Al Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, despite being courted by clubs participating in the expanded 32-team tournament. Speculation over the 40-year-old’s future intensified last month when FIFA president Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway about Ronaldo, who is out of contract at the end of the month, playing in the Club…
Portugal midfielder João Neves says Sunday’s UEFA Nations League final is not just Lamine Yamal against Cristiano Ronaldo. The showdown between Spain and Portugal at the Allianz Arena is the first time Barcelona teenage sensation Yamal will play against former Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 137 goals. “I don’t look at the game like that [Cristiano Ronaldo vs Yamal],” Neves…
FIFA will roll out “advanced semi-automated offside technology” for VAR at the Club World Cup, which could eliminate the kind of situation that led to Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi being placed in an induced coma. Awoniyi suffered the injury after colliding with the post late in a game against Leicester City last month after the assistant kept the flag down to allow the move to play out, with the…
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal delivered a Ballon d’Or “statement” in Thursday’s end-to-end 5-4 UEFA Nations League semifinal win over France in Stuttgart. Yamal, 17, scored twice as Spain built up a 5-1 lead before France fought back late on, but La Roja held on to reach Sunday’s final against Portugal. The fixture had been billed in some quarters as a battle for the Ballon d’Or…
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, England — For 26 minutes at St George’s Park on Thursday, England manager Sarina Wiegman fielded questions largely about the players not included in her 23-woman squad heading to Euro 2025 this summer. Instead of those who did make it, after a 10-day spell in which goalkeeper Mary Earps retired, forward Fran Kirby retired, and centre-back Millie Bright removed herself from selection to prioritize her own well-being, the focus…
Barcelona midfielder Gavi has doubled down on his claim that his critics have “f—— no idea” how good he is, saying people hate him for his style of play. Gavi, 20, first lashed out at his detractors in April, expressing his belief that his ability with the ball is ignored because of his tenacity off it. “People just see me as a competitor, a warrior or whatever you want to…
Manchester United’s football operations are undergoing yet more change with one of the club’s key figures Dave Brailsford scaling back his role, a source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public. Brailsford, who was credited for his role in British cycling’s spectacular Olympic success in recent years, was a key component of billionaire…
Feeling more like a nightclub than Old Trafford, music bumped through speakers as former Manchester United midfielder Josh Harrop walked into a concert-like atmosphere in London’s Copper Box Arena. The referee threw the ball into the air as an airhorn went off and social media influencers recorded the videos on their phones a few feet from the sideline. Harrop, now a free agent, had only skimmed the rulebook for the…
Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning has joined the ownership group of the Denver NWSL expansion franchise that will begin play next year. Manning is a five-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champion who played his final four seasons with the Denver Broncos, retiring in 2016 shortly after leading the team to a Super Bowl title. “It’s a real honor to be part of something so meaningful to…
Four of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are ready to battle for the signature of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, while Antonio Rüdiger is set to spurn the Saudi Pro League to extend his stay at Real Madrid. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s January grades | Women’s January grades – Messi a factor as Rodríguez…