Javier Alejandro Mascherano

Javier Mascherano, a FIFA World Cup runner-up in 2014 with Argentina, retired from football on Sunday.

Argentina's most-capped player Javier Mascherano called time on his international career Saturday after the painful World Cup defeat to France.

Argentina face Nigeria in a must-win FIFA World Cup match in Saint Petersburg on June 26.

Icardi, who has played only four matches for his country since his debut in 2013, was rewarded for a superb 28-goal season in Italy's Serie A championship.

Brazilian investment firm DIS, which held 40 percent of Neymar's sporting rights when he played at Santos, had claimed it was cheated out of its real share of the transfer due to parallel contracts that Barcelona and Santos allegedly used to hide the true cost

Neymar and FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will give evidence in the murky case over the deal which brought the Brazilian to the Catalan giants in 2013.

Javier Mascherano was sentenced to one-year in prison for committing tax fraud of 1.5 million euros, but the FC Barcelona and Argentina defender will avoid jail term by paying a fine of 816,000 euros. In Spain, sentences less than two years are normally suspended.

Javier Mascherano, who has played for Barcelona since 2010, was accused by Spain's tax office of concealing part of what he earned in image rights.

Spanish state prosecutors alleged the former West Ham and Liverpool midfielder failed to declare over 1.5 million euros in earnings in 2011 and 2012 by ceding his image rights to companies he owns in Portugal and the United States.

Referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande said Javier Mascherano was dismissed for directing an insult, common in Argentina, towards the linesman but Barca appealed saying it was said in passing.

Javier Mascherano was sent off by referee De Cerro Grande on Sunday in the match against Eibar for apparently insulting his linesman in graphic terms.

Javier Mascherano, who had been rested for Saturday's anarchic 5-2 win at home over Rayo Vallecano helped provide such much needed stability to the Barcelona midfield, which allowed Neymar to set up Ivan Rakitic for two decisive goals on Tuesday night.

In an interview published in the magazine 'Panenka', Mascherano said: "No, I don't go out to enjoy myself, I enjoy myself when I'm learning in training, but I don't enjoy the 90 minutes I spend out on the pitch during a game."

The Argentina international believes that he is drawn by the challenge of passing on what he has learned throughout his career to younger players and has no intention of leaving football once he hangs up his boots.

Chile beat Argentina 4-1 on penalties leaving Javier Mascherano and his teammates in utter despair.

Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo plays with Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano for FC Barcelona. He urged his teammates to focus on the entirety of Gerardo Martino's side and not just one player.

Chile and Argentina collide in Santiago for the Copa America final. Chile are aiming to end nearly a century of failure by winning a major title while Argentina are burning with desire to win a first title in 22 years.

Radamel Falcao failed to find his feet on loan at Manchester United last season, but Javier Mascherano insists that the 29-year-old will regain his form that he showed before bowing out with a serious knee injury sustained in early 2014.