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Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo all scored for Barcelona as they swept aside Real Betis in a seven-goal thriller to stay five points clear at the top of La Liga In a thrilling end-to-end encounter between two sides in this season's Champions League, Real Betis played the final 40 minutes with 10 men after Facundo Bernal was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident. Nine days out from the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, teenage contender Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a sensational effort from outside of the penalty area. After a clever ball roll and flick to shift past an opposing defender, he fired a ferocious strike past Betis' Alvaro Valles. Hosts Betis levelled less than 20 minutes later when former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals saw his cross headed in by Valentin Gomez. Barcelona re-took the lead before half-time as 2024 Ballon d'Or-winner Rodri headed in a Fermin Lopez corner. It was Rodri's first goal for Barca since joining them in the summer from Manchester City. Betis were left frustrated at half-time. Former Tottenham midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso's long-range half-volley found the back of the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for a handball in the build-up. That infringement took place around 15 seconds before Lo Celso's strike, but was deemed to be in the same phase of play. Having seen a goal ruled out for offside seconds earlier, Jesus then gave Barcelona a 3-1 lead after a brilliant passing move. Jesus only had to turn the ball into an empty net when teed up by Lamine Yamal from close range. Betis immediately clawed a goal back through Abde Ezzalzouli, converting at the end of a blistering counter-attack. After that goal went in, a melee broke out which saw Bernal and Lamine Yamal clash. After grabbing the Barcelona forward, Bernal dug his head towards him and was dismissed. Barca did restore a two-goal advantage through Garcia, joining fellow ex-City players on the scoresheet. Following a blocked Lamine Yamal free-kick, defender Pau Cubarsi squared the ball to Garcia to convert from close range with Betis unable to clear their lines. Substitute Dani Olmo added a fifth in the final 10 minutes with a clever finish from the edge of the penalty area. Three points for Hansi Flick's side was their 11th win in as many games in all competitions this season. They sit five points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga and nine points clear of Real Madrid, who have played a game fewer.

Harry Kane scored on his 100th Bundesliga appearance while Luis Diaz netted a hat-trick as Bayern Munich thrashed RB Leipzig 6-1 to go top of the table Goals from Luis Diaz, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Michael Olise put Bayern in control by half-time, before Diaz completed his treble and Kane marked his landmark century with a goal. Vincent Kompany's side came into the game off the back of disappointing draws against Augsburg in the Bundesliga and Norwegian side Viking in the Champions League, results that raised questions about their defensive resolve. But after dropping four points in their opening five league games - as many as they dropped in their first 17 outings last season - the defending Bundesliga champions looked back to their irresistible best as they dominated Leipzig. In the 12th minute, Diaz ran onto a Joshua Kimmich dink and finished past Leipzig goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, before the Colombian turned provider and teed up Pavlovic to rifle in at the near post. Olise completed the first-half rout by firing into the bottom corner after exchanging passes with Harry Kane, who had dropped deep to create space. Half-time offered a ragged Leipzig only temporary respite, as 95 seconds into the second period Diaz curled into the far bottom corner for his second goal of the evening. Kane soon marked his 100th Bundesliga appearance with his 102nd goal in the competition, tapping in from Nathaniel Brown's cut-back. With 20 minutes left to play, Diaz completed a fabulous hat-trick with a right-footed rocket into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. Andrija Maksimovic scored an injury-time consolation for the visitors with a fine strike into the top corner. Bayern registered 17 shots on target before Leipzig managed their first in the 78th minute, and would have scored more had Vandevoordt not made 11 saves. Borussia Dortmund's goalless draw with Union Berlin earlier on Saturday means Bayern spend the night top of the table with 14 points, though Freiburg will go two points clear if they beat Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Leipzig's Jekyll and Hyde start to the campaign continues; they find themselves seventh in the standings after three home wins and three away defeats.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was taken to hospital for "precautionary tests" after suffering what boss Xabi Alonso said was a concussion during Chelsea's win at Everton on Saturday Martinez had earlier played his part in the Blues securing a first Premier League clean sheet in nine months, a run stretching back 23 matches. But the incident overshadowed an important 2-0 victory for Alonso's side at Hill Dickinson Stadium, secured by two goals from Pedro Neto. Martinez collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the 68th minute while attempting to claim a cross from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick. There was an eight-minute stoppage before the Argentina international was replaced by Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut for Chelsea, and saw out the remainder of the match. Asked about the incident after the match, Alonso said: "It was a concussion, but beyond that I do not know. I have only seen one clip of the incident, so we need to wait. What we know is that he left the stadium conscious and is now in hospital undergoing precautionary tests. We need to wait. Hopefully it will not be too serious, but at the moment we just have to wait." There are now doubts over whether Martinez will be fit for Chelsea's next three matches - they face Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool in between.

President Gianni Infantino has apologised to the FIFA Council for his World Cup sell-off plan - but has been told he is not fit to lead unless he releases all the documents and answers key questions The Fifa Council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since Infantino's secret FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal emerged. Under FFE, which Infantino scrapped within days, a portion of the commercial rights of football's world governing body would have been given to a private investment firm. In a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino also faced questions about US striker Folarin Balogun's suspended red-card ban, the Fifa Peace Prize and funding for national associations. Hours later, Fifa released a video statement from Infantino. He had declined to speak to or take questions from the media. In the FIFA video, he said: "First of all I apologised for the mistakes that we made in relation to the communication and consultation process related to the Fifa Forward Enterprise project which led to many consequences. But what is important to remember is that it was a proposal and in no way a done deal, that actually intended to enable Fifa to invest more in our member associations, as opposed to replacing support from existing resources." Infantino said he would answer questions in writing "in due course" following what he said had been a "constructive discussion" with "different opinions and points of view". Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt - a Fifa vice-president - said afterwards that many questions remained unanswered despite the "most robust, most frank, most open Council meeting" she had experienced. "One of the disappointing things is that we didn't get answers to anything that we had specifically requested - for example getting the papers from FFE," Hewitt said. "I asked the question 'why not?' - and we were asked to submit those questions in writing. I think the man has to answer those questions and if he doesn't answer those questions no, he's not fit to be Fifa president - and that was what was shared in the meeting." Hewitt added: "I've repeatedly asked for the papers to be shared. I haven't received them and still in spite of the request today, I haven't received them. It is the rationale for why FFE happened in the way that it did, the Balogun case, the Peace Prize. The responses to those questions, which I still don't have answers to, will determine from my personal point of view whether or not Gianni is the right candidate. "That will be the point at which or not we can say that any individual that was involved in FFE can or cannot be trusted because until we see what actually happened it's very difficult to say behaviour needs or not to change." Hewitt acknowledged there had been "some contrition" in Infantino's apology. "Then there were no holds barred in terms of what we felt about what had happene. What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the Council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us," she added. UEFA - European football's governing body - has been one of Infantino's fiercest critics and has repeatedly called on him to stand down. It has prepared criminal legal proceedings against Infantino and lodged a claim in three US courts for all documents related to FFE to be released. Hewitt hopes Infantino now freely releases the documents so the Council can understand what happened. "Those papers coming to Council are a crucial next part of us feeling comfortable as to what, if any, criminal proceedings need to take place," Hewitt said. Asked if there was any change in stance from UEFA about Infantino, she added: "From my position, nothing has shifted. I've no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic."

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez says he "spoke out of anger and frustration" when launching a scathing attack on the club's hierarchy Martinez criticised United for not strengthening the squad in the summer following qualification for the Champions League in comments made after the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group phase on Tuesday. The Argentina international said he expected more investment in the United squad and "more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]". However, while he stopped short of an apology, he said he has "belief in my team-mates, our manager [Michael Carrick] and everyone working to help this club move forward". "After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted," he wrote in a social media post. Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win. And when things don't go our way, it hurts, especially when representing a club with the history and stature of Manchester United. "My words reflect how I feel and how much I want to see this club competing for the biggest honours. Those high standards are part of how I see football and the responsibility that comes with wearing this shirt. When I talk about wanting more, I'm talking about the ambition we must all have as part of this club. "To keep growing, to become stronger and to have everything we need to compete at the highest level. These are standards we must all hold ourselves to, starting with me." Manchester United have not won in five games since beating Sabah in the Champions League on 10 September. They have won just two of their nine games this season and are 13th in the Premier League with six points from as many games. Martinez's contract expires at the end of the season and United have the option to extend it by another year. He added: "I know that, first and foremost, it's us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility. "We need to demand even more of ourselves and work together to take Manchester United back to the top. I believe in my teammates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward. "I'm convinced that the way forward is to keep working together, with ambition and commitment. My goal has been the same since day one, to win, compete at the highest level and to give everything I have for this badge." Manchester United's next game will be at Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday, 18 October.

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has questioned the timing of the announcement of Vinicius Junior’s four-match La Liga suspension, suggesting that the news should not have been released shortly before Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League fixture The Portuguese coach expressed his concerns over the Spanish Refereeing Committee’s decision to publish details of the suspension minutes before Real Madrid’s European match, asking why the announcement was made at that particular time. As reported by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X, the Madrid gaffer was quoted as saying, “Ask Spanish Refereeing Committee why they published the news about Vini’s ban minutes before he plays an important UCL game. Real Madrid is a Spanish club, so why publish it now?” Mourinho said. Vinicius has reportedly been handed a four-match suspension that would rule him out of several domestic fixtures, including the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona. The Brazilian forward is expected to miss matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia if the suspension stands. The timing of the announcement has raised questions, with Mourinho suggesting that releasing the information shortly before an important European fixture could have been avoided. Real Madrid are preparing for their Champions League commitments while also facing the prospect of losing one of their key attacking players for crucial domestic matches. Vinicius’ potential absence from El Clásico would be a significant development for the Spanish giants, given his importance to their attacking play and previous performances against Barcelona.

Kylian Mbappé has broken Lionel Messi’s UEFA Champions record to become the youngest player to reach 100 matches in the world’s top club football body says Mbappé is the latest player to join the illustrious list and the fifth French player to reach a century, at 27 years, 298 days. He achieved the century mark on Wednesday when he featured for his team in their UCL game against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy on October 14, 2026. The French captain also got on the scoresheet with a first-half equaliser at half-time to make it 1-1. Madrid later secured a 4-3 win. Lionel Messi had set the previous record at 28 years, 84 days against Roma on September 16, 2015. Mbappé made his Champions League debut as a 17-year-old with Monaco in September 2016. A picture of Raúl, Messi and Mbappé when they reached their 100 Champions League appearances. Credit: MadridXtra/X. He also led the Champions League scoring chart last season with 15 goals, including the second-fastest hat-trick in the competition’s history against Olympiacos when he netted three goals in six minutes and 42 seconds. According to UEFA, Mbappé is the second player to bag a century of games this season. His Madrid teammate Thibaut Courtois became the first Belgian to reach the landmark on Matchday 1. Four other players – Bernardo Silva, Joshua Kimmich, Jan Oblak and Nicolás Otamendi – reached 100 appearances in the 2025/26 football season. Madrid and Spain legend Raúl González was the first player to make 100 Champions League appearances. He achieved the remarkable feat on February 21, 2006, at 28, coming on as a substitute in Real Madrid’s 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal.

Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Jr has been handed a four-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation, ruling him out of the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona on October 25 The Brazilian international will miss Real Madrid’s La Liga fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia following his dismissal during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal. According to Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, “Vinicius Jr has been suspended for 4 La Liga games — out for El Clásico. “The Brazilian will miss the following games, Sevilla (H), Barcelona (A), Racing Club (A) and Valencia (A). The disciplinary committee imposed a two-match ban for violent conduct after Vinicius pulled the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba, while a further two-match suspension was imposed over his protests following the red card. The incident occurred after Vinicius appeared to have scored a second goal for Real Madrid, only for the effort to be ruled out following a video assistant referee review that revealed the hair-pulling incident. The forward was subsequently sent off, with the referee’s report also detailing his reaction to the dismissal. Vinicius later apologised to his teammates and the club’s supporters following the incident. The suspension represents a setback for Real Madrid ahead of their meeting with fierce rivals Barcelona, who will host the Spanish giants in the latest edition of El Clásico.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has declined to comment in detail on Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the club’s leadership following their defeat to Atletico Madrid, saying he needs to establish the facts before deciding on his response Martinez had on Tuesday used a post-match interview with Amazon Prime to criticise United director of football Jason Wilcox over what he considered inadequate investment in the squad during the summer transfer window. The defender argued that Carrick should not be blamed for the club’s disappointing start to the season, insisting that the manager had not received the support he deserved from the club’s hierarchy. United have won just two of their nine matches in all competitions this season, raising concerns about their performances and recruitment strategy. Wilcox and Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada spent £155m on first-team reinforcements during the summer, bringing in goalkeeper Karl Darlow and midfielders Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans. However, Martinez believes the recruitment was insufficient to build on the team’s achievements last season and called for greater scrutiny of those responsible for the club’s football strategy. Speaking in a post-interview on Tuesday, when asked whether he would speak to Martinez about the interview, Carrick said, “I need to find out a bit more about it before I can say if and what is going to be done. I really can’t comment any further because I haven’t seen it.” The United manager was also asked whether he agreed with Martinez’s assessment that the club had failed to provide him with adequate backing in the transfer market. Carrick declined to take a position, explaining that he had not watched the interview, while suggesting that the defender’s comments might have been influenced by the disappointment of the result. “I haven’t seen the interview; I’ve heard about it as the interview was done, but I think it’s a little bit on the emotions of the game as well. Coming here and being disappointed not to get something from the game. Straight after a game for me isn’t the time to talk about that interview because I haven’t seen it, so I can’t really comment on that,” he said. “But I think it’s important for us to move forward quickly, really. There is a big game on Sunday, and it’s really important that we move forward and we stay focused on that. There’s disappointment within the group. I’m very disappointed in certain things, and the boys are as well.” Despite United’s struggles, Carrick maintained that the players remained committed to the team and were determined to improve their results. He acknowledged the frustration surrounding the club’s form but said he had no concerns about the squad’s unity or willingness to compete. Carrick said his players were “hurting” because of the difficult start to the campaign, while praising their effort and commitment. “I don’t doubt the togetherness or the wanting to win or the willingness to do things to win. I really don’t doubt that. I know results-wise, it’s easy to look and think there’s something kind of deeply wrong because we haven’t won enough games, so I understand that,” he said.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has launched a blistering attack on the club's hierarchy for not strengthening the squad following qualification for the Champions League Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid means United have now gone five games without a win. Their most recent victory was against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September. United's only other win in nine matches this season came against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford, when they had to come from behind. The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League last term to seal a Champions League return for the first time in three years. They won 12 of Michael Carrick's 17 games in interim charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January, which was enough to earn the former United midfielder a permanent two-year contract as head coach. "We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserved to win today," Martinez told Amazon Prime Video. "I expect more [investment]. 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night. Tonight it is easy to [blame] the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas." Martinez's view has been echoed by many external observers and has also been mentioned by some inside Old Trafford. The failure to bring in striking support for Benjamin Sesko and competition at left-back for Luke Shaw have both been highlighted in a summer when United spent £155m on three midfielders to the exclusion of any other position. Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was sitting next to United chief executive Omar Berrada in the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday. They have sacked managers in the past two seasons after backing them the previous summer, with Erik ten Hag dismissed in October 2024, before Amorim was shown the exit door in January 2026. "You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager," said Martinez. "What about other areas? I can't say more. Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team." Martinez's comments echo similar ones made by his Argentina defensive partner Cristian Romero against the Tottenham board last season. Ironically, Romero was in Atletico's side against United after his summer move to Spain. Martinez, meanwhile, has one year left on his United contract and has yet to agree an extension.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 981st career goal as Al-Nassr defeated Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday The 41-year-old Portuguese forward scored in the 42nd minute to double Al-Nassr’s lead after Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to Reuters, Ronaldo’s goal came after Sadio Mane delivered a looping cross from the left, which Aiman Yahya directed into the forward’s path with his chest before he fired into the bottom corner. “The 41-year-old struck after Sadio Mane delivered a looping cross from ⁠the left that Aiman Yahya directed into Ronaldo’s path with his chest and the ⁠Portuguese forward lashed the ball into the bottom corner with a shot on the turn,” Reuters reported. The goal moved Ronaldo to 981 career goals, leaving him 19 short of reaching the 1,000-goal milestone. The match was delayed by about an hour following a security alert issued by Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence shortly before the scheduled kick-off. Reuters reported that the delay followed security concerns amid missile threats from Yemen-based Houthi rebels. After the match eventually began, Al-Nassr took the lead through Angelo before Ronaldo doubled their advantage shortly before half-time. Neftchi reduced the deficit six minutes into the second half through Alisher Odilov, but the visitors’ hopes of a comeback suffered a setback when Ikromjon Alibaev was sent off in the 65th minute for a foul on Mohamed Simakan. Al-Nassr sealed the victory in the 78th minute when Anvarjon Gofurov scored an own goal, making it 3-1. The result gave Al-Nassr their first points in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite campaign after they lost 4-0 to UAE side Al-Ain in their opening match. Ronaldo had scored his 980th career goal in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Diriyah before finding the net again against Neftchi. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues his pursuit of 1,000 career goals for club and country. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain opened the scoring in the 23rd minute at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, pouncing on a rebound after goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah parried Kingsley Coman’s powerful effort.

Alexander Zverev is guaranteed to finish the 2026 season as world number one after Carlos Alcaraz's surprise defeat in the Shanghai Masters German Zverev was on course to climb above current world number one Jannik Sinner, who has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a knee injury. Alcaraz still had a mathematical chance of stopping Zverev until he was beaten 7-5 7-6 (7-4) by Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the third round on Monday. After losing three major finals, Zverev landed the first Grand Slam title of his career by winning the French Open in June, and followed that with victory at the US Open last month. The 29-year-old has taken advantage of the injury problems suffered by Spaniard Alcaraz and Italian Sinner - the dominant pair on the ATP Tour in the previous two seasons - to become the world's leading player. Zverev cannot overtake Sinner until 2 November at the earliest. He will become the first German man to end the year as number one, and the oldest player to achieve the feat for the first time. After suffering a serious ankle injury in the 2022 French Open semi-finals which kept him out for seven months, Zverev regained his place in the upper echelons of the sport and been ranked inside the top four continuously since March 2024.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it is "far from ideal" that Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi were injured in a post-match training session after the Gunners' 2-1 Premier League win against Leeds A training session was held after Saturday's match at Emirates Stadium for players who either did not feature in or did not play the full 90 minutes against Leeds. Ecuador defender Hincapie was carried off by goalkeeper Illan Meslier during the session, and Arteta later confirmed Spain midfielder Zubimendi was also hurt. Hincapie, 24, came on after 82 minutes as Arsenal saw out victory against Leeds, while Zubimendi, 27, was an unused substitute. "We had a training session planned after the match for everyone that didn't get enough minutes, and in two unfortunate actions we lost two players. They'll have further scans to see where they are and we'll have that time frame for how long they are going to be out for," Arteta said in a news conference before Tuesday's Champions League match against Lille. When asked by the media what could have been done to prevent the injuries, Arteta joked the pair should not have trained. "Never train and they don't get injured. The consequence of that is when you ask them to play they have no rhythm and no impact in the game. It's never happened in seven years I've been here. It could happen in the training session the next day," the Spaniard added. "It's happened now and hopefully it doesn't happen again, but what can you do? If I had a crystal ball I would just say 'guys, get in the jacuzzi and I will see you tomorrow'." Hincapie has made three Premier League appearances off the bench this season but started Arsenal's Champions League win over Napoli last month. Zubimendi has also largely featured as a substitute, making five Premier League appearances from the bench.

Corinthians have appointed Clarence Seedorf as their head coach, with the former Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder taking on his first coaching role since 2019 Seedorf has joined on a contract until the end of 2027 with the club 16th in the Brazilian top flight, one place above the relegation zone with eight games left. The 50-year-old succeeds former Brazil interim national coach Fernando Diniz, who was sacked by Corinthians last week after the club lost seven consecutive league games. Seedorf's last coaching role was with the Cameroon national team more than seven years ago, while he has previously had underwhelming spells at AC Milan, Shenzhen FC and Deportivo La Coruna. "Taking on this challenge is an honour, but also a huge responsibility. I am here to give my all and build a team that fights for every ball, every minute, every victory," said Seedorf of his Corinthians appointment. Seedorf inherits a Corinthians squad which features former Manchester United players Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard. Dutch great Seedorf retired from playing in 2014 following a glittering career which yielded four Champions League titles - two with AC Milan, one with Real Madrid and one with Ajax. Seedorf remains the only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after leaving his country's international camp last month The 41-year-old captain walked out of Portugal's Nations League squad in September after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark. In a lengthy statement, the Al-Nassr forward later explained he left because Portugal coach Jorge Jesus twice "broke his word", accusing him of an "absolute breach of trust". In a statement, the FPF said a "provisional suspension" was issued on 9 October and they had marked the case as "urgent". The FPF's rules state any player who fails to appear or walks out on international duties faces a ban of one to six months, as well as a fine. Pedro Proenc, president of the FPF, told Portuguese outlet Record:, external "This is a time for calm and composure. We are all sitting down together at the table. There is a strong desire to have our captain back with us. There will be a normal disciplinary process." Ronaldo accepted accountability and apologised to his team-mates and fans for his actions, before adding he deserved to be punished. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also confirmed he would not be retiring from international football as he continues to chase down 1000 career goals. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances - both men's world records - helping them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice. He considered retiring from international football after the World Cup in the summer but opted to continue. Ronaldo returned to action last week, scoring his 980th career goal in a 3-0 win for Al-Nassr over Diriyah Club.

Dominic Solanke scored in stoppage time to salvage a point for 10-man Tottenham as they snatched a draw against Manchester United in a feisty encounter at Old Trafford It looked as if United were about to pile more misery on the visitors following their pitiful start to the Premier League season when Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. Things went from bad to worse for Spurs when Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off five minutes later for headbutting Luke Shaw, who had shoved him over after a reckless challenge from the Uruguay midfielder. But Solanke, who was captaining Tottenham for the first time, nodded Sandro Tonali's cross into the back of the net in the second minute of added time to lift Spurs off the bottom of the table. Roberto de Zerbi's side remain winless, however, and stay in the relegation zone - above both Fulham and Coventry City - with just three points from the first six games. United have suffered their own shaky start to the campaign with just one victory and a sluggish first-half performance was met with boos by the home fans on Saturday. They were much improved after the break, but jeers once again echoed around Old Trafford at full-time. This was the second successive league game they have dropped points against a team that were reduced to 10 men - following their 1-0 derby defeat by Manchester City last month.

Former Manchester City midfielder, David Silva has come out of retirement at the age of 40 to return to professional football with Hong Kong Premier League club Sha Tin Silva, who retired in 2023 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during pre-season training with Real Sociedad, is set to begin a new chapter in his illustrious career. The Spanish midfielder enjoyed a decorated spell with Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles and 11 major trophies during his 10 years at the club. He also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships with Spain. Silva said he was excited about returning to football and experiencing life in Hong Kong. “I’m so excited to go to Hong Kong and enjoy the local culture, the food in Sha Tin and, of course, football in Hong Kong,” Silva said in a video posted on his Instagram on Wednesday. Sha Tin confirmed that Silva will initially focus on settling into the squad and regaining match fitness before making his competitive debut. “David Silva will be in Hong Kong soon to settle in, link up with squad training, and build up to peak match fitness before making his pitch debut,” the club said. Sha Tin are currently eighth in the Hong Kong Premier League after four matches and are scheduled to face Hong Kong Football Club on October 18. Silva’s return comes two years after he announced his retirement following a career that established him as one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation. The former Spain international also has a statue outside Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in recognition of his decade-long contribution to the club.

Croatia captain Luka Modric has urged Portugal to give Cristiano Ronaldo a proper farewell from international football, describing him as the greatest player in the country’s history Modric said Ronaldo deserves another opportunity to bring his international career to an appropriate conclusion, regardless of whether the forward decides to retire from the Portugal national team. As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, the ex-Madrid midfielder said, “Cristiano is the greatest player in the history of Portugal, and he deserves another farewell and another ending with the national team,” Modric said. The comments come amid uncertainty over Ronaldo’s future with Portugal, with questions surrounding how and when the veteran forward will bring his international career to an end. Modric expressed disappointment over the situation, saying it was unfortunate to see Ronaldo facing such circumstances in his own country. “It’s sad to see this happening to Cristiano in his own country,” he said. The Croatian added that he remained hopeful a solution would be found that would allow Ronaldo to receive the send-off he deserves. “Still, I think they will find a solution, because Cris deserves, whether he retires or decides not to continue with the national team, to have a great farewell that reflects what he deserves. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I hope the situation gets resolved,” Modric said. Ronaldo has been a central figure in Portuguese football for nearly two decades and has established himself as the country’s most recognisable footballer. His international career has included major tournament success with Portugal, while his longevity and record-breaking performances have made him one of the most influential players in the history of the national team. Modric, who has faced Ronaldo numerous times at club and international level, believes the Portugal forward’s contribution deserves to be properly recognised whenever his international career comes to an end.

Cristiano Ronaldo has offered a public message of respect to longtime rival Lionel Messi following the Argentine’s emotional farewell from international football Messi played his final match for Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring once and providing two assists in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, described the occasion as “the saddest day of my career” after more than two decades representing his country. In a comment on Messi’s Instagram post marking the end of his international journey on Wednesday, Ronaldo wrote: “Leo, so many years defending your country and a story that will live on forever. You have all my respect for everything you’ve achieved with Argentina. A hug.” The Portuguese star’s words were widely reported on Wednesday, including by Spanish newspaper Marca, which noted that mutual respect has long existed between the two icons despite their intense on-pitch rivalry spanning more than 15 years. Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team in late August, shortly after the side’s 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain. He cited the emotional and physical toll of the tournament, which coincided with the illness and subsequent death of his father, Jorge Messi, as factors in his decision. Messi finished his international career with a record 208 appearances and 126 goals for Argentina, having captained the team to the 2022 World Cup title as well as Copa América successes. Ronaldo and Messi have frequently exchanged words of admiration in recent years, including Ronaldo’s message of support after the death of Messi’s father earlier this year. Their latest exchange comes as both players, now in the later stages of their careers, continue to draw global attention, Messi with Inter Miami and Ronaldo with Al-Nassr. The tribute underscores a shared recognition of extraordinary careers defined by excellence, longevity and national service.

Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what was described as his final appearance for the national team Reflecting on the occasion in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Messi said he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but was confident he was making the right decision. He described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with both happiness and difficult moments, adding that every step had been worthwhile. Messi also remembered Maradona, who remains one of the most revered figures in Argentine football. “I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be,” Messi said, adding that he believed Maradona had supported Argentina both during his life and from “heaven.” The Argentina captain also shared a more personal tribute to his father, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, after a long illness. Alongside a photograph of himself wearing the Argentina shirt and looking toward the sky, Messi wrote: “You don’t know how much we missed you last night…” Messi had also spoken about his father during his emotional on-field farewell after the Benin match, saying that his first thought amid the emotions of the night was of “mi viejo”, his father. During his farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that had supported his international commitments. He also expressed gratitude to God and Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team through its successes and setbacks. Messi’s reported international farewell brings the curtain down on one of the most celebrated careers in Argentine football, while his tributes to Maradona and his father added a deeply personal dimension to the occasion. Messi, 39, scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Monday night in front of more than 85,000 supporters. The match marked Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

Pep Guardiola is set to return to the Etihad Stadium next week when Manchester City host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League The former City manager is expected to attend the match on Wednesday, 14 October, marking his first visit to the stadium since leaving the club at the end of last season after a decade in charge. Guardiola’s return comes at a significant time for City, following the independent commission’s findings over the Premier League’s 115 charges against the club relating to alleged financial-rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City were found guilty of the majority of the charges and have appealed the findings. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing. Guardiola has publicly maintained his support for City’s ownership and leadership since the verdict. Earlier this month, he said he would “always” stand behind the club and expressed his belief that they would get through the situation together. The Spaniard enjoyed a hugely successful 10-year spell at Manchester City, winning six Premier League titles, including a record four in a row, as well as the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups. Before leaving the club, Guardiola had also addressed the possibility of City being relegated as a result of the charges, saying in November 2024 that he would remain at the club even if that happened. City will first face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday before welcoming reigning European champions PSG to the Etihad three days later. Guardiola’s presence in the stands is expected to add further attention to an already significant Champions League fixture, as he returns to the stadium where he spent a decade building one of the most successful periods in Manchester City’s history.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin will stand for a fourth term as head of European football's governing body Ceferin informed delegates of his decision at a meeting of all 55 national association chiefs in Berlin. The move had been widely anticipated and reverses his insistence he would not seek re-election, which the Slovenian initially outlined in February 2024. At that point Ceferin, who was initially elected in 2016, was embroiled in a row over Uefa changing its statutes to allow him to serve for a fourth term. However, there had been a growing expectation the 58-year-old would stand. This has only been made more likely since Uefa launched its efforts to oust Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who scrapped the controversial plan to sell off stakes in the governing body's competitions to private investors following widespread opposition. Ceferin has ruled out standing against Infantino himself but is committed to finding a candidate the game can unite around when Fifa holds its presidential election in March.

Manager Mikel Arteta says this is "only the beginning" of Arsenal's success after signing a new contract with the Premier League champions until 2030 The Spaniard's deal was set to expire at the end of this season, with his time in charge of the Gunners now possibly stretching to a decade following his arrival in December 2019. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is reportedly paid over £20m per year, as was former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola - both of whom Arteta benchmarked his worth against. The new contract includes an increase from his current salary of £10m per year plus an additional £5m in bonuses. "This club is unique, its character and the way it makes you feel, and I have a great sense of privilege that our journey together will continue. We have already built a special bond and created memories that will last a lifetime, and what is so exciting is that this is only the beginning of what we can achieve together," Arteta said. The 44-year-old has won a Premier League and FA Cup in charge of Arsenal, losing the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain in May. The fact his previous deal expired at the end of the season did put a slightly greater emphasis on the speed of discussions than normal. But Arteta has been transparent about his desire to stay at the club beyond the end of this campaign. Dynasty building is what has driven Arteta's decision. Winning Arsenal's first Premier League title in 20 years last season is viewed as just the start. Coming within a penalty kick of winning their first Champions League trophy came as a gut-wrenching blow - but also a huge motivation. "We share a special bond with Mikel. We are so proud of everything we have achieved since he returned to the club in 2019. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal's values and carries them in his heart. He knows what this club means to everyone connected to it and is committed to building on everything we have achieved together," co-chairmen Stan and Josh Kroenke said. With that in mind, there was never a sense Arteta was preparing to walk away from the team he has built to become one of the best in European football. So with a deal for their manager to stay now agreed, the foundation of Arsenal's recent revitalisation into a footballing force remains in place. Does more history beckon? Arteta is committed to finding out.

Portuguese Federation president Pedro Proença has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo did not retire from international football because of his love for his country’s national team Speaking on Sunday after Ronaldo’s dramatic walkout from the national team camp last week, Proença broke his silence on the rift between the captain and new coach Jorge Jesus. The 41-year-old left the camp in Copenhagen ahead of the Nations League games against Denmark and Wales following a reported misunderstanding with Jesus, who had benched him. According to A Bola, Proença has now described it as an internal misunderstanding and insists Ronaldo’s door remains open “Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in history. He has dedicated more than two decades to Portuguese football and is the ultimate symbol of Portuguese identity. His presence with the national team is well-deserved thanks to his exceptional sporting abilities, and this is undeniable. He will always remain part of this group whenever he is fit and ready. “What happened between him and Jorge Jesus was simply a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved internally. Cristiano is part of the national team; he is our icon, and he captained the team in the first of the four matches. Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese icon and an exceptional player. *He could have ended his career at the World Cup, but he didn’t because of his love for his national team. I can attest to the bond he shares with the Portuguese people and our national team.” Proença confirmed the federation will now arrange a peace meeting between Jesus and Ronaldo before the November window against Denmark and Wales, with even Prime Minister Luis Montenegro reportedly getting involved due to fears the saga could affect Portugal’s image ahead of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup. Portugal won both games without Ronaldo — 4-2 vs Denmark and 2-1 vs Norway — but Proença added: “Cristiano is part of our legacy, and he will always be here whenever the coach wants him.”

