https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Lionel Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona on Wednesday by calling him "eternal" after his fellow Argentine died of a heart attack. https://www.thelocal.es/20201126/diego-is-eternal-messi-pays-tribute-to-maradona Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:38:18 +0100 diego-is-eternal-messi-pays-tribute-to-maradona Lionel Messi has informed Barcelona that he wants to "unilaterally" terminate his contract with the Spanish giants, a club source confirmed to AFP on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.es/20200826/messi-tells-bara-he-is-leaving-the-club Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:46:04 +0200 messi-tells-bara-he-is-leaving-the-club Lionel Messi said Wednesday it was "strange" to see Barcelona locked in a row over a company accused of criticising current and former players, including himself, on social media. https://www.thelocal.es/20200220/messi-sees-strange-things-at-barcelona-after-social-media-row Thu, 20 Feb 2020 10:00:22 +0100 messi-sees-strange-things-at-barcelona-after-social-media-row Even the Real Betis fans were applauding by the end as Lionel Messi scored another spectacular hat-trick to fire Barcelona to a 4-1 victory on Sunday and leave them with one hand on the La Liga trophy. https://www.thelocal.es/20190318/fantastic-messi-hat-trick-blows-away-betis Mon, 18 Mar 2019 10:00:08 +0100 fantastic-messi-hat-trick-blows-away-betis Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal on Sunday, a total his coach Ernesto Valverde called "monstrous", as Barcelona terrorised Eibar to reclaim their five-point cushion at the top of the table. https://www.thelocal.es/20190114/monstrous-messi-scores-400th-la-liga-goal Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:30:22 +0100 monstrous-messi-scores-400th-la-liga-goal Lionel Messi is expected to be out for three weeks with a fractured right arm but his last contribution was to help send Barcelona back to the top of La Liga on Saturday. https://www.thelocal.es/20181021/barca-victory-tarnished-as-injured-messi-set-to-miss-three-weeks Sun, 21 Oct 2018 05:04:08 +0200 barca-victory-tarnished-as-injured-messi-set-to-miss-three-weeks The UN World Tourism Organization said Monday it has appointed FC Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi as an ambassador to promote responsible tourism. https://www.thelocal.es/20180409/un-body-names-messi-responsible-tourism-ambassador Mon, 09 Apr 2018 19:05:49 +0200 un-body-names-messi-responsible-tourism-ambassador Barcelona equalled the record longest unbeaten run in La Liga history as a Lionel Messi hat-trick inspired the runaway leaders to a 3-1 win over Leganes on Saturday to make it 38 league games unbeaten. https://www.thelocal.es/20180408/messi-hat-trick-helps-barcelona-equal-record-unbeaten-streak Sun, 08 Apr 2018 06:09:14 +0200 messi-hat-trick-helps-barcelona-equal-record-unbeaten-streak Cristiano Ronaldo under suspicion, Radamel Falcao investigated, Lionel Messi sentenced... Spain's courts have been busy tackling the alleged and real multi-million-euro tax evasion of football's greatest stars. https://www.thelocal.es/20170618/spain-based-footballers-advisers-under-scrutiny-over-tax-evasion Sun, 18 Jun 2017 17:06:56 +0200 spain-based-footballers-advisers-under-scrutiny-over-tax-evasion Spain's Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a 21-month jail sentence and €2.09-million ($2.25 million) fine imposed on Lionel Messi for tax fraud, months after the Barcelona football star lodged an appeal. https://www.thelocal.es/20170524/spains-supreme-court-confirms-messi-fraud-sentence Wed, 24 May 2017 16:29:02 +0200 spains-supreme-court-confirms-messi-fraud-sentence Barcelona coach Luis Enrique revelled in turning the tables on bitter rivals Real Madrid as Lionel Messi struck deep into stoppage time to edge a thrilling El Clasico 3-2 on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.es/20170424/messy-strikes-at-the-death-barcelona-real-madrid-five-goal-clasico Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:53:06 +0200 messy-strikes-at-the-death-barcelona-real-madrid-five-goal-clasico The photograph of the impoverished six-year-old proudly wearing a homemade Lionel Messi jersey made from a plastic bag touched hearts the world over. https://www.thelocal.es/20161216/afghan-boy-who-made-messi-shirt-out-of-plastic-bag-finally-meets-his-hero Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:25:20 +0100 afghan-boy-who-made-messi-shirt-out-of-plastic-bag-finally-meets-his-hero Spain's sports minister said on Wednesday that he was "surprised" by a Spanish judge's decision to seek a gag order on 12 European media outlets that alleged massive football fraud, saying it would "have no effect." https://www.thelocal.es/20161207/spanish-sports-minister-challenges-football-leaks-gag-order Wed, 07 Dec 2016 14:19:00 +0100 spanish-sports-minister-challenges-football-leaks-gag-order Real Madrid launched a staunch defence of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday, demanding respect for the three-time World Player of the Year amid allegations he hid millions of euros earned from image rights in tax havens. https://www.thelocal.es/20161207/real-madrid-demand-respect-for-exemplary-ronaldo-after-tax-fraud-allegations Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:07:57 +0100 real-madrid-demand-respect-for-exemplary-ronaldo-after-tax-fraud-allegations Spanish tax authorities are investigating reports that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in tax havens. https://www.thelocal.es/20161203/spanish-taxman-investigates-ronaldo-revelations Sat, 03 Dec 2016 17:57:31 +0100 spanish-taxman-investigates-ronaldo-revelations Stars of Emmy-winning television epic "Game of Thrones" got a front row seat at the Lionel Messi show on Sunday as the Argentine superstar scored his 500th Barcelona goal. https://www.thelocal.es/20161107/messi-starring-role-for-game-of-thrones Mon, 07 Nov 2016 09:45:42 +0100 messi-starring-role-for-game-of-thrones Ahead of the start of their 2016-17 Champions League campaign against Celtic on Tuesday, AFP Sports takes a look at five reasons Barcelona can conquer Europe for the sixth time: https://www.thelocal.es/20160912/five-reasons-barcelona-can-win-the-champions-league Mon, 12 Sep 2016 10:54:24 +0200 five-reasons-barcelona-can-win-the-champions-league Barcelona have defended their campaign on social media in support of Lionel Messi after the Argentine superstar's 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud. https://www.thelocal.es/20160712/barca-defend-messi-social-media-campaign-tax-fraud Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:46:36 +0200 barca-defend-messi-social-media-campaign-tax-fraud UPDATED: Barcelona star Lionel Messi will appeal and vowed to clear his name after a court in Spain on Wednesday sentenced him and his father to 21 months in jail for tax fraud, the player's lawyers said. https://www.thelocal.es/20160706/spanish-court-sentences-messi-to-21-months-in-jail-for-tax-fraud Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:51:44 +0200 spanish-court-sentences-messi-to-21-months-in-jail-for-tax-fraud Spanish prosecutors called on Friday for Lionel Messi to be absolved and his father found guilty on the final day of the pair's high-profile tax fraud trial in Barcelona. https://www.thelocal.es/20160603/prosecutors-ask-messi-be-absolved-in-barcelona-fraud-trial Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:49:16 +0200 prosecutors-ask-messi-be-absolved-in-barcelona-fraud-trial