02.06.2010- Bayern's Turkey star Altintop extends contract

02.06.2010- Barcelona make official bid for Arsenal's Fabregas

02.06.2010- Marseille ready to splash out on Forlan: report

02.06.2010- Former Croatia defender Kovac hangs up his boots

02.06.2010- Redknapp expects Cole to snub Spurs

02.06.2010- Real's Mourinho eyes Gerrard: report

02.06.2010- Bent anguish at England axe

02.06.2010- Red Knights decide to halt United takeover bid

02.06.2010- Cannavaro signs for Dubai's Al-Ahli

02.06.2010- S.Africans learn tongue twister national anthem

29.05.2010- Maradona and Messi arrive in South Africa

27.05.2010- Honduras pulls a late draw with Belarus

22.05.2010- Messi reassures anxious Argentina over injury

21.05.2010- Messi hands Argentina injury scare

18.05.2010- I don't choke when I play for Argentina, says Messi

04.05.2010- Messi brace pushes Barcelona closer to Liga title

04.05.2010- Paraguay call up Dortmund's Barrios

30.04.2010- Seoul's 2002 hero returns to World Cup squad

25.04.2010- Messi's the best, admits Rooney

16.04.2010- Too early to determine progress: Parreira

11.04.2010- Barcelona could rewrite history books, says Messi

08.04.2010- Ronaldo is just as good as Messi, insist Real teammates

06.04.2010- 'Phenomenal' Messi receives universal acclaim

06.04.2010- Messi magic crushes Arsenal's Champions League dream

30.03.2010- S.Korea dangles handsome rewards for W.Cup team

26.03.2010- World Cup stadiums get FIFA approval - officials

25.03.2010- Putin to head Russia's World Cup bid

19.03.2010- 2010 World Cup helps FIFA revenues to record

17.03.2010- S.African police confiscate fake World Cup jerseys

17.03.2010- Barcelona to unleash magical Messi on Stuttgart

14.03.2010- Magical Messi hat-trick sends Barcelona top

07.03.2010- Capello to reveal W.Cup squad in team meeting

06.03.2010- FIFA dismiss goal-line technology

05.03.2010- Jordaan says Rugby key to World Cup stadium futures

04.03.2010- Zuma promises safe World Cup in South Africa

04.03.2010- Jordaan turns on South Africa's World Cup critics

03.03.2010- Dunga admits Brazil must go up another level at WC

02.03.2010- FIFA says S.Africa ready for World Cup, 100 days away

01.03.2010- Old apartheid flag banned at World Cup stadium

01.03.2010- Spain seek World Cup revenge against France: Torres

26.02.2010- Messi tops Ronaldo, Rooney as world star - study

26.02.2010- S.Africa winter raises World Cup swine flu risk

22.02.2010- World Cup anti-doping tests to start in April: FIFA

18.02.2010- World Cup warm up matches to raise money for Haiti

17.02.2010- US to host Turkey in World Cup tuneup

28.01.2010- Mexican World Cup side books six-match US tour

27.01.2010- Two-thirds of World Cup tickets already sold

27.01.2010- Maradona's Argentina squad 60% decided

22.01.2010- Japan's Ono eyes World Cup

21.01.2010- Maradona happy with World Cup security

20.01.2010- Goalkeeping trio to make World Cup: Loew

19.01.2010- World Cup talk no bother for England: Lampard

18.01.2010- Easier World Cup ticket sales planned for S.Africans

18.01.2010- Centurion scorer Messi hungry for more success

23.12.2009- Spain to play three friendlies before World Cup

21.12.2009- England to play Egypt at Wembley

17.12.2009- Japan must revive samurai code, says coach

16.12.2009- Germans to face Bosnia in World Cup warm-up

14.12.2009- Cape Town World Cup venue complete

10.12.2009- S.Korea determined not to crumble against Argentina

09.12.2009- Spain coach delivers World Cup warning

05.12.2009- Capello warns England of perils of easy draw

04.12.2009- Dutch courage not needed for Van Marwijk's team

04.12.2009- Upbeat Japan insist semi-final goal still on

04.12.2009- Road looking clear for world champions

04.12.2009- Ivory Coast face huge task to survive first round

