Lionel Messi produced a magical display to get Argentina's World Cup qualification back on track Tuesday as Brazil notched their sixth consecutive victory to put one foot in the 2018 finals in Russia.

Messi curled home a stunning 30-yard free-kick and set up goals for Lucas Pratto and Angel Di Maria in a 3-0 win over Colombia in San Juan.

The English Football League said Wednesday it had scrapped overhaul plans after the Football Association refused to schedule FA Cup ties only in midweek and never at the weekends.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was coy Wednesday over suggestions that Steven Gerrard could be on his way to the Glasgow giants.

Russia’s top Olympic official said his country has cleaned up its sports doping problem and should be allowed to return to all international competitions.

Notoriously obsessive taskmaster Pep Guardiola got the most out of Lionel Messi when they were together at Barcelona by banning the world's best player from having sex after midnight.

Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a foul-tempered qualifier Tuesday as a debatable Hiroshi Kiyotake penalty boosted their hopes of qualifying for a sixth successive World Cup in 2018.

Qatar World Cup 2022 organizers, under fire over labor conditions, said Tuesday they will allow international trade union inspections of stadium sites from next year.

Los Angeles 2024 bid officials sought on Tuesday to reassure the "Olympic family" following the election of Donald Trump, claiming the U.S. was an "outward looking" country.

Belgium hammered Estonia 8-1 to go clear in Group H, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal survived a scare before overcoming Latvia 4-1 in World Cup qualifying on Sunday.

Lionel Messi and Argentina's stars will have to take "risks" to beat Colombia and keep their World Cup hopes alive, coach Edgardo Bauza said ahead of their must-win clash on Tuesday.

Messi used expletives to Argentinian media to highlight his anger after the Albiceleste lost 3-0 to Brazil last week. That left them in sixth place in the South American World Cup group -- and only four go through automatically.