As the South American World Cup qualifiers kick off, all eyes turn to Argentina, the reigning world champions. With Lionel Messi still leading the charge, can La Albiceleste maintain their dominance? Tim Vickery delves into the challenges and prospects of each CONMEBOL nation. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.) – Visit ESPN’s South American WCQ homepage Plays at home to Ecuador on Thursday, then away to Bolivia…
The nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or were announced Wednesday evening with France Football magazine revealing the nominees included on the list for this year’s award. Sixty players have found themselves in the running; 30 for the men’s award and 30 for the women’s award. Among the men’s players nominated are Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Months after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar,…
Spain’s Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Vilda was fired Tuesday by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as the fallout from Luis Rubiales’ behaviour continues. With Rubiales suspended as Spanish FA president for 90 days by FIFA after his unsolicited kiss on forward Jenni Hermoso, the committee of regional presidents in charge of the RFEF, led by Pedro Rocha, informed Vilda of the decision to fire him. Rocha is set…
Forward Bukayo Saka was named England Men’s Player of the Year for a second successive year, the English Football Association said on Tuesday. Arsenal’s Saka, 22, was voted the standout player of the 2022-23 season by fans, ahead of midfielder Jude Bellingham and striker Harry Kane, who were second and third, respectively. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Saka, who made his England debut in October 2020 scored…
Redemption is a big word and often a hugely complex subject, but it remains one of the great gifts that life, and sport, can hand you. And right now, there is a standout example who is brilliantly using LaLiga to seek this basic human need: Isco at Real Betis. It’s extremely hard to overemphasise how remarkable his achievement has been in such short order. But the magical Spaniard is well…
Spain’s men’s national team released a statement on Monday condemning Spanish FA (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales’ “unacceptable behaviour” after the Women’s World Cup. The statement, read out by Atletico Madrid striker Álvaro Morata, said Rubiales’ conduct in the postmatch celebrations in Sydney “tarnished” Spain’s 1-0 win in the final over England. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Rubiales is suspended from all football-related activity for 90 days by…
Panama defender Gilberto Hernández has died after being shot in the city of Colón on Sunday, the Panama Football League said in a statement. Hernández, 26, played for Club Atlético Independiente de La Chorrera and made two international appearances. “The Panamanian Football League regrets the sad loss of Gilberto Hernández, a player for Club Atlético Independiente, in an isolated act of violence in the city of Colón, which also left…
Liverpool have made their position on Mohamed Salah absolutely clear. No amount of money from Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad will persuade them to offload their star forward — a stance that held firm when an offer worth up to £150 million was received on transfer deadline day. Jurgen Klopp doubled down on the club’s official position on Sunday by saying that, even if a bigger bid comes in…
Sergio Ramos is in advanced talks over a return to Sevilla, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Ramos, 37, has been a free agent since his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired in July. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The former Real Madrid centre-back attracted interest from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, Galatasaray, FC Porto and MLS, sources said, but has opted for Sevilla as he prefers to stay closer to…
Wrexham’s attempts to complete a club-record transfer on deadline day fell through when the window shut before they could finish the deal. The League Two club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, had agreed terms to sign Luke Armstrong, 27, from Harrogate Town. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Harrogate even announced that the striker had joined Wrexham for an undisclosed fee. Wrexham said they…