04.12.2009- Brazil get Portugal, England lucky in World Cup draw

04.12.2009- Asian nations dealt tough hand in South Africa

04.12.2009- 2010 World Cup draw

04.12.2009- Football World Cup to go 3-D: Sony, FIFA

04.12.2009- Capello sees Spain, Brazil as key threats

04.12.2009- World Cup draw set to roll in Cape Town

04.12.2009- S.Africa tightens security as World Cup draw looms

03.12.2009- Germany goes high-tech in World Cup preparations

03.12.2009- I don't want England in first round, admits Drogba

02.12.2009- FIFA rules out extra refs for World Cup

01.12.2009- Ireland World Cup hopes finally snuffed out

01.12.2009- New round of World Cup tickets to go on sale

01.12.2009- No chance Ireland will be at 2010 World Cup

01.12.2009- Aragones tips Spain, Brazil as W.Cup favourites

30.11.2009- FIFA may put more officials on field at W.Cup

30.11.2009- Ireland asks to become team 33 at World Cup

22.11.2009- Eight out of 10 French give thumbs down to France team

21.11.2009- Ireland admits defeat in World Cup replay bid

20.11.2009- Japan coach targets World Cup last-four spot

19.11.2009- Ireland calls for France World Cup replay

19.11.2009- Ireland blasts Le Cheat Henry as W.Cup dream ends

18.11.2009- Henry handball ends Irish World Cup hopes

18.11.2009- Meireles seals World Cup qualification for Portugal

18.11.2009- Greece edge Ukraine to reach World Cup

14.11.2009- Few chances as Japan hold WCup hosts S.Africa

14.11.2009- Fallon heads New Zealand into World Cup finals

10.11.2009- Ballack backs Germany to reach World Cup final

03.11.2009- NKorean team get awards for WC qualification: KCNA

28.10.2009- Football rounds up poor SAfrican youngsters

15.10.2009- US work begins with World Cup berth settled

13.10.2009- Ticos try to end US drought to reach World Cup

13.10.2009- Lampard: England's golden generation lacklustre

13.10.2009- Germany to finish with a flurry: Loew

06.10.2009- PM optimistic Spain will win 2010 World Cup

05.10.2009- England game live in cinemas and Internet

04.10.2009- Italy welcome back Gattuso for crucial World Cup qualifiers

04.10.2009- Eriksson believes in England World Cup victory

24.09.2009- North Korea to play World Cup warmups in France

14.09.2009- SAfrica to use World Cup to build football legacy

13.09.2009- England coach Capello eyes World Cup final

07.09.2009- Little-known hot-shots put Ronaldo in World Cup shade

06.09.2009- Brilliant Brazil reach World Cup finals

25.08.2009- Kenya behind in strategy for 2010 World Cup

14.08.2009- FIFA to give 120,000 free W.Cup tickets to S.Africans

06.08.2009- Jet fuel probe to ensure no 2010 shortages

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match between Barcelona and Stuttgart at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.

Barcelona's goal-scoring sensation Lionel Messi, who has won a host of titles at club level, wants to win the World Cup with Argentina "to become a legend".

"To become a legend, to become great, you have to also win the World Cup," he said in an interview with El Mundo newspaper.

The 22-year-old has scored 25 league goals this season, including back-to back hat-tricks in his last two league outings.

He is now being compared to compatriot and legend Diego Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986.

"Everything is happening so fast and I must stay calm," the 2009 Golden Ball winner told El Mundo.

"What a player!" said Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a Barcelona supporter.

"I especially noticed his humility. I like his behaviour, with his teammates and with everyone," he told Catalan television on Monday.

Messi has already won the World Club Cup with Barcelona, two European Champions League cups, three Spanish league championships and one Spanish Cup.