Lionel Messi says he is "grateful, proud and at peace" after his glittering Argentina career ended with a goal against Benin on an emotional night in Buenos Aires Messi, playing his 208th and final international game, converted a second-half penalty and registered two assists in a comfortable 3-0 friendly win. The 39-year-old, who announced his international retirement in August, was playing his first game for Argentina since the death of his father, Jorge, aged 68 following a long illness. After the match he addressed the crowd with a speech spanning nearly 10 minutes, with some of his team-mates - including Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez - in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field. "There are so many emotions going through me right now," he said. "I'm surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me. The first person who comes to my mind is my dad. I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything." Messi played the full 90 minutes before the 85,000-strong sell-out crowd inside the Monumental were treated to a laser light show, live music and presentations. When he made his announcement in August, Messi said the decision to retire "hurt" but that "the time has come". The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said he had written his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in this summer's World Cup final. Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005 as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary. However, he was shown a straight red card less than a minute later, after he swung his arm and his elbow connected with full-back Vilmos Vanczak. Despite his tough start on the international stage, Messi went on to become one of the all-time greats, winning the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina.

Man City and Norway forward Erling Haaland is an injury concern for Manchester City ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool after the striker limped off during Norway’s 2-1 Nations League defeat by Portugal Haaland signalled to the bench and was substituted in the 67th minute, with Jørgen Strand Larsen coming on in his place. The nature and severity of the injury are yet to be confirmed. The setback comes at an important time for City, who travel to Liverpool on Sunday. Haaland has scored seven goals so far this season and will be a major concern for manager Enzo Maresca if he is unable to recover in time. He had earlier gone close for Norway, dragging an effort wide, but could not help his side avoid a third consecutive Nations League defeat. Norway took the lead in the 36th minute when Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer controlled Martin Ødegaard’s cross on his chest before firing a superb half-volley into the top corner. Portugal responded almost immediately, with João Cancelo smashing a shot into the net from the edge of the box two minutes later. Gonçalo Ramos then completed the comeback with 11 minutes remaining, stabbing home from close range following a lay-off from João Félix. Portugal finished the match with 10 men after Francisco Conceição was sent off in the 87th minute for two quick bookings for dissent. The victory secured Portugal’s place in the Nations League quarter-finals, while Norway remain bottom of the group with two matches left. Manchester City will now await further updates on Haaland’s condition before Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool.

World football's governing body has accused its European counterpart of a "misinformation campaign" over shelved plans to sell stakes in the World Cup UEFA last month filed legal papers in the US requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from FIFA, warning it could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland. UEFA accused Fifa president Gianni Infantino of "criminal mismanagement" and "a fraudulently off-market price promoted by [him] for his own benefit" over the now-shelved FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme. In its response on Monday, FIFA said UEFA's filing contained "numerous false or misleading statements about Fifa and Infantino. With no basis whatsoever, UEFA suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," FIFA said in a filing in the Southern District of Florida, opposing Uefa's motion for discovery. "UEFA's suggestions that Mr Infantino violated any law or ethical principle are categorically without merit." It also described UEFA's filing as "farcically overbroad", saying "districts faced with similar requests have outright rejected such applications". FIFA also described UEFA's conduct as "in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment". Making clear it was refusing to release evidence relating to the FFE plan, Fifa said it "respectfully requests that the court deny UEFA's application for discovery." UEFA has led the rebellion against the FIFApresident, who is facing calls to stand down from three confederations. FIFA's FFE plan proposed selling stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors, sparking a major backlash. Infantino faced calls for his resignation but claimed the project had been intended to generate additional money for the game. Earlier this month, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt - a FIFA vice-president - told Infantino to release all documents relating to his controversial plan, and called for an independent review of FFE. Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.

Cristiano Ronaldo can still return for Portugal if he chooses to, says boss Jorge Jesus The 41-year-old captain left their Nations League camp after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark. Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances - both world records. After leaving the camp he wrote on social media: "In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated." Jesus, for his part, had always said he planned to discuss the issue after the last of his side's four Nations League games against Norway on Sunday. A 2-1 victory sealed a place in the last eight for the competition's defending champions. Jesus - who also managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr - said: "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team. We can talk before the next call-up, but Cris is the one who's going to decide. "Cristiano should end his time in the national team the way he wants, he's the one who will decide how he wants it. In my first call-up, I said, 'I need you, I need you to be close to me, playing or not playing, I need you'. And now I'm saying the same thing." Portugal host Denmark in their next Group A4 tie on 14 November, before visiting Wales three days later. Ronaldo started the 1-0 opening-game win over Wales, but he was named as a substitute in Norway and told he may or may not come on. He was apparently angered at being made to warm up during the second half - and then not brought on. It was the first time the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid forward had been an unused substitute for his country in a competitive game since 2008. When Jesus announced in a news conference Ronaldo would not start against Denmark either, the veteran left the camp. AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos has scored in all three starts with Ronaldo out of the team. After Sunday's success against Norway which put them six points clear of second-placed Denmark in the table, goalscorer Joao Cancelo told RTP: "Cristiano is our captain, the best player Portugal has ever had. "Things will certainly end in the best way [with him] but the important thing is the four victories." Team-mate Nuno Mendes added: "Any player who comes to the national team is welcome, obviously. If Cris returns, we'll be here to receive him with open arms." Ronaldo, one of football's all-time greats with five Ballon d'Or awards, has helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and two Nations Leagues.

Lionel Messi has been confirmed as the new owner of Spanish football club CD Eldense, marking the Argentine superstar’s second club ownership venture in Spain Eldense announced the ownership change in an official statement on X on Thursday confirming that Messi has completed the acquisition of the club and will now oversee its next phase. The move adds Eldense to Messi’s growing football investment portfolio. The former Barcelona and Argentina captain previously became an owner of UE Cornellà, making Eldense his second Spanish club. Messi’s entry into Eldense ownership is expected to bring increased international attention to the club as it looks to strengthen its sporting and commercial ambitions. The development represents another step in Messi’s transition from football superstar to influential figure in club ownership and football business. “CD Eldense officially announces the acquisition of the club by Leo Messi, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the institution’s more than 100-year history. The arrival of one of the most important figures in the history of sport as owner of CD Eldense in Spanish professional football marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at promoting the sporting, institutional and social development of CD Eldense. “Founded in 1921, CD Eldense enters this new chapter with the ambition of consolidating its position and growing in professional football, while also showcasing its roots, history and blue-and-red identity. The transaction is pending the required authorization from the CSD under the terms established by the Sports Law,” CD Eldense added.

Manchester City have confirmed they have lodged an appeal after an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations In a short statement, the club said the commission's ruling contained "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe". Asserting its innocence, the club added it had filed "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence [that] exists in support of all of its positions" on Thursday evening. Earlier on Friday, the Football Association said the verdict against City has "significant implications for the integrity of the game". In a statement, English football's governing body added: "We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate." It was confirmed on Tuesday that City were found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. "As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely," the FA added. The overarching powers the FA has could see the governing body launch its own investigation into the matter with the threat of further sanctions. Man City were expected to claim that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners, as part of an appeal. However, City's defence may be undermined by statements that major sponsor Etihad Airways gave to the United States government in 2015. In response to the US Department of Commerce, Transportation and State during an investigation into state-owned airlines, Etihad Airways said: "The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad's sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is false. In 2011, Etihad and Manchester City entered into a 10-year sponsorship agreement, which included naming rights for Manchester City's stadium. Etihad funded this sponsorship from its own liquidity." Etihad Airways later stated: "We are and have always been clear that we do not receive any subsidies from the Abu Dhabi government." The independent panel's findings decided that City arranged "sham contracts" with a number of commercial partners as part of a scheme to disguise secret funding of more than £830m. The Premier League says City "systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade".

Novak Djokovic maintained his remarkable unbeaten record at the China Open as he beat Nuno Borges to secure his first win since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July The 39-year-old former world number one struggled in the second set but came through to win 6-3 7-6 (7-2) for his 30th consecutive victory in Beijing, albeit in his first appearance at the event since 2015. Djokovic revealed in August that he has been dealing with an underlying health condition that causes particular issues in hot, humid conditions for "the past couple of years" and was far from his best against Portuguese Borges. During the second set he used his racquet to help stretch his back between games and needed a medical timeout to receive treatment to his right shoulder. But despite that Djokovic battled to victory in one hour and 50 minutes to set up a second-round match against wildcard Bu Yunchaokete of China. Playing in the tournament for the first time in 11 years, the Serb, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is bidding to win the China Open for a record-extending seventh time.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has left Portugal's international camp and will explain the reasons why "in time" It comes after head coach Jorge Jesus earlier said there was no rift with the captain, following claims the five-times Ballon d'Or winner had refused to train. He has said he considered retiring from international football after the World Cup in the summer but opted to continue as he chases down 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo was included in Jesus' 25-man squad for the current international break and started the opening Nations League game against Wales. However, the Al-Nassr forward did not feature in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway in Olso on Sunday and did not join his team-mates in going over to the visiting fans at the final whistle. Instead, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player headed to the changing rooms - prompting reports he was unhappy with the manager. Speaking to media before Portugal's Nations League match against Denmark on Thursday, Jesus said: "There was no incident whatsoever. "Any player - and I was a player myself - when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no-one is happy about that." Jesus said he had told Ronaldo before the match he would not be starting, but might be brought on later in the game. "Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It's nothing to make a fuss about," he added. Former Benfica manager Jesus also dismissed suggestions Ronaldo had refused to train on Tuesday, saying the 41-year-old instead had to do individual exercises for "mobility" and "strengthening" but would train as normal on Wednesday. However, Ronaldo did not join his team-mates on the pitch in Denmark with Portuguese media sharing a video of him leaving Parken stadium alongside two members of the backroom staff. And the player later took to Instagram to announce his departure. "After the press conference of the national team and following a conversation with the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp. In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave," he wrote. He added he wished his team-mates good luck in their forthcoming games. Goncalo Ramos scored the winner against Norway and Jesus had said the AC Milan striker would again be preferred to Ronaldo against Denmark. "If I need [Ronaldo], he'll come on. If I don't need him, he won't." The Portuguese Football Federation later confirmed Ronaldo's departure in a statement which added: "Preparation for the two matches against Denmark and Norway continue as planned with the 24 remaining squad members. "The entire delegation remains totally focussed on the national team's next fixtures and on achieving the established objectives."

Michael Olise's superb late solo goal secured France victory over Belgium as Zinedine Zidane's side made it two wins from two in the Nations League Les Bleus boss Zidane, overseeing his second match in charge, made nine changes from the win against Turkey on Friday but had to turn to his bench to break down a stubborn Belgian defence in Brussels. Bayern Munich winger Olise took the ball down on his shoulder in his own half then set off on a brilliant run, racing up the pitch and shaking off a defender before coolly slotting into the bottom corner in the 88th minute. Both sides had opportunities in an entertaining game but without striker Kylian Mbappe, who was not in the squad because he sustained a knee injury in the match against Turkey, France struggled to put away their chances. Desire Doue was their standout player and was unlucky not to see any of his five efforts find the net, with one crashing off the crossbar, while debutant Lucas da Cunha also hit the post. Belgium wingers Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio were a handful but could not find an opening against an inexperienced French defence. France sit top of Group A1 and will take on Italy on Friday while, Belgium face Turkey.

Lionel Messi curled home a spectacular free-kick from a near-impossible angle to equalise for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on Sunday, taking his career total of free-kick goals to 76 and moving within two of the all-time record, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano The Argentine, 39, stood over a set-piece awarded near the right touchline in the 33rd minute after Columbus had taken an early lead through Josef Martínez. Rather than deliver a cross into the box, Messi struck the ball with his left foot, sending it over the wall and into the far top corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. The goal made the score 1-1, though Columbus went on to win 2-1 with a late stoppage-time strike.The free-kick was Messi’s 76th in official matches across his career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina. It leaves him two short of the mark most widely attributed to Brazilian Marcelinho Carioca, who is credited with 78 direct free-kick goals. Messi has enjoyed a prolific run from set pieces in 2026. He scored against San Diego FC to reach 75, netted twice in Inter Miami’s 7-1 win over CF Montréal, and also found the net from free-kicks against Orlando City, New York City FC, and Jordan with Argentina at the World Cup. The latest strike continues Messi’s late-career mastery of free-kicks. He scored 50 for Barcelona, more than a dozen for Argentina, and has added further goals for Inter Miami since joining the MLS side in 2023. His overall career goal tally now stands above 931. Historical free-kick records can vary depending on the criteria used by different compilers, with some lists still placing Juninho Pernambucano near the top with 77. However, recent tallies consistently rank Marcelinho Carioca first and Messi second after the Columbus goal.

Jurgen Klopp's wait for his first win as Germany boss continued as his side were upset at home by Greece in the Nations League The former Liverpool manager was taking charge of his second match as head coach after a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Thursday. Germany were beaten in Augsburg by Dimitrios Kourbelis' 74th-minute goal after the midfielder's shot from the edge of the box deflected in off Joshua Kimmich. "I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose such a game. We have been together for a week now, all mixed together, and that needs time. The result is not cool but it is absolutely part of the process," Klopp said. Despite dominating, the hosts - who had a much-changed side and brought on Florian Wirtz from the bench - failed to find a goal. Greece are ranked 41st in the world and had never beaten Germany across their 10 previous meeting before Sunday evening (seven losses and three draws). Klopp, 59, was appointed on a four-year deal in July, replacing Julian Nagelsmann who resigned after Germany's shock World Cup defeat by Paraguay in the last 32. They are now winless in four matches since beating Ivory Coast in their second group game at this summer's World Cup. The result meant Greece returned to the top of Nations League Group 2, having beaten Serbia on Thursday and well-positioned to reach the quarter-finals. By defeating Germany, ranked 12th in the world, they recorded their biggest win by world rankings since they beat England at Wembley in 2024 when the Three Lions were ranked fourth.

It has taken more than two years, but a judgement finally appears to have been reached on the 115 charges levelled against Manchester City over breaches of Premier League financial rules Following a four-year investigation, City were charged and the hearing finally got under way on 16 September 2024. We are not at the end of this process, however. Far from it. But what does this mean for City's titles? What about their Premier League status? Will there be an appeal? And how long will it be before this saga does come to an end? In February 2023, City were charged and referred to an independent commission over alleged breaches that were said to have taken place between 2009 and 2018. The charges - relating to Premier League financial rules - are: 54 x failure to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18. 14 x failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18. 5 x failure to comply with Uefa's rules including financial fair play (FFP) 2013-14 to 2017-18. 7 x breaching Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18. 35 x failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to Feb 2023. Points deduction (immediate or suspended). Financial penalties (immediate or suspended). Removal from the Premier League. City have always denied wrongdoing and have said they would appeal were they found guilty. But what does that actually mean? German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked documents, including emails purportedly sent between top City executives (some of whom remain at the City Football Group), across several seasons following the club's Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008. It alleged these showed the club had inflated sponsorship revenue from state-owned airline Etihad and state-controlled telecoms firm Etisalat by disguising direct investment from their holding company (Sheik Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group, or ADUG) as sponsorship income by channelling the funds through the companies' accounts. This, it was alleged, was a means of meeting FFP rules introduced by UEFA in 2011 - and PSR brought in by the Premier League in 2012 - limiting clubs' permitted losses. There then followed further allegations of misreporting financial information centred on documents that claimed to show secret 'off-the-books' payments to then manager Roberto Mancini via consultancy fees from a club in Abu Dhabi. It is also alleged the club gave players more money than was officially going through the accounts so recorded spending was less than it actually was. City, who have always maintained ADUG is a private fund rather than an arm of the state, refused to comment on any of Der Spiegel's revelations, saying the leaked emails were obtained illegally, and they were an "attempt to damage the club's reputation". City - along with the companies involved - strongly denied breaking any financial rules. But that did not stop both Uefa and the Premier League launching investigations as a result. What has been the timeline of the case? November 2018: Football Leaks allegations emerge with Der Spiegel publishing claims Manchester City breached financial fair play rules. March 2019: UEFA launches a formal investigation off the back of Der Spiegel's findings. May 2019: City criticise the investigation and launch an appeal process. November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) deems City's appeal inadmissible. February 2020: Uefa announces a two-year ban for City from European competitions and a €30m fine. July 2020: City's European ban is overturned after an appeal to Cas. July 2021: City lose a jurisdiction ruling that allows the media to report the Premier League is continuing to investigate the champions for alleged financial breaches. April 2022: Der Spiegel publishes a fresh report claiming the Premier League has been investigating the club for three years, providing detailed claims. February 2023: The Premier League charges City with 115 financial breaches. September 2024: The start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and City on the 115 charges. February 2025: City manager Pep Guardiola says the club expect to learn the verdict "within one month". Guardiola left the Etihad at the end of last season. September 2026: Reports emerge that a verdict has been reached, with sources telling the BBC that City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the charges. What punishment could Man City face? It was never expected the verdict would come complete with the sanctions. We now face a waiting game for even that verdict to officially be made public by the independent panel. We don't know who was on the panel that heard and ruled on the case, and that will only come once a written judgment is released. All options are open to the disciplinary commission: Being removed from the Premier League would mean City lose their membership and are demoted to a lower division from the end of the season. That could also happen through a points penalty so severe they would effectively be relegated. The Premier League declined to comment on the case when approached on Friday. City issued a statement that showed frustration news of the verdict had leaked. It read: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence." Will there be an appeal? How long would one take? An appeal from City is expected to be a formality. City's legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC, who is reported to charge £5,000 an hour for his services. He helped City overturn their two-year European ban in 2020. However, considering we are already eight years into this process - and two years beyond the start of the hearing itself - it is impossible to speculate when this could come to an end. Until now, the case has been watertight, with no media leaks from any of the parties involved. This is just the latest chapter. However, while the commission's judgement can be directly appealed against, it is not possible for City to take it to Cas. What titles did City win and who was affected? City won the Premier League three times during the period in question. That includes their first in the Premier League era in 2011-12, plus 2013-14 and 2017-18. They won the FA Cup in 2011, and the EFL Cup three times - 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. Since their 2008 takeover by ADUG, City have won eight league titles, and multiple cups including the Champions League as part of a Treble in 2023. If the commission choses to hand City's titles to other clubs, this is who could benefit: Premier League 2011-12: Manchester United 2013-14: Liverpool 2017-18: Manchester United FA Cup 2010-11: Stoke City EFL Cup 2013-14: Sunderland 2015-16: Liverpool 2017-18: Arsenal Could affected clubs claim compensation from City? Premier League clubs have already sought legal advice over whether they would have a case for financial compensation as a result of City's breaches. Clubs who had their league positions impacted by City's offences could potentially claim a loss of chance to win potential honours. These would need to be individually heard by an independent commission. Earlier this year, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m over the impact of a breach of the Premier League's financial rules. The case - heard by a Premier League commission - relates to the 2021-22 season, when Everton were found to have broken PSR regulations over a three-year period. Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated. The Clarets were awarded £26m in damages and a further £9m in interest. Clubs seek legal advice over Man City charges compensation How much has the case cost? This specific case was six years in the making, so legal fees on both sides were estimated at tens of millions of pounds before the hearing even started. Whichever side 'wins' can be expected to make a claim for costs. For context, the Premier League wanted Everton to pay the full £4.9m legal costs of their first PSR six-point deduction case. However, an appeal board ruled Everton should pay £1.7m and the Premier League cover the remaining £3.2m legal fees. Any costs being paid by the Premier League at the end of the City case would have to be spread across the 20 clubs which make up the league. Have there been other cases involving Premier League teams? Comparisons have been drawn to the cases brought by the Premier League against Nottingham Forest and Everton respectively over breaches of PSR. During the 2023-24 season, both clubs were docked points for making more losses than they were permitted to for the three-year period from the 2020-21 to 2022-23 seasons. Those cases were of a single charge, were easier to decipher and involved significantly less evidence. Everton were twice deducted points. For the first charge, they were docked six points - reduced from 10 points on appeal. The second offence led to them being handed a two-point penalty. Forest, meanwhile, lost four points. However, these relate purely to PSR. Why are the Man City and Chelsea cases different? Chelsea faced 74 charges of rule breaches, but these were quite different and primarily focused on transfers that happened between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons, including deals for Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian. The Premier League fined Chelsea £10m and handed out a suspended transfer ban after they admitted making £47m in secret payments. Importantly, Chelsea reached a settlement with the Premier League in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported. This has not been the case with City, who have always denied wrongdoing. The Blues were also fined by UEFA and the Football Association.

A penalty shootout success against Korea on Sunday crowned them Under-20 Women's World Cup winners - making it an incredible 17 world and European titles from under-17 to senior level in the last five years Their global dominance is there for all to see. After becoming European champions two years ago in Berlin, La Roja's men's side became world champions in the summer after beating Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New Jersey. They achieved the same feat back in 2010, two years after winning Euro 2008. Spain's latest triumph continues their remarkable dominance. They are the first nation to be men's and women's World Cup winners at the same time - La Roja overcoming England in the Women's World Cup final in Sydney in 2023. That's not all. The men won the Nations League in 2023 and gold at the 2024 Olympics, while the women won the Nations League in both 2024 and 2025. "It is a dominance. It's like the perfect storm. Culturally, we do things a certain way. Everybody believes in it. The important thing is that we don't stop. It's another Everest because the men won the World Cup in 2010 two years after winning the Euros. Now we've done it again," Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told BBC Sport. Women's football (11 titles 2022-2026) Senior: 1 x World Cup (2023); 2 x Nations Leagues (2024, 2025). Under-20: 2 x World Cup (2022, 2026) Under-19: 5 x Under-19 European champions (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026). Under-17: 1 x World Cup (2022); 1 x European champions (2024). Senior: 1 x World Cup (2026); 1 x European champions (2024); 1 x Nations League (2023). Under-23: 1 x Olympic gold medal winners (2024). Under-19: 1 x European champions (2026). Men's football (5 titles 2022-2026) Senior: 1 x World Cup (2026); 1 x European champions (2024); 1 x Nations League (2023). Under-23: 1 x Olympic gold medal winners (2024). Under-19: 1 x European champions (2026).

Premier League side, Manchester City, has been found guilty of more than 100 financial rule breaches The charges, or accusations, against the club are about events from between 2009 and 2018 The Premier League, whose job it is to make sure clubs in England follow the rules, carried out a four year investigation into the club. An independent commission, separate from the league and City - looked at this evidence and according to sports news source, The Athletic, have found City guilty of 114 charges against them. In 2018 German newspaper Der Spiegel suggested that Manchester City had broken financial fair play rules. These rules are designed to keep the competition fair and make sure no one club unfairly dominates the league. Clubs are required to be honest about how much money they are making and spending as part of these rules. In 2023, after four years of investigation, the Premier League charged Manchester City with breaking a number of these rules between 2009-2018. There were 115 charges against them and The Athletic say they have been found guilty of 114 of them. During those years City won three Premier League titles, the FA cup and three league cups. Man City fans will be waiting to see how the verdict affects their team's future. The accusations included; Man City failing to work with the Premier League's investigation into the club's finances. The club failing to provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position" and "details for player and manager payments" from 2009-10 to 2017-18. What punishments could Man City face? Manchester City were found guilty of 114 out of 115 breaches of financial rules they had been accused of by the Premier League. There has been no announcement of the punishments Manchester City will face. We may not find out straight away what action will be taken, but City could be deducted points, face a huge fine or even be removed from the top division of English football at the end of the season. What have City and the Premier League said? Man City declined to comment on whether they had been found guilty, instead providing a statement which read: "Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. "As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence." The Premier League declined to comment on the case when approached on Friday. What have other teams said? Manchester City won the 2011/2012 Premier League title in dramatic fashion on the last day of the season, beating Manchester United to the top spot. Between 2009 and 2018, City won the Premier League three times. The second placed teams during those seasons were Manchester United in 2011/12 and 2017/18 and Liverpool in 2013/14. In 2011 Man City won the FA Cup, beating Stoke City 1- 0 in the final. They also picked up the EFL Trophy three times beating Sunderland, Liverpool and Arsenal. It is understood that other Premier League clubs have sought legal advice over whether they could be entitled to financial compensation due to Manchester City's offences. There are lengthy legal processes that need to be worked through before any punishments are given.

Raphinha has officially been named Brazil’s new No. 10, the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed on Thursday, as the national team begins a new cycle without Neymar Jr The Barcelona winger will wear the iconic shirt in the Seleção’s upcoming friendlies against Australia and India. The CBF released the full squad numbers ahead of Friday’s match against Australia in Townsville, the first fixture since Brazil’s Round-of-16 exit from the 2026 World Cup. As reported by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, Romano posted “OFFICIAL: Raphinha, Brazil’s new number 10 after Neymar Jr’s international retirement.” Endrick takes the No. 9 previously worn by Matheus Cunha, while Estêvão has been assigned No. 11 and Vinícius Júnior retains No. 7. Goalkeeper Hugo Souza will wear No. 1. Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals in 130 appearances, retired from international football after the World Cup. The 34-year-old had worn the No. 10 shirt across four World Cup tournaments before confirming his decision in late July, saying his time with the national team had passed. Raphinha has previously worn the shirt during Neymar’s absences, including during World Cup qualifying. Now, following Neymar’s retirement, the number becomes permanently associated with a new generation of the Seleção. The No. 10 carries deep historical significance in Brazilian football. It has been worn by some of the country’s greatest players, including Pelé, Zico, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká and Neymar. Raphinha will now enter that lineage as Brazil begins a new era under head coach Carlo Ancelotti. His first appearance as Brazil’s official No. 10 comes against Australia in Townsville, with the Seleção’s next chapter already underway.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Sunderland's Brian Brobbey both went off injured as the Netherlands drew with Germany in the Nations League Both teams were managed by a new high-profile boss - with ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in charge of his native Germany and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez taking charge of the Dutch. Felix Nmecha gave Germany the lead from close range in the first half. Liverpool's Cody Gakpo equalised in injury time when he volleyed in a brilliant cross from Ruben van Bommel. But injuries in the first half could end up being a major talking point. Germany's Havertz was caught on the knee by a high boot from Quinten Timber in Amsterdam and had to be replaced. Netherlands forward Brobbey - off the back off a hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-3 defeat by Manchester City - then appeared to suffer a muscle injury. Klopp and Xavi were both managing in games for the first time since leaving Liverpool and Barcelona respectively in May 2024. Germany have named two different squads for this break, with a different selection for the first two and last two games. Late substitute Van Bommel became the third generation in his family to play for the Netherlands, following father Mark van Bommel and grandfather Bert van Marwijk. "We have to accept the result. Even though I badly wanted to win I take the draw. I was very, very, very pleased with a lot of the individual performances. Overall, I was very happy with the passion we showed. We can play better and play more football, that's for sure," said Klopp.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will meet in a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11 The fight will bring together two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight names after both men came through their respective warm-up bouts in July. Fury stopped 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in the seventh round in Pattaya, Thailand, in a bout staged before around 1,500 spectators and not broadcast on television. Joshua, 36, endured a dramatic contest in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recovering from two first-round knockdowns before stopping Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in the second round. The first knockdown came just 20 seconds into the fight, but Joshua recovered to secure victory. The bout was Joshua’s first since surviving a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. After his victory, Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn had expressed a preference for the fight to take place at Wembley Stadium. However, Joshua’s agreement with the Saudi organisers financing the event required the contest to be held in Britain, with a move to the United States requiring a renegotiation of the deal. Hearn has described the Fury fight as hugely significant to Joshua’s career. Speaking after Pat Brown’s victory over John Hedges on September 19, Hearn said Joshua’s “whole career comes down to this” fight. “There is a desperation to win this fight and this is why sport is the greatest. I’ve never wanted to win a fight so badly,” Hearn said. The December clash will finally see the two British heavyweights share the ring after years of negotiations and speculation surrounding a potential meeting.

Cristiano Ronaldo considered retiring after the World Cup but says he opted to extend his glittering career as he believes he can help Portugal to further success - and reach a personal milestone of 1,000 career goals The 41-year-old confirmed in the summer that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, although his long-term future remained uncertain. However, he has been included in Jorge Jesus' 25-man squad for Portugal's Nations League campaign, which begins against Wales in Lisbon on Thursday night. In the lead-up to the contest with Craig Bellamy's side, the Al-Nassr forward also targeted the 21 goals needed to reach that magical 1,000 mark. Asked if he thought about retiring from international duty after the World Cup, Ronaldo responded: "Yes, I did. "Of course, I'm always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also. I'm a thinker, you have to think." The former Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player said: "I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I'm able to help the national team to reach what they want. I think I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football." Ronaldo is a two-time Nations League winner with Portugal, and he said adding a third title was also an aim alongside his personal ambitions. "Both aims are important. One thousand goals, yes, and the national team. Winning the Nations League, the competition starts tomorrow [Thursday], it's a new age," he said. Young talents including Fabio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Francisco Conceicao all feature in Portugal's squad for this international window. Ronaldo - who joked he will play on for another decade - says helping his country's newest talents was also a pivotal factor in his decision to continue to represent Portugal. "This is a new young generation. But for me the basic point is to be on the pitch to score the goals and to help the team win games. For me, the most important thing, I know what I am. I know what I do to be here, to have the success that I have," he said. "I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that. Even when I am retired... in 10 years! I'm happy with myself. It doesn't matter if I play tomorrow, if I rest the next game. For me, the most important thing is that I feel good."

La Liga president Javier Tebas hit out on Tuesday at what he deemed accusations of a refereeing “conspiracy” by Real Madrid following their derby loss to Atletico Madrid Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho brought two printed screenshots of what he thought were red-card tackles committed by Atletico players to his post-match press conference following Sunday’s 2-1 defeat. Tebas responded to a pro-Real article on social media with a lengthy riposte to allegations of a “conspiracy” against the 15-time European champions. “Here they go again, the mouthpieces and the regime’s television, building the same old narrative — the permanent conspiracy. This article goes further — it claims that referees harm ‘The business that feeds them’,” said Tebas, who has often been at odds with Real Madrid and the club’s outspoken president Florentino Perez. “What exactly is it asking for? Refereeing based on revenue, viewership, or the badge? What a way to understand equality in the competition. Real Madrid are crucial to La Liga. But claiming that ‘La Liga is worth nothing’ without them reveals the disdain for the other clubs, their fans, and their history. The competition belongs to no one.” Madrid have made a stuttering start to the season and already sit six points behind reigning champions and early leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table. “Claiming that referees are directed against Real Madrid is living in another galaxy. That narrative serves as an excuse to cover up other shortcomings that are plain to see in these first matches of the season. It’s more comfortable to point to a conspiracy than to explain what’s happening on the pitch,” added Tebas. Mourinho returned for a second spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu in the close season, tasked with ending a two-year spell without a major trophy.

Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde suffered an ankle injury in his team’s weekend derby loss to Atletico Madrid, the club confirmed Tuesday The Uruguay midfielder was hurt by a tackle from Atletico’s Lee Kang-in, which Real have insisted should have resulted in a sending off for the South Korean. According to Spanish press reports, Valverde will be sidelined for several weeks and will miss Uruguay’s upcoming friendlies against Japan, South Korea and India. “After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid medical services, he has been diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain in his left ankle,” the La Liga giants said in a short statement. Real coach Jose Mourinho arrived at his post-match press conference following Sunday’s 2-1 loss with printed screen-shots of two tackles he felt should have resulted in red cards for Atletico players, including Lee’s on Valverde.

