Football

Xabi Alonso enjoyed a winning start to his tenure as Chelsea manager as the Blues edged Fulham 3-2 in a thrilling west London derby at Craven Cottage on Monday. Joao Pedro scored after just 31 seconds before Morgan Rogers netted on his Chelsea debut. Cole Palmer added a third after half-time, while Fulham's Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia scored to keep the hosts in contention. Pedro Gives Chelsea Dream Start Chelsea needed only 31 seconds to take the lead. A move involving Levi

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour has left the organisation, just weeks after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. FIFA confirmed that Lamour’s working relationship with the governing body ended on August 17, 2026, without providing further details. Lamour Leaves FIFA After Criticising Infantino Plan Lamour joined FIFA’s senior leadership team in November 2024 after previously being part of Infantino’s campaign team during his successful presidential bid

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Spain midfielder Rodri, with the transfer expected to become official in the coming days. Barcelona Reach Agreement With Manchester City A source from the Catalan club told AFP that Barcelona and Manchester City have agreed on a deal for the 30-year-old midfielder. Reports indicate that Barcelona will pay around €75 million ($87 million) for Rodri. A Barcelona source said an official announcement is expected in the coming days, paving the way for the

Cristiano Ronaldo has raised fresh questions about his future by suggesting that the upcoming year could be the final season of his extraordinary playing career. Ronaldo Calls Time on Career Potentially Near The 41-year-old Portugal captain said his retirement could be approaching as he reflects on more than two decades at the highest level. “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said in an interview with Vogue. The statement has intensified speculation about

Arsenal made a strong start to the new season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Community Shield in Cardiff. The result gave Mikel Arteta’s side the first silverware of the campaign and provided several early talking points. Arsenal Make Early Statement With Silverware Arsenal wasted no time making their mark, scoring after just 23 seconds — their fastest goal across 668 matches under Mikel Arteta. The dominant performance delivered an emphatic victory and could prove an early psychological

Florian Thauvin’s first-half goal was enough for Lens to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 and lift the Trophée des Champions for the first time in club history. Thauvin Gives Lens the Lead PSG started brightly and looked to control the match, but Lens struck first in the 32nd minute. Abdallah Sima linked up with Matthieu Udol, whose delivery found Florian Thauvin at the far post. The forward finished past Matvey Safonov to put Lens 1-0 ahead. Lens Reduced to 10 Men The game changed

The Royal Dutch Football Association confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, ending its search for a successor to Ronald Koeman. Xavi, 46, returns to management for the first time since leaving Barcelona in 2024. The Spaniard described the role as a tremendous honour and said his football education at Barcelona, shaped by the ideas of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, had given him a special connection to Dutch football. Xavi said the Netherlands’ tradition of attacking, possession-based football strongly appealed to him. While winning

Lionel Messi made an emotional return to Inter Miami on Wednesday, only days after the death of his father, but it was not enough to keep the club in the Leagues Cup: a 3-2 defeat to Club León at Nu Stadium sent the Herons out of the tournament. Named among the substitutes, the Argentine captain was introduced at halftime with Miami leading 1-0, replacing Dániel Pintér — the scorer of the home side’s opener — and drawing a thunderous standing ovation from the

MIAMI — Lionel Messi has been given time away from Inter Miami following the death of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, with the MLS club confirming there is currently no timetable for the Argentine captain’s return. Jorge Messi died in Argentina at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. Messi subsequently returned to Rosario to be with his family, while Inter Miami players, coaches and staff publicly expressed their support for their captain. No Timetable for Messi’s Return Inter Miami

Argentine football star Lionel Messi has returned to his home country following the death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away aged 68. Messi, 39, travelled to Argentina for his father’s funeral after Jorge’s death was reported in Rosario. Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, confirmed the news and paid tribute to Jorge’s important role in the footballer’s career. Newell’s Old Boys Pay Tribute to Jorge Messi Newell’s Old Boys described Jorge as a key figure behind Lionel Messi’s

Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly considering a summer move for Konstantinos Mavropanos as the Bundesliga club explores options to strengthen its defence ahead of the new season. The Greek international centre-back has emerged as a potential target for Leverkusen, with his previous experience in German football making him an intriguing option for the club. Mavropanos is currently with West Ham United, but speculation surrounding his future could intensify as clubs begin shaping their squads for the upcoming campaign. Leverkusen Consider Defensive Reinforcements Leverkusen

Lionel Messi made a successful return from injury as Inter Miami battled to a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew in a thrilling Major League Soccer (MLS) encounter, marking the Argentine superstar's first appearance after missing several matches. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a muscle injury, receiving a warm welcome from fans as he helped Inter Miami earn a valuable point in a hard-fought contest. Messi Back in Action Messi had been sidelined in recent weeks,

Returning To Club Duties After The International Break Joao Cancelo will politely link back up with Al-Hilal this week. The Saudi Pro League club continues its intense pre-season preparations in Austria. The talented defender enjoyed a short rest following the 2026 World Cup. He expects to rejoin the squad and begin training this Wednesday. Al-Hilal focuses on building peak squad fitness ahead of the upcoming domestic campaign. Cancelo spent a highly successful loan stint at Barcelona last season. He played 23 fantastic matches

Atletico Madrid have signed South Korea midfielder Lee Kang In. He arrives from Paris Saint-Germain in a major summer move. The Spanish club confirmed the deal on Saturday. Contract and Transfer Fee Lee will sign a contract running through June 2031. Atletico has not disclosed the exact transfer fee. Reports suggest the fee sits between 35 and 40 million euros. That range equals roughly $39.8m to $45.5m. Lee's World Cup Campaign The 25-year-old played all three group games at the World Cup. South

Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career has officially come to an end. Portugal fell 1-0 to Spain in the Round of 16 on Monday. Substitute Mikel Merino struck the winner deep in stoppage time. The defeat closed a two-decade World Cup journey for Ronaldo. He never managed to lift the one trophy that eluded him throughout his career. Ronaldo had announced before the match that this would be his last World Cup. He stuck to that decision regardless of Monday's result. The 41-year-old wiped

Iran's national football team took a playful dig at the United States on Tuesday. The jab came right after Belgium thrashed the co-hosts 4-1 in the Round of 16. Iran's official account shared an Instagram Story showing Belgium's win over USA. The post also featured Belgium's earlier goalless draw against Iran in the group stage. The caption read simply, "Dance with me!" The post spread quickly across social media within hours. Many fans read it as a light jab at USA's early exit.

FIFA has stepped in to defend referee Raphael Claus after President Donald Trump questioned his integrity. Trump made the remark following Claus's decision to send off USA forward Folarin Balogun. The incident happened during the USA's World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week. Trump called Claus "a little bit suspect" while speaking at the White House on Monday. He did not explain what he meant by the comment. Trump reportedly pushed FIFA directly to ensure Balogun could still play. Balogun featured in the

Neymar's international career has finally come to an end. Brazil crashed out of the World Cup after losing 2-1 to Norway. The defeat came in the Round of 16 on Sunday. Right after the final whistle, Neymar confirmed his retirement from the national team. He spoke through tears while addressing Brazilian broadcaster Globo. "I tried, I tried. Now it's over," he said. "I started here, I finished here." A Bittersweet Final Goal Neymar did not leave the pitch empty handed on his final

A Sumptuous Strike Sidny Lopes Cabral scored an absolute masterpiece today. He curled a stunning shot directly into the top corner. This incredible 103rd-minute equalizer shocked the defending Argentine champions completely. Shocking the Globe Fans witnessed the absolute best goal of the entire tournament. The beautiful strike pushed the exhausting match deeper into extra time. Cabo Verde eventually lost the match 3-2 due to an own goal. However, Lopes Cabral delivered a completely unforgettable, historic moment.

The 119th-Minute Switch Australian manager Tony Popovic executed a massive, desperate gamble today. He made a highly controversial substitution in the 119th minute. He removed starting goalkeeper Patrick Beach right before the penalty shootout. Beach had played a brilliant game, making several miraculous saves. Popovic threw veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan onto the pitch instead. Failing the Ultimate Test Managers rarely change goalkeepers specifically for a penalty shootout. This massive tactical risk completely backfired on the Australian squad. Ryan failed to stop a single