… push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); It is South America v Europe, passion v precision, a match threaded with curious personal history, from the touchline to La Masia, where Barcelona …
… For nearly two decades, one image sat largely unnoticed: a young Lionel Messi, then a 20-year-old Barcelona prodigy, gently bathing an infant during a UNICEF charity photoshoot at Camp Nou. …
… Merino meanwhile enthused about the "impressive" talent of 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who will face Messi for the first time in a clash representing the past and the future of FC Barcelona. …
… reer which began when he was a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2005. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); Having broken into the Barcelona …
… Perhaps too eager, having at one point been a doubt for the tournament after missing the end of the season with Barcelona due to a hamstring injury. …
… boola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); "If we win the World Cup, no one will remember whether I scored goals... the important thing is winning," said the Barcelona …
… During his first spell in charge, between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho helped Madrid battle Pep Guardiola's dominant Barcelona side and created a siege mentality around the club. …
… Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, who turns 19 next week, is Spain's standout attacker but he arrived in the United States after suffering a late-season injury and has seemed a peripheral figure at times, scoring just once in five games. …
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has warned his players that any loss of concentration could quickly reverse their perfect start to the season, during which the Spanish champions have won all five matches across all competitions, scoring 22 goals and conceding three.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has warned his players that any loss of concentration could quickly reverse their perfect start to the season, during which the Spanish champions have won all five matches across all competitions, scoring 22 goals and conceding three.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was "very surprised" by Gabriel Jesus's claim that he was forced to train alone and given no information before joining Barcelona in September. Arteta insisted he had spoken to Jesus about the transfer and they parted on good terms.
Real Madrid face Rayo with manager Mourinho seeking a sharper attacking performance from Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, who was at the centre of summer contract speculation amid rumours of an Arsenal move but remains a key player after scoring in Champions League finals in 2022 and 2024.
Paris Saint-Germain began their Champions League campaign with a 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava, with forward Ousmane Dembele scoring the opening two goals. Coach Luis Enrique praised Dembele's performance as the French club bids for a third straight Champions League title.
Alexis Mac Allister scored to cap Liverpool's comeback win over Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League, with Marcos Llorente giving Atletico an early lead before Dominik Szoboszlai levelled before half-time.
Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire majority shares in Spanish second-division club Eldense, pending completion of legal procedures and Spanish Sports Council authorization. This is Messi's second ownership venture in Spanish football, following his purchase of fourth-tier Cornella in April.
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes his team will improve after a slow start to the season, despite a 3-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao and falling five points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after four games. Simeone remains confident as Atletico aim to reach the Champions League final at their Metropolitano Stadium.
Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, 43, is preparing to become the first African to coach a team in the UEFA Champions League as Slovan Bratislava's manager, ahead of their match against Paris Saint-Germain. Toure left his role as assistant with Saudi Arabia's national team to join the Slovak club in July.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal said Tuesday he will not beg for the Ballon d'Or trophy after winning the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona, telling reporters he is content to let others decide whether he deserves the prize.
Paris Saint-Germain, having won the Champions League in back-to-back years under Luis Enrique, are now pursuing a rare third consecutive title. Captain Marquinhos acknowledged the difficulty of the objective but said the treble is PSG's target for the campaign.
Jose Mourinho, who led Inter Milan to a Champions League title in 2010 before joining Real Madrid, is beginning his second stint at Madrid and opens the club's European campaign against Inter on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe said it was natural for people to consider him as a potential Ballon d'Or winner after scoring 10 goals at the World Cup this summer to win the Golden Boot, with France finishing fourth. Mbappe, 27, has scored 22 goals in World Cup competitions during his career, making him the all-time top scorer.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe said it is natural for people to consider him for the Ballon d'Or after scoring 10 goals at the World Cup this summer to win the Golden Boot, taking his career World Cup tally to 22 goals as the tournament's all-time top scorer.
Paris Saint-Germain's head coach Luis Enrique has signed a three-year contract extension lasting until 2030, replacing his previous deal that was set to expire at season's end. Five PSG players—Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo, and Senny Mayulu—also agreed contract extensions with the two-time defending European champions.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal took a knock and did not train with the team on Saturday, but will travel to face Valencia in La Liga on Sunday. Flick said he will decide whether Yamal rests or starts after speaking with the player.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said 17-year-old Brian Madjo's time to shine in the Champions League will come after being left out of Villa's European squad. Madjo scored in Villa's UEFA Super Cup loss to PSG last month but has been sidelined by injury.
Barcelona will meet Arsenal in the league phase of the Women's Champions League after Friday's draw in Nyon, Switzerland. The reigning champions will host Arsenal, Paris FC and Servette, with away trips to Bayern Munich, Roma and HB Koge, while Arsenal face a home match against eight-time winners Lyon.
PSG coach Luis Enrique said the sale of France winger Bradley Barcola to Liverpool on August 31, 2026 was a good deal for all parties, with Barcola wanting more playing time and the club respecting his wishes.
David Beckham said Lionel Messi's "legacy will live forever" after the Argentina legend announced his retirement from international football on August 31, 2026, following 207 caps and 125 goals for his country.
Manchester City have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a £125 million deal that would equal the British transfer record. The Argentina international is expected to move to City on deadline day.
Chelsea signed Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor for a reported £40 million, with the 18-year-old loaned to Crystal Palace for this season before joining Chelsea officially in 2027. Ahanor made 22 league appearances for Atalanta last season and made his Italy debut in June.
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, six weeks after Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final, concluding a career spanning more than two decades and over 200 appearances. AFP reviews the defining moments of his international career.
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, six weeks after Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final, ending a career spanning more than two decades and over 200 appearances for his country. AFP Sport reviews the defining moments of his Argentina career.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 4-0 win against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu, extending their perfect start to La Liga under Jose Mourinho. Arda Guler added a fourth goal late on, while Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero conceded an own goal.
Franck Kessie, the 29-year-old Ivorian midfielder with 104 international caps who captained Ivory Coast at the World Cup, has signed a multi-year contract with Atalanta after reportedly being courted by Juventus. Kessie was previously with Atalanta from 2015 to 2019 and was a free agent after leaving Saudi club Al-Ahli in May.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said he values 40 goals with titles and team effort over 60 goals scored individually, following Mbappe's hat-trick against Real Sociedad as the 2026/27 La Liga season gets underway.
Atletico Madrid's board unanimously decided not to negotiate striker Julian Alvarez's transfer to Barcelona, though the club remains open to other offers including from Arsenal.
Nico Gonzalez, a 24-year-old Spanish midfielder, has signed a long-term deal with Newcastle United from Manchester City for up to £52 million. Gonzalez expressed excitement about joining the club and playing at St James' Park as a home player.
UEFA, which had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions over plans to allow private investment in the World Cup and Club World Cup through a new commercial subsidiary, is expected to drop the boycott threat. The dispute arose after FIFA proposed creating a FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to attract private investors, which UEFA had criticized as a "shady, opaque backroom deal."