How Nigerian Betting Sites Are Licensed (And Why It Matters to You) Licensing determines whether a sportsbook can legally operate in Nigeria, whether your funds are protected, and what recourse you have if something goes wrong. After the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling that placed gambling regulation under state jurisdiction, the licensing landscape has changed significantly. This guide explains how licensing works, which authorities matter, and how to check whether an operator is properly licensed. What Is Licensing and Why It Matters A licence is a legal authorisation from a state gaming authority that permits an operator to offer betting services within that jurisdiction. In Nigeria, this means a licence from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) for operators in Lagos, or the equivalent body in other states (Oyo, Rivers, Anambra, FCT, and others). A licensed operator is required to meet minimum standards for fund protection, fair odds, responsible gambling tools, data security, and dispute resolution. An unlicensed operator is subject to none of these requirements. Betting with an unlicensed platform means your funds have no regulatory protection and you have no formal complaints pathway. What You Will Need To verify an operator's licence status, you need: the operator's name and website, access to the relevant state gaming authority's website or contact details, and about five minutes. Most licensed operators display their licence information in the footer of their website or in their terms and conditions. Step-by-Step: How to Check an Operator's Licence Step 1: Visit the operator's website. Scroll to the footer. Most licensed operators display their licensing information, including the licensing authority and (sometimes) the licence number. Step 2: Look for 'LSLGA', 'Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority', or the equivalent state authority name. If the operator claims 'NLRC' licensing only, be aware that after the 22 November 2024 Supreme Court ruling, federal NLRC licensing alone is insufficient for private operators. Step 3: Cross-reference with the state authority. The LSLGA maintains a list of licensed operators. If you cannot verify the licence, contact the LSLGA directly or avoid the operator until you can. Step 4: Check the terms and conditions. Legitimate licensed operators include their licensing details, registered company name, and address in their T&Cs. The Licensing Authorities Authority Jurisdiction Role LSLGA Lagos State Primary licensing body for most major Nigerian operators State Gaming Boards Oyo, Rivers, Anambra, FCT, etc. State-level licensing equivalent to LSLGA NLRC Federal (limited scope post-2024) National lottery regulation; narrower scope for private operators after Supreme Court ruling FCCPC Federal Consumer protection for bettors (complaints, unfair practices) ARCON Federal Advertising standards (18+ messaging, no targeting minors) FIRS Federal Tax on gambling winnings (Nigeria Tax Act 2025) The key point: Since 22 November 2024, gambling regulation in Nigeria falls primarily under state, not federal, jurisdiction. Operators need a valid state licence to operate legally. The LSLGA is the most commonly referenced authority because Lagos is the hub of Nigerian online betting. Common Mistakes to Avoid Assuming all advertised operators are licensed. Heavy advertising does not equal licensing. Some offshore operators target Nigerian bettors without holding valid state licences. Always verify. Equating NLRC licensing with full authorisation. The NLRC's operational powers over private operators were significantly reduced by the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling. A state licence is the primary requirement. Ignoring licensing when choosing a sportsbook. Licensing should be your first filter, not an afterthought. If an operator is not licensed by a Nigerian state authority, do not bet with them. The risk of fund loss is real. Assuming international licences protect Nigerian bettors. A Curacao, Malta, or UK licence does not extend regulatory protection to Nigerian users. Only a Nigerian state licence does. betCompare Insight If you are a new bettor choosing your first platform, licensing is the first criterion, not the bonus or the odds. Every operator featured on betCompare is verified as holding a valid Nigerian state licence. Start with the platforms covered in our best betting sites guide, compare their odds at betCompare, and you can be confident your funds are on a regulated platform. For the diaspora bettor accessing Nigerian sportsbooks from abroad, licensing matters even more. Some operators restrict access from certain countries. Verify that the platform accepts registrations from your location and that your deposits and withdrawals will process correctly across borders. Our crypto betting guide covers deposit options that work across borders. FAQs Is the NLRC still relevant after the 2024 Supreme Court ruling? The NLRC retains some federal functions, particularly around national lottery products and anti-money-laundering compliance. However, for private operators, state-level licensing is now the primary requirement. How do I report an unlicensed operator? Contact the LSLGA or your state's gaming board directly. You can also report to the FCCPC if you have experienced consumer harm. Are international sportsbooks legal in Nigeria? The legality depends on whether they hold a valid Nigerian state licence. An international operator with an LSLGA licence is legal. One without is not regulated by any Nigerian authority. Does licensing guarantee fair odds? Licensing requires operators to meet minimum standards, but it does not guarantee the best odds. Compare odds across licensed platforms at betCompare for the best value. Conclusion Licensing is the foundation of safe betting in Nigeria. After the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling, state-level licensing through the LSLGA and equivalent bodies is the primary requirement for operators. Verify any operator's licence before depositing. If you cannot confirm it, do not bet there. All operators featured on betCompare are verified as licensed by relevant Nigerian state authorities. Start your comparison at betCompare and bet with confidence that your chosen platform meets the regulatory standards that protect your funds. Responsible Gambling Reminder 18+ only. Betting involves the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is mandatory on every licensed Nigerian sportsbook. It is the process of confirming your identity before you can withdraw funds. Completing it early saves time, avoids frustration, and is a regulatory requirement. This guide explains what documents you need, how the process works on major platforms, and why delaying verification costs you. What Is KYC and Why It Matters KYC stands for Know Your Customer. It is a regulatory requirement that ensures the person operating a betting account is who they claim to be. In Nigeria, KYC verification is required under anti-money-laundering regulations and is enforced by state gaming authorities such as the LSLGA. Every licensed operator must verify your identity before processing your first withdrawal. Completing KYC is not optional. If you skip it, you can deposit and bet freely, but you will not be able to withdraw your winnings. This is the single most common cause of withdrawal complaints on Nigerian sportsbooks. What You Will Need BVN (Bank Verification Number): An 11-digit number linked to your bank account and biometric data. If you have a Nigerian bank account, you already have a BVN. You can retrieve it by dialling *565*0# on your registered phone number. NIN (National Identification Number): An 11-digit number issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). You can retrieve it by dialling *346# on your registered phone number or checking your NIMC slip. Government-issued photo ID: A valid national ID card, international passport, or driver's licence. The name on the ID must match your sportsbook registration name exactly. Bank account in your name: Your registered bank account must be in the same name as your sportsbook account. Mismatched names trigger manual reviews and delays. Step-by-Step: How to Complete KYC Step 1: Register your account with your real name, phone number, and email address. Do not use a nickname or abbreviation. Step 2: Navigate to the verification or account settings section of the sportsbook. On Bet9ja, this is under 'My Account' then 'Verification'. On SportyBet, it is under 'Me' then 'Verify'. On BetKing, navigate to 'My Profile' then 'Verify Account'. Step 3: Enter your BVN and NIN when prompted. The platform verifies these against national databases. Step 4: Upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID. Ensure the name, photo, and expiry date are legible. Step 5: Link or confirm your bank account details. The account name must match your registration name. Step 6: Wait for verification. Most platforms complete BVN and NIN verification instantly. ID document review may take 24 to 72 hours. Pro tip: Complete this process immediately after registration, before your first bet. Do not wait until you have winnings to withdraw. KYC Requirements by Platform Platform BVN Required NIN Required Photo ID Required Verification Speed Bet9ja Yes Yes Yes (for higher limits) Instant to 48 hours SportyBet Yes Yes Optional Instant to 24 hours BetKing Yes Yes Yes Instant to 48 hours Betway Yes Yes Yes 24 to 72 hours Betano Yes Yes Yes 24 to 48 hours Common Mistakes to Avoid Registering with a fake name or abbreviation. If your ID says 'Oluwaseun Adeyemi' and your sportsbook account says 'Seun Adeyemi', you may face verification issues. Use your full legal name. Waiting until you want to withdraw. Verification takes time. Starting the process when you have ₦50,000 in winnings waiting is stressful and unnecessary. Verify on day one. Using a bank account in someone else's name. Third-party withdrawals are not permitted on Nigerian sportsbooks. Your bank account must be in your name. Submitting blurry or expired documents. Take a clear photo of your ID in good lighting. Ensure the document is not expired. betCompare Insight If you are a new bettor opening your first account, treat KYC verification as step one, not an afterthought. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes on most platforms if you have your BVN, NIN, and a photo ID ready. Once verified, your first withdrawal will process at the platform's standard speed rather than being held for review. For the fastest withdrawal experience, see our fastest payout guide. For the mobile-first bettor who manages everything from their phone, KYC can be completed entirely within the sportsbook app on Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing. Take a photo of your ID with your phone camera, enter your BVN and NIN, and you are done. Pair a verified account with OPay or Palmpay for the fastest possible deposit-to-withdrawal experience on Nigerian sportsbooks. FAQs Is KYC verification mandatory on all Nigerian betting sites? Yes. Every LSLGA-licensed operator in Nigeria is required to verify customer identity before processing withdrawals. How long does KYC verification take? BVN and NIN verification is usually instant. Document review takes 24 to 72 hours depending on the platform. Can I bet before completing KYC? Yes. You can deposit and place bets without completing KYC on most platforms. However, you will not be able to withdraw until verification is complete. What if my BVN name does not match my NIN name? Contact the relevant authority (your bank for BVN, NIMC for NIN) to correct the discrepancy before attempting to verify on a sportsbook. Mismatched records will cause verification failure. Conclusion KYC verification is a one-time process that takes minutes and saves hours of frustration later. Have your BVN, NIN, and photo ID ready. Register with your full legal name. Complete verification before your first bet. Do not wait until you have winnings to withdraw. Once verified, explore which platform offers the best combination of odds, withdrawal speed, and markets for your betting style. Compare odds at betCompare and check our platform reviews for detailed comparisons. Responsible Gambling Reminder 18+ only. Betting involves the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Getting your money out quickly matters as much as winning it. Withdrawal speeds on Nigerian sportsbooks range from under five minutes to over 24 hours depending on the platform, payment method, and whether your account is fully verified. This guide ranks the fastest withdrawal methods available across licensed Nigerian operators in 2026. Why Withdrawal Speed Matters A sportsbook that takes 48 hours to process a withdrawal creates frustration and, more importantly, temptation. The longer your money sits in a betting account, the more likely you are to place another bet with it. Fast withdrawals support responsible betting by getting winnings into your bank or mobile wallet promptly. What You Will Need A fully verified account on your chosen sportsbook. This means BVN verified, NIN submitted, and bank account details matching your registration name. Unverified accounts are the single most common cause of withdrawal delays on Nigerian platforms. Complete your verification before placing your first bet. For a detailed KYC walkthrough, see our KYC guide on betCompare. Withdrawal Methods Ranked by Speed Method Typical Speed Available On OPay / Palmpay Under 5 minutes SportyBet, Betano, BetKing, Betway Bank transfer (same bank) 5 to 30 minutes All major platforms Bank transfer (inter-bank) 30 minutes to 6 hours All major platforms USSD withdrawal 5 to 30 minutes Bet9ja, SportyBet Cryptocurrency (USDT/BTC) 5 to 60 minutes 1xBet, 22Bet, BC.Game OPay and Palmpay are the fastest withdrawal methods in Nigeria. On SportyBet, linking your OPay or Palmpay account delivers withdrawals in under five minutes consistently. This makes SportyBet the fastest-paying major platform in Nigeria for mobile wallet users. For a detailed payout speed comparison, see our fastest payout guide. Bank transfer remains the most widely available method. Same-bank transfers (when your registered bank matches the operator's settlement bank) are typically faster. Inter-bank transfers pass through the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and can take longer, particularly on weekends or bank holidays. Cryptocurrency withdrawals are available on some platforms (1xBet, 22Bet, BC.Game) and process quickly once confirmed on-chain. USDT on the TRC20 network typically settles in under a minute. However, these platforms may have different licensing structures. See our crypto betting guide for full details. Verification: The Biggest Factor in Withdrawal Speed Before your first withdrawal on any Nigerian sportsbook, you will need to verify your identity. The typical requirements are: BVN (Bank Verification Number), NIN (National Identification Number), a government-issued photo ID (national ID card, international passport, or driver's licence), and bank account details matching your registration name. Unverified accounts face delays, reduced withdrawal limits, or outright holds on withdrawals. Complete your verification immediately after registration, not when you want to withdraw. This is the single most impactful thing you can do to ensure fast payouts. Common Mistakes to Avoid Waiting until you win to verify your account. Verify immediately after sign-up. The verification process can take 24 to 72 hours on some platforms, and you do not want to be waiting when you have money to withdraw. Using a bank account that does not match your registration name. Mismatched names trigger manual reviews and can delay withdrawals by days. Withdrawing during bank maintenance windows. Nigerian banks perform system maintenance (typically late night to early morning). Withdrawals requested during these windows may not process until the next business day. Not checking minimum withdrawal amounts. Each platform has a minimum withdrawal threshold (typically ₦1,000 to ₦2,000). Attempting to withdraw below this amount will fail. betCompare Insight If you are a mobile-first bettor who uses OPay or Palmpay as your primary wallet, SportyBet's sub-five-minute withdrawals are a genuine differentiator. No other major platform in Nigeria matches that speed consistently. Pair it with odds comparison at betCompare to make sure you are betting at the best price and cashing out through the fastest channel. For the casual bettor who withdraws once or twice a month, bank transfer on any major platform is perfectly adequate. The more important factor is completing your KYC verification before you need to withdraw. Our KYC guide on betCompare walks you through the process on every major platform. FAQs What is the fastest withdrawal method in Nigeria? OPay and Palmpay on SportyBet, with withdrawals typically processing in under five minutes. Why is my withdrawal taking longer than expected? The most common causes are incomplete KYC verification, bank name mismatch, requesting a withdrawal during bank maintenance hours, or withdrawing below the minimum threshold. Are there fees on withdrawals from Nigerian betting sites? Most major operators (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway) do not charge withdrawal fees. Some smaller or internationally-licensed platforms may apply charges. Check the cashier page before withdrawing. Can I withdraw to a different bank than I deposited from? Generally, you must withdraw to a bank account registered in your name. The account does not need to be the same one you deposited from, but the name must match your sportsbook registration. Conclusion The fastest way to withdraw from a Nigerian betting site in 2026 is through OPay or Palmpay on a platform like SportyBet, with processing times under five minutes. Bank transfers remain the most widely available option and typically settle within hours on verified accounts. The most important step you can take is to complete your KYC verification before you ever need to withdraw. For a full comparison of payout speeds across all major Nigerian sportsbooks, see our fastest payout guide. And before placing any bet, compare odds at betCompare to make sure your winnings are as large as they should be. Responsible Gambling Reminder 18+ only. Betting involves the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Every price on a Nigerian sportsbook has the operator's profit baked in. That profit margin is called the overround, and understanding it is the difference between betting blind and betting informed. This explainer shows how overround works, how to calculate it, and why it matters when you compare odds across platforms. Quick Definition Overround (also called vigorish, vig, or margin) is the amount by which the implied probabilities of all outcomes in a market exceed 100%. In a fair market with no margin, a coin toss would be priced at 2.00 for heads and 2.00 for tails (50% + 50% = 100%). In a real sportsbook market, both sides might be priced at 1.91, giving implied probabilities of 52.4% + 52.4% = 104.8%. The 4.8% excess is the overround. What Is Overround and Why It Matters The overround is how sportsbooks make money. It ensures that regardless of the outcome, the operator retains a percentage of total stakes wagered. For Nigerian bettors, a lower overround means better odds and more value on every bet you place. Across the major Nigerian platforms (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway, Betano), overround varies by sport, league, and market type. Premier League match-result markets typically carry a 3% to 8% overround. Less popular leagues or niche markets can carry 10% to 15% or more. Comparing odds across platforms at betCompare is the most practical way to find the lowest margin on any given fixture. How Overround Works Step 1: Calculate implied probability for each outcome. For a three-way football market (home, draw, away): Home odds 1.80, implied probability = 1/1.80 = 55.6%. Draw odds 3.50, implied probability = 1/3.50 = 28.6%. Away odds 4.50, implied probability = 1/4.50 = 22.2%. Step 2: Add the implied probabilities. 55.6% + 28.6% + 22.2% = 106.4%. Step 3: The excess over 100% is the overround. 106.4% minus 100% = 6.4% overround. This means the operator's built-in margin on this market is approximately 6.4%. What this means in naira. If you bet ₦10,000 across all three outcomes proportionally, you would receive less than ₦10,000 back regardless of which outcome wins. The missing amount is the operator's margin. Over hundreds of bets, this margin compounds. Overround by Market Type Market Typical Overround (Nigerian platforms) Premier League match result 3% to 8% Champions League match result 4% to 8% NPFL match result 8% to 15% Over/Under 2.5 goals (top leagues) 4% to 7% Asian Handicap (top leagues) 3% to 6% Correct score 15% to 30% Player markets (goalscorer, cards) 10% to 25% Lower-margin markets are where informed bettors find the most value. Match result, over/under, and Asian Handicap markets on top European leagues typically offer the tightest odds. Common Misconceptions 'The bookmaker knows who will win.' They do not. The overround ensures profitability regardless of the outcome. The odds reflect a combination of mathematical modelling and market demand, not insider knowledge. 'All sportsbooks have the same margin.' They do not. Overround varies significantly between operators and between markets on the same fixture. This is why comparing odds across platforms is essential. 'A low overround means the bookmaker is offering bad value somewhere else.' Not necessarily. Some operators compete on margin across the board, while others offer tight margins on popular markets and wider margins on niche ones. betCompare Insight If you are a value-focused bettor who compares odds before every bet, the overround is the number that tells you which platform is giving you the best deal on any given market. A 3% overround on a Premier League match is significantly better value than an 8% overround. Over 200 bets at ₦5,000 per bet, the difference could amount to ₦25,000 or more in retained value. Use betCompare to compare odds and find the lowest-margin prices. For the casual bettor who places a few bets per week, the practical takeaway is simpler: never bet on one platform out of habit. Check at least two or three platforms before placing. The operator with the best odds on an Arsenal match might not have the best odds on a La Liga match. Shopping around takes seconds and saves real money over time. Quick Recap Overround is the sportsbook's built-in profit margin. Calculate it by summing implied probabilities across all outcomes. Lower overround means better odds. It varies by operator, sport, league, and market. Comparing odds across platforms is the most effective way to minimise the impact of overround on your betting. FAQs Is overround the same as commission? The concept is similar but the mechanism differs. Overround is built into the odds themselves. Betting exchanges charge a separate commission on winnings. Nigerian sportsbooks use overround, not commission. Which Nigerian sportsbook has the lowest overround? It varies by fixture and market. No single operator consistently offers the lowest margin across all events. The most effective approach is to compare odds per fixture using betCompare. Does overround affect accumulator bets? Yes. The overround on each individual leg compounds across the accumulator. This is why accumulators are highly profitable for operators and why comparing odds on each leg is especially important. Can I calculate overround on my phone? Yes. Add up 1 divided by the odds for each outcome in a market. If the total exceeds 1.00, the excess is the overround expressed as a decimal. Multiply by 100 for the percentage. Conclusion Overround is the invisible cost of every bet you place. Understanding it transforms you from a bettor who accepts whatever price is offered to one who actively seeks the best value. The maths is simple, the impact is significant, and the solution is straightforward: compare odds across platforms before every bet. Use betCompare to see real-time odds from all major Nigerian sportsbooks and find the market with the lowest margin on your selection. Responsible Gambling Reminder Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Decimal odds are the standard format on every Nigerian sportsbook. They tell you exactly how much you receive for every naira staked, including your original stake. If you can read a price tag, you can read decimal odds. This explainer removes the mystery. Quick Definition Decimal odds show the total return per unit staked, including the stake. Odds of 2.50 mean a ₦1,000 bet returns ₦2,500 (₦1,500 profit plus ₦1,000 stake). Odds of 1.50 mean a ₦1,000 bet returns ₦1,500 (₦500 profit plus ₦1,000 stake). What Are Decimal Odds and Why They Matter In Nigeria, decimal odds are the default format across Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway, Betano, and every other major platform. Unlike fractional odds (common in UK horse racing) or American odds (common in the US), decimal odds include the stake in the return, making them the most straightforward format for calculating payouts. Understanding how to read decimal odds is the most fundamental skill in sports betting. Every decision you make, from backing a match result to building an accumulator, starts with reading the odds correctly. How Decimal Odds Work The formula is simple: Total return = Stake x Odds. Profit = Total return minus Stake. Example 1: Arsenal to beat Brentford at odds of 1.55. You stake ₦5,000. Total return = ₦5,000 x 1.55 = ₦7,750. Profit = ₦7,750 minus ₦5,000 = ₦2,750. Example 2: Barcelona to beat Athletic Club at odds of 1.65. You stake ₦3,000. Total return = ₦3,000 x 1.65 = ₦4,950. Profit = ₦4,950 minus ₦3,000 = ₦1,950. Example 3: An underdog at odds of 5.00. You stake ₦2,000. Total return = ₦2,000 x 5.00 = ₦10,000. Profit = ₦10,000 minus ₦2,000 = ₦8,000. What the odds imply about probability. Decimal odds also tell you what the bookmaker believes about the likelihood of an outcome. The formula is: Implied probability = 1 divided by the decimal odds, multiplied by 100. Odds of 2.50: 1 / 2.50 = 0.40, or 40% implied probability. Odds of 1.50: 1 / 1.50 = 0.667, or 66.7% implied probability. Odds of 5.00: 1 / 5.00 = 0.20, or 20% implied probability. These implied probabilities include the bookmaker's margin (overround). The true probability of each outcome is slightly higher than the implied figure suggests, because the bookmaker builds their profit into the odds. For a detailed explanation of how the overround works, see our overround explainer on betCompare. Converting Between Formats Decimal Fractional American Implied Probability 1.50 1/2 -200 66.7% 2.00 1/1 (evens) +100 50.0% 2.50 6/4 +150 40.0% 3.00 2/1 +200 33.3% 5.00 4/1 +400 20.0% 10.00 9/1 +900 10.0% Decimal to fractional: subtract 1 from the decimal odds, then express as a fraction. 2.50 becomes 1.50/1, which simplifies to 3/2 or 6/4. In practice, you rarely need to convert: decimal odds are the standard in Nigeria and across most of the world outside the UK and US. Common Misconceptions 'Higher odds mean a better bet.' Higher odds mean a higher potential return, but also a lower probability of winning. Odds of 10.00 pay well if they win, but the implied probability is just 10%. 'Odds of 2.00 mean a 50/50 chance.' Not quite. The implied probability is 50%, but the bookmaker's margin means the true probability is slightly below 50%. The bookmaker prices both sides to total more than 100%. 'I should always bet on the favourite.' Favourites win more often, but the lower odds mean smaller returns. The goal is not to pick winners but to find bets where the odds understate the true probability, that is where value lies. betCompare Insight If you are new to betting and just learning to read odds, the single most valuable habit you can build is comparing the same selection across multiple platforms before placing your bet. The odds for Arsenal to beat Brentford might be 1.55 on one platform and 1.60 on another. Over 100 bets, that small difference adds up to thousands of naira in additional returns. Use betCompare to compare odds in real time. For the experienced bettor, reading odds is second nature, but reading implied probability and comparing it against your own assessment is where the real skill lies. If you believe Arsenal have a 70% chance of winning and the odds imply 65%, there is value in that bet. If the odds imply 72%, there is not. Developing your own probability estimates and comparing them against the market is what separates informed betting from guessing. Quick Recap Decimal odds show total return per unit staked. Multiply your stake by the odds to calculate your return. Divide 1 by the odds to find the implied probability. Compare odds across platforms to get the best price. The bookmaker's margin means implied probabilities always sum to more than 100%. FAQs Why do Nigerian sportsbooks use decimal odds? Decimal odds are the global standard outside the UK and US. They are the simplest format for calculating returns and are used across all Nigerian platforms. Can I switch to fractional odds on Nigerian sportsbooks? Some platforms (notably Bet9ja) allow you to toggle between decimal and fractional formats in settings. Most Nigerian bettors use decimal as the default. What are 'even odds' in decimal format? Even odds are 2.00 in decimal format. A ₦1,000 stake returns ₦2,000 (₦1,000 profit plus ₦1,000 stake). How do I calculate accumulator odds? Multiply the decimal odds of each selection together. For example: 1.55 x 1.40 x 1.65 = 3.58. A ₦1,000 stake at combined odds of 3.58 returns ₦3,580. Conclusion Decimal odds are the simplest odds format to read and the standard across Nigerian sportsbooks. Multiply your stake by the odds for your return. Divide 1 by the odds for the implied probability. That is all you need to know to start making informed betting decisions. The next step is comparing those odds across platforms to make sure you are getting the best available price on every selection. Use betCompare to compare odds from all major Nigerian sportsbooks in one place. Responsible Gambling Reminder Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.3

Introduction Handicap betting levels the playing field between a favourite and an underdog by applying a virtual advantage or disadvantage before kick-off. It is one of the most useful tools on Nigerian sportsbooks for finding value in lopsided fixtures. This explainer covers how handicaps work, the difference between Asian and European handicaps, and when to use them. Quick Definition A handicap bet applies a virtual goal advantage or deficit to one team before the match starts. If you back Arsenal at -1.5 handicap, Arsenal must win by two or more goals for your bet to pay out. If you back Brentford at +1.5, they can lose by one goal and your bet still wins. What Is a Handicap Bet and Why It Matters When Manchester City play a promoted team, the match-result odds might be 1.15 for a City win, offering almost no value. A handicap of -1.5 or -2.5 on City pushes the odds back into useful territory, perhaps 1.70 or 2.40, because the bet now requires City to win by a larger margin. Handicap betting creates value where the standard match-result market cannot. On Nigerian platforms like Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing, handicap markets are available on most football fixtures. They are particularly useful for Premier League, La Liga, and Champions League matches where one team is a heavy favourite. For a full overview of all bet types including singles, doubles, and accumulators, see our bet types guide on betCompare. How Handicap Bets Work European Handicap (3-way). The handicap is applied as whole numbers (e.g. -1, -2, +1). The result is adjusted by the handicap, and there are three possible outcomes: home win, draw, or away win on the adjusted scoreline. If you back Arsenal -1 (European), the adjusted scoreline subtracts one goal from Arsenal. If Arsenal win 2-0, the adjusted score is 1-0, and your bet wins. If Arsenal win 1-0, the adjusted score is 0-0 (a draw on handicap), and you lose. Asian Handicap (2-way). Asian handicaps use half-goal and quarter-goal lines (e.g. -0.5, -1.5, -0.75, -1.25). There is no draw outcome. If you back Arsenal -1.5 (Asian), Arsenal must win by two or more goals. If they win by exactly one, you lose. The half-goal eliminates the possibility of a push (tied result on handicap). Quarter-goal handicaps (-0.25, -0.75, -1.25, etc.) split your stake between two lines. A -0.75 handicap means half your stake goes on -0.5 and half on -1.0. If Arsenal win by exactly one goal, the -0.5 half wins and the -1.0 half is a push (refunded). This reduces risk compared to a straight -1.0 line. Worked example: Arsenal vs Brentford. You back Arsenal -1.5 (Asian Handicap) at odds of 1.90 with a ₦3,000 stake. Arsenal win 3-1. The adjusted score is 1.5-1 in Arsenal's favour. Your bet wins, returning ₦5,700. If Arsenal had won 1-0, the adjusted score would be -0.5 to 0, and you would lose your ₦3,000. Asian Handicap vs European Handicap Feature Asian Handicap European Handicap Outcomes 2 (win or lose) 3 (win, draw, or lose) Half goals Yes (-0.5, -1.5, etc.) No (whole numbers only) Draw possible? No (eliminated by half goals) Yes (on the adjusted scoreline) Void/push Possible on whole-number lines Possible on whole-number lines Quarter goals Yes (-0.25, -0.75) No Best for Eliminating draw risk, fine-tuning lines Simpler 3-way betting Common Misconceptions 'Handicap bets are only for advanced bettors.' The concept is simpler than it appears: you are adjusting the starting score. Once you understand that, handicap bets are no more complex than backing a match result. 'Asian Handicap is always better than European.' Asian Handicap eliminates the draw, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the match. In fixtures where a draw is a likely outcome, European Handicap gives you a third option to back. 'A -1 handicap means the team will win by one goal.' The handicap does not predict the scoreline. It adjusts the result for betting purposes. The actual match could finish 5-0 or 1-0; the handicap simply determines how that result is treated for your bet. betCompare Insight If you are a value-focused bettor who shops for the best prices, handicap markets often offer tighter margins than the match-result market on heavily one-sided fixtures. A Manchester City -1.5 at 1.85 may represent better value than City to win at 1.15, because the implied probability gap between the odds and your own assessment is wider. Compare handicap odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betCompare to find the best line. For the casual football bettor who normally sticks to match-result bets, handicaps are worth exploring on weekends where the fixture list is dominated by heavy favourites. Rather than backing three 1.15 selections in an accumulator for a combined return of 1.52, consider a double using -1.5 handicap lines at 1.85 each, which gives combined odds of 3.42 from just two selections with a similar overall probability. Quick Recap Handicap bets adjust the starting scoreline to create value in lopsided fixtures. Asian Handicap eliminates the draw; European Handicap keeps it. Half-goal lines prevent pushes. Quarter-goal lines split your stake for partial coverage. Always compare handicap odds across platforms. FAQs Are handicap bets available on Nigerian sportsbooks? Yes. Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway, and Betano all offer Asian and European handicap markets on most football fixtures. What happens if the handicap result is a draw on an Asian Handicap whole-number line? Your stake is refunded (pushed). This only happens on whole-number Asian Handicap lines (e.g. -1.0, -2.0). Half-goal lines eliminate the possibility of a push. Can I use handicap bets in accumulators? Yes. Handicap selections can be combined with other bet types in an accumulator on most Nigerian platforms. Which handicap line should I use? It depends on the match context and the odds offered. A -1.5 line offers higher odds but requires a two-goal winning margin. A -0.5 line offers lower odds but only requires a win by any margin. Choose based on your assessment of the fixture. Conclusion Handicap betting is one of the most effective ways to find value on Nigerian sportsbooks, particularly in mismatched fixtures where the straight match-result odds offer little return. Asian Handicap eliminates the draw and allows fine-tuned lines; European Handicap keeps the draw as a third outcome. Start with simple -0.5 or +0.5 Asian Handicap lines to get comfortable with the concept, then explore -1.5 and quarter-goal lines as your confidence grows. Compare handicap odds across platforms at betCompare to make sure you are getting the best available price. Responsible Gambling Reminder Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Every bet you place on a Nigerian sportsbook falls into one of a handful of categories. Whether you are backing one outcome or combining ten, the mechanics determine your risk, your potential return, and how the bookmaker makes their money. This guide covers every standard bet type available on Nigerian platforms, from the simplest single to the most complex system bet, with worked examples in naira. What Are Bet Types and Why They Matter Bet types define the structure of your wager. A single is one selection, one outcome. An accumulator combines multiple selections where all must win. System bets cover multiple combinations within one slip. The bet type you choose directly affects your probability of winning, your potential return, and how much you risk. Understanding these structures is foundational to using any sportsbook effectively. What You Will Need An account with a licensed Nigerian sportsbook (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway, or Betano are all LSLGA-licensed options). A verified account with BVN and NIN details submitted. A funded account with a minimum deposit (typically ₦100 to ₦500 depending on the operator). For current deposit methods, see our deposit guide on betCompare. Step-by-Step: Every Bet Type Explained 1. Single bet. One selection, one outcome. You back Arsenal to beat Brentford at odds of 1.55. A ₦2,000 stake returns ₦3,100 if Arsenal win. If they draw or lose, you lose ₦2,000. Singles have the highest probability of winning among all bet types because only one thing needs to go right. 2. Double. Two selections, both must win. Arsenal to win (1.55) and Real Madrid to win (1.40). Combined odds: 1.55 x 1.40 = 2.17. A ₦2,000 stake returns ₦4,340 if both win. If either loses, you lose ₦2,000. 3. Treble. Three selections, all must win. Add Barcelona to win (1.65) to the double above. Combined odds: 2.17 x 1.65 = 3.58. A ₦2,000 stake returns ₦7,160 if all three win. 4. Four-fold and above (accumulator). Four or more selections, all must win. The odds multiply with each additional leg. The potential return grows but the probability of winning drops. A ten-fold at average odds of 1.50 per leg has combined odds of 57.67, but an implied win probability of just 1.7%. 5. BetBuilder / Same-Game Multi. Multiple selections from the same match combined into one bet. For example: Arsenal to win, Saka to score, and over 2.5 goals, all in the Arsenal vs Brentford match. Available on Bet9ja, SportyBet, and Betano. The odds are calculated by the operator's model rather than simple multiplication, because the outcomes within one match are correlated. 6. System bets (Trixie, Yankee, Lucky 15, etc.). System bets cover multiple accumulator combinations within one slip. A Trixie, for example, covers three doubles and one treble from three selections, giving you four bets. You can win even if one selection loses (because the doubles covering the other two selections still pay). System bets cost more because you are placing multiple bets, but they are more forgiving than a straight accumulator. Pro tip: On Bet9ja, system bets are available under the 'System' tab on the bet slip. On SportyBet, they appear as 'Combo' options. Cost Breakdown Bet Type Selections Number of Bets ₦1,000 per bet cost Single 1 1 ₦1,000 Double 2 1 ₦1,000 Treble 3 1 ₦1,000 Trixie 3 4 (3 doubles + 1 treble) ₦4,000 Yankee 4 11 (6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold) ₦11,000 Lucky 15 4 15 (4 singles + 6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold) ₦15,000 System bets spread your risk but multiply your total stake. Always check the total cost on the bet slip before confirming. Common Mistakes to Avoid Adding legs to accumulators for excitement rather than value. Every additional leg reduces your probability of winning. Add selections because they represent value, not because the potential return looks impressive. Ignoring singles. Singles have the highest probability of winning. Consistent, well-researched singles can produce more sustainable returns than occasional accumulator wins. Not comparing odds across platforms. A 0.05 improvement in odds on each leg of a five-fold accumulator can add ₦1,000 or more to your potential return. Compare odds at betCompare before every bet. Confusing BetBuilder with standard accumulators. BetBuilder selections within one match are correlated. The operator adjusts the odds accordingly, and the effective margin is often higher than on standard multi-match accumulators. Not understanding system bet costs. A Lucky 15 costs 15 times your unit stake. Make sure you know the total before confirming. betCompare Insight If you are a new bettor in your first 90 days, start with singles. They are the simplest way to learn how odds work, how payouts are calculated, and how different markets behave. Once you are comfortable with singles, move to doubles and trebles. Accumulators of five legs or more should be occasional entertainment, not your primary betting approach. Compare odds on each selection at betCompare to build good habits from the start. For the experienced accumulator bettor, system bets like the Trixie and Yankee offer a middle ground between the all-or-nothing risk of a standard acca and the steady returns of singles. They cost more per slip, but the partial coverage means one losing leg does not void your entire investment. Experiment with system bets on Bet9ja or SportyBet to see if the trade-off suits your style. FAQs What is the best bet type for beginners? Singles. They are the simplest, have the highest probability of winning, and teach you how odds and payouts work without the complexity of multi-selection bets. Can I mix different sports in an accumulator? Yes. Most Nigerian sportsbooks allow you to combine selections from football, basketball, tennis, and other sports in one accumulator. What is the maximum number of legs in an accumulator? This varies by operator. Bet9ja allows up to 50 selections. SportyBet and BetKing typically allow up to 30 or more. Check the specific platform. Are system bets available on all Nigerian sportsbooks? Bet9ja, BetKing, and 1xBet offer system bets. SportyBet and Betway offer more limited system options. Check the bet slip on each platform. Do accumulators have a higher bookmaker margin? Yes. The overround (bookmaker's margin) compounds with every leg in an accumulator. This is one reason operators promote accumulator betting heavily. Conclusion Every bet type has a place. Singles for consistency, doubles and trebles for moderate risk, accumulators for occasional high-reward entertainment, system bets for partial coverage, and BetBuilder for same-game excitement. The right choice depends on your budget, your risk tolerance, and your goals for the session. Whichever bet type you choose, always compare odds at betCompare before placing. The best bet type in the world is worth less if you are consistently getting worse prices than the market offers. Responsible Gambling Reminder Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente is to sign a new contract keeping him in the role until 2032, the Spanish football federation announced on Monday “Luis de la Fuente will extend his contract through the next two European Championships, in 2028 and 2032, as well as the 2030 World Cup,” the RFEF said in a statement. The 65-year-old, who took charge of Spain in 2022 after replacing Luis Enrique, has since led the national team to World Cup success, Euro 2024 glory and the 2023 UEFA Nations League title. De la Fuente spent a decade working with Spain’s youth teams before stepping up to the senior role. “We’re talking about the most successful head coach in the history of the national team, and after 14 years with us, this is something Luis de la Fuente deserves, a long-term future at the RFEF,” said the chair of the Spanish FA’s board of directors, Rafael Louzan. Spain travel to England on September 26 in their first game since lifting the World Cup in July before hosting Croatia three days later in Seville, to start their Nations League campaign. They return home to play the Czech Republic in Oviedo on October 3 and end the international window by heading to Croatia three days later.

Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have all pulled out of England's squad for forthcoming Nations League matches Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Everton's James Garner have been called into the squad by manager Thomas Tuchel and will join the squad on Tuesday. Tuchel said on Friday that 26-year-old Gibbs-White, who has six international caps, was close to being included in the initial squad. Palmer, 24, had been recalled by Tuchel after being controversially left out of England's World Cup squad but has withdrawn with a minor injury. Tuchel previously said Palmer had a "point to prove" and needed "to step up" to "keep his shirt and justify the nomination". The Three Lions face World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday, 26 September, then travel to the Czech Republic (29 September) and Croatia (3 October) before hosting the Czechs on 6 October in an extended international break. Manchester United duo Rashford and Mainoo have also pulled out. They were assessed by their club after being taken off in the closing stages of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham. Rice, who played the full game for Arsenal in their 3-0 defeat by Brighton, will also be unavailable to Tuchel, along with Livramento, who has been limited to three substitute appearances for Newcastle United this season. Palmer's withdrawal comes after he played the full game for Chelsea in their 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Friday. Following a summer off after missing out on World Cup selection, he has started six of Chelsea's seven games and played the full 90 minutes in five of them - scoring four goals and providing two assists. Palmer, who last played for England in their 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan in March, was hampered by a recurring groin injury in 2025-26, which Chelsea had to manage. Gibbs-White made his most recent England appearance in a 3-0 friendly win against Wales in October 2025. He has one goal and two assists from Forest's five league games this season. Like Gibbs-White, Garner - who made both his two senior England appearances in March - comes in after not being selected for the 2026 World Cup.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho arrived at his post-match news conference carrying an A4 sheet of printed paper with screenshots displaying two incidents he believed should have resulted in Atletico Madrid dismissals Mourinho accused the officials of making key errors after Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid, claiming the hosts should have been handed two red cards in the first half. It was Real Madrid's second defeat of the season, having lost 1-0 to Real Betis earlier in September. "We can skip the press conference because the story of the match is right here. Those were two clear red cards. Given the difficulties we faced afterwards playing 11 against 10, we can only imagine what 50 minutes of 11 against nine would have been like," Mourinho said as he showed media the printed images. "So I'll just have to limit myself to hugging my players, who gave it their all and played a first half, showed great class and character, setting us up perfectly to win the second half." Diego Simeone, in contrast, was ecstatic with the result and when asked to respond to Mourinho's refereeing rant, said he was always respectful of everyone else's opinions. "I understand that we're in a privileged position with a lot of public scrutiny, as coaches, and whether it's Mourinho, [Hansi] Flick, [Manuel] Pellegrini, me, or anyone else, we need to be careful about what we say. We have to know how to respect others, the referees, our colleagues and we all lose out. And when someone crosses that line of respect, it's not right - you can't cross that line," he said. Mourinho argued the two first-half decisions had a significant impact on the match, insisting his team had shown character despite the circumstances. The first incident Mourinho referenced involved Real's Jude Bellingham and Atleti's Cristian Romero in the 37th minute, when both players challenged for a loose ball and the clash ended with Bellingham being shown a yellow card. At the time, Mourinho pleaded with the referee for a red card to be shown to the Argentina international for dangerous foul play, because replays showed Romero made contact with his studs on Bellingham's knee. Bellingham's yellow card was retracted after a video assistant referee review and Romero was given a yellow. The second was for a challenge by Atletico's Lee Kang-in on Fede Valverde, which Mourinho believed should have been a straight red card. The Portuguese also questioned the appointment of the match officials, saying he wanted to believe the decisions were mistakes rather than deliberate. "I want to believe they are simply mistakes, just as a coach makes mistakes, just as a player makes mistakes," he said. Despite the defeat, Mourinho said he had no complaints about his players' commitment and praised their performance, particularly in the first half. "I liked my team as a unit. Even in the first half I really liked them, and in the second half it was obviously very difficult to get the ball and to stop Atleti's possession. I liked their pride, I liked their determination, and it's a good feeling for me to not be disappointed in my players". Mourinho also addressed the dismissal of Dean Huijsen, which awarded Atletico a penalty, admitting he had not yet watched the VAR replay. The defeat leaves Real Madrid fourth in the league standings, with Atletico second - five points behind league leaders Barcelona. Yet Mourinho was keen to stress that there was still a long way to go in the season. "Under normal circumstances, it's not about how it starts, it's about how it ends," he said.

Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid in a feisty derby to move above their rivals into second place in La Liga The turning point of the game came when Dean Huijsen pulled down Giuliano Simeone just inside the box. Huijsen was sent off after a video assistant referee (VAR) review - and Alejandro Grimaldo scored the resulting penalty. Jonathan David slid in to score his third goal in three La Liga games from Simeone's cross to make the points safe for Atletico. The hosts brought on Julian Alvarez, who tried to engineer a summer move to Barcelona, soon after that to some boos. Antonio Rudiger headed in Bernardo Silva's free-kick to give Real late hope but they could not find an equaliser. Real sit six points behind leaders Barcelona, who have won every game, and one behind Atleti. It was pretty much a perfect afternoon for Atletico boss Simeone, who had lost all three derby meetings with Mourinho during his first spell in Madrid. In fact, Mourinho had won all six of his La Liga games against Atletico between 2010 and 2013. The first half was scrappy and Simeone and two of his defenders were shown yellow cards - including Cristian Romero, who avoided a red card after a VAR review for a foul on Jude Bellingham. But after the break Atletico were the better team - even before Huijsen's decision to pull down Simeone's son which changed the game - and were deserved winners, ending with 18 shots to Real's eight. This was Real's second defeat in seven La Liga games since Mourinho's return - and they already look miles off Barca - who have won all seven games and scored 31 goals. Real Madrid dropped to fourth in the table after Real Betis' 1-1 draw at Deportivo.

Introduction Accumulators are the most popular bet type in Nigeria, and the most misunderstood. The appeal is simple: combine multiple selections into one bet for a larger potential return from a small stake. The reality is that every leg you add reduces your probability of winning. This explainer shows exactly how accumulators work, with worked examples using real Nigerian sportsbook odds. Quick Definition An accumulator (also called an 'acca' or 'multi') is a single bet that combines two or more selections. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. The odds of each selection are multiplied together, creating a larger potential return but a lower probability of winning. What Is an Accumulator and Why It Matters On every Nigerian sportsbook, from Bet9ja to SportyBet to BetKing, accumulators dominate bet slips. A ₦1,000 five-fold accumulator at combined odds of 15.00 returns ₦15,000, which is far more exciting than five separate ₦1,000 singles returning modest individual profits. But here is the catch: if even one selection loses, the entire bet loses. Understanding how the maths works is essential before you build your next slip. For a broader guide to all bet types available on Nigerian platforms, including singles, doubles, trebles, and system bets, see our complete bet types guide on betCompare. How Accumulators Work The mechanics are straightforward. You pick two or more outcomes. The odds are multiplied. Your stake is applied to the combined odds. Worked Example 1: Three-leg accumulator (treble) Selection Odds Arsenal to beat Brentford 1.55 Real Madrid to beat Celta Vigo 1.40 Barcelona to beat Athletic Club 1.65 Combined odds: 1.55 x 1.40 x 1.65 = 3.58. A ₦2,000 stake returns ₦7,160 if all three selections win. If Arsenal win and Real Madrid win but Barcelona draw, you lose the entire ₦2,000. Worked Example 2: Five-leg accumulator Selection Odds Liverpool to beat Nottingham Forest 1.50 Manchester City to beat Crystal Palace 1.75 Atletico Madrid to beat Celta Vigo 1.60 Bayern Munich to beat Freiburg 1.45 PSG to beat Marseille 1.55 Combined odds: 1.50 x 1.75 x 1.60 x 1.45 x 1.55 = 9.44. A ₦1,000 stake returns ₦9,440 if all five win. The implied probability of all five winning (before the bookmaker's margin) is approximately 10.6%. In plain terms, roughly one in ten five-leg accumulators at these odds would win. What happens when one leg fails? The entire bet loses. There is no partial payout on a standard accumulator. Some operators offer 'acca insurance' (such as SportyBet's One-Cut Insurance) that refunds your stake as a free bet if exactly one leg lets you down. Read the terms carefully: the insurance typically requires a minimum number of legs (usually five or more) and minimum odds per selection. See our SportyBet bonus reviews on betCompare for the full breakdown. Common Misconceptions 'Accumulators are the best way to win big from small stakes.' They offer the highest potential returns, yes, but the probability of winning drops with every leg added. Five well-chosen singles can produce steadier, more sustainable returns than one five-fold. 'Adding more legs is always better.' Every additional leg multiplies the probability of losing. A ten-leg accumulator at average odds of 1.50 per leg has a combined implied probability of just 1.7%, even before the bookmaker's margin. 'The bookmaker wants me to play accumulators.' This one is actually true. Accumulators have a higher built-in margin for the operator than singles, because the overround (the bookmaker's profit margin) compounds across every leg. 'If I research well enough, I can beat the odds.' Research improves your selections, but no amount of analysis eliminates the fundamental risk that one upset voids the entire bet. Football is inherently unpredictable, and that is exactly what makes accumulators risky. betCompare Insight If you are an accumulator-loving bettor building weekend multis from Premier League and La Liga fixtures, the most overlooked lever you have is the price on each individual leg. A 0.05 improvement in odds on each of five selections adds up significantly across the combined price. Compare odds at betCompare before locking in each selection. Placing a ₦2,000 five-fold at combined odds of 9.44 instead of 8.70 means an extra ₦1,480 on a winning bet, for exactly the same risk. For the casual football bettor who stakes ₦1,000 to ₦3,000 per weekend, a two-leg or three-leg accumulator is a more realistic way to enjoy multi-selection betting than a ten-leg long shot. The probability of winning a treble at average odds of 1.50 per leg is roughly 30%, compared to 1.7% on a ten-fold. Smaller accumulators, better odds per leg, and disciplined stakes are the combination that makes accumulator betting sustainable. Quick Recap Accumulators multiply the odds of multiple selections into one bet. All legs must win. The combined odds create larger potential returns but lower probability. Every additional leg reduces your chance of winning. Always compare odds on each individual leg across platforms to get the best combined price. FAQs What is the minimum number of selections for an accumulator? Two. A two-selection accumulator is called a double. Three selections is a treble. Four or more is simply called an accumulator or multi. Can I cash out an accumulator early? Most Nigerian sportsbooks (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway) offer cash-out on accumulators. The cash-out value reflects the current status of your remaining selections and the operator takes a margin. See our cash-out explainer on betCompare for details. What is acca insurance? Acca insurance refunds your stake (usually as a free bet) if exactly one leg of your accumulator loses. It typically requires a minimum number of legs and minimum odds per selection. Check the terms on each operator. Are accumulators a good strategy? They are a form of entertainment with high potential returns and low probability of winning. They are not a reliable strategy for consistent profit. Treat them as a fun addition to your betting, not as your primary approach. Conclusion Accumulators are the heartbeat of Nigerian sports betting for good reason: they turn a small stake into a potentially life-changing return. But the maths is unforgiving. Every leg you add reduces your probability of collecting. The smartest accumulator bettors keep their selections tight, compare odds across platforms, and never stake more than they are genuinely happy to lose. Compare odds on every leg at betCompare before building your next slip. The best accumulator is one built on the best available prices, not the longest list of selections. Responsible Gambling Reminder Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Free bets are one of the most common promotions offered by Nigerian sportsbooks, and one of the most misunderstood. The word 'free' creates an expectation that rarely matches reality. This explainer breaks down exactly how free bets work on Nigerian platforms, what they are really worth, and the key terms that determine whether an offer is worth claiming. Quick Definition A free bet is a promotional credit that allows you to place a bet without risking your own money. If the bet wins, you receive the winnings but typically not the stake. A ₦5,000 free bet at odds of 3.00 returns ₦10,000 in profit if it wins, not ₦15,000. What Is a Free Bet and Why It Matters Free bets appear across Nigerian sportsbooks as welcome offers, loyalty rewards, insurance refunds, and promotional giveaways. On platforms such as Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, and Betway, they are frequently tied to specific qualifying actions: place a first bet, lose on an accumulator by one leg, or bet on a featured match. The reason free bets matter is that they represent real value, but less value than most bettors assume. Understanding the mechanics before claiming is the difference between using a promotion wisely and feeling cheated when the payout is smaller than expected. For a full breakdown of all bonus types available on Nigerian platforms, see our complete guide to betting bonuses on betCompare. How Free Bets Work The process is consistent across most Nigerian operators: Step 1: You meet a qualifying condition (sign up, deposit, place a qualifying bet, or lose on a specific bet type). Step 2: The operator credits a free bet token to your account. This token has a fixed value (for example, ₦5,000) and usually an expiry date. Step 3: You select your market and place the free bet. The free bet amount appears as your stake, but it is the operator's money, not yours. Step 4: If the bet wins, you receive the profit (total return minus the stake). If the bet loses, you lose nothing because the stake was not your money. Worked example: You receive a ₦5,000 free bet and place it on a Premier League match at odds of 2.50. If it wins, the total return would be ₦12,500 (₦5,000 x 2.50), but since the ₦5,000 stake is not returned, your actual payout is ₦7,500. If it loses, your loss is ₦0. Free Bet vs Deposit Bonus: The Critical Difference Feature Free Bet Deposit Bonus Stake returned on win? No (usually) Yes (bonus funds used as real stake) Effective value at 2.50 odds 60% of face value Up to 100%, minus rollover cost Wagering requirement Usually none beyond placing the bet Typically 5x to 15x rollover Risk to your own money None on the free bet itself Your deposit is at risk during rollover Best for One-off promotional use Regular bettors who will clear the rollover naturally A ₦5,000 free bet is worth roughly ₦3,000 to ₦3,500 in expected value at typical odds, because the stake is not returned. A ₦5,000 deposit bonus with a 5x rollover can be worth closer to ₦4,000 to ₦5,000, but only if you were going to bet that volume anyway. Neither is 'free' in the way the headline implies. Common Misconceptions 'Free bets are free money.' They are not. The expected value of a free bet is always less than its face value because the stake is not returned. Treat them as a discount on your next bet, not as cash. 'I should bet on long odds to maximise my free bet.' Mathematically, higher odds do increase the potential return, but they also reduce the probability of winning. The expected value remains roughly the same. Pick the bet you would have placed anyway. 'If I lose my free bet, I have lost money.' You have not lost any of your own money. The free bet had a cost of ₦0 to you. However, if you deposited money specifically to qualify for the free bet, that deposit is the real cost. 'Free bets and bonus funds are the same thing.' They are not. Bonus funds act as additional balance that requires wagering before withdrawal. Free bets are single-use tokens. The mechanics, value, and risks are different. betCompare Insight If you are a new bettor in your first 90 days, free bets are a low-risk way to explore how a platform works. Use them to test the bet placement process, check withdrawal speeds, and understand how odds translate to returns, all without staking your own money. Our fastest payout guide can help you pick a platform where you can actually access any winnings quickly. For the bonus-driven bettor who hunts promotions across multiple platforms, free bets are part of a broader strategy. The key discipline is never letting a free bet change your staking behaviour. If you would not have placed a ₦10,000 bet on a market without the promotion, you should not be placing it with a free bet either. Compare odds at betCompare before using any free bet to make sure you are getting the best available price on your selection. Quick Recap Free bets let you place a bet without risking your own money, but the stake is typically not returned on winning bets. Their real value is roughly 50% to 70% of the face value at typical odds. They are not the same as deposit bonuses. Always check qualifying conditions, minimum odds requirements, and expiry dates before claiming. FAQs Do all Nigerian sportsbooks offer free bets? Most major LSLGA-licensed operators (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, Betway, Betano) offer free bets in some form, either as welcome offers, loyalty rewards, or promotional tie-ins. The structure and qualifying conditions vary. Can I withdraw free bet winnings immediately? On most platforms, yes. Free bet winnings are usually credited as cash with no additional wagering requirement. However, check the specific terms of each offer, as some operators impose a minimum withdrawal threshold. What odds should I use my free bet on? Use it on a selection you would have bet on anyway, at the best available odds. There is no mathematically superior strategy beyond picking a bet you believe has value. What is the difference between a free bet and a risk-free bet? A risk-free bet refunds your own stake (usually as a free bet) if your first qualifying bet loses. A free bet is a credit placed with the operator's money from the start. The net effect is similar, but with a risk-free bet, your original stake is at risk on the first bet. Conclusion Free bets are a useful promotional tool, not a guaranteed profit. Understanding that the stake is not returned on winning bets is the single most important thing to know before claiming. Once you have that clarity, free bets become a sensible way to try a new platform, explore a new market, or get a small discount on a bet you were already planning. Always verify the live terms on the operator's website before depositing. For a side-by-side comparison of welcome offers including free bets and deposit matches, see our full ranking of the best welcome bonuses on betCompare. Responsible Gambling Reminder All promotions are subject to terms and conditions. Verify current terms with the operator before claiming. Never stake more than you can afford to lose. 18+ only. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available through the responsible gambling tools on your operator's platform.

Introduction Cash-out is one of the most used buttons on Nigerian sportsbook apps, yet it is also one of the least understood. Most bettors know it lets them close a bet early. Fewer know how the operator calculates the offer, what margin is quietly deducted, or when pressing that button genuinely protects value and when it simply hands profit back to the bookmaker. This guide breaks down exactly how cash-out works, the types available across Nigerian operators, and the honest considerations you should weigh before using it. Table of Contents Quick Definition What Is Cash-Out and Why It Matters How Cash-Out Works Types of Cash-Out Available in Nigeria Common Misconceptions Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Quick Recap FAQs Conclusion Quick Definition Cash-out is a feature offered by licensed Nigerian sportsbooks that lets you settle a bet before the event finishes, locking in a return based on how the bet is performing at that moment. What Is Cash-Out and Why It Matters When you place a bet, you normally wait for the event to end before you know the outcome. Cash-out changes that by giving you a live offer to close the bet early. If your selections are winning, the offer will typically be higher than your original stake. If things are going badly, the offer will be lower, but it lets you recover something rather than lose everything. The feature matters for two reasons. First, it gives bettors a degree of control over open positions, which is particularly useful on accumulator slips where a single failed leg voids the entire ticket. Second, it introduces a decision point that did not exist a few years ago: hold or fold. Understanding how that decision is priced is the difference between using the tool wisely and leaking value over time. If you are still finding your feet with how odds, margins, and sportsbook mechanics work in Nigeria, our beginner's guide to making money from sports betting covers the fundamentals. How Cash-Out Works The cash-out value your sportsbook shows is not a goodwill offer. It is a calculation. The simplified formula looks like this: Cash-Out Value = (Original Stake × Original Odds) ÷ Current Live Odds The operator then deducts its own margin from that figure, typically between 5% and 15% on top of the margin already built into the original odds. Here is a worked example using a modest stake. You place a ₦5,000 single bet on Enyimba to beat Kano Pillars at decimal odds of 2.50. Your potential return is ₦12,500. By the 65th minute, Enyimba lead 1-0 and the live odds on an Enyimba win have dropped to 1.30. The theoretical fair cash-out value would be ₦12,500 ÷ 1.30, which equals roughly ₦9,615. After the operator applies its cash-out margin, your actual offer might sit around ₦8,500 to ₦9,100. You would collect that amount immediately if you accept. If Enyimba hold on, you would have earned more by waiting. If Kano Pillars equalise in the 89th minute, you would have lost everything. That trade-off is the core of every cash-out decision. The key takeaway: cash-out offers always reflect the operator's margin, not just the probability of the outcome. The more frequently you cash out, the more margin you pay. Types of Cash-Out Available in Nigeria Most major Nigerian sportsbooks, including Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing, offer some combination of the following. Full Cash-Out. You close the entire bet and receive the offered amount. The original wager is settled immediately regardless of what happens in the match. Partial Cash-Out. You withdraw a portion of the cash-out value and leave the rest of the bet running. For example, on a ₦10,000 accumulator showing a cash-out offer of ₦25,000, you could take ₦15,000 and let the remaining ₦10,000 ride on the final leg. This balances security with upside. Auto Cash-Out. You set a target cash-out value in advance. If the offer reaches that threshold, the system cashes out automatically, even if you are not watching. SportyBet and BetKing both support this on selected markets. It is useful if you place a bet before bed on an overnight fixture and want protection at a specific level. Pre-Match Cash-Out. Some operators allow cash-out on bets placed before kickoff, even before the match starts. If the odds shift due to team news or market movement, you may see a cash-out option before a ball is kicked. Not all sports and markets qualify. Operators can withdraw cash-out availability on specific matches, during high-volatility moments such as VAR reviews or penalty incidents, or on certain bet types without notice. Common Misconceptions "Cash-out gives me the fair value of my bet." It does not. Every cash-out offer includes the operator's original odds margin plus an additional cash-out margin. Analysis across several Nigerian and international sportsbooks has found cash-out margins of 5% to 15% on top of the standard overround. Over hundreds of bets, this adds up. "I should always cash out when I am ahead." Not necessarily. If your bet has a high probability of landing, cashing out locks in a smaller return than simply waiting. Cashing out every time you see green trains you to leave value on the table consistently. The decision should be based on your assessment of the remaining risk, not on the impulse to see money in your account. "The operator loses when I cash out at a profit." The operator rarely loses. The margin built into the cash-out offer means the bookmaker earns regardless of whether you accept or decline. Cash-out is a product, and like all sportsbook products, it is priced in the operator's favour. "Partial cash-out is always the safest option." Partial cash-out is a useful compromise, but it still carries the operator's margin on the portion you withdraw. Treat it as a risk-management tool, not a strategy that eliminates downside. You pay the margin on the cashed-out portion and accept full risk on the remainder. "Cash-out works the same on every operator." It does not. Minimum cash-out amounts, eligible markets, margin levels, and whether partial or auto cash-out is available all differ between Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, and other licensed Nigerian sportsbooks. Before relying on the feature, check the terms on your specific operator. You can compare odds and features across Nigeria's top sportsbooks to see which operators match your needs. Responsible Gambling Reminder Cash-out is a tool, not a safety net. The speed and accessibility of the feature, especially during live betting, can encourage faster and more frequent wagering. If you find yourself placing bets primarily to create cash-out opportunities, or cashing out impulsively to chase short-term returns, take a step back. Set a weekly entertainment budget, use your operator's deposit-limit and time-out tools, and remember that betting should remain a leisure activity. If gambling stops being enjoyable, support is available through BeGambleAware.org and GamCare. 18+ only. Only stake what you can comfortably afford to lose. betCompare Insight If you bet in-play regularly and use cash-out as part of your live-match approach, the most important thing to understand is the hidden cost. Every cash-out you accept includes a margin the operator does not disclose as a separate fee. Over a season of weekend fixtures, frequent cash-outs on ₦3,000 to ₦10,000 stakes can quietly erode returns by thousands of naira. Use cash-out selectively: when the match situation has materially changed, not every time the offer flashes green. Track your cash-out decisions against final results for a month, and the pattern will tell you whether the feature is working for you or against you. For the casual weekend bettor placing a small accumulator on Premier League or NPFL fixtures, cash-out is worth understanding even if you rarely use it. Knowing how the offer is calculated helps you make a calmer decision when your five-leg slip has four legs home and the final match is still in play. Our operator reviews break down which sportsbooks offer full, partial, and auto cash-out, so you can compare odds and pick the platform that fits your style before your first deposit. Quick Recap Cash-out lets you settle a bet early based on how the event is unfolding, but the offer always includes the operator's margin. Full, partial, and auto cash-out serve different purposes. The feature is best used as a selective risk-management tool, not as a routine reflex. Over time, frequent cash-outs cost you more than they save. FAQs Is cash-out available on all bets placed with Nigerian sportsbooks? No. Cash-out availability depends on the operator, the sport, the specific market, and the match situation. Operators can suspend or remove cash-out at any time, particularly during high-volatility moments such as red cards, penalties, or VAR reviews. Does the operator lose money when I cash out at a profit? Rarely. The cash-out offer includes a margin, typically 5% to 15%, that ensures the bookmaker earns on the transaction regardless of the match outcome. Cash-out is a priced product, not a concession. Can I cash out a bet placed with bonus funds? This varies by operator. Bet9ja, for example, does not allow cash-out on bets placed with bonus funds. Always check the bonus terms and conditions on your sportsbook before assuming cash-out will be available. What is the difference between full and partial cash-out? Full cash-out closes the entire bet and settles it immediately. Partial cash-out lets you withdraw a portion of the offer while the rest of the bet continues to run. Both carry the operator's margin on the cashed-out amount. Should I always cash out when my bet is winning? Not always. If your bet has a high probability of landing, cashing out locks in a lower return than waiting for the full result. The decision should depend on how much risk remains, not on the impulse to see profit in your account. Is auto cash-out worth setting up? Auto cash-out is useful when you cannot monitor a bet in real time, for instance on an overnight fixture. Set a target you are comfortable with, and the system executes if the offer reaches that level. It removes emotion from the decision but still carries the operator's margin. Conclusion Cash-out is a genuinely useful feature when it is understood properly and used selectively. The key is knowing that every offer includes the operator's margin, and that frequent use of the button costs you more than it saves over time. Treat it as a risk-management option for specific situations, not a default action on every bet. Whether you are new to sports betting or looking to sharpen your approach, understanding how sportsbook features are priced puts you in a stronger position. Compare Nigeria's top-rated sportsbooks on betCompare to find the platform that matches your betting style, compare odds across operators, and make informed decisions before placing your next bet. 18+ only. Betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can comfortably afford to lose. Cash-out values are determined by the operator and include a margin that is not separately disclosed. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting advice. If gambling stops being enjoyable, please seek support from a qualified professional or your operator's responsible gambling tools.

