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…
MUNICH, Germany — Paris Saint Germain’s Champions League win means the club, and the city, are now (even more) officially on the football map. Now what? Saturday night’s 5-0 humiliation of Inter wasn’t just PSG’s initiation into the big time, but it also opens new horizons for just where this club might go. (They’ve spent a lot of money over the past decade and while they have some big individual…
Paris Saint-Germain winger Désiré Doué beat Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to win the Champions League Young Player of the Season award after scoring twice in his side’s 5-0 final win over Inter Milan on Saturday. Both teenagers — slated as perhaps the two best young players in world football — made the team of the season. Doue, 19, wrapped up his extremely impressive campaign by creating the opening goal in the…
When Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) became Paris Saint-Germain’s majority owner in 2011, the club was Europe’s 48th best, according to the numbers at EloFootball.com. And this was a major improvement — it was 90th a year earlier. PSG had just finished fourth in Ligue 1, their best placement in more than a decade. They had fallen to Benfica in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, and that was encouraging.…