Former Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza has been appointed to lead the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf nation said on Thursday.

Lionel Messi is a singularly uninteresting man with his boots off, but at play he brings a worthiness to sport.

Zinedine Zidane criticised his Real Madrid players after their dramatic Clasico defeat to Barcelona, insisting they should have been smarter in the closing stages of their loss.

The records continue to tumble for Lionel Messi, with the Barcelona star now the leading goalscorer in El Clasico in La Liga after equalising against Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi scores his 500th Barcelona goal with the last kick of the game in a thrilling 3-2 win at Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a habit of defying his critics and will try to do so again by leading Real Madrid one step closer to the Spanish title on Sunday against bitter rivals Barcelona.

Lionel Messi requires two more goals to reach 500 for Barcelona and will have his sights set on achieving the milestone against great rivals Real Madrid in Sunday's Clasico.

Diminutive, dynamic and armed with a deadly left foot, Paulo Dybala could be a prototype of a Lionel Messi clone.

Neymar is keeping the faith, confident Barcelona can complete another remarkable comeback to reach the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of Juventus.

Four hundred and ninety eight and counting. Lionel Messi closed in on 500 goals for Barcelona with two against Real Sociedad on Saturday night and they turned out to be very important.

Lionel Messi kept Barcelona's title hopes alive with two goals and an assist to see off Real Sociedad 3-2 as Spain's top two edged five-goal thrillers ahead of next weekend's El Clasico.

Lionel Messi's faltering Argentina team will reach the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia despite their precarious position in the qualifiers, sacked coach Edgardo Bauza said on Tuesday.

Barcelona's Brazilian superstar Neymar will miss a huge La Liga clash at Real Madrid on April 23 after being handed a three-game suspension, the Spanish federation said on Tuesday.

Argentina's football association fired Edgardo Bauza as coach of the crisis-hit national team as it struggles to qualify for next year's World Cup, the head of the body said Monday.

Neymar was sent off as Barcelona suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at Malaga on Saturday that scuppered their hopes of going top of La Liga and handed control of the title race to leaders to Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi "cried tears of frustration" in his battle to beat vomiting urges and muscle problems, says the Italian doctor who claims he revamped the Barcelona striker's lifestyle to maintain his superstar status.

Has Lionel Messi's beard sent the Barcelona star onto another level? The numbers seem to suggest so!

Alvaro Morata scored twice as Real Madrid maintained a two-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga by making light of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale's absence in a 4-2 win at Leganes.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique paid tribute to his squad's strength in depth after they won 4-1 at Granada on Sunday without suspended talisman and La Liga top scorer Lionel Messi to stay on the heels leaders Real Madrid.

Barcelona made light of the suspended Lionel Messi's absence to remain just two points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid as Neymar netted his 100th goal for the club in a 4-1 win at Granada.