate his decision to either club.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez reported Friday that "pessimism" has grown at Madrid after limited contact with Mbappe in recent weeks, while a "similar level of uncertainty" exists at PSG as they work to keep the 23-year-old superstar forward.

The situation was seemingly trending in favor of Real Madrid earlier in the week when ESPN's Julien Laurens reported the Parisians were set to give up on their efforts to keep the French international.

PSG offered Mbappe a massive extension along with the captain's armband, the ability to keep 100 percent of earnings from his image rights and a promise to upgrade the squad before next season, per Laurens.

The Ligue 1 champions appeared to lose confidence when the proposal wasn't accepted, but it now sounds like Mbappe has simply decided to keep his decision close to the vest until it's announced.

PSG's offer is "significantly higher" than what Real Madrid has put on the table, according to Kirkland and Faez.

Mbappe's decision has the potential to shift the balance of power in Europe.

The dynamic forward has recorded 168 goals across 216 appearances in all competitions across five seasons at PSG.

He's coming off a 2021-22 campaign in which he tallied six goals and four assists in eight UEFA Champions League matches. He also scored 25 goals in 34 matches to help lead the club to its eighth Ligue 1 championship in the past 10 years.

Not only would Mbappe's departure leave a massive void at PSG, but he'd provide another elite option for a Real Madrid attack that's already showcased its might as the club advanced to the UCL final against Liverpool on May 28.

Quite a week could be on the horizon for Los Blancos if they raise the Champions League trophy and finalize an Mbappe transfer within a couple days of each other.

Karim Benzema and Real Madrid overcame a two-goal deficit to stun Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 matchup.

After a 1-0 home win in the first leg, PSG were seemingly in a great position after Kylian Mbappe gave them a 1-0 halftime lead at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Real Madrid didn't give in, however, with Benzema scoring three second-half goals to win 3-2 on aggregate.

Benzema needed just 17 minutes to complete the hat trick and transform the tie.

Paris Saint-Germain have a star-studded team with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, but they are once again unable to secure a Champions League title. Real Madrid, meanwhile, lead all clubs with 13 European titles and will look to top last year's semifinal appearance.

Real Madrid appeared dead in the water when trailing by two goals on aggregate, but a mistake from Paris goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept the tie alive.

It was enough to create drama for the final 30 minutes, but Benzema didn't need that much time as he scored two more goals back-to-back.

The performance from Benzema was unforgettable:

PSG never recovered, unable to find an equalizer in the closing minutes.

It was a major shift after Paris Saint-Germain seemingly had one foot in the quarterfinal after the first half. The French squad took advantage of the counter-attack early in the match, with Mbappe putting a lot of pressure on the defense. 

Just like he did in the first leg, Mbappe scored the first goal of the second match with a great finish in the 39th minute. 

Neymar provided a perfect pass to set up the break, but it was also an elite finish by Mbappe to get past Thibaut Courtois. The 23-year-old continues to impress as one of the best players in the world.

The forward's chances weren't as prevalent in the second half with Real Madrid doing a much better job of getting back in transition. 

The hosts also improved in the final third, leading to Benzema's outstanding finishes to earn the 3-1 victory. 

Paris Saint-Germain entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all, but a tough draw has them going out in the round of 16. On the other hand, Real Madrid will be a club no one will want to face in the quarterfinal.      

Real Madrid is reportedly set to open discussions with Borussia Dortmund about a potential summer transfer for superstar Erling Haaland.

ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez reported Friday that Manchester City is "best positioned" to land Haaland, but Los Blancos are still keen on trying to land both the Norwegian striker and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

Barcelona is also said to be involved in the pursuit of Haaland, whose camp has "made it clear" he'd prefer to leave Dortmund this summer and would like to finalize plans in the "next few weeks to avoid further drama," according to the ESPN report.

Haaland scored 41 goals in 41 matches across all competitions for the German club last season and has continued to shine throughout the 2021-22 term, tallying 16 goals and five assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances.

In January, the 21-year-old attacking sensation told Norwegian outlet Viaplay (h/t ESPN) that Dortmund had started to "press" him into making a decision about his future.

"That is what they want," he said. "It means things will happen now. They have started to put a lot of pressure on me, and I have to accept that ... so now is the time to get things started."

Real Madrid leads La Liga with 52 goals scored in 26 matches this season, which has helped the club build a six-point lead over Sevilla atop the table.

Adding Haaland or Mbappe, or potentially both, to the squad would make it even more difficult for their Spanish counterparts to keep pace in the coming years.

That would obviously come at quite a cost, though. In November, agent Volker Struth estimated to German outlet Sport Bild (h/t Marca) the total price to sign Haaland between the transfer fee and the striker's new contract will likely be in the €250-300 million range.

Given Haaland's status as one of the world's top strikers and the high-profile clubs involved in trying to sign him, transfer talks could stretch well into the summer as Dortmund tries to maximize its return.

But it sounds like both the player and the club would prefer to settle the situation well before the transfer window opens to avoid a summer of unrelenting speculation.

Spanish police are investigating the burglary of Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema's home that took place during Sunday's match against Elche.

Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez of ESPN reported the burglary took place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET, which was at the same time Benzema was in action in the 2-2 draw.

Benzema's home was previously broken into in 2019. Teammates Casemiro, Isco and Lucas Vazquez have also been the victims of robberies in recent years as part of a string of events seemingly targeting soccer players.

The report did not include what was stolen from Benzema's home, nor did it say whether anyone was home at the time of the incident.

The Frenchman has been with Real Madrid since 2009, emerging as one of the most decorated scorers in club history.