Miguel Almiron's superb assist for Paraguay in their Copa America draw with Argentina has earned a tongue-in-cheek comparison to Lionel Messi from Newcastle.

For Lionel Messi, the present Copa America campaign with Argentina has, so far, been another bruising affair on the international stage. But he has still shown flashes of his sparkling best.

Argentina must beat Qatar in Porto Alegre on Sunday night and hope Paraguay fail to beat Colombia if they are to avoid a humiliating group-stage exit at the Copa America.

After picking up just one point from their opening two games, Argentina needed to win to progress and they managed to do so courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero.

The South American side clinched second place in Group B after a 2-0 victory against Qatar, thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero. 'Now starts another Copa,' Messi said.

Lionel Messi might be Argentina's - and Barcelona's - all-time record goalscorer, but fans were quick to mock the all-time great after he missed an easy chance for his country in Copa America.

Real Madrid fans are relishing the prospect of watching 18-year-old Takefusa Kubo after his latest impressive display at the Copa America against Ecuador on Monday night.

Lionel Messi (left) and Sergio Aguerro (right) cut relaxed figures as Argentina prepared for their Copa America quarter-final clash with Venezuela.

Argentina booked their place in the Copa America semi-finals on Friday night with a 2-0 win over Venezuela in Rio de Janeiro thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso.

The Barcelona star has scored just one goal in four appearances for Argentina at the tournament, a penalty against Paraguay, although they are into the semi-finals.

The 32-year-old's wait for major silverware with his country goes on after Argentina were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in the Copa America semi-finals. Messi will be 35 by the 2022 World Cup.

Lionel Messi blasted 'bulls***' refereeing and accused officials of favouring Brazil after Argentina were dumped out of the Copa America at the semi-final stage on Tuesday night.

When five-time Ballon d'Or winner and Barcelona star Lionel Messi eventually hangs up his boots, he might just have one huge regret lingering in the back of his mind.

After Lionel Messi tasted yet more international heartbreak with Argentina at the Copa America , his scoring record on the big stage has once again come under scrutiny.

He may have won the Champions League last season, but Alisson Becker learned a few crucial lessons along the way. After being beaten by Lionel Messi once, amends have been made.

TOM SANDERSON IN BRAZIL: Naturally, the Argentine press dug its heels in over the hours that followed yet another big stage disappointment. Messi, they feel, can lead new generation to glory.

Argentina and Lionel Messi remain optimistic about their future despite another year without a trophy. There is some hope despite the team's 2-0 loss to Brazil.

Gary Medel has come out in defence of Lionel Messi after both players were sent off for a confrontation in the Copa America third place playoff. The were dismissed for a clash in the first half.

The 25-year-old Juventus star netted Argentina's second goal against Chile in the 22nd minute as they won 2-1, with Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero scoring the opener.

Messi was left incandescent with the performance of referee Roddy Zambrano and the use of VAR and did not hold back in his post-match assessment after their defeat by Brazil.

Lionel Messi has been recuperating on a family holiday after the disappointment of Argentina's Copa America semi-final defeat by Brazil.

According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte , Arsenal's new technical director Edu has held talks with Everton's agent Gilmar Veloz to assess whether a move to the Emirates is feasible.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been banned for one game and fined £1,200 after being sent off against Chile in the Copa America third-place playoff earlier this month.

Suarez was put through a rigorous sandpit routine on his own as he attended his first session back at Barcelona's Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training base on Friday.

Lionel Messi will not feature for Argentina again this year after receiving a three-month suspension and a £41,000 fine following his controversial comments about Copa America.

Lionel Messi has started his recovery from a calf injury as the Barcelona star pushes to be fit for the start of the La Liga season on August 16. He trained alone with his team-mates away in the USA.

Lionel Messi has suffered another injury setback and will almost certainly be out of Barcelona's La Liga fixture with Osasuna at the weekend. Messi has struggled for fitness since suffering a calf injury.

Argentina and Chile renewed their combative rivalry in Los Angeles on Thursday in a game that was peppered with 10 yellow cards but ultimately ended as a goalless stalemate.

The Brazilian midfielder booked his wedding for July after expecting to be included in Brazil's Copa America squad. However, he was dropped by Brazil after a disappointing debut Premier League season.

Lionel Messi returns to action for Argentina on Friday against their arch rivals Brazil in what will be his first international since being banned for three months after claiming referees were 'corrupt'.

Lionel Messi rarely needs a second invitation to score but that is exactly what he got as he scored from the rebound of his missed penalty to ensure Argentina beat Brazil out in Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Messi praised Argentina's work ethic after scoring the winner in a 1-0 win over Brazil on his return to international football following a three-month ban for criticising CONMEBOL.

Lionel Messi will be hoping to strike again on Monday night following his winner against Brazil on Friday. Messi marked his return from a three-month ban for by scoring in a 1-0 win over Brazil.

Lionel Messi has a chance to win the Copa America on his own turf next summer - but Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says the competition will be about more than just the Barcelona star.

The Duke of Cambridge read out a letter sent by a friend of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice, who was famed for offering a Jewish family refuge at her Athens home after the Nazis invaded.

The Cambridges will kick off a day of engagements in South Wales next week with a visit to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeboat station to learn about the  24-hour rescue service.

Kate, 38, was in Mumbles, near Swansea, alongside her husband Prince William, 37, for a busy day of engagements which saw them visit the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot and tour a lifeboat station.

Rhian Costello and her daughter Annabel, 3, had the memorable encounter when the Duchess of Cambridge visited the RNLI Mumbles Lifeboat Station near Swansea this afternoon.

The Duke of Cambridge, 37, showed her was a doting father and a loving husband in one sweet sentence yesterday as he responded to a member of the public in south Wales, People magazine reports.

Kate Middleton, 38, sported Beulah London's £95 pink and red Shibani scarf for her outing to South Wales with Prince William, 37, yesterday. It is once again available to buy online.

From his meme-inspiring mechanical fringed Grammys hat to his white feathered Golden Gowns train, Billy Porter has been the stand out of this year's awards season.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, selected a glitzy pair of daisy-shaped diamond earrings worth £17,300 as she arrived for her first official visit to the Republic of Ireland earlier today.

Kate Middleton, 38, stepped out in a stylish green gown by designer Alessandra Rich as she arrived in Dublin alongside Prince William, 37, ahead of their three-day visit to Ireland.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, cut a stylish figure in a stunning emerald gown while attending an evening reception in Ireland tonight at the start of her historic three-day visit the country.

The Duke of Cambridge was speaking to locals while he and Kate spent quality time together outside Dublin and enjoyed a romantic clifftop walk on the Howth peninsula yesterday.

The UK's newest NHS Nightingale hospital has opened in Sunderland today, less than 24 hours after the flagship facility in the Capital was mothballed.

LIZ JONES looks at the celebrities who work the trend and those who don't, from Liz Hurley to Beyonce to Amal Clooney - and even Pat Butcher.

Having owned every issue of Vogue published since September 1977, as well as having devoured numerous books on the subject, I had thought I was an expert.

She isn't afraid to experiment with her look, having raised eyebrows with her unusual red carpet ensemble at the Logie Awards in 2017.

Katie Robertson was in full bloom when she stepped onto the red carpet at the Logie Awards on the Gold Coast on Sunday. The Five Bedrooms actress debuted her baby bump in a floral dress.