football news

Saudi Arabian organisers have confirmed that preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup remain on schedule despite growing concerns over the tournament following recent Houthi attacks on the country. The continental football competition is scheduled to begin on January 7, 2027, with matches planned across three Saudi Arabian cities: Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar. However, the recent escalation in regional tensions has raised questions about whether the tournament will proceed as planned. In a statement issued late Thursday, the local organising committee said

Julian Alvarez is reportedly preparing to change his representation after failing to secure a move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona during the summer transfer window. The Argentina international continues to be linked with the Catalan club, and his reported decision to appoint a new agent has added another development to the ongoing transfer speculation. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Alvarez is expected to sign with Pablo Barquero, who also represents Barcelona star Rodri. The development comes amid renewed discussions about the

Kylian Mbappe made history on Wednesday by becoming the youngest player to reach 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. The Real Madrid forward achieved the milestone at the age of 27 during his team's match against Roma. Mbappe marked the occasion by scoring a first-half equaliser as Real Madrid secured a 4-3 victory. He surpassed Lionel Messi, who previously held the record after reaching 100 Champions League appearances at the age of 28 in September 2015. The milestone further underlined Mbappe's impact

Barcelona are reportedly discussing how best to manage the development of Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, with the 18-year-old struggling to secure regular first-team opportunities under manager Hansi Flick. According to SPORT, Abdelkarim has played just 12 minutes across 10 official matches despite training alongside Barcelona’s senior squad. With his progress limited by a lack of competitive action, a temporary move to Barça Atlètic could provide the youngster with valuable playing time. The forward is reportedly open to the possibility, as his main priority

Arda Güler delivered an impressive performance for Real Madrid, providing two assists during a difficult match against Roma. Despite playing just 37 minutes, the Türkiye international made a significant contribution to Madrid's attacking play. Güler recorded three key passes, the joint-highest total in the match, along with four progressive passes and 11 touches in the final third. His creativity helped Real Madrid remain competitive in an entertaining 3-3 contest. Endrick Scores Crucial Equaliser for Real Madrid Endrick played an important role in Madrid's

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed pressure to resign following reports that he received an additional payment of around £1.3 million in 2024, on top of his regular salary. According to a report first published by The Times, a filing submitted to the US Internal Revenue Service revealed details of the additional payment linked to FWC2026, the company established to organise and run the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA has published details of Infantino's salary, bonuses and allowances in its annual reports

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal to help Al Nassr secure a 3-1 victory over Neftchi Fergana in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday. The 41-year-old forward started the match and continued his impressive scoring record for the Saudi Arabian club. Following the victory, Ronaldo shared a message on Instagram, saying, “Important win tonight. We keep building.” Portugal FA Shares Ronaldo's Achievement Despite suspending Ronaldo just two days earlier, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) acknowledged his latest achievement on social media.

José Mourinho's biggest challenge at Real Madrid is finding a way for Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior to perform effectively together, according to an analysis by Mario Cortegana of The Athletic. Both forwards remain key figures in Mourinho's plans, but their partnership has yet to deliver the attacking chemistry the club expected. Mbappé and Vinícius Struggle to Find Space Together The problem was evident during Real Madrid's 2-1 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid. Both forwards frequently occupied similar areas on the left wing,

Manchester City secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, with second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki helping the Premier League leaders maintain their perfect start to the season. Liverpool were reduced to 10 men after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute. City capitalised on the numerical advantage to take control of the match and secure all three points. The victory also came amid heightened attention surrounding City's financial rules case, with the

Lionel Messi described his retirement from international football as the “saddest day of my career” after making his final appearance for Argentina in a 3-0 victory over Benin. The Argentina captain scored once and provided two assists in the match at the Monumental Stadium before addressing the fans and his teammates after the final whistle. Messi Reflects on 21 Years With Argentina Speaking to the crowd, Messi expressed his pride at representing Argentina for more than two decades. He said leaving the national

The UAE secured a 1-1 draw against two-time Asian champions Qatar in their final Group B match on Wednesday, finishing top of the group and earning a place in the Gulf Cup semifinals. The result gave the UAE seven points from three matches, with Qatar finishing second on goal difference. Ali Saleh Scores Late Equaliser Qatar took the lead in the 33rd minute through Almoez Ali, putting the UAE under pressure for much of the first half. However, the UAE responded just before

Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future has come under scrutiny after the Portugal captain abruptly left the national team’s training camp in Copenhagen on Wednesday. The 41-year-old forward departed just one day before Portugal’s Nations League match against Denmark, following comments from coach Jorge Jesus about tensions between the pair. Ronaldo later confirmed his decision in an Instagram post, saying he had made the decision after Jesus’ press conference and a conversation with Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Pedro Proenca. Ronaldo Says He Will Reveal

The UAE secured their place in the Gulf Cup 27 semifinals after defeating defending champions Bahrain 3-0 in their Group B match at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. The victory gave the UAE six points from two matches and kept them at the top of the group on goal difference. Othman Camara Gives UAE Early Lead The UAE controlled much of the opening period and broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. Othman Camara opened the scoring to give

The UEFA Champions League delivered an exciting night of football as Aston Villa defeated Club Brugge 3-2, while AEK Athens secured a 1-0 victory over LASK. Both teams had to work hard for their wins, with Villa surviving a strong second-half response from Brugge and AEK relying on a spectacular free kick. Aston Villa Hold Off Club Brugge Aston Villa made a strong start against Club Brugge in Belgium. Pau Torres played a key role, providing two assists as Villa built an early

Lamine Yamal has made football history by becoming the first player to receive three Ballon d’Or nominations before turning 20. The Barcelona and Spain winger’s latest nomination underlines his remarkable rise from teenage prospect to one of the most recognised players in world football. At just 19, Yamal is already competing with established stars for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Lamine Yamal’s Historic Ballon d’Or Achievement Yamal’s third Ballon d’Or nomination is a major milestone in his young career. His performances for Barcelona

Lionel Messi is reportedly preparing for another major move in Spanish football, with the Argentina and Inter Miami star reaching an agreement in principle to acquire CD Eldense, a club competing in Spain’s second division. The proposed deal would further expand Messi’s growing involvement in football ownership. Messi Moves Closer to Buying CD Eldense According to reports, Messi has reached a verbal agreement with Eldense’s current owners to become the club’s majority shareholder. The final transfer is expected to take place after the

Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers in history, has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39. The Argentina captain shared the emotional news on social media on Monday, bringing an end to an extraordinary 20-year journey with the national team. The decision was clearly not an easy one for the legendary forward, who admitted that saying goodbye to the national team still hurts deeply.  Messi explained that he had been thinking about retirement since Argentina’s defeat to Spain

RC Lens have made history by winning the Trophée des Champions for the first time, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis despite playing with ten men for almost an hour. A Historic Night for RC Lens RC Lens lifted the Trophée des Champions on Sunday evening after defeating reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain in a tense opening match of the 2026/27 season. The home side secured a narrow 1–0 victory, with Florian Thauvin scoring the decisive goal in the first half.

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