Premier League Matchday 5 Hill Dickinson Stadium Everton vs Ipswich Town Saturday, 19 September 2026 · Kick-off: 15:00 WAT (15:00 BST) Live research active — team news, referee, form and head-to-head reflected in this analysis. Match context Two mid-table sides meet level on 6 points after four matches — Everton 8th, Ipswich 10th on goal difference. Everton are unbeaten under David Moyes (one win, three draws) and have been hard to break down, but they have scored just five league goals and drawn each of their last three. Ipswich, back up after one season in the Championship, have won two and lost two, and their games have been anything but quiet: their four league matches have produced 3, 7, 2 and 5 goals. They have conceded 10 already — joint second-most in the division. The pattern to weigh is a low-event Everton against a side whose matches keep filling up the scoresheet, with a top-half place before the September break the modest prize. Team news Everton Out Christian Norgaard — not expected back until after the September internationals Doubtful Merlin Röhl — fitness question, touch-and-go Expected XI: 4-2-3-1 — Pickford; Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Garner; B. Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall, George; Barry Ipswich Town Out Jack Taylor — long-term knee injury Watch Emersonn — in line to return after missing midweek Expected XI: 4-2-3-1 — Scherpen; O'Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Lukić, Palacios; Fatawu, Enciso, Clarke; Emersonn Neither absence moves the goals or result picture much: Everton's defensive spine is intact and Ipswich's front line is available, so the read rests on the wider pattern rather than any single name. Referee intelligence Referee Stuart Attwell Named for this fixture Classification High PL's strictest official in 2025/26 Cards confidence Medium Career rate nearer 3.3/game across all comps Implication Leans the card lines higher rather than lower. Form & head-to-head Everton — last 5 at home W 1–0 Wolves D 2–2 Man Utd W 2–0 Crystal Palace D 1–1 Lille L 1–3 Sunderland Unbeaten in competitive home games this season (Palace win, Man Utd draw, League Cup win over Wolves). The Lille draw was a friendly and the Sunderland loss came at the end of last season. Everton's four league games have averaged 2.0 goals. Ipswich Town — last 5 away W 3–2 Crystal Palace L 2–5 Man Utd W 4–2 Union Berlin W 2–1 Wycombe L 0–2 Oxford Utd Only two are competitive league trips — a 3–2 win at Palace and a 2–5 loss at Manchester United; the other three were pre-season friendlies. Both league trips were high-scoring, and Ipswich have conceded 10 across four league games. H2H — Everton at home (primary dataset) Date Home Score Away BTTS Goals 03.05.25 Everton 2–2 Ipswich Yes 4 02.02.02 Everton 1–2 Ipswich Yes 3 30.09.00 Everton 0–0 Ipswich No 0 23.01.99 Everton 1–0 Ipswich No 1 31.12.94 Everton 4–1 Ipswich Yes 5 Recency matters here: only the May 2025 meeting is recent, and it finished 2–2. The rest date back to 2002 and earlier, so they carry little predictive weight — but they are a reminder that Ipswich have taken points on this ground before, including a 1–2 win. Across all venues the last shared season (2024/25) split Everton's way: a 2–0 win at Portman Road and the 2–2 draw at home. Home BTTS rate: 60% (3 of 5) Avg goals: 2.6/game Over 2.5 rate: 60% Everton home: W2 D2 L1 Market probability table — key markets Market Outcome Verdict Odds My Assessment Match result Everton win No edge 1.81 55% Draw No edge 4.00 25% Ipswich win Avoid 4.60 19% Double chance Everton or draw Solid Pick 1.22 80% Draw no bet Everton Speculative 1.34 74% Total goals 1.5 Over 1.5 Solid Pick 1.23 79% Total goals 2.5 Under 2.5 Speculative 2.15 50% Over 2.5 Avoid 1.73 50% Total goals 3.5 Under 3.5 Speculative 1.47 70% Both teams to score No No edge 2.15 46% Yes Avoid 1.72 54% Home clean sheet Yes No edge 2.65 37% Total bookings 3.5 Over 3.5 Speculative 1.52 62% Free game-week tips Get the bets most likely to win — free. Every game week — our strongest picks and the reason behind each one, straight to your inbox. No fake promises. Show me the best bets Free. Unsubscribe anytime. 18+. Bet responsibly. Betting tips 🟡 Speculative 🟡 Speculative Total goals — Under 2.5 Odds 2.15 Everton's own league games have been low (2.0 goals a game, three of four under 2.5), and Moyes' side is compact at home. The catch is Ipswich: their four league games have produced 3, 7, 2 and 5 goals. So the under is a lean rather than a strong edge — our read is about 50% against a fair line near 45%. Speculative because the two sides pull in opposite directions on goals — Everton low, Ipswich high. Value gap: +5.4% Confidence: Low 🟡 Speculative Total bookings — Over 3.5 Odds 1.52 Stuart Attwell was the Premier League's strictest official across 2025/26 on a per-game basis, and this is a physical mid-table meeting with a promoted side under pressure. Over 3.5 total cards is a small edge on the referee profile — around 62% against a fair line near 60%. Speculative because it rests on the referee tendency rather than team card data, and one lenient afternoon undoes it. Value gap: +2.3% Confidence: Low 🎯 Solid Pick 🎯 Solid Pick Total goals — Over 1.5 Odds 1.23 Our assessment puts at-least-two-goals at around 79% — a high-confidence outcome. Every one of Ipswich's league games has had 2+ goals, three of Everton's four did too, and the recent meetings on this ground have mostly gone past 1.5. Priced close to fair at 1.23, so no real edge — but a steady leg for a weekend acca. Value gap: +0.8% Confidence: High Reliable accumulator leg 🎯 Solid Pick Double chance — Everton or draw Odds 1.22 Our assessment puts Everton-or-draw at around 80%. The Toffees are unbeaten in the league and haven't lost a competitive home game this season, while Ipswich have already been beaten twice. Priced close to fair at 1.22, so no mathematical edge — but a dependable anchor for a slip. Value gap: +1.3% Confidence: High Reliable accumulator leg ⚪ No Edge These markets were assessed and found fairly priced — no meaningful edge: Everton win @ 1.81 Fair for a favourite who has drawn three of four Draw @ 4.00 Live given Everton's draw run, but priced right Both teams to score — No @ 2.15 Everton solid, but Ipswich score in most games Home clean sheet — Yes @ 2.65 Ipswich carry goals; priced about right ⛔ Avoid Overpriced at current odds — we'd skip these: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.73 Everton's low league totals make this line too short Both teams to score — Yes @ 1.72 Everton's home solidity cuts against it Ipswich win @ 4.60 Beaten twice already; a stretch away at Everton Before you go Get free football tips by email. Every game week — our best picks and the reason behind each one, by email. Get free tips Free. Unsubscribe anytime. 18+. Bet responsibly. Accumulator builder notes Steady legs — pick one, don't stack This game has no standout value bet, but two dependable legs for a slip: Over 1.5 goals (1.23) and Everton or draw (1.22). Both come from the same match, so they are correlated — take one for your acca, not both as separate legs. Equivalent markets The result markets all say the same thing: Everton or draw (1.22), Draw No Bet Everton (1.34) and Everton win (1.81) rise and fall together — only one belongs on a slip. On goals, Under 2.5 (2.15), Under 3.5 (1.47), Both Teams to Score No and Home Clean Sheet all lean the same low-scoring way, so take a single one if you fancy that side. Independent leg Over 3.5 total bookings (1.52) is the one pick uncorrelated with the goals and result angles — it rides the referee profile, so it can sit alongside a goals or result leg without doubling up. Conditional flags ⚠️ ✅ If the game follows Everton's cagey league pattern, the low-goals lean (Under 2.5) comes into play alongside the steady legs. ❌ If it follows Ipswich's high-scoring pattern — their league games have produced 3, 7, 2 and 5 goals — the under is the first thing to fall, while Over 1.5 only gets safer. ℹ️ The most recent meeting on this ground finished 2–2, and Ipswich have won here before (1–2 in 2002) — a Toffees home game against them is not a given shut-out. Analysis confidence Overall Medium Odds parsing High Live research Active Referee Named H2H data 5 home meetings Correlations 2 groups Odds parsed cleanly and live data returned form, injuries, referee and head-to-head, so the read is well grounded. Confidence sits at Medium because the two sides pull in opposite directions on goals — a low-event Everton against a high-scoring Ipswich — which leaves no strong value bet, only reliable acca legs and a couple of speculative leans. The five home meetings are mostly historical, with only the 2025 draw carrying recent weight. Responsible betting — This analysis is produced for informational and entertainment purposes only. All betting carries risk. Tips represent assessed value based on available data and are not guarantees of outcome. Please bet responsibly and within your means. If you feel your betting is becoming a problem, contact the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

Todd Boehly has stepped down as Chelsea chairman after selling his stake in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, which has now taken full control Boehly and director Mark Walter sold their shares in a deal that hands Clearlake complete ownership. Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss previously each held a 12.8% stake, while Clearlake owned 61.5%. The club confirmed Wyss will remain an important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group. Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, paid approaching £1 billion for the stakes, which represent about a quarter of the club. Club sources put Chelsea’s overall value at around £5 billion. Boehly has held the chairman role since 2022, when the consortium bought Chelsea for £2.3 billion from Roman Abramovich following UK government sanctions. He will leave the position as part of the transaction. In a statement on Thursday, Boehly said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chelsea chairman. I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans. I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club. I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.” Eghbali and Feliciano thanked Boehly for his “time and contribution” as chairman, adding that he “will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family.” They said their focus remains on investing in the club’s infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for supporters. A club statement confirmed there will be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy” following the deal. Boehly and Walter have also sold their shareholding in Chelsea’s partner club, French side Strasbourg. Talks within the ownership group began after a rift that first became apparent in 2024, with both sides previously exploring options to buy each other out. BBC Sport reported in August that Boehly and Walter were considering selling their stakes. Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea’s highest Premier League finish has been fourth in 2024-25, a season in which they also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. The club finished 10th last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as manager in the summer. The ownership period has been marked by high player turnover and a strategy focused on signing young players to long-term contracts. Plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge or move to a new stadium had at times created tension between Boehly’s camp and Clearlake. Walter, co-owner and chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, last month sold the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion. US federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are separately investigating companies in his business empire.

Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi holds up the trophy with teammates after his team defeated Mexico's Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, on September 16, 2026 Lionel Messi headed a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on Wednesday, beating Cruz Azul 2-0 in the annual clash between Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX champions. It was Inter Miami’s first Campeones Cup triumph and came thanks to the Argentine superstar’s 100th goal for the reigning MLS Cup winners. A late Messi corner was headed home by Casemiro to seal the win. Victory gave 39-year-old Messi his first trophy of the year, two months after the heartbreak of losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain with Argentina. After the game, Casemiro paid tribute to his illustrious teammate Messi. “We have to enjoy this because we don’t know how long we’ll have it. What he has done and continues to do for football is incredible… he remains the best. He proved it at the World Cup and continues to prove it in MLS,” the former Real Madrid midfielder said. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said Messi deserved to win a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or. “When you see him do things like this tonight, when you see him have the World Cup that he’s had… there is no one at 39 that’s doing that, and doing it at that level. So he deserves to be considered for the Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, he should win it,” said Beckham. Cruz Azul had the game’s first big chance, Jose Paradela’s shot saved at the near post by Miami goalkeeper Dayne St Clair. Miami’s opener came in the 24th minute. Though the goalscorer was no surprise, it was a rare Messi header that broke the deadlock. Luis Suarez crossed from the byline, and the 5-foot-7 Messi outjumped Willer Ditta with a diving header to give Miami the lead. Suarez nearly turned provider again in the 32nd minute. He received a sumptuous cross-field ball from Messi and scooped it up for German Berterame, whose dinked effort was cleared off the line. Early in the second half, Messi appeared to have scored his 101st Miami goal, racing through one-on-one from a Suarez through ball and placing his shot in off the post, but was ruled offside. Cruz Azul should have equalised in the 67th minute, but substitute Gabriel Fernandez’s glancing header hit the post, and Casemiro blocked the follow-up shot. A Messi corner gave Miami the two-goal cushion, finding Casemiro, who nodded the ball low to the far post in the 81st minute. St Clair denied Cruz Azul a late consolation, saving well from a Paradela free kick. The trophy came in new Inter Miami head coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez’s first game in charge. Argentine manager Gonzalez was appointed last month, but due to visa delays only took his first training sessions this week. The annual Campeones Cup pits the previous year’s MLS Cup winner against the winner of Mexico’s Campeon de Campeones. It was the eighth edition of the cup, which is always hosted by the MLS participant. Mexican teams had won the three most recent editions before Miami’s victory on Wednesday. Mexican giants Cruz Azul have still never won the Campeones Cup. They lost the 2021 final.

Raphinha continued his remarkable start to the season with a hat-trick as Barcelona put seven past Racing Santander to maintain their perfect record in La Liga The Brazil international has now scored 11 goals in all competitions, nine of them in the league to help Barca begin their title defence with six straight wins. Hansi Flick's side have begun the campaign in blistering form and have scored five or more in five of their seven matches in all competitions, amassing 33 goals in total. Joao Cancelo opened the scoring eight minutes in with a 20-yard curler at the Nou Camp and the hosts doubled their lead with a Raphinha penalty midway through the first half. Racing pulled one back through Maguette Gueye but Barca soon restored their two-goal advantage as Cancelo's long-range strike deflected in off Asier Villalibre, eventually being credited as an own goal. Raphinha's low strike made it four and it should have been five shortly after, but Lamine Yamal saw his penalty saved by Julen Agirrezabala on the stroke of half-time. Yassir Zabiri got Racing's second to reduce the deficit on 65 minutes but two minutes later Barca were awarded their third penalty of the night. Spot-kick duties were handed back to Raphinha and the captain put it away to complete his hat-trick. Yamal teed up substitute Gabriel Jesus to score the sixth and the Spain winger finally got his goal in the 89th minute to round off another emphatic win for the Catalan side.

Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in the most blockbuster tie of the fourth round while Premier League champions Arsenal are set for a trip to League Two’s Fleetwood Town Fleetwood progressed to the fourth round following a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Wednesday evening when Rhys Norrington-Davies scored a disastrous own goal and now have a premium tie against the Gunners to look forward to after a draw which set up some cracking fixtures. Liverpool welcoming Chelsea, now managed by Reds legend Xabi Alonso, to Anfield is the pick of the ties, with both sides surely targeting the Carabao Cup as a realistic trophy this season, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Everton will take on Newcastle in another exciting all-Premier League clash after the Toffees recorded a 1-0 victory over Championship side Wolves on Wednesday. Charly Alcaraz’s 80th-minute goal ensured the two leaders would head home happy, while another last-16 clash will see Fulham battle it out against London rivals Crystal Palace. Bournemouth will host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who are still searching for their best form but were boosted by a 3-1 win over Coventry in the third round, and Sunderland take on Brentford. There will be a League One side in the quarter-finals after the two remaining third-tier outfits, Bradford City and Peterborough United, drew each other in round four. And finally, Brighton – who came from two goals down to hand Manchester United a historic loss at Old Trafford – could be set for a return to Manchester to take on Man City but only if they defeat Norwich in the final third round fixture on Thursday evening. Ties to take place during the week commencing 26 October. Fourth round draw Fleetwood v Arsenal Manchester City or Norwich v Brighton Everton v Newcastle Sunderland v Brentford Liverpool v Chelsea Bradford v Peterborough Fulham v Crystal Palace Bournemouth v Aston Villa

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered his heaviest defeat since joining Al Nassr as Al Ain thrashed the Saudi Pro League champions 4-0 in their opening AFC Champions League Elite fixture in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday The defeat marked a nightmare return to Asia’s top club competition for Al Nassr, who were undone by a brace from Houssine Rahimi and further goals from his brother Soufiane Rahimi and Giorgos Giakoumakis. Houssine opened the scoring in the 25th minute after capitalising on Saad Al-Nasser’s under-hit back-pass before doubling Al Ain’s advantage in the 63rd minute. Soufiane then made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute, running onto Alejandro Romero’s through ball before firing into the bottom corner. Giakoumakis completed the rout five minutes from time after Soufiane turned provider, rolling the ball into the path of the Greek forward, who converted from close range. The result was Ronaldo’s heaviest defeat since his move to Al Nassr, according to reports following the match. The Portuguese forward, who started alongside new Al Nassr signing João Félix, was unable to prevent his side from suffering a comprehensive defeat. The loss also revived memories of Al Ain’s previous meeting with Al Nassr in the 2023/24 AFC Champions League. Al Ain eliminated Ronaldo’s side at the quarter-final stage after the tie ended 4-4 on aggregate, winning the decisive penalty shootout 3-1 in Riyadh. Al Ain’s Giakoumakis said his side had expected a difficult contest. “We knew it was going to be tough, we had to give it our all and I think we did that. We were really mature from the first to the last moment and we managed to score a good amount of goals and have a good victory,” he said. The defeat leaves Al Nassr without a point after the opening round of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite league phase, while Al Ain begin their campaign with three points. The expanded league phase features 16 teams, with the top eight advancing to the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are scheduled to be played in Saudi Arabia in March, April and May.

Real Madrid substitute Carlos Espi snatched his team a last-gasp 3-2 win at Elche on Tuesday to pull them level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga The striker, who already saved his team at Espanyol in their opening game with a late strike, tucked home at the back post in the 91st minute after Madrid threw away a two-goal lead. Espi, who Madrid signed this summer from Levante, has not started a game for the club but both of his goals have been vital for Jose Mourinho’s side. Madrid have five wins from six matches, level on points with champions Barca, who host Racing Santander on Wednesday. “Espi comes on with great motivation, (but) he has in front of him a player who is not a normal player. Playing with the two of them is not easy… with the changes I made late on, I risked everything, because a draw was not enough,” said Mourinho of Kylian Mbappe, who also scored for Madrid. Mourinho was unhappy with his team not extending their 2-0 lead and allowing Elche, now bottom of La Liga, to fight back. “There are games which seem to be over… which we’re not killing off, and after not killing them off they go from easy to being out of control,” added the veteran coach. Mourinho rested Jude Bellingham for the first time this season, bringing Arda Guler into the team in his place. Players from both teams wore T-shirts in support of residents from the city of Ceuta after the recent migration crisis in the Spanish territory in North Africa, although Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate rolled them halfway up, appearing to slightly obscure the message “we are all Ceutans”. Vinicius has been struggling for his best form this season and missed some presentable opportunities at the Martinez Valero stadium. The forward prodded wide after Guler set him up in the second minute, and he also sent another effort badly off-target from the edge of the box. Tete Morente threatened at the other end but Madrid were on top and took the lead midway through the first half. Guler curled a free-kick around the wall and against the post, with the ball hitting Elche goalkeeper Matias Dituro before it crossed the line, for an own goal. Madrid’s second came eight minutes later, created by record signing Yan Diomande, who registered his first assist for the club. Starting for the second time, the Ivorian winger crossed for Mbappe to slip past Dituro for his eighth goal of the season across all competitions. Mbappe collided with the goalkeeper and appeared to be hurt but soon recovered and was able to play on. The striker combined again with Diomande early in the second half but could only head the winger’s blasted cross high over the bar. Vinicius drilled wide before he was replaced, ending a frustrating evening for the Brazil international. Elche pulled one back through Abiel Osorio’s header from Lucas Cepeda’s cross, with the forward leaping high to nod past Thibaut Courtois. It struck fear into Los Blancos and Elche capitalised, equalising in the 83rd minute through Nino. The Spanish striker produced a fine low finish to pull his team level with the 15-time European champions. Mourinho threw on strikers Espi and Endrick to try and find a late winner, and he got what he was looking for. Espi made a run to the back post where Mbappe found him to knock in the late winner.

Argentina have named Lionel Messi in their squad for a friendly against Benin in October in a match which is set to be the forward's farewell to international football Messi announced his retirement from Argentina duty in August in the wake of his country's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and after saying he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge. The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina when they won the 2022 World Cup, said the decision to stop playing for La Albiceleste hurt him "deeply" but that he had "given it my all" and had "nothing left to give". Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who currently plays for Inter Miami, is Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances. "We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina," said Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia. River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which has an 85,000 capacity, will host the game against Benin. Argentina's 2022 World Cup winners have also been invited to the match, which Tapia said would be an "unforgettable" occasion. Argentina were ordered to play their next two home matches with 50% capacity, although one match of that sanction was suspended, for breaches of the Fifa disciplinary code during the World Cup. The punishment related to using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters. After defeating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final, several Argentina players held up a banner claiming Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory. As they play friendlies against Bolivia on 30 September in Cordoba and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on 3 October, it should mean the punishment will have been served before the Benin game. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes and team-mate Nahuel Molina are not expected to be available as they were given respective 10-game and seven-match suspensions for their part in on-field clashes following their country's defeat by Spain in the World Cup final.

Harry Kane scored his 150th goal for Bayern Munich to help the German champions narrowly defeat Bundesliga new boys Elversberg Bayern took the lead in the 26th minute when Ismael Saibari's low cross deflected off Kane into the path of Lennart Karl who tapped in at the back post. But Elversberg, who have already beaten Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia ⁠Moenchengladbach in their first Bundesliga season, equalised through Maurice Krattenmacher's superb curling effort which found the top corner from the edge of the box in the 61st minute. And Kane netted the winner, receiving the ball in the box and blasting a shot which beat Elversberg keeper Nicolas Kristof at his near post. It was Kane's 99th Bundesliga goal in his 97th appearance, and his first of the 2026-27 league campaign. It was also the Englishman's 150th goal in 153 matches in all competitions for Bayern since joining from Tottenham in August 2023. The 33-year-old is one of the favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded in London in October. Since the start of the 2023-24 campaign he has scored 10 more goals than any other player across Europe's 'big-five' leagues and has averaged a strike every 79 minutes. He reached 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 appearances, an all-time record, and is on track to be the quickest to 100 too, with the current record held by Dieter Muller who reached a century of goals in his 129th game. Bayern are fourth in the Bundesliga after two wins and one draw, while Elversberg, whose town has a population of just 13,000, are sixth.

Arsenal will contact refereeing body Pro Ref over the incident in which Ezri Konsa conceded a penalty in Saturday's win over Sunderland Konsa and Black Cats defender Dan Ballard were involved in a physical exchange inside the penalty area in which the Arsenal defender was adjudged to have fouled the Sunderland player for excessive holding. After the game Gunners manager Mikel Arteta criticised the decision, and it is understood the Premier League champions will hold talks with the professional referee's body for an explanation as to why the penalty was awarded. It is understood Arsenal are keen to avoid major refereeing decisions impacting on results and want clarity over how referee John Brooks came to his decision. Brooks initially awarded Sunderland the spot-kick on the field, and the decision was backed up by the video assistant referee (VAR). "The referee's call of penalty to Sunderland for a holding offence by Konsa on Ballard was checked and confirmed by VAR," read a statement published by the Premier League Match Centre. But after the game Arteta said: "This is not acceptable at this level. I watched it 20 times and I cannot find a way to understand how they think to give a penalty in that situation, or the way the VAR has to intervene. "So I don't know what to think. I'm sad that we have to discuss this after such a beautiful game, that at this level has the gravity of that. Because that changes the course of the season and it can cost you the championship. At this level, with all the work we put in, this cannot happen." Match of the Day pundits Ashley Williams and Thomas Frank both said Sunderland should not have been awarded a penalty, claiming that Arsenal should have had a free-kick. "I think he's got it completely wrong," said Williams. "It's almost like a perfect hip toss in judo [from Ballard]. In no way is it a penalty."

The Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref has admitted an "error of judgement" in awarding Erling Haaland's Manchester City winner against Manchester United As City celebrated a remarkable derby victory over Manchester United, there were questions as to whether Haaland's winning goal should have stood in a match fraught with controversy. The striker scored in the 60th minute at Old Trafford, turning home at the back post from Josko Gvardiol's cross before it was disallowed on the field for offside. Following intervention from the video assistant referee, the goal was awarded - the Norwegian ruled to have been played onside by Patrick Dorgu's boot. But there was debate as to whether the offside Enzo Fernandez, diving at the ball in a more central position than Haaland, was interfering with play. In a statement, Pro Ref said: "It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective. However, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review. "Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place." United defender Lisandro Martinez said it was an "injustice" while boss Michael Carrick said he was "confused" by the decision. The goal came after City had gone down to 10 men in the first half when Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at United captain Bruno Fernandes. Foden was dismissed by referee Michael Oliver on 23 minutes after kicking the midriff of Fernandes while he was on the turf. When Haaland's goal was ruled out as offside on the field, few questioned the decision as the City striker looked to have drifted beyond United's defensive line. The lines drawn by the VAR showed Haaland to be onside thanks to Dorgu's boot. But it was the positioning and involvement of Fernandez that left many pundits astounded and unsure if it was a legitimate goal. Gvardiol's cross took a slight deflection off the boot of Dorgu before finding its way to Haaland at the back post, while Fernandez was clearly attempting a diving header in the middle of the six-yard box but he did not touch the ball. Fernandez appeared to be in an offside position, ahead of Dorgu's boot, but VAR deemed it to be a legitimate goal as he did not touch the ball while United defender Martinez was also closing in. The Premier League Match Centre said on X: "VAR checked the referee's call of no goal for offside - and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded. The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball."

As he stepped up to the baseline, Alexander Zverev could be forgiven for letting his mind slip back to the last time he served for the US Open title Six years ago, the German top seed threw away a two-set lead in a devastating loss to Dominic Thiem, having served for the match in the fifth set. This time, instead of his own nerves, it was American Ben Shelton and the majority of the 24,000-strong crowd that stood in Zverev's way. But this was a different Zverev: a Grand Slam champion now, having won the French Open in June. Such was his focus that he did not initially realise he had sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 5-7 6-2 victory. After firing down another unstoppable serve to win the match, Zverev returned to the baseline ready to start the next point - only to be told by his team the match was over. "In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all. It's funny - tennis teachers always tell you to just play the next point and forget about the score. At that moment I forgot about the score and it helped me," Zverev said. As the realisation sunk in, the 29-year-old broke into a broad and slightly surprised smile before raising his arms above his head. It was a direct contrast to his defeat by Thiem in 2020, where a tearful Zverev said during the trophy presentation: "I wish one day I can bring the trophy home." Now, his wish has come true.

Paris Saint-Germain lead the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League standings after Matchday 1, but the holders have plenty of company at the top after a goal-filled opening round that saw 16 of the 36 clubs begin with victories PSG sit first on goal difference after their 6-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava, with Bayern Munich second after an identical five-goal advantage from their 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt. Barcelona and Manchester United complete the early top four after 5-1 and 4-0 victories over Feyenoord and Sabah respectively. Remarkably, 16 teams collected three points from their opening fixtures, while Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Fenerbahce and PSV Eindhoven are the four clubs in the middle of the table with one point after the two draws recorded on Matchday 1. The remaining 18 teams suffered defeats and will enter Matchday 2 searching for their first points of the league phase. The opening round also produced 69 goals in 18 matches — an average of 3.83 per game — making it the joint-highest scoring Matchday 1 in Champions League history and the second-highest scoring matchday overall, behind the 71 goals recorded on Matchday 3 last season. UEFA confirmed the 69-goal haul as a new Matchday 1 record. PSG produced the biggest win of the opening round, overwhelming Slovan Bratislava 6-1. Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick as the French champions began their campaign in emphatic fashion, putting them top of the standings with five goals separating them from Bayern. Bayern also made a statement, defeating Bodø/Glimt 5-0 to move into second place. The German giants trail PSG only on goals scored, with both clubs boasting a goal difference of plus five. Barcelona sit third after their 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, while Manchester United are fourth after their 4-0 win over Sabah. The four clubs are the only teams to have scored at least four goals while keeping a clean sheet in the opening round. One of the biggest talking points of Matchday 1 came from Como. The Italian newcomers, competing in the Champions League league phase for the first time, stunned RB Leipzig 4-1 and climbed into fifth place. Como are now the highest-ranked team outside the traditional European heavyweights, sitting above Sporting CP, Stuttgart and Manchester City. UEFA described the performance as a “masterclass in pace and precision” as Cesc Fàbregas’ side announced themselves on Europe’s biggest club stage. Sporting are sixth after beating Galatasaray 3-1, while Stuttgart are seventh following a 3-1 victory over Viking. Manchester City occupy eighth after their 2-0 away win against Porto. Aston Villa also made a winning return to the Champions League, defeating Club Brugge 3-2 in Belgium. The victory leaves Villa ninth, level on three points with Lens and Real Betis, who occupy the other two positions in the top 10. Lens came from behind to beat Slavia Prague 3-2, scoring the decisive goal in added time, while Real Betis defeated Lille by the same scoreline. Borussia Dortmund are 12th after edging Villarreal 3-2, with Liverpool 13th following their 2-1 comeback win over Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid are 14th after beating Inter Milan 2-1, while Arsenal sit 15th despite their 1-0 victory away to Napoli. AEK Athens complete the group of 16 winners in 16th place after their 1-0 victory over LASK. The positions demonstrate how tight the early table is: every one of those 16 clubs has three points, with goal difference separating them. Only two matches ended level in the opening round. Roma drew 1-1 away to Fenerbahce, while PSV Eindhoven were held to the same scoreline by Shakhtar Donetsk. Roma therefore occupy 17th place, followed by Shakhtar in 18th, with Fenerbahce 19th and PSV 20th. All four clubs have one point, but the goal difference keeps them below the 16 teams that won their opening games. The bottom half of the table contains the 18 clubs that lost their opening matches. Villarreal are 21st despite scoring twice in their 3-2 defeat to Dortmund, while Club Brugge, Lille and Slavia Prague occupy the next positions. Atletico Madrid and Inter are 25th and 26th respectively, followed by LASK and Napoli. Galatasaray are 29th after their 3-1 defeat to Sporting, with Viking, Porto and Leipzig also on zero points. Feyenoord, Sabah, Slovan Bratislava and Bodø/Glimt occupy the bottom four positions. Bodø/Glimt are bottom after their 5-0 defeat to Bayern, leaving them with a minus-five goal difference. The opening table also underlines how little one victory guarantees in the new 36-team league phase. Arsenal and Real Madrid both won but sit outside the top 10 because of their relatively narrow victories. Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Napoli puts them 15th, while Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter leaves them 14th. Liverpool are 13th despite beating Atletico 2-1, while Manchester City are eighth following their 2-0 win in Porto. The early standings therefore have an unusual look, with Como fifth and AEK Athens 16th among the 16 teams on three points, while several of Europe’s biggest clubs are already outside the leading positions. The second matchday is scheduled for October 13 and 14, giving the teams at the bottom an immediate opportunity to respond. Arsenal will host Lille, Manchester United travel to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona face Galatasaray away, Bayern Munich visit Viking and Manchester City host PSG. Liverpool travel to LASK, while Como visit Feyenoord. Other Matchday 2 fixtures include Inter Milan against Club Brugge, Leipzig against PSV, Villarreal against Napoli, Roma against Real Madrid, Aston Villa against Fenerbahce, Shakhtar Donetsk against AEK Athens and Borussia Dortmund’s trip to Bodø/Glimt. With only one game played, the table remains tightly packed, but Matchday 1 has already produced an early divide: 16 clubs have three points, two have one, and 18 are still waiting for their first point of the league phase. The next round will begin to show whether the early standings are merely a product of opening-day goal difference — or the first signs of a genuine hierarchy emerging in the 36-team Champions League.

Chelsea forward João Pedro has been named the EA Sports Premier League Player of the Month for August 2026 after making an impressive start to the new campaign The award is the Brazilian striker’s first Premier League Player of the Month honour and makes him the first Chelsea player to claim the prize since Cole Palmer won it in September 2024. In a post obtained from Chelsea’s website on Friday, Pedro beat Palmer and six other shortlisted players in the public vote to take home the award. The 2026/27 season began in spectacular fashion for the forward, who recorded four goal contributions in Chelsea’s opening two Premier League matches, helping the Blues secure victories in both games. Pedro opened his account just 33 seconds into Chelsea’s opening fixture against Fulham before setting up Palmer for the winning goal. He continued his fine form in Chelsea’s first home league match against Brighton & Hove Albion, finding the net with a composed finish before providing another assist for Palmer to seal the decisive goal. His two goals and two assists across the opening matches quickly established him as one of the standout performers at the start of the Premier League season. Those performances earned Pedro widespread support from fans around the world, with the public vote ultimately confirming him as August’s Player of the Month. The Brazilian forward was presented with his award at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground. It is a landmark individual achievement for João Pedro and another early highlight in what has been an impressive beginning to his Chelsea campaign.

Barcelona midfielder Rodri says he has apologised to the entire Valencia squad after television cameras appeared to catch him describing the La Liga strugglers as "very weak" Rodri reportedly made the comment to Barcelona team-mates Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha while sitting on the bench after being substituted during his side's 5-0 league win against Valencia on Sunday. The result at Mestella Stadium left Valencia bottom of the table with no wins in their first four matches. Though the footage has no audio, broadcaster Movistar claimed they lip-read the 30-year-old former Manchester City player saying: "They're really weak. They haven't got past the halfway line." Fans and sections of the Spanish media accused Rodri, who won the golden ball as Spain won the 2026 World Cup, of being disrespectful. "I apologised to my friend and colleague Jose Gaya [Spain defender and Valencia captain] and to the entire squad as well. I also want to make it clear that it was simply an expression of surprise - anyone watching the video can see that," Rodri said after Barcelona's 5-1 win against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday. "At no point did I intend to mock anyone or take a difficult moment for a team out of context. Quite the opposite - we all want Valencia to return to where it belongs in the league, it is one of the best clubs in the competition. I simply wanted to say that. I would also add that it was a private conversation; I think we should all learn a bit more from this, as things really do get taken out of context sometimes. But at no point did I mean any disrespect. My apologies to Valencia."

That was Coco Gauff's surprised reaction when she learned she was part of a US Open semi-final line-up that has not been seen in more than half a century For the first time since 1975, the top four seeds in the women's singles draw have reached the semi-finals at the New York major. Now, 51 years later, the stars have aligned once again with Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula and Gauff all surviving three-set thrillers to create a semi-final line-up for the ages. It is the first time the top-four ranked players have reached the women's semi-finals at any Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2009, and it hints at a shift away from the unpredictable landscape that has characterised the women's game in recent years. Since the start of 2020, there have been 13 different Grand Slam women's singles champions - compared to just seven on the men's side. Top seed and two-time defending champion Sabalenka will face American Pegula in Thursday's first semi-final (00:00 BST, Friday), while Rybakina - who will replace Sabalenka as the new world number one on Monday - takes on fourth seed Gauff afterwards. While Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three successive US Open titles, Pegula is the only player remaining in the women's draw still chasing a maiden Grand Slam. The pair need no introduction to each other, having faced each other 13 times. That includes the past two US Open tournaments, when Sabalenka denied Pegula a first major title in the 2024 final and fought back to win in last year's semi-finals. Pegula, who has got the better of Sabalenka on four occasions on the WTA Tour, said beating the four-time major winner at Grand Slam level is a "hurdle" she must overcome. Sabalenka, meanwhile, said she was "super excited" to face Pegula, who arrived in New York in better form after reaching the final in both Washington and Cincinnati. By reaching the semi-finals, second seed Rybakina will become the new world number one on Monday - ending Sabalenka's 99-week reign at the top. But the second seed has described the top ranking as "just a number" and stressed that her focus remains focused on winning her third Grand Slam title. Standing in her way, however, is Gauff, who will have the home crowd's backing on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 22-year-old American, who won the Flushing Meadows title in 2023 but suffered fourth-round exits in the following two years, said she has a different perspective to this year's tournament. Gauff leads the head-to-head 2-1, but Australian Open champion Rybakina fought back from a set down to triumph in last month's Canadian Open semi-finals.

France Football has announced the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in men’s football, with Paris Saint-Germain leading the club race on the shortlist The nominees were announced on Tuesday, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London on October 26. The shortlist features leading players from across world football following a demanding season that included major competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup. PSG, who won the most recent Champions League, account for a third of the nominees, making them the most represented club on the shortlist. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona follow with four nominees each, while Arsenal have three. Manchester City have two nominees, while Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Al-Nassr, Al-Qadsiah and Inter Miami have one each. Clubs with the most nominees Paris Saint-Germain — 10 Bayern Munich — 4 Real Madrid — 4 Barcelona — 4 Arsenal — 3 Manchester City — 2 Chelsea — 1 Manchester United — 1 Inter Milan — 1 Al-Nassr — 1 Al-Qadsiah — 1 Inter Miami — 1 The organisers noted that players who changed clubs during the period under review, including Ferran Torres, Marc Cucurella and Rodri, are credited to both clubs because they represented each during the period. The winner will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.

Introduction Getting money into your betting account should be the simplest part of the experience, not the most frustrating. Whether you are opening your first sportsbook account or switching to a faster deposit method, this guide walks you through every major option available to Nigerian bettors in 2026. You will learn what each method costs, how fast it lands, and which common mistakes to avoid before you stake a single naira. Table of Contents Why Your Deposit Method Matters What You Need Before Your First Deposit The General Deposit Process Depositing with Opay Depositing with Palmpay Depositing via Bank Transfer Depositing via USSD Without Internet Depositing with a Debit Card Deposit Fees and Limits Compared Common Deposit Mistakes to Avoid betCompare Insight FAQs Conclusion Why Your Deposit Method Matters Not all deposit routes are equal. Choosing the wrong one can mean paying unnecessary fees, waiting longer than you need to, or running into failed transactions on matchday when you need your balance topped up quickly. The right method depends on your situation. If you are always on your phone and want zero fees, Opay or Palmpay will serve you best. If your data runs out regularly or you prefer not to use a banking app, USSD works without an internet connection. If you are making a larger deposit, bank transfer is the most reliable route. Speed, cost, and convenience are the three factors worth weighing. The comparison table later in this guide breaks down all five major methods side by side so you can compare odds and operators with your deposit preferences in mind. What You Need Before Your First Deposit Before you fund any betting account, make sure you have the following in place. A registered account on a licensed Nigerian sportsbook. Every operator you deposit with should hold a valid state licence, such as one issued by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) or the equivalent body in your state. You can compare the top licensed operators on betcompare.ng to find one that suits your needs. A phone number linked to your bank account or mobile wallet. Most deposit methods, including USSD and Opay, require the phone number registered with your bank or wallet. Your betting account ID or username. Operators like Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing use your account ID to route deposits. Have it ready before you start. A funded bank account or mobile wallet. Ensure your Opay, Palmpay, or bank balance covers the deposit amount plus any potential transaction fee. KYC documents for when you withdraw. You do not usually need to complete identity verification to deposit, but you will need a valid ID (NIN slip, voter's card, driver's licence, or international passport) and your BVN to make your first withdrawal. Complete this step early to avoid delays when you win. The General Deposit Process Regardless of the method you choose, the steps follow the same pattern across most Nigerian sportsbooks. Log in to your betting account on the operator's website or app. Navigate to the deposit or cashier section, usually labelled "Deposit" or "My Account." Select your preferred payment method from the options displayed. Enter the amount you wish to deposit. Follow the specific instructions for your chosen method (detailed below). Confirm the transaction using your PIN, OTP, or wallet authentication. Wait for the deposit to reflect in your betting balance. Most methods credit instantly or within a few minutes. If a deposit does not appear within 15 minutes, check your bank statement or wallet history to confirm the money left your account. If it did, contact the operator's support team with your transaction reference. Depositing with Opay Opay is the most popular deposit method among Nigerian bettors for good reason: it is instant, it works around the clock, and most operators charge zero fees on Opay deposits. To deposit via Opay, open your Opay app and tap "Betting" or "Pay Bills" from the home screen. Select your operator (Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, and most other licensed sportsbooks appear in the list). Enter your betting account ID, input the amount you want to deposit, and confirm with your Opay transaction PIN. The minimum deposit via Opay is ₦100 on most platforms. The maximum per transaction typically sits at ₦100,000 to ₦500,000, depending on the operator. Your balance usually updates within seconds. Pro tip: If you keep your betting funds in Opay rather than your main bank account, you create a natural separation between your entertainment budget and your everyday spending. Na small discipline like that go save you wahala in the long run. Depositing with Palmpay Palmpay works almost identically to Opay and has grown rapidly among younger bettors who use it as their primary financial app. Open your Palmpay app and navigate to the betting or bills section. Select your operator from the biller list, enter your betting account ID and deposit amount, then confirm with your transaction PIN. Deposits are instant and free of charge from the operator's side. Palmpay supports a minimum deposit of ₦100 and a maximum of ₦500,000 per transaction on most sportsbooks. If your operator does not appear in the Palmpay biller list, you can use the "Transfer to Bank" option and send funds to the operator's designated bank account instead. Depositing via Bank Transfer Bank transfer remains the most widely accepted deposit method across all Nigerian sportsbooks. It works with any commercial bank: GTBank, Zenith, Access, First Bank, UBA, Fidelity, Stanbic IBTC, and others. Most operators generate a unique virtual account number for each deposit session. Log in to your betting account, select "Bank Transfer" as the deposit method, and copy the virtual account number displayed. Open your banking app, initiate a transfer to that account number, enter the deposit amount, and confirm. Deposits via bank transfer typically reflect within one to five minutes during standard banking hours. During peak periods or late at night, allow up to 30 minutes. Your bank may charge a standard transfer fee of ₦50 to ₦100. Important: Virtual account numbers often expire within 30 minutes. Complete the transfer promptly after generating the number. If it expires, return to the cashier and generate a fresh one. Depositing via USSD Without Internet USSD is the best option when your data runs out on matchday or you are in an area with weak internet coverage. It works on any phone, including basic feature phones, because it operates over the mobile network rather than data. The process varies slightly by bank. Here are the common USSD codes for the largest Nigerian banks: Bank USSD Code How It Works GTBank *737# Dial, select "Transfer," enter the operator's virtual account number and amount Zenith Bank *966# Dial, follow prompts for merchant payment or transfer Access Bank *901# Dial, select "Pay Bills" or "Transfer" First Bank *894# Dial, select "Pay Merchant," choose the operator UBA *919# Dial, follow Magic Banking prompts Most banks charge ₦20 plus VAT per USSD transaction. The minimum deposit is ₦100, and the maximum is typically ₦200,000, though this varies by bank. USSD deposits usually credit within one to five minutes. Pro tip: Set your bank's USSD transfer PIN once and keep it separate from your ATM PIN. USSD sessions timeout after about three minutes of inactivity, so have your operator's account number ready before you dial. Depositing with a Debit Card Debit card deposits work through payment gateways such as Webpay, Flutterwave, or Paystack, which are integrated into most Nigerian sportsbooks. Verve, Mastercard, and Visa cards issued by Nigerian banks are accepted. Select "Card" or "Debit Card" from the deposit options, enter your card details (number, expiry, CVV), and authenticate using the OTP sent to your registered phone number. The deposit processes instantly. Card deposits typically start from ₦100, with a maximum of ₦500,000 per transaction. Some gateway providers charge a processing fee of ₦100 to ₦500 depending on the amount. Additionally, some Nigerian bank-issued cards may flag transactions to betting operators as international payments, which can trigger a temporary hold. If this happens, contact your bank to authorise the transaction. Deposit Fees and Limits Compared This table summarises the key differences across the five main deposit methods used by Nigerian bettors in 2026. Method Typical Fee Minimum Deposit Maximum Deposit Speed Internet Required? Opay Free ₦100 ₦100,000–₦500,000 Instant Yes Palmpay Free ₦100 ₦500,000 Instant Yes Bank Transfer ₦50–₦100 ₦100 ₦500,000+ 1–30 minutes Yes USSD ₦20 + VAT ₦100 ₦200,000 1–5 minutes No Debit Card ₦100–₦500 ₦100 ₦500,000 Instant Yes Fees shown are indicative and may vary by bank, wallet provider, or operator. Always check the specific charges on your platform before confirming. Common Deposit Mistakes to Avoid Entering the wrong account ID. This is the single most common deposit error. Double-check your betting account ID or username before confirming any transaction. Deposits sent to the wrong ID cannot be automatically reversed and require manual intervention from the operator's support team. Using an expired virtual account number. Bank transfer deposits rely on a virtual account number that typically expires within 30 minutes. If you generate a number and then get distracted, go back and generate a fresh one before transferring. Depositing from a third-party account. Most operators require the depositing account name to match your registered betting account name. Depositing from a friend's bank account or an Opay wallet in someone else's name can lead to frozen funds or failed withdrawals later. Skipping KYC verification. You can deposit without completing identity verification on most platforms, but you cannot withdraw without it. Submit your NIN, BVN, and valid ID as soon as you register. Completing this step early means your first withdrawal processes smoothly instead of being held up for 24 to 72 hours while documents are reviewed. Not setting a deposit budget. Before your first deposit, decide on a weekly or monthly entertainment budget you can comfortably afford. Licensed Nigerian sportsbooks offer in-app deposit limit tools. Use them from day one. betCompare Insight If you are placing your first deposit on a Nigerian betting site, the process is simpler than most beginner guides make it sound. Start with Opay or Palmpay, deposit a modest amount (₦2,000 to ₦5,000 is plenty for your first session), and focus on understanding how the platform works before increasing your stakes. The biggest mistake new bettors make is not completing KYC verification upfront, which means their first win sits locked in the account until documents are approved. Our fastest payout betting sites guide covers which operators process withdrawals quickest once you are verified. For bettors who do everything from their phone, the deposit method you choose directly affects how quickly you can react on matchday. Opay and Palmpay are the fastest, cheapest routes, and both let you compare odds and fund your account without switching between multiple apps. If you are regularly in areas with poor network coverage, save your bank's USSD code in your contacts as a reliable backup. Keeping your betting funds in a separate Opay or Palmpay wallet, rather than your main bank account, is also a practical way to stick to the entertainment budget you have set for yourself. FAQs What is the minimum deposit on most Nigerian betting sites? The minimum deposit is ₦100 on most major platforms, including Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing. BetPawa accepts deposits from as low as ₦1. The minimum applies across Opay, Palmpay, bank transfer, and USSD methods. Do I need to verify my identity before I can deposit? No. Most Nigerian sportsbooks allow you to deposit and place bets before completing KYC verification. However, you will need to verify your identity (NIN, BVN, and a valid ID) before you can make your first withdrawal. Which deposit method is the fastest? Opay and Palmpay are the fastest, crediting your betting balance within seconds. Debit card deposits are also instant. Bank transfers take one to five minutes on average, and USSD deposits typically reflect within one to five minutes. Are there fees for depositing on Nigerian betting sites? Most operators do not charge deposit fees themselves. However, your payment provider may apply charges. Opay and Palmpay are generally free. Bank transfers cost ₦50 to ₦100 depending on your bank. USSD transactions typically incur a ₦20 plus VAT fee. Card payments may attract gateway fees of ₦100 to ₦500. Can I deposit using someone else's bank account or wallet? This is not recommended. Most operators require the depositing account name to match your registered betting profile. Mismatched names can lead to frozen funds or complications when you try to withdraw. What should I do if my deposit does not reflect? First, check your bank statement or wallet to confirm the payment was debited. If it was, wait 15 to 30 minutes, as bank-side delays are common during peak hours. If the deposit still does not appear, contact the operator's customer support with your transaction reference number and a screenshot of the debit confirmation. Can I deposit via USSD if I have no internet? Yes. USSD deposits work over the mobile network and do not require data or Wi-Fi. Dial your bank's USSD code (*737# for GTBank, *966# for Zenith, *901# for Access, *894# for First Bank, *919# for UBA) and follow the prompts to transfer funds to your betting account. Is cryptocurrency accepted for deposits on Nigerian betting sites? Some operators, including Bet9ja, 22Bet, and BetWinner, accept USDT and other cryptocurrency deposits. The process differs from naira methods. Our step-by-step cryptocurrency betting guide explains exactly how it works. Conclusion Depositing on a Nigerian betting site in 2026 is straightforward once you know which method fits your situation. Opay and Palmpay offer the best combination of speed and zero fees for most bettors. Bank transfer handles larger amounts reliably. USSD keeps you covered when data is unavailable. Whichever method you choose, the key is to set your entertainment budget before your first deposit and complete your KYC verification early. If you are still deciding which platform to use, our comparison of the best betting sites in Nigeria evaluates operators on payment flexibility, payout speed, and overall reliability, helping you find the right fit before you deposit. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Most Nigerian bettors pick one sportsbook and stick with it. That habit costs money on every single bet. This guide is for anyone who wants to learn how to compare odds across Nigerian betting sites, understand why small pricing differences matter, and build a simple routine that improves long-term returns without changing anything else about how they bet. Table of Contents What Odds Comparison Means and Why It Matters What You Will Need Before You Start How to Compare Odds Step by Step A Worked Example: What the Numbers Look Like in Naira Common Mistakes to Avoid Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Odds Comparison Means and Why It Matters Odds comparison is the practice of checking the same market across multiple bookmakers before placing a bet. Two operators might both offer a match between Enyimba and Rangers, but one prices an Enyimba win at 1.85 while the other offers 2.00. On a ₦5,000 stake, that difference is ₦750 in potential return from the same outcome. This is not about finding "sure wins" or beating the system. It is about getting the best available price for a selection you have already decided to back. The concept is simple: Nigerian sportsbooks set their own prices, and those prices differ because each operator applies its own margin to every market. The margin, sometimes called the overround, is the bookmaker's built-in pricing edge. In a perfectly fair two-outcome market, the implied probabilities would add up to exactly 100%. In reality, they add up to more, typically between 104% and 110% on Nigerian sportsbooks depending on the market and operator. The difference above 100% is the operator's margin: the higher the margin, the worse the value for the bettor. On popular Premier League and Champions League fixtures, margins tend to be tighter because competition between operators is fiercer. On NPFL matches, lower-division leagues, and niche markets, margins are usually wider. Knowing this matters because it tells you where odds comparison delivers the most value: every market, every time, but especially on less mainstream fixtures. If you are new to betting in Nigeria and want to understand the fundamentals before diving into odds comparison, our beginner's guide to sports betting covers how odds, stakes, and returns work in plain language. What You Will Need Before You Start Before you can compare odds effectively, you need a few things in place. You will need accounts with at least two licensed Nigerian sportsbooks. Three is better. The operators most commonly used for odds comparison in Nigeria include Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, 1xBet, Betway, and 22Bet. Each must hold a valid state licence, typically from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) or the equivalent authority in another state. Following the Supreme Court ruling of 22 November 2024, gambling regulation in Nigeria falls under state, not federal, jurisdiction, so a valid state licence is what matters. You can review the full list of licensed Nigerian operators on our best betting sites page. You will need completed KYC verification on each account. This means submitting your BVN, NIN, or a government-issued ID. Completing verification before you need to withdraw prevents first-payout delays later, a common frustration for bettors who only realise after a winning bet. You will need funded accounts. At minimum, keep enough to place a small stake at whichever operator has the best price. Many bettors maintain modest balances, typically ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, across two or three accounts to stay flexible. You will need access to an odds comparison tool. Checking each operator's app individually works, but it is slow and easy to miss differences. Our football odds comparison page shows prices from major Nigerian operators side by side in real time, so you can compare odds in seconds. You will need a basic understanding of decimal odds, which is the standard format across all Nigerian sportsbooks. Decimal odds of 2.50 mean a ₦1,000 stake returns ₦2,500 (₦1,500 profit). The implied probability is calculated as 1 divided by the odds: 1 ÷ 2.50 = 0.40, or 40% before the operator's margin is factored in. How to Compare Odds Step by Step Step 1: Decide on your selection first. Odds comparison comes after your research, not before it. Decide which match and market you want to bet on based on your own analysis. Do not let a high price on one operator's site drive a selection you would not otherwise make. Our football tips and match previews can support your research, but remember that no outcome is guaranteed. Step 2: Check the same market across multiple operators. Open the match on at least two sportsbooks. Look at the same market type, whether that is 1X2, Over/Under 2.5 Goals, or Both Teams to Score, and compare the decimal odds. Alternatively, use betcompare.ng to see all prices on one screen without switching between apps. Step 3: Calculate the implied probability for each price. For a quick sense of what the operator thinks about the outcome, use the formula: implied probability = 1 ÷ decimal odds × 100. If Bet9ja offers 2.10 on a home win (implied probability 47.6%) and SportyBet offers 2.25 on the same selection (implied probability 44.4%), the higher odds give you better value on the identical outcome. Step 4: Check the overall market margin. To calculate the margin on a three-way market (home, draw, away), convert each price to its implied probability and add the three together. For example: 2.10 (47.6%) + 3.40 (29.4%) + 3.50 (28.6%) = 105.6%. The margin is 5.6%. A lower total means tighter pricing and better value for bettors. On Nigerian sportsbooks, margins typically range from about 5% to 10% on popular football matches, though some operators push higher on less liquid markets. Step 5: Place your bet at the operator with the best price. Once you have identified the best odds for your chosen market, place the bet there. This is the entire point of the exercise: the same selection, the same stake, a better return if the bet wins. Step 6: Record the bet. Keep a simple record of the match, market, odds taken, operator, stake, and result. Over time, this log reveals which operators consistently offer the best prices on the markets you bet on most. A basic spreadsheet or even a notebook will do. Step 7: Repeat before every bet. The operator with the best odds changes from match to match and market to market. There is no single "best odds" sportsbook for every situation. The habit of checking is what generates value across hundreds of bets. A Worked Example: What the Numbers Look Like in Naira Suppose you want to back the Super Eagles to win at odds of 1.85 on Operator A, but Operator B offers the same selection at 2.00. You have a ₦5,000 stake. On Operator A at 1.85: potential return is ₦9,250 (profit of ₦4,250). On Operator B at 2.00: potential return is ₦10,000 (profit of ₦5,000). The difference on a single bet is ₦750. That may not sound dramatic on its own. But if you place 100 bets over the course of a year with an average price improvement of just 0.10 in decimal odds, the cumulative difference across ₦5,000 stakes adds up to ₦50,000 in additional potential returns. That is not beans, especially when all it costs is a couple of extra minutes per bet. This example is illustrative. It assumes the bet wins, which the majority of bets will not over time. The bookmaker's margin still favours the operator in the long run. Odds comparison does not eliminate that edge. It simply reduces it. If you want to explore the promotions and welcome offers currently available across operators while you set up your comparison accounts, our promos page breaks down each offer alongside its wagering requirements, minimum odds, and expiry. Always read the full terms before claiming any bonus. Common Mistakes to Avoid Chasing the highest odds without doing research first. Higher odds reflect a lower probability, not a better opportunity. If every operator prices an outcome at 1.50 but one offers 2.50, that outlier is most likely a pricing error, a different market, or a sign that something is off. Always verify you are comparing the same market and the same selection. Sticking to one operator out of habit. Brand loyalty costs money in betting. No single Nigerian sportsbook offers the best odds on every market. A value-focused bettor holds accounts at two or three licensed operators and places each selection where the price is best. Ignoring the margin on accumulator bets. The operator's margin compounds across each leg of a multi-bet slip. A 5% margin on a single becomes roughly 10% on a double, and it grows from there. If you regularly build accumulators, comparing odds on each individual leg before constructing the slip can noticeably reduce the total margin you pay. For upcoming fixtures, you can compare prices match by match on our World Cup odds page or the Premier League odds page. Comparing odds at kick-off rather than before. Pre-match odds are the most stable and easiest to compare. Once a match goes live, odds move rapidly and different operators update at different speeds. Live odds comparison is possible but much harder to act on consistently. Forgetting about withdrawal reliability. The best odds mean nothing if you cannot get your winnings out. Before depositing with any operator, verify their current withdrawal speed and reliability. Check that the payment methods you rely on, whether bank transfer, Opay, Palmpay, or USSD, are supported and working smoothly. betCompare Insight For the value-conscious bettor who already tracks closing lines and holds accounts across multiple operators, consistent odds comparison is the single highest-impact habit available. Even a modest average improvement of 0.05 to 0.10 in decimal odds per selection compounds into meaningful savings across a year of structured betting. Our odds comparison tool shows real-time prices from all major Nigerian sportsbooks on one screen, so you can identify the best price in seconds and place your bet where the value sits, not where habit takes you. If you are just getting started and the idea of managing multiple operator accounts feels overwhelming, start small. Open a second account with a licensed Nigerian sportsbook alongside the one you already use, verify your identity early, and begin checking both prices before your next Premier League or NPFL bet. You will not get the best price on every single selection, but even catching the better line on one in three bets puts you ahead of where you would be betting with a single operator. Our best betting sites comparison can help you decide which second or third operator suits your needs, and the insights section covers a growing library of guides to sharpen every other part of your approach. Frequently Asked Questions What does it mean to compare odds? Comparing odds means checking the price for the same bet across two or more sportsbooks before placing your stake. The goal is to take the highest available price, which increases your potential return on the same outcome without any additional risk. Why do different Nigerian sportsbooks offer different odds on the same match? Each operator sets its own prices based on its risk models, margin targets, and the betting patterns of its customers. The differences are usually small on popular markets such as Premier League or Champions League fixtures but can be significant on NPFL matches and lower-tier leagues. How much of a difference does odds comparison actually make? On a single bet, the difference might be ₦200 to ₦1,000 depending on your stake and the price gap. Over hundreds of bets across a year, those differences can add up to tens of thousands of naira in additional potential returns, assuming comparable win rates. Is it legal to hold accounts with multiple betting operators in Nigeria? Yes. There is no law preventing you from holding accounts with multiple licensed operators. In fact, it is standard practice among bettors who want to compare odds and access different promotions. Each operator must be licensed by a recognised state authority such as the LSLGA. What is the bookmaker's margin and how does it affect my returns? The margin is the built-in pricing advantage that allows the operator to profit regardless of the match result. It is reflected in odds whose implied probabilities add up to more than 100%. A margin of 6% means roughly ₦6 of every ₦100 staked is retained by the operator over the long run. Lower margins mean better value for the bettor. Do I need a special tool to compare odds, or can I do it manually? You can check each operator's app or website individually, but this is slow and easy to get wrong. An odds comparison tool like the one on betcompare.ng displays prices from all major Nigerian sportsbooks side by side, saving time and reducing the chance of error. Does comparing odds work for accumulator bets too? Yes, and it is arguably even more important. Because the operator's margin compounds across each leg of an accumulator, comparing odds on individual selections before building your slip can substantially reduce the total margin you pay. Small improvements on each leg multiply through the accumulator. Conclusion Learning to compare odds across Nigerian betting sites is one of the simplest improvements any bettor can make. It requires no specialist knowledge, no complex strategy, and no additional spending. All it takes is a few extra minutes before each bet, a second or third operator account, and the discipline to place your stake where the price is best rather than where the app is already open. The habit of comparing before you bet is what separates structured bettors from those who quietly give away value on every selection. Our football odds page and match prediction tips are designed to make that comparison as quick and straightforward as possible, whether you are checking prices on a Saturday NPFL fixture or a midweek Champions League clash. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Best Betting Welcome Bonuses in Nigeria (2026) Introduction Nigerian sportsbooks are competing harder than ever for new customers, and welcome bonuses remain the sharpest tool in their arsenal. The question is not which headline figure looks biggest, but which offer actually puts usable value into your account once the wagering requirements are met. We ranked the seven most prominent welcome bonuses available to Nigerian bettors in 2026, scoring each on real post-wagering value, fairness of terms, and accessibility for the average bettor. If you are still choosing a platform, our best betting sites in Nigeria comparison covers the full picture beyond bonuses alone. Table of Contents Why This Ranking Matters Our Methodology Detailed Rankings Decision Framework: How to Choose Real-World Scenarios Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Conclusion Why This Ranking Matters A welcome bonus headline of "300% up to ₦600,000" sounds transformative. In reality, that figure is meaningless without the wagering requirement, minimum qualifying odds, eligible markets, and expiry window sitting right beside it. A ₦50,000 bonus with a 5x rollover at odds of 1.40 can be worth more to a casual football bettor than a ₦200,000 bonus requiring 10x turnover at odds of 3.00, because the second offer demands far more risk to unlock. Nigerian bettors deserve to compare odds and compare bonuses on equal terms. That is what this ranking does: it strips away the marketing headline and evaluates what each offer is actually worth once the small print is applied. If you are brand new to betting and need to understand the mechanics first, our beginner's guide to sports betting in Nigeria breaks down how odds, stakes, and returns work before you commit any money. Our Methodology We evaluated each welcome bonus using publicly available operator terms, third-party review data, and where possible, the operator's own help and promotions pages. Criteria and weights: Post-Wagering Real Value (30%): The effective value of the bonus after accounting for the rollover multiple, minimum odds, and market restrictions. Lower wagering at lower minimum odds scores highest. Wagering Fairness (25%): The rollover multiple, minimum qualifying odds, eligible bet types, and whether voided or cashed-out bets count. A 5x rollover at 1.40 odds is materially fairer than 10x at 3.00. Accessibility (20%): Minimum deposit required, simplicity of claiming, and whether the process works smoothly on mobile for bettors using metered data. Expiry Window (15%): How long you have to clear the wagering. Seven days is tight for a casual bettor; thirty days is reasonable. Licensing and Trust (10%): Valid Nigerian state licence (LSLGA or equivalent) confirmed, and the operator's track record on honouring bonus payouts. All operators listed hold a valid Nigerian state licence and/or NLRC licence as of the date of writing. Weights total 100%. Detailed Rankings 1. 22Bet Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 100% first deposit match up to ₦207,500 Minimum deposit ₦1,700 Wagering requirement 5x bonus amount on accumulator bets (3+ selections, min odds 1.40 per leg) Expiry 7 days Licence NLRC-licensed; operates in Nigeria Why It Ranks Here: The 5x wagering requirement at minimum odds of 1.40 per selection is the lowest effective threshold of any major Nigerian sportsbook welcome bonus. Building a three-leg accumulator with each selection at 1.40 or above is realistic on most Premier League or NPFL matchdays. The ₦207,500 cap is also among the highest for a genuinely clearable offer. The catch is the seven-day expiry window. For a bettor depositing ₦10,000 and receiving a ₦10,000 bonus, clearing 5x (₦50,000 in qualifying bets) within a week requires discipline and a busy fixture calendar. That said, the maths works for active bettors who plan their week around the offer. You can read our full 22Bet review for details on markets, payments, and app quality beyond the welcome bonus. Best For: Accumulator bettors, experienced bettors comfortable clearing wagering quickly, bettors seeking a high-cap offer with low rollover. 2. SportyBet Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 100% to 150% first deposit, credited as Discount Gifts (tiered by deposit amount) Minimum deposit ₦100 to ₦400 (varies by active promotion) Wagering requirement 5x bonus amount on sports bets at minimum odds of 1.50 or higher Expiry 7 to 30 days (varies by active promotion) Licence NLRC and LSLB (Lagos State Lotteries Board) licensed Why It Ranks Here: SportyBet's tiered deposit structure means you can test the platform from as little as ₦400 and still receive a meaningful bonus. The 5x wagering at minimum odds of 1.50 is fair, and the fact that bonus value is credited as Discount Gifts (applied directly to bet slips) keeps the mechanics transparent. SportyBet's app is consistently rated as one of the fastest and lightest in the Nigerian market, which matters when you are trying to place qualifying bets on metered data. The downside is that SportyBet changes its promotional terms frequently. The exact percentage match, cap, and expiry can shift between campaigns. Always confirm the live terms in the Promotions section of your account before depositing. For a broader look at how SportyBet stacks up on odds, markets, and payouts, see our betting sites comparison. Best For: Mobile-first bettors, bettors who want a low entry point, anyone who values app speed and a smooth claiming process. 3. BetKing Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus "Bet and Get" free bets over 14 days: 10% daily return on settled real-money wagers Minimum deposit ₦500 Wagering requirement No traditional rollover on free bets; free bet winnings can be withdrawn once the free bet settles Qualifying stakes ₦500 to ₦22,000 per day on sports or virtuals Licence LSLGA-licensed (SV Gaming Limited) Why It Ranks Here: BetKing's model is fundamentally different from a deposit-match bonus. Instead of receiving a lump sum with a rollover, you earn daily free bets worth 10% of your settled stakes over your first fourteen days. This structure rewards consistent, modest betting rather than a single large deposit. It also carries no traditional wagering requirement on the free bets themselves, which is rare. The trade-off is that the total value depends entirely on how active you are across those two weeks. A bettor wagering ₦5,000 daily would accumulate roughly ₦7,000 in free bets over fourteen days (₦500 per day). That is less headline-grabbing than a deposit match, but the absence of a wagering hurdle means every naira of free-bet winnings is immediately withdrawable. Best For: Bettors who prefer a low-pressure, day-by-day structure over a lump-sum bonus, bettors already planning to be active daily, and those who dislike complex wagering rules. 4. Bet9ja Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 100% first deposit match up to ₦100,000 Minimum deposit ₦100 Wagering requirement 10x bonus amount at minimum combined odds of 3.00 Expiry 30 days Licence LSLGA and NLRC licensed (KC Gaming Networks Limited; NLRC licence 0001074) Why It Ranks Here: Bet9ja's welcome bonus is one of the most recognisable in Nigeria, and the ₦100 minimum deposit makes it the most accessible entry point on this list. The 30-day expiry is generous, giving casual bettors enough time to work through the rollover without rushing. Bet9ja's extensive NPFL coverage and virtual sports markets provide a wide range of qualifying events. You can check our full Bet9ja review for the latest terms, promo codes, and payment options. However, the 10x wagering at a minimum of 3.00 combined odds is significantly tougher to clear than the 5x at 1.40 offered by 22Bet or SportyBet. Finding consistent value at 3.00 or above requires either long-shot singles or multi-leg accumulators where each selection pushes the combined price. For a ₦10,000 bonus, you need ₦100,000 in qualifying bets at those odds within a month. That is achievable for an active bettor but demanding for someone who bets casually at weekends. Best For: New bettors who want a recognised brand and a very low entry point, bettors comfortable with accumulator bets at higher odds, and anyone already familiar with the Bet9ja platform. 5. Betano Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 50% first deposit match up to ₦200,000 Minimum deposit ₦100 Wagering requirement 10x the bonus and deposit amount at minimum odds of 3.00 Expiry 30 days Licence NLRC-licensed (Kaizen Gaming Nigeria Limited) Why It Ranks Here: Betano's ₦200,000 cap is the highest on this list from a single deposit, but the 50% match rate means you need to deposit ₦400,000 to unlock the full bonus. For the majority of Nigerian bettors staking ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 on a first deposit, the effective bonus will be between ₦2,500 and ₦10,000. Betano also offers features like early payout on football, basketball, tennis, and other sports, which adds ongoing value beyond the welcome offer. The 10x wagering at 3.00 minimum odds applies to the combined deposit and bonus amount, making the effective rollover higher than operators like 22Bet or SportyBet. On a ₦10,000 deposit with a ₦5,000 bonus, you would need ₦150,000 in qualifying bets. That is a steep requirement for a modest deposit. Always compare odds across bookmakers before using bonus funds to ensure you are not overpaying for selections just to meet the minimum odds threshold. Best For: Higher-deposit bettors who want a large cap, bettors who value Betano's early payout features beyond the welcome offer, and anyone depositing ₦50,000 or more on day one. 6. 1xBet Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 300% first deposit match up to ₦600,000 (split 50/50 between sports and casino) Minimum deposit ₦1,700 Wagering requirement Sports half: 5x on accumulator bets (3+ selections, min odds 1.40 per leg). Casino half: 30x to 35x on 1xGames. Expiry 30 days Licence LSLGA-licensed (licence reference LSLGA/OP/OSB/1XB060815) Why It Ranks Here: The 300% headline is the largest percentage match in the Nigerian market. On a ₦10,000 deposit, you would receive ₦30,000 in total bonus value. However, only half of that bonus (₦15,000) goes to your sports balance. The other half is locked to casino games with a 30x to 35x rollover, which is a much steeper requirement. For the sports portion alone, the 5x wagering at 1.40 minimum odds on accumulators is competitive and clearable. The challenge is that the headline figure creates expectations the sports-only bettor cannot fully realise. If you have no interest in casino products, the effective sports bonus is 150% up to ₦300,000, which is still substantial but half the advertised total. For those who do use both, our 1xBet review covers the full platform experience, including markets, crypto payment options, and app quality. Best For: Bettors who use both sports and casino products, bettors comfortable with the 1xBet interface (which can feel cluttered for newcomers), and high-deposit bettors seeking maximum headline value. 7. Betway Quick Stats: Detail Terms Welcome bonus 100% first deposit match up to ₦100,000 Minimum deposit ₦100 to ₦500 (varies by source) Wagering requirement 3x to 5x deposit amount at minimum odds of 3.00 to 5.00 (significant variation across sources) Expiry 30 days Licence NLRC and LSLB licensed Why It Ranks Here: Betway is one of the most established international brands operating in Nigeria, and its app quality, live-betting depth, and customer support are consistently strong. The platform is especially popular with bettors who follow the Premier League and European competitions, and it offers live streaming on select matches. However, the welcome bonus terms reported across sources vary significantly. Some sources indicate a 100% match up to ₦250,000 with 5x wagering at 5.00 minimum odds; others describe a daily free-bet model similar to BetKing's structure. This inconsistency means we cannot confirm a single definitive set of terms. The minimum odds requirement of 5.00 (if that version is current) would make the bonus extremely difficult to clear. Verify the live terms on Betway's promotions page before depositing. Our Betway review has more on Betway's broader feature set. Best For: Bettors who prioritise platform quality and live-betting depth over bonus value, and anyone who already uses Betway and wants to understand the current offer. Decision Framework: How to Choose Choose 22Bet if you: want the lowest wagering requirement (5x at 1.40 odds), can clear the rollover within seven days, and prefer accumulator bets. Choose SportyBet if you: want a low minimum deposit, value app speed on mobile data, and prefer a bonus credited directly to your bet slip as Discount Gifts. Choose BetKing if you: dislike traditional wagering requirements, plan to bet daily across your first two weeks, and want free-bet winnings to be immediately withdrawable. Choose Bet9ja if you: want the lowest possible entry point (₦100), prefer a recognisable Nigerian brand, and are comfortable with 10x wagering at 3.00 odds. Choose Betano if you: are depositing ₦50,000 or more and want the highest bonus cap, and value features like early payout across multiple sports. Choose 1xBet if you: use both sports and casino products, want the highest percentage match, and can navigate a complex interface. Choose Betway if you: value platform quality and international brand trust over bonus size, and already plan to use Betway for its live betting and cash-out features. Real-World Scenarios Scenario 1: Adebayo, weekend football bettor, ₦5,000 first deposit. Adebayo deposits ₦5,000 on a Friday ahead of the Premier League fixtures. At 22Bet, he receives a ₦5,000 bonus (100% match). To clear the 5x wagering (₦25,000 in qualifying accumulators at 1.40+ per leg), he places five three-leg accas of ₦5,000 each across Saturday and Sunday matches. If his selections average 2.74 combined odds and he wins two of five slips, his ₦25,000 wagering requirement is met and the bonus converts. At Bet9ja with the same ₦5,000 deposit, he would need ₦50,000 in bets at minimum 3.00 combined odds: a meaningfully higher bar over the same weekend. Before placing those accumulators, Adebayo should compare odds across bookmakers to ensure he is getting the best available price on each leg. Scenario 2: Chioma, new bettor testing two platforms with ₦2,000. Chioma deposits ₦2,000 at SportyBet and receives Discount Gifts of ₦2,000 to ₦3,000 (depending on the active promotion tier). She uses one gift per bet slip across her first week, placing ₦1,000 two-leg accumulators on matches she follows. The 5x rollover (₦10,000 to ₦15,000 in qualifying bets) is manageable within the expiry window. Crucially, the low minimum deposit means her total risk is limited while she learns how the platform works. If Chioma is completely new to betting, our beginner's guide explains how odds, stakes, and returns connect before she commits any money. Scenario 3: Emeka, bonus-conscious bettor, ₦20,000 deposit. Emeka deposits ₦20,000 at Betano, receiving a ₦10,000 bonus (50% match). His effective wagering target is 10x the combined ₦30,000, meaning ₦300,000 in qualifying bets at 3.00 minimum odds within 30 days. That is ₦10,000 per day in qualifying accumulators, a pace many casual bettors would find unrealistic. The same ₦20,000 deposit at 22Bet would yield a ₦20,000 bonus with a ₦100,000 wagering target at 1.40 odds, clearable with far less risk per bet. Emeka could also check our promotions page to see whether any reload or seasonal offers improve the maths. All scenarios are illustrative. Bonus terms change frequently. Verify current terms on the operator's site before depositing. betCompare Insight If you are the kind of bettor who tracks promotional windows, compares rollover multiples across operators, and times your deposits to match the best available offer, this ranking gives you the framework to evaluate real value rather than headline figures. A ₦10,000 bonus with 5x wagering at 1.40 odds is worth materially more to your bankroll than a ₦50,000 bonus with 10x at 3.00, and our methodology reflects that reality. Use our odds comparison tools on the matches you plan to use for wagering, and you stack two advantages at once. If you are new to sports betting in Nigeria and this is your first time claiming a welcome bonus, focus on offers with the lowest wagering and the longest expiry. BetKing's daily free-bet model and SportyBet's Discount Gifts are both structured to reward modest, consistent betting rather than a single high-risk session. Start small, learn how wagering requirements work in practice before committing a large deposit, and remember that no bonus is worth more than the budget you set for yourself. For more on building a disciplined approach from day one, see our beginner's guide to betting in Nigeria. FAQs What is a wagering requirement? A wagering requirement is the number of times you must bet the bonus amount (or the bonus plus deposit) before the bonus funds convert to withdrawable cash. For example, a ₦5,000 bonus with 5x wagering means you need to place ₦25,000 in qualifying bets. Cashed-out bets and voided bets typically do not count. Why do minimum odds matter in bonus terms? Operators set minimum odds to prevent bettors from clearing wagering on very low-risk bets. A 3.00 minimum means you need selections with an implied probability of roughly 33% or lower, which carries significantly more risk than betting at 1.40 (implied probability around 71%). The higher the minimum odds requirement, the harder the bonus is to clear in practice. Can I claim welcome bonuses from more than one operator? Yes. Each operator's welcome bonus is for new customers of that specific platform. You can open accounts with multiple licensed operators and claim each welcome offer separately. However, you cannot open more than one account per operator, and operators actively detect multi-accounting. What happens if I do not meet the wagering requirement in time? The bonus and any associated winnings are typically forfeited. The expiry window varies: 22Bet gives seven days, Bet9ja and Betano give thirty days. Check the exact deadline before you deposit. Is the headline bonus amount the same as what I will actually receive? Not always. The headline figure is the maximum you can receive if you deposit the maximum qualifying amount. A "100% up to ₦100,000" offer on a ₦5,000 deposit gives you a ₦5,000 bonus, not ₦100,000. Similarly, a "50% up to ₦200,000" offer requires a ₦400,000 deposit to reach the cap. Are welcome bonuses really free? No. Every welcome bonus requires you to risk your own money through wagering requirements before the bonus converts to cash. Bonuses are deposits with conditions attached, not gifts. If the wagering requirement is unrealistic for your bankroll or betting frequency, the bonus has no practical value to you. How do I compare bonuses properly? Focus on three numbers: the wagering multiple (lower is better), the minimum qualifying odds (lower is better), and the expiry window (longer is better). A bonus with 5x wagering at 1.40 odds over 30 days is far easier to clear than 10x at 3.00 over 7 days. Our promotions page lists current offers from licensed Nigerian operators side by side. What is the difference between a deposit bonus and a free bet? A deposit bonus adds funds to your bonus balance that must be wagered before withdrawal. A free bet is a token you can apply to a bet slip. Crucially, most free bets return winnings only: the stake portion of the free bet is not included in your returns. A ₦5,000 free bet on a 2.00 selection pays ₦5,000 in profit, not ₦10,000. Conclusion The best welcome bonus in Nigeria in 2026 is the one you can actually clear. 22Bet's 5x wagering at 1.40 minimum odds sets the standard for fairness, while BetKing's daily free-bet model offers a genuinely different approach that suits patient, consistent bettors. Bet9ja and Betano carry higher rollover hurdles, but their brand recognition and feature sets may matter more to some bettors than the bonus terms alone. Before claiming any offer, check the operator's promotions page for the current live terms, set a deposit budget you are comfortable losing in full, and use our odds comparison tools to find the best available price on every selection. A smart bonus decision starts with understanding the wagering maths, not the marketing headline. For football tips and match analysis to guide your qualifying bets, our insights team publishes daily previews across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Premier League Matchday 4 Selhurst Park, London Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town Saturday 12 September 2026 · Kick-off: 15:00 WAT (15:00 BST) Live research active — odds read across main, goals, half, teams and combo markets. Match context Early-season Premier League: both sides sit on three points from three games. Pierre Sage's Crystal Palace lost their opening two — away at Everton, then 1–4 at home to Manchester City — before a 3–2 win at Fulham got their season going. They now host a newly-promoted Ipswich under Gary O'Neil who also have three points but have shipped goals in bulk, conceding five at Manchester United and two against Liverpool. Palace are juggling Europa League and EFL Cup football alongside the league, so a degree of rotation is on the table. Ipswich are still bedding in a 14-signing summer rebuild and are yet to win, or take a point, on the road. Team news Crystal Palace Out Jean-Philippe Mateta — injury Out Ismaïla Sarr — injury Out Chadi Riad — injury Out Ben Chilwell — injury Doubtful Eddie Nketiah — fitness Doubtful Honest Ahanor — thigh Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Tomiyasu, Canvot; Mingueza, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Pino, Kamada; Strand Larsen. Ipswich Town Doubtful Azor Matusiwa — fitness Doubtful Jaden Philogene — fitness Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Scherpen; Furlong, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Lukić, Palacios; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Emersonn. Palace are without Mateta and Sarr — two of their sharpest attackers — which caps their goal ceiling, though the reshaped front line still hit three at Fulham last time out. The bigger driver of the goals markets is Ipswich's defence, which has conceded in every game so far. Referee intelligence Referee To be announced Appointment lands closer to kick-off Classification Neutral Set once the official is named Cards confidence Low Implication No cards angle features in this preview. Form & head-to-head Crystal Palace — home form W 3–0 Middlesbrough L 1–4 Man City Won the home cup tie 3–0, but the only home league game so far was a 1–4 loss to Man City. New manager, and without Mateta and Sarr up top. Ipswich Town — away form L 2–5 Man Utd Only competitive away game this season was a 2–5 loss at Man Utd. Scoring in every league game but leaking badly on the road, with an expected-goals-against near 2.3 per match. H2H — Crystal Palace at home (primary dataset) Date Home Score Away BTTS Goals Mar 2025 Crystal Palace 1–0 Ipswich Town No 1 Jul 2022 Crystal Palace 4–0 Ipswich Town No 4 Aug 2017 Crystal Palace 2–1 Ipswich Town Yes 3 Nov 2012 Crystal Palace 5–0 Ipswich Town No 5 Apr 2012 Crystal Palace 1–0 Ipswich Town No 1 Palace have won all five of these Selhurst meetings and kept a clean sheet in four of them — Ipswich have found the net just once here. The scorelines swing between narrow 1–0 grinds and heavy 4–0 and 5–0 wins, so the goal count is genuinely wide rather than reliably low. Selhurst record: Palace 5W of 5 BTTS rate: 20% Avg goals: 2.8/game Over 2.5 rate: 60% Market probability table — key markets Market Outcome Verdict Odds My Assessment Crystal Palace team goals Over 0.5 (to score) Good Bet 1.19 84% Total goals Under 3.5 No edge 1.40 68% Match result Crystal Palace win Speculative 1.94 52% Match result Draw No edge 3.80 25% Both teams to score Yes No edge 1.74 54% Both teams to score No No edge 2.10 46% Total goals Over 2.5 No edge 1.81 55% Total goals Over 1.5 Solid Pick 1.26 76% Ipswich team goals Over 0.5 (to score) No edge 1.44 64% Match result Ipswich win Avoid 3.99 20% Free game-week tips Get the bets most likely to win — free. Every game week — our strongest picks and the reason behind each one, straight to your inbox. No fake promises. Show me the best bets Free. Unsubscribe anytime. 18+. Bet responsibly. Betting tips 🔵 Good Bet 🔵 Good Bet Crystal Palace to score — over 0.5 team goals Odds 1.19 Ipswich have conceded in every league game this season — five at Manchester United, two against Liverpool — with an expected-goals-against near 2.3 per match, the leakiest of the promoted sides. Palace have found the net in each of their last two and put three past Fulham last time out. Even without Mateta and Sarr, the reshaped front line only needs one goal at home against that defence. Same idea, priced the other way: Ipswich clean sheet — No at 1.18. It is odds-on either way, so it earns its place as an accumulator leg rather than a standalone stake. Value gap: +4.0pp Confidence: High 🎯 Solid Pick 🎯 Solid Pick Over 1.5 goals Odds 1.26 Our assessment sits around 76% — a dependable read at a fair price. Palace's last two league games produced five goals each, Ipswich are leaking on the road, and the Selhurst meetings have run to 4–0 and 5–0 as well as tighter nights. At least two goals is the base case here — a reliable stand-alone leg for a slip. Value gap: +0.4pp Confidence: Medium–High Reliable accumulator leg 🟡 Speculative 🟡 Speculative Crystal Palace to win Odds 1.94 ⚠️ If Nketiah and Ahanor are both passed fit, Palace's attack is closer to full strength and this lean firms up. If both sit out and the XI is heavily rotated ahead of European football, it edges toward a coin-flip and the Palace-or-draw double chance (1.26) is the safer expression. Palace are home favourites against a newly-promoted side that has lost heavily on its travels and has been beaten in all five Selhurst meetings, scoring only once. The lean is real but slim — the market already prices Palace's own patchy form and attacking absences, so this is a modest edge rather than a strong one. Value gap: +2.4pp Confidence: Medium ⚪ No Edge These markets were assessed and found fairly priced — no meaningful edge identified: Under 3.5 goals @ 1.40 Fairly priced now — Palace's recent five-goal games and the 4–0 / 5–0 Selhurst blowouts mean this is no banker. Over 2.5 @ 1.81 / Under 2.5 @ 2.00 Leans over on current scoring, but not by enough to clear the goals bar. Draw @ 3.80 Assessed in line with the price. Both teams to score — Yes @ 1.74 / No @ 2.10 Balanced: Ipswich score freely now, but have been shut out in four of the last five at Selhurst. Ipswich to score — over 0.5 @ 1.44 Priced about right — they score most weeks but managed one goal in five Selhurst visits. Ipswich over 1.5 team goals @ 3.10 No value away at Selhurst once the higher goals bar is applied. ⛔ Avoid This market is overpriced at current odds — we recommend skipping: Ipswich Town to win @ 3.99 Winless on the road this season (2–5 at Man Utd), beaten in all five Selhurst trips and scoreless in four of them, and a defence leaking at ~2.3 xGA per game — the price overstates their chance here. Before you go Get free football tips by email. Every game week — our best picks and the reason behind each one, by email. Get free tips Free. Unsubscribe anytime. 18+. Bet responsibly. Accumulator builder notes Same position — pick one Crystal Palace to win (1.94), Palace-or-draw double chance (1.26), draw-no-bet Palace (1.43) and Palace −0.5 (1.88) are all the same Palace-result opinion. Put only one on a slip — combining them is not real diversification. Likewise, Palace to score (1.19) and Ipswich clean sheet — No (1.18) are the same outcome expressed two ways. Steadiest single leg Over 1.5 goals (1.26, ~76%) is the most dependable stand-alone leg. Palace to score (1.19) is higher-probability but very short — better as a small boost inside a bigger slip than a stake on its own. Conditional flags ⚠️ Palace attack: Mateta and Sarr are out and Nketiah and Ahanor are rated doubtful. ✅ If Nketiah and Ahanor start, the Palace-to-win and goals reads hold as written. ❌ If both miss and the front line is rotated, treat the win lean as closer to even money and lean on the double chance instead. ℹ️ Fixture load: Palace are balancing Europa League and cup football. ✅ A near first-choice XI keeps the tips as stated. ❌ A heavily-changed side softens the Palace-result lean but leaves the Under 3.5 read intact. Analysis confidence Overall Medium Odds parsing High Live research Active Referee To be announced H2H data 5 venue-matched meetings Anomalies 2 flagged Odds parsing was clean across the main, goals and team markets. The venue-matched head-to-head is strong and directional — Palace have won all five at Selhurst and held Ipswich to a single goal across them — which firms up the result and Palace-to-score reads. It also shows a wide goal range, from 1–0 grinds to 4–0 and 5–0 wins, which is why the total-goals lines are treated cautiously rather than as bankers. The open items are the referee, not yet appointed for this round, so cards carry low confidence, and Palace's attacking availability, with Mateta and Sarr out and Nketiah and Ahanor doubtful. Responsible betting — This analysis is produced for informational and entertainment purposes only. All betting carries risk. Tips represent assessed value based on available data and are not guarantees of outcome. Please bet responsibly and within your means. If you feel your betting is becoming a problem, contact the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

Carlos Alcaraz's US Open title defence came to an end in a dramatic five-set quarter-final loss to Ben Shelton which ended at 03:34 local time - the latest finish in the tournament's history A large crowd remained captivated deep into the night as a modern classic unfolded over an unpredictable four hours and 28 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match did not begin until about 11pm in New York, after the start of the night session was delayed by Tuesday's earlier matches. At its conclusion, eighth seed Shelton basked in a standing ovation from a delirious audience after completing a 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-3 1-6 7-6 (10-7) victory that will live long in the memory of all those present. This was the biggest - and certainly most significant - win of Shelton's career. He had not beaten a top-three player in 17 attempts, and had lost each of his three previous matches against Spain's Alcaraz. It also boosted home hopes of a first American men's singles champion in New York for 23 years. Shelton was less than a year old when Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003 - but an American finalist is guaranteed when he and Frances Tiafoe meet in Friday's semi-finals. World number three Alcaraz was competing at his first tournament since a lengthy injury lay-off, but that is to take nothing away from Shelton, who produced a phenomenal performance. Seven-time major winner Alcaraz had exceeded expectations on his return after more than four months out with a wrist injury, including sweeping past 20th seed Tommy Paul to reach the last eight. But the 23-year-old's lack of match fitness appeared to finally catch up with him in a high-octane encounter filled with breathless exchanges and astounding displays of athleticism. Even when it appeared Alcaraz had emptied the tank, the two-time winner not only forced a deciding set but would go the distance as the players engaged in a tense 10-point match tie-break that provided a fitting conclusion to the contest.

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has responded to Ousmane Dembélé leaving him out of his top three picks for the Ballon d’Or, jokingly suggesting that the Paris Saint-Germain forward may have been influenced by his friendship with Kylian Mbappé In a post by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Yamal was quoted as saying,“He’s Kylian Mbappé’s friend, right?” Yamal said with a smile. The Spanish winger, however, made it clear that he holds no grudge against Dembélé and understands why the Frenchman chose other players. “I’m very happy with the season I had. I think every time we faced each other, I probably did something that made them dislike me! And that’s normal. My relationship with Ousmane is very good, and I understand that he wants to choose other players,” Yamal said. Yamal also remained confident in his own performances, insisting that his contribution throughout the season was there for everyone to see. “But I’m very happy with what I delivered this year, and I’m confident that everyone watched it, even if he didn’t,” he added. The comments add a playful twist to the Ballon d’Or debate, with Yamal showing both confidence in his own season and respect for Dembélé despite being left out of the French star’s top three. Yamal already has 4 goals in La Liga after four matches. He scored twice against Rayo Vallecano and twice against Valencia.

Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded in the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, while long time rival Lionel Messi made the cut Organisers of the award, France Football, announced the nominees today (Tuesday, September 8, 2026). The five-time winner (last nominated in 2022) was omitted for a fourth consecutive year despite Al-Nassr winning the Saudi Pro League. At 41, Ronaldo’s exclusion was widely anticipated and not treated as a major shock, though it drew attention alongside other absences such as Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Pedri, and Désiré Doué. His Al-Nassr teammate Sadio Mané did make the list. As for Messi, the eight-time winner returns to the shortlist (his first nomination since 2023). He contributed strongly at club level and scored eight goals as Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra-time. Other notable stars who made the cut include Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Declan Rice, Erling Haaland and current holder Ousmane Dembélé (PSG, France). Also on the shortlist are Jude Bellingham, William Saliba, Rodri, Harry Kane, Vinícius Júnior and Bruno Fernandes. The shortlist reflects performances across the club season and the 2026 World Cup. The award (celebrating its 70th anniversary) will be presented at a ceremony in London on October 26 and voting will determine the winner in late October. Meanwhile, the Women’s shortlist, Yashin Trophy (goalkeepers), and other awards were also announced. 2026 Ballon d’Or award full 30-man shortlist: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid) Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich) Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Achraf Hakimi (PSG) Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr) Marquinhos (PSG) Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) Nuno Mendes (PSG) Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) João Neves (PSG) Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) Willian Pacho (PSG) Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah) Declan Rice (Arsenal) Rodri (Barcelona) Fabián Ruiz (PSG) William Saliba (Arsenal) Ferran Torres (PSG) Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) Vitinha (PSG)

The shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year has been announced to celebrate male coaches for their great achievements in football across the 2025/26 season The nominees were announced via the award body’s X handle on Tuesday. The top five nominees in this category include Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain), Luis de la Fuente (Spain National Team), Unai Emery (Aston Villa) and Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich). According to the announcement, the shortlist comprises four Spaniards and one Belgian, Kompany. Here, we briefly into the achievements of these men’s coaches: Mikel Arteta — Arsenal Arteta had an impressive outing at North London side Arsenal last season. The Gunners lifted the English Premier League, ending a 22-year wait for the coveted trophy. The 44-year-old Spaniard, who took the reins of leadership at Arsenal in 2019, has guided the club to four Emirates Cups, one FA Cup and three Community Shields. Recently, Arteta celebrated a significant career milestone — marking his 250th EPL game as a coach. Luis Enrique — PSG For Enrique, this nomination presents another chance to win the award, having claimed it in the 2024/25 season. The former Barcelona coach, who lifted the La Liga and Champions League with the Catalans, has replicated the feat in France. The Spaniard tactician guided Ligue 1 champions PSG to two consecutive Champions League titles in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. With the Parisians, Enrique boasts of three domestic league titles, one FIFA Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, two Coupe de France titles and three Trophée des Champions. Luis de la Fuente — Spain De la Fuente, 65, recently became the oldest manager to win the FIFA World Cup after leading La Roja to tournament glory, according to FIFA. He took over the Spain National Team in 2024 and has guided them to three major trophies — UEFA Euro (2024), UEFA Nations League title (2023) and the FIFA World Cup (2026). Unai Emery — Aston Villa Emery, 54, guided Aston Villa to the Europa League last season. The fourth Spaniard coach on the nominee list has also managed 200 matches at the club, with a 55% win rate. Emery is notable for winning three consecutive Europa League titles at Sevilla, before capping it with his fourth at Villa Park. Vincent Kompany — Bayern Munich Kompany, a former EPL champion and ex-captain of the Belgium National Team, emerged as the Bayern Munich coach in 2024. The Belgian has won five trophies for the Bavarians, including two Bundesliga titles, two German Super Cups and one DFB Pokal.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe says this could be a good year for him to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time The 27-year-old scored 42 goals in 44 games for his club last season but they did not win any trophies. He won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, taking his career tally at World Cups to a record 22 - although France finished fourth. "I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people associate you with this award. There are many people that speak about me and the Ballon d'Or. Of course I've made history in the most important competition. Maybe it's a good year for this but people can vote according to what they think," he said. He added: "I always think I'm the best [player in the world] but everyone has their own opinion. Maybe people think different ways. I don't think it's a discussion we need to have. Of course this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d'Or. But journalists vote." The highest Mbappe has finished in the Ballon d'Or rankings is third in 2023, when he was a Paris St-Germain player. Three players are given shorter odds with the bookmakers to win the Ballon d'Or, which will be awarded on 26 October. England captain Harry Kane is odds-on to win, after a club-record 61 goals in 51 games for German double winners Bayern Munich last season. He also scored six times at the World Cup. Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, is second favourite - followed by his club and international team-mate Rodri, formerly of Manchester City. Mbappe, who started his career at Monaco, is the all-time top scorer for both PSG, with 256 goals in 308 games, and France, with 66 in 106. He has netted 90 goals in 107 matches for Real Madrid but is yet to win a major trophy in two years at the Bernabeu. On a personal basis, he has won eight consecutive league golden boots - six in Ligue 1 and two in La Liga - plus two in World Cups and another two in the Champions League. He won the 2018 World Cup with France, but on a club level he has yet to win the Champions League. PSG, who had never lifted the trophy before, have won it both seasons since Mbappe departed. "I can't change it. The truth is that I really don't care. I know how to analyse football, I know why. I don't know everything about football but I know more than most," he said of his former club's success without him. Speaking about Real's lack of recent trophies, he added: "My experience with Real Madrid says I shouldn't think too long-term because a lot can change. I want to think how I can be ready, to help my team to win the game and to start the Champions League in a good way."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will stand for re-election in March, says football's world governing body Infantino, who has filled the role since 2016, has been under pressure following his scrapped plan to sell stakes in Fifa competitions to private investment firms. Infantino's lucrative plan sparked a global outcry, with European football's governing body UEFA threatening to boycott all Fifa competitions, including the World Cup. "The Fifa president announced in April that he will stand for re-election in 2027. Of course, nothing has changed. Mr Infantino will be standing for re-election," read a FIFA statement. Infantino refused to answer questions about his future when asked by reporters at the Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday. It is the first time FIFA has said he will run for a new term since the plan was announced following the summer's World Cup. Should the 56-year-old Swiss be re-elected, he will serve until 2031. FIFA this week accused UEFA of a "smear campaign against it and its leadership", in a challenge to litigation over Infantino's plan. Last week UEFA filed legal papers in the US requesting disclosure of evidence and documents from Fifa, warning it could lodge a criminal complaint in Switzerland. As recently as mid-July Infantino was considered a certainty to be re-elected. All but a handful of FIFA members had endorsed him, and he faced no meaningful challenge. However, the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland are among those to have publicly withdrawn support since Infantino's plan was announced. UEFA are confident that a candidate can be found to stand against Infantino. A candidate must receive the backing of at least 106 of the 211 FIFA member associations. UEFA has abandoned the idea of trying to force a vote of no confidence. It would require three-quarters of the members - 159 votes - to pass the motion through a change of FIFA statutes, which is considered unrealistic. No candidates to challenge Infantino have been named, although CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is considered a serious option. Nominations must be submitted by 18 November.

Lamine Yamal was the superstar for Barcelona, as they maintained their perfect start to the season with a rampant 5-0 win against bottom-placed Valencia Hansi Flick's side broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Lamine Yamal ran in behind the Valencia defence and converted a perfectly weighted through ball from Fermin Lopez. Lopez doubled the lead when he rifled Anthony Gordon's lay-off into the bottom left corner of Stole Dimitrievski's goal. It was Lopez's fourth goal and Gordon's fourth assist in as many matches this season. Barcelona began the second half as ferociously as the first when Raphinha tapped in his sixth goal of the season. Lopez, Barcelona's best player on the afternoon, sprinted the length of the attacking half to set up the former Leeds winger for his 50th goal in the Spanish top flight. Midfielder Pedri combined with Dani Olmo for a one-two and neatly slotted home to score Barca's fourth, before Olmo slithered between Valencia midfielders to slip Lamine Yamal through for his fourth goal of the campaign. The match at the famous Mestalla stadium saw debuts for former Premier League players Harvey Elliot and Gabriel Jesus, who both appeared as second-half substitutes. It was Rodri's first start for Barcelona since his £65m move from Manchester City. Barcelona capitalised on Real Madrid's shock loss to Real Betis on Friday and now sit three points clear at the top of La Liga. The Catalan side have scored 17 goals in four matches this season, conceding just two. Valencia have earned just one point and scoring one goal in four matches this season. There were signs of unrest from the home support, most notably a planned protest which saw a section of Valencia fans delay their entry to the stadium before flooding to their seats in the 19th minute. This is in reference to 1919, the year the club was founded. Barcelona now turn their attention to the Champions League when they host Feyenoord on Wednesday in the first group stage match of the campaign. Up next for Valenica is a trip to Sevilla on Friday.

Manchester City highlighted their early season credentials by maintaining their 100% winning record after three Premier League games, but had to cling on to leave newly promoted Coventry still searching for their first point of the campaign The result was ultimately a satisfying one for City manager Enzo Maresca after giving debuts to Iliman Ndiaye and £125m signing Enzo Fernandez, with the Argentine drafted in minutes before kick-off after Nico O'Reilly sustained an injury in the warm-up. City's star striker Erling Haaland was the match-winner, powerfully heading home the only goal of the afternoon after Antoine Semenyo dug out a cross to the far post. Fernandez played a key part in the goal with a slide-rule pass to the Ghanaian. On another day, Norway striker Haaland could have had a hat-trick. He had a thumping effort pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and another close-range strike in the second half ruled out for offside. Rayan Cherki turned inside and struck against the foot of a post after being set up by Fernandez, but City were thankful to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a string of saves. The Italy captain kept out Jack Rudoni's diving header at the far post and Loum Tchaouna's low strike with a full-length save, and stood tall to deny substitute Ellis Simms late on. Frank Lampard's men should have gone ahead when Taiwo Awoniyi picked up a loose pass from Semenyo and ran through on goal, but the Nigerian struck wide to leave Coventry without a goal this season.

Cesc Fabregas has become the third non-Italian manager to win the Serie A Coach of the Year award after being honoured for his work with Como during the 2025/26 season Fabregas received the award at the Gran Galà del Calcio AIC ceremony held at Teatro alla Scala in Milan on Wednesday. The Italian Footballers’ Association, AIC, named the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder the Serie A Coach of the Year, while Inter Milan were recognised as the league’s Club of the Year. According to Lega Serie A, the ceremony recognised the outstanding performers from the 2025/26 campaign, with “Cesc Fàbregas” receiving the “premio di Allenatore dell’Anno” and Inter being named “Società dell’Anno.” The award caps a historic season for Como, who finished fourth in Serie A and secured Champions League football for the first time in the club’s history. Reuters reported that Como “have Champions League football to look forward to this season after a fourth-placed finish brought the club European qualification for the first time.” The club’s fourth-place finish came with 71 points, putting them behind champions Inter, Napoli and Roma in the final standings. Fabregas’ achievement also places him alongside two prominent foreign managers who previously won the Serie A Coach of the Year award — Sweden’s Sven-Göran Eriksson and Portugal’s José Mourinho. Eriksson became the first non-Italian winner after leading Lazio to the 1999/2000 Serie A title. Mourinho subsequently won the award in consecutive seasons after leading Inter to domestic and European success. UEFA noted of Mourinho’s second award: “José Mourinho has been voted Serie A’s best coach of 2009/10 after completing a famous treble with former club FC Internazionale Milano by winning the UEFA Champions League.” The governing body’s report added: “José Mourinho has been honoured by his peers in Italy for Inter’s 2009/10 successes.” Fabregas’ award follows Como’s remarkable rise under his management. The club’s fourth-place finish earned them their first Champions League qualification, with the achievement confirmed in the final stages of the 2025/26 campaign. The club subsequently achieved the target, giving Fabregas a major milestone in his managerial career. The 2026 Gran Galà del Calcio also saw Como midfielder Nico Paz named the Serie A Young Player of the Year, while Federico Dimarco of Inter was voted the overall best player of the 2025/26 season. The official Lega Serie A announcement said the awards were based on votes from the players themselves, except for the Goal of the Year award, which was decided by fans. Fabregas, 39, therefore joins Eriksson and Mourinho as the only non-Italian managers to have won the Serie A Coach of the Year award.

The Argentine Football Association has announced that every match across its men’s and women’s competitions on the next matchday will stop in the 10th minute to honour Lionel Messi The stoppage will last for one minute and will feature a round of applause in recognition of Messi’s outstanding career with the Argentina national team. The AFA said the tribute recognises the legacy of the Argentina captain and his contribution to the national team over the years. “Every game will stop in the 10th minute for a minute of applause in recognition of Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentina national team,” the Argentina FA said. The choice of the 10th minute is a symbolic reference to Messi’s famous No. 10 shirt, which he has worn throughout his international career. Messi has enjoyed a historic career with Argentina, leading the national team to major international honours and establishing himself as one of the greatest players in the country’s football history. The tribute will take place across both men’s and women’s competitions, allowing supporters throughout Argentina to join in celebrating Messi’s achievements. The one-minute applause is expected to create a special moment inside stadiums across the country as Argentine football comes together to recognise the career and legacy of its iconic No. 10. BetCompare had reported that Messi had announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, saying he has “nothing more to give” after a 20-year international career.

Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against defender Raul Asencio, who was last month convicted of drink-driving, coach Jose Mourinho said on Thursday Asencio was more than three times over the legal limit during the August 16 incident. The 23-year-old centre-back was convicted in a trial held in San Bartolome de Tirajana, a village in Gran Canaria, and fined 14,400 euros, while his driving licence was suspended for eight months, a court source told AFP on Wednesday. This week, Asencio is due to face another court case in Gran Canaria, involving the alleged non-consensual sharing of a sexual video dating back to 2023. “He’s a model professional. When he was fit, no one trained as hard as him. Now that he’s been injured for a few weeks, he’s the first to arrive and the last to leave (training). But a Real Madrid player remains so 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year,” Mourinho told reporters. “Everything you do outside the pitch represents Real Madrid and could affect the club’s prestige. I’m not happy. Everyone makes mistakes, but when they pile up, it’s not the same.” Spanish media report that Asencio expects to be cleared in the video-sharing case if the two young women who were filmed, aged 16 and 18, formally forgive him. Three former Real Madrid reserve players are also on trial for allegedly recording and distributing the video. The trial is scheduled for September 3, 4 and 7. Asencio suffered a hamstring injury in July and has yet to be picked for a matchday squad by his new coach. But he played regularly for Real in the previous two seasons.

Roger Federer has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, describing the moment as "one of the greatest honours" of his life The 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, who retired in 2022, was tearful at the ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, as he reflected on his glittering career in front of tennis greats including Billie Jean King and John McEnroe. After making his main tour debut in 1998 at the age of 16, Federer won a record eight men's Wimbledon singles titles, plus six Australian Open crowns, five US Opens and one French Open. "This is one of the greatest honours of my life. They call this the Hall of Fame, but fame was never the goal. My goal was to spend my life doing something I love, with people who love it as much as I do," Federer said. Only Spain's Rafael Nadal, with 22 majors, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic, with 24, have won more men's Grand Slam singles titles than Federer. He won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 and spent 310 weeks as the world number one - a record until it was surpassed by Djokovic. Federer also won Olympic doubles gold for Switzerland with Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008 and singles silver at London 2012. He was part of the Swiss team that won the Davis Cup for the first time in 2014. Federer, who started out as a 13-year-old ball boy at an ATP tournament in Basel, reflected on the lesser-known statistics from his career during his speech. "I'm talking about the numbers that really paint a picture. Between 1998 and when I first went on the ATP Tour, and when I retired in 2022, I wore more than 5,000 headbands. That's more than [Bjorn] Borg and [John] McEnroe combined," said Federer. "And if you think that's impressive, I wore probably over 7,000 pairs of socks. That's probably twice as many as most of my opponents, because I doubled them up. But really, there's no way to measure what it means to be here. It's hard to put it into words." Federer wiped away tears as he thanked his wife Mirka, tennis idol Stefan Edberg and "every ball kid who ever stood through" his matches. Federer also said he was "incredibly lucky" to have played with different generations of tennis players, from Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt to Andy Roddick, Nadal and Djokovic. "I need tissues and sunglasses and everything to protect me right now. This is such a mess. As you can tell, I'm still writing my love letter to tennis. My time as a player is done, but tennis will always stand at the intersection of everything I care most about: my family, our friendships, the past 40 years, the future we're building. Tennis for me is responsible for it all," Federer joked.

Ex-Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has explained his decision to join Manchester City, saying he is ready for a new challenge and determined to help the club continue winning trophies The Argentina international completed his move from Chelsea to City in a British-record transfer worth £125m. Fernández said City’s winning mentality and the quality within the squad played a major role in his decision to make the move. Fernandez was quoted as saying, “I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success,” Fernández said. The 25-year-old also revealed his desire to learn from his new teammates and continue developing as a player. “If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player,” he added. Fernández will also reunite with manager Enzo Maresca, whom he previously worked with during Maresca’s time at Chelsea. The midfielder arrives at City after a turbulent period at Chelsea, where he was booed by sections of the supporters before eventually leaving the club. Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure, Fernández insisted he remains grateful to Chelsea. “Chelsea will always be in my heart,” he said in an open letter to the club. However, Fernández is now focused on his new chapter at Manchester City and has promised to give everything for his new team. “I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that I will continue now I’m here,” he said.

Tyson Fury has labelled Anthony Joshua a "coward" as the pair face a tense wait to see whether their long-awaited all-British heavyweight bout can be agreed The long-time rivals had been expected to finally settle their differences and face off in November, but the likelihood of that happening is diminishing as an agreement over the venue has yet to be reached. Two-time unified world champion Joshua and his Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn have signed a contract for the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, while the fight's organisers are understood to favour staging it in the United States. Hearn has previously said the contracts would have to be renegotiated if the fight were to take place outside the United Kingdom. On Wednesday, Fury, who defeated journeyman Mariusz Wach last month to keep the potential blockbuster clash with Joshua on track, said negotiations over the fight were becoming "quite tiring". "I've been down to fight at every location that's been mentioned - England, Ireland, Vegas, New York, back to England, back to Ireland, back to New York. Listen, I've said yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, every single time. Zero stipulations," said the 38-year-old. "The facts are I feel like you're being a coward. I feel like you don't want the fight and you're just conning everybody. I feel like you've been doing that for years. You've had many opportunities to fight me, but deep down you've never really wanted it, so let's see if you're going to man up for a final time." In a separate post, Fury continued to taunt Joshua, 36, this time alongside former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, telling his fellow Brit to "sign the contract, big boy" as he paid homage to Tyson's iconic line. Queensberry's Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told Sky Sports News his fighter was "100%" signed up for the fight. "It is signed by Tyson," said Warren. "Tyson is signed up for the fight and agreed for the fight."

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided the prospect of an early US Open exit by fighting back from a set down against Portugal's Jaime Faria Alcaraz, 23, needed time to find his rhythm in the second-round contest as he continues to make his comeback from a long-term wrist injury. But the Spanish second seed asserted his authority to win 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 against world number 72 Faria in the New York night session. Alcaraz fighting off two break points in the first game of the second set proved to be pivotal. Going into the final major of the season, everyone wondered how Alcaraz would fare in his first tournament since mid-April following an injury to his playing right wrist. The latest evidence showed the two-time US Open winner is beginning to gather momentum. Alcaraz said he was playing "normal" in a straight-set win over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the first round and reiterated after beating Faria that he is not holding back on his forehand. After coming through his opening match with little fuss, the questions then turned to how Alcaraz would pull up physically two days later. Sweeping aside 23-year-old Faria answered those emphatically, although Alcaraz knows the tests will get tougher if he is able to move further through the draw. As well as the likelihood of facing opponents ranked much higher than Safiullin and Faria, it will be interesting to see how his body continues to react to playing more five-set matches in quick succession after such a long absence. With his fierce rival Jannik Sinner missing from New York through injury, and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic already out, Alcaraz might increasingly fancy his chances of going all the way in a draw which looks to be wide open. Alcaraz's next challenge will be overcoming China's Wu Yibing, who is ranked 113th in the world, in the last 32. Meanwhile, American 20th seed Tommy Paul - a potential opponent for Alcaraz in the fourth round - continued his progress with a 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory over Croatia's Dino Prizmic. Paul goes on to face Kazakh 15th seed Alexander Bublik, who cruised past French veteran Adrian Mannarino in a 6-3 6-1 6-1 win. Eighth seed Ben Shelton continued his own quest to become the first American men's champion since Andy Roddick in 2003 with a 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 victory over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz. Two-time semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe, another home favourite, demonstrated his great form with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 win against Japan's Rei Sakamoto, while Argentina’s Mariano Navone backed up his stunning first-round knockout of Djokovic with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini. Spanish 12th seed Rafael Jodar was the biggest casualty in the men's draw on day four as he was beaten 6-2 6-1 6-1 by Chinese world number 124 Bu Yunchaokete.

The LA Clippers have been fined $30m by the NBA for violating salary rules in order to funnel millions of dollars to star player Kawhi Leonard The fine - the largest in the league's history - comes after the NBA report said Leonard pressured the Clippers into "obtaining off-court income opportunities [and] successfully obtaining those opportunities". The investigation was opened in September 2025 when podcast journalist Pablo Torre reported that a $28m endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC could have broken league rules. The Clippers will also have to forfeit five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033, while owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended from all league and team activities for 12 months for his role in matters involving Leonard's sponsorship contracts. Two-time NBA champion Leonard has been fined $700,000 by the league. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Clippers' "flagrant violations" of the rules and said the "severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations". Clippers president of business operations Gillian Zucker has been suspended for one year without pay for providing "misleading statements to investigators". The NBA said its month-long investigation "found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organisation, a prior offender of the salary-cap circumvention rules". Following the ruling, Leonard, 35, said he "accepts full responsibility" for his actions and "regrets the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family". "I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone's part to circumvent the salary cap," he wrote on Instagram. The two-time NBA Finals MVP joined the Clippers in 2019 and spent seven years with the franchise before leaving this year. The NBA said the "organisation and personnel" of the Clippers will be subject to a compliance and monitoring programme overseen by the league for five years.

The 'here we go' is on hold, the 'bombas' are done and dusted and the window panes are reverberating after being forcefully closed on Tuesday night Now comes the moment for new arrivals to make their mark on the pitch rather than the balance sheet. Throughout the Premier League era there have been hordes of transfer hits and misses, but today we're looking at those signings who proved game-changing for their club and the competition, the ones who really moved the needle. Below are the top 10: You could make an argument for plenty of players who were left off this list. Thierry Henry is probably the one quibbled over the most, Arsene Wenger turning him from misfiring winger to one of the generation's greatest forwards. But Arsenal had been champions 12 months before he arrived, and it took until Henry's third season for the Gunners to reclaim that crown. You could point to Cristiano Ronaldo, who won a Ballon d'Or at Manchester United, or Wayne Rooney, who became the club's record goalscorer. But a teenage Ronaldo took time to bed in, while Rooney, despite a debut hat-trick in Europe, had to wait until his third season for a Premier League winners' medal. Then there's a plethora of Manchester City signings. Erling Haaland announced himself with 36 goals in 35 top-flight games but arrived in the middle of City's four-year title-winning streak. Yaya Toure, Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri all had big impacts. However, the list can only be 10 names long. So here it is... 10. Petr Cech - Rennes to Chelsea, £7m, July 2004 Austrian goalkeeper Jurgen Macho was one of first faces through the door as the Roman Abramovich era began at Chelsea, arriving on a free transfer from Sunderland, only to tear his cruciate ligament and never play for the club. A keeper signed the following summer would prove far more influential at Stamford Bridge. While prising Claude Makelele from Real Madrid's Galacticos was a huge statement - likewise Hernan Crespo from Inter Milan - Petr Cech was the wall on which back-to-back titles were built. Cech conceded only 15 goals in his debut league campaign, going on a run of 1,025 minutes without being beaten and ending the season with a record 24 clean sheets. His Chelsea career spanned 11 seasons and included four Premier League titles and a Champions League. The Blues made back the £7m they paid - and then some. Arjen Robben, Petr Cech and Mateja Kezman hold up Chelsea shirts 9. Alan Shearer - Southampton to Blackburn, £3.6m, July 1992 Blackburn Rovers, fresh off a sixth-placed finish in Division Two, immediately set out their intentions after promotion via the play-offs guaranteed them a spot in the inaugural Premier League season. Southampton striker Alan Shearer had interest from Manchester United, but Rovers - bankrolled by local businessman Jack Walker - tabled a British record £3.6m for the 21-year-old and enjoyed an almost immediate return. Shearer scored 16 times in his first 21 Premier League games before injury, helping Blackburn finish fourth in their first top-flight season for 27 years. He bagged 31 as they finished runners-up the following term, and 34 in 1994-95 as Rovers were crowned champions for the first time since 1914. Chris Sutton, another British record buy at £5m from Norwich City, may argue he was the signing who got Blackburn over the line, forming a formidable 'SAS' frontline, but it was Shearer's arrival that set the ball rolling. 8. Carlos Tevez - Corinthians to West Ham, undisclosed, August 2006 West Ham fans frantically refreshing Ceefax on 31 August 2006 must have thought they'd landed on the jokes page when news broke of a double swoop for a pair of Argentina's top young stars. It was a huge coup for the Hammers, pipping the world's best clubs to add 22-year-olds Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to Alan Pardew's squad. With West Ham struggling near the bottom of the league, Mascherano left for Liverpool on loan after Christmas. Tevez, meanwhile, would have a huge impact. West Ham were bottom with 11 games to go - nine points adrift of Sheffield United - but won seven games and Tevez netted seven times, including the winner against Manchester United on the final day, to relegate the Blades. Sheffield United claimed foul play over the third-party ownership of Tevez and Mascherano, and West Ham were eventually ordered to pay £20m in compensation, having initially been fined £5.5m rather than being docked points. Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, either side of manager Alan Pardew, hold up West Ham shirts 7. Robinho - Real Madrid to Manchester City, £32.5m, August 2008 It gets somewhat lost in the cloudy narrative of the past, but Robinho had a decent first season at Manchester City, scoring on his Premier League debut and netting 14 times in 31 top-flight games to finish as their top scorer. Things went downhill from there, but Robinho's performance was less important than what his arrival meant for the future of English football. It was City laying down a marker. On the day the club were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group - it also happened to be transfer deadline day - they nabbed one of the world's most prominent players from under the noses of Chelsea for a British record fee. City finished 10th that season. But 18 years and more than £3bn on transfers later, they have become the most dominant club in England, winning eight titles. Robinho scored 14 times in his debut Premier League season but managaed only 10 appearances - and no goals - the following term before joining Santos on loan 6. Virgil van Dijk, Southampton to Liverpool, £75m, January 2018 Mohamed Salah might feel hard done by here. After all, he did score 32 Premier League goals in his first season at Liverpool after arriving from Roma in 2017. But that didn't immediately move the needle in terms of pushing Liverpool further up the league table - they finished fourth again and scored only six more goals as a team compared to the previous season. Instead, it was the £75m signing of Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 - and arguably goalkeeper Alisson Becker that summer too - that really raised the bar for Jurgen Klopp's side, who lost only once the following season and conceded only 22 goals as they racked up 97 points. Incredibly, Liverpool were beaten to the title by Manchester City, but they became European champions and the following season won a first league title in 30 years. 5. Robin van Persie, Arsenal to Manchester United, £22.5m, August 2012 It was a sign of how the Manchester United and Arsenal rivalry had cooled. Once the key protagonists in Premier League heavyweight contests, the Gunners would seemingly never contemplate allowing their top scorer to join United. Yet on the back of a season in which he netted 30 goals to finish as the league's top scorer, Robin van Persie left Arsene Wenger's outfit to line up for Sir Alex Ferguson, who was scorned by Manchester City's emergence and desperate to return the title to Old Trafford. Van Persie went on to score 26 times as United reclaimed the throne in Ferguson's final season - the club's 20th title - while Arsenal slipped to a distant fourth. 4. Sol Campbell, Tottenham to Arsenal, free transfer, July 2001 A handful of journalists gathered at Arsenal's London Colney training base expecting the unveiling of goalkeeper Richard Wright from Ipswich. Instead they were stunned to see former Tottenham skipper Sol Campbell walk in. The England defender, who joined Spurs as a youngster more than a decade earlier, had lucrative offers from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. There was no inkling that he would end up down the road at Highbury instead, the deal sealed during clandestine meetings with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and vice-chairman David Dein. "I have kept my head when other people around me were losing it," Campbell said at the unveiling of a transfer that was both seismic in the north London rivalry and the direction of the Premier League trophy. He proved a phenomenal presence at the heart of Arsenal's defence, winning the league and FA Cup double that season and adding another Premier League crown as one of the 'Invincibles' two years later - a title clinched, of all places, at White Hart Lane. 3. N'Golo Kante, Caen to Leicester, £5.6m, August 2015 N'Golo Kante was playing in France's regional amateur leagues until his late teens. Only three years before he joined Leicester City in 2015, the tireless midfielder was turning out in his country's third tier. The Foxes thought they'd found a bargain, but did not realise quite what an impact his arrival would have. Kante became the beating heart of Claudio Ranieri's midfield as Leicester went on their astonishing title-winning run. While Jamie Vardy scored the goals and Riyad Mahrez brought the flair, it was the diminutive Frenchman's energy and ability to always be in the right place that set the tone. Kante missed only one game and made more tackles and interceptions than anyone in the division on his way to becoming a Premier League champion, before Chelsea paid the Foxes almost five times what they nabbed him from Caen for a year earlier. 2. Sergio Aguero, Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, £35m, July 2011 Sergio Aguero set out on his debut as he meant to go on, scoring twice and setting up another in a 30-minute cameo off the bench against Swansea City. Manchester City were without a top-flight title since 1968 when the Argentine arrived from Atletico Madrid. Ten months later he had netted 23 goals in 34 Premier League games, including the one deep into stoppage time that crowned City champions. City had spent lavishly on forwards previously but the prolific Aguero was a game-changer. His goals shifted the power balance in Manchester and, after a decade in sky blue, he departed as the club's all-time record scorer with 260 goals to complement his five league titles. 1. Eric Cantona, Leeds United to Manchester United, £1.6m, November 1992 Where do you start with Eric Cantona? The maverick Frenchman arrived in England having won the title with Marseille, which was followed by a two-month ban for throwing a ball at a referee and a fallout with the hierarchy. Advised to move to England, he rocked up at Leeds in January 1991 and swiftly helped them clinch the First Division. A few months into the new season, Cantona's relationship with manager Howard Wilkinson broke down. Manchester United, languishing in mid-table by late November, without a league title in 26 years and having been dumped out of the Uefa Cup by Torpedo Moscow, came calling - after their bid for Wednesday striker David Hirst was rejected. Cantona proved a revelation. He scored nine times in 23 games and was influential as United ended up winning the inaugural Premier League title by 10 points. The forward would win four titles in five years at Old Trafford, including two league and cup doubles, laying the foundations for a generation of success before his shock retirement in 1997.

Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has completed a season-long loan to Borussia Dortmund, while Manchester City have officially signed Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye as the Premier League transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on Tuesday Nwaneri, 19, joined the Bundesliga club on a straight loan with no option to buy. Dortmund will cover his wages in full. The England Under-21 international spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille. Arsenal and the player agreed another temporary move would give him regular first-team football. Dortmund moved quickly after new signing Giannis Konstantelias suffered an ACL injury. Also, Manchester City confirmed the arrival of Ndiaye with an official post on Tuesday evening: “Welcome to City, Iliman.” The Senegal international has completed his move from Everton in a deal worth £60 million plus up to £5 million in add-ons. Personal terms were agreed and his medical was passed earlier in the day. City had turned to Ndiaye after their attempt to sign Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo was rejected. Tottenham had earlier been in advanced talks for the player. Other confirmed Premier League deadline-day activity includes: Aston Villa signing Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye for £47 million and Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis for around £29-30 million. Newcastle United completing the £51 million signing of Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Arsenal confirming the departures of Gabriel Jesus to Barcelona (around £8.6 million) and Fabio Vieira to Hamburg (around £7.7 million), in addition to Nwaneri’s loan. Crystal Palace taking Honest Ahanor on loan from Atalanta. Nick Woltemade has joined Juventus on a season-long loan from Newcastle United, with the Italian club paying a reported £3.5 million fee and no option to make the deal permanent. Pape Matar Sarr has moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Juventus on a season-long loan that includes an obligation to buy for approximately £23.6 million if certain performance and qualification conditions are met. Several other loans and permanent moves across the Premier League and EFL. The Premier League and EFL window closes at 23:00 BST. Clubs can still finalise deals after that time if a deal sheet is submitted before the deadline. Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League deadlines fall on Thursday.

Manchester City completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández from Chelsea on Tuesday as the summer transfer window closed with a flurry of high-profile moves across the Premier League The 25-year-old Fernández joined City on a five-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031, bringing an end to his spell at Chelsea. The Argentina international, who won the 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America, said he was eager to continue winning trophies after joining Enzo Maresca’s side. “Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success. “If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player,” he said. On the club website, City’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana, described Fernández as a “complete midfielder” and said the club believed he would improve the squad. “At Manchester City, we are always looking to bring in world-class players and Enzo fits the bill. He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer,” Viana said. “To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything you need to know about his mentality, professionalism and technical quality. We are delighted to bring him here and feel very strongly he will improve our team,” he noted. Elsewhere, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez completed a season-long loan move to Serie A side Como after making 112 appearances for the Blues since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in August 2023. Sanchez was part of the Chelsea squad that won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup before his temporary move to Italy. Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk also secured a season-long loan move, where he will reunite with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, having previously worked under the Italian manager earlier in his career. “It’s a great feeling. I can’t wait to start training and playing for the Club, and I’m so excited to be reunited with Roberto De Zerbi. I’m a player who brings speed and creativity, and I want to help in both the offensive and defensive areas. I want to make the fans excited,” Mudryk said. De Zerbi said he was looking forward to working with the Ukrainian forward again. “Having worked with Misha earlier in his career, I know exactly what he can bring to our team. He has the quality to change a game with his speed and ability in one-vs-one situations, and is an exciting, attacking talent,” De Zerbi said. Belgian winger Malick Fofana, meanwhile, joined Sunderland from Olympique Lyonnais on a long-term contract. The 21-year-old, Sunderland’s fifth signing of the summer window, made 82 appearances for Lyon, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists. Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said, “Malick has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League. He is a player with huge potential and Sunderland AFC will provide him with the right environment to continue to develop and prosper.” Crystal Palace also announced the signing of Netherlands international Quinten Timber on a contract until 2031. The 25-year-old midfielder, who has won 13 caps for the Netherlands, joins Palace after featuring for Marseille and Feyenoord. Palace chairman Steve Parish said, “With vast experience of representing his club and country at the highest level, Quinten is a player whose leadership, tenacity and ability we are confident will flourish in the Premier League. “Welcome to Palace, Quinten.” Jack Grealish returned to Everton on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the 2026/27 season after spending the previous campaign with the Merseyside club. The 30-year-old England international made 20 Premier League appearances for Everton last season, scoring twice and providing six assists before a foot injury in February brought his campaign to an early end. “It feels so good. I’m so happy. I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved. That’s what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me and especially what the fans have given me,” Grealish told Everton’s official website.

Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying it was a decision that "hurt" but "the time has come" The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. In a statement, Messi said he has given everything to the national side but now has "nothing left to give". He added: "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance." Earlier in August, Messi said he was considering his future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a a long illness. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said he wrote his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in this summer's World Cup final. He added on Instagram on Monday: "Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced than before." Messi’s career will continue at club level with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, where he has a contract that runs to the end of the 2028 season. He made his debut for Argentina in 2005 as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary. However, he was shown a straight red card less than a minute later, after he swung his arm and his elbow connected with full-back Vilmos Vanczak. Despite his tough start on the international stage, Messi went on to become one of the all-time greats, winning the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina. He is the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history, with 21, behind France's Kylian Mbappe (22), and second for goals in all internationals (125) behind his great contemporary and rival, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (146). The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, which transcended clubs, countries and competitions for over a decade, to become the defining story of modern football. Messi first retired from international football in 2016 before reversing his decision. That followed a defeat by Chile in the Copa America final, in which he missed a penalty in the shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years. Messi scored eight goals and registered four assists at this summer's World Cup. He took his career assists tally to 12 in World Cups, of which 10 have come in the knockout rounds. No other player on record has more than eight in total. "Thank you for all the love over the past 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I'll be just one of you, always cheering and supporting from the sidelines," he added in his message, addressing supporters. "I'm leaving with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, together with my team-mates, moments we'd only dreamed of. It was incredible to have experienced this with you all. I love you!"

Free-scoring Chelsea extended Xabi Alonso’s perfect start as manager with an eye-catching 4-3 win against Brighton on Sunday Alonso has presided over two successive wins in the Premier League and one in the League Cup since taking charge of the Blues. Romeo Lavia opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge with his first Chelsea goal since signing from Southampton in 2023. Pedro Neto doubled the Blues’ lead and Joao Pedro added the third before Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye got one back late in a frenzied first half. Pedro’s own goal after the interval gave Chelsea a few anxious moments before Cole Palmer struck in the closing stages. Pascal Gross netted in stoppage-time but it was too late to derail Chelsea. Next up for Alonso’s team is a trip to face Premier League champions Arsenal on September 6. Having dispatched Fulham, Luton and Brighton, it will be the first major test for the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss as he tries to revitalise a club that finished a dismal 10th last season. Alonso has already breathed new life into Chelsea’s attack, with nine goals in their first three games, but questions remain about a creaky defence that has been breached four times. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, it remains to be seen if Enzo Fernandez will be an option for Alonso when Chelsea meet Arsenal. Fernandez was absent for a second successive game after the Argentina midfielder was linked with a move to Manchester City. Emiliano Martinez made his Chelsea debut after completing his £7.5 million ($10 million) move from Villa just hours earlier. The 33-year-old goalkeeper was signed to replace the error-prone Robert Sanchez after his latest dismal display in Monday’s 3-2 win at Fulham. Underlining Chelsea’s recent obsession with signing youngsters, Martinez was the first 30 or over player to feature for them in a league game since 2024. Chelsea took just 31 seconds to score against Fulham and they made another quick-fire start to move in front against Brighton. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and defender Mats Wieffer made a complete hash of clearing a fourth-minute corner off the line and the ball fell nicely for Lavia to poke home from close-range. Alonso had selected Neto instead of Reece James and the Portugal winger repaid that faith in the 14th minute. Morgan Rogers burst past Luka Vuskovic into the Brighton penalty area and cut his pass back for Neto to guide a deft finish past Verbruggen from close-range for his first league goal since December. Martinez made his first save, repelling Yalcouye’s strike, to raucous cheers from Chelsea fans delighted to no longer have to endure the hapless Sanchez. Pedro got on the scoresheet against his former club in the 32nd minute. Jorrel Hato picked out Pedro and he finished clinically from six yards before cheekily celebrating with a thumbs down gesture in front of the Brighton fans who had been jeering him. Chelsea’s hopes of a first league clean-sheet since January were ruined in the 35th minute when Yalcouye’s fierce volley whistled in off the post after Martinez’s initial save rebounded to the midfielder. Brighton closed the gap even further in the 63rd minute as Chelsea started to wobble. Gross’s shot from an acute angle took a hefty deflection off Pedro and looped over the wrong-footed Martinez. Palmer eased Alonso’s nerves in the 74th minute with a fine finish from the edge of the area. Gross struck with a looping header in stoppage-time, but Chelsea had done just enough to win the goal-fest.

Moses Itauma vowed "I'll be back" after failing in his attempt to become the second-youngest ever heavyweight world champion on Saturday Britain's Itauma, 21, tore through his first 14 opponents but his team threw in the towel in the ninth round against Filip Hrgovic at O2 Arena, London. Having appeared to punch himself out, Itauma was barely able to stand as Hrgovic, 34, applied pressure to end the fight. "It wasn't my night, we attempted greatness and just fell short to the more experienced man. I want to say congratulations to Filip Hrgovic on his win. And although I never reached my desired outcome, I believe I gained experience that I'll take to my future fights. God bless, take care and I'll be back," Itauma said on social media. The vacant IBF title was on the line and Itauma was the favourite heading into the fight. Hrgovic - who has lost only one professional fight, to Daniel Dubois in 2024 - is known for his durability, but he struggled to keep pace with Itauma early on. However, his experience eventually told as the Briton was forced to leave the arena on a stretcher. He was then taken to hospital and released overnight after having precautionary medical checks. Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren believes Itauma needs a tactical rethink if he is to reach the top. "That aura of invincibility, at the moment, is gone. People will look at that and maybe it will make it easier to make fights for him. He's still one of the most unbelievable talents I've ever been involved with. We'll stick with him. He needs a bit more ring craft and needs to stop thinking about knocking everyone out," Warren said.

Bruno Fernandes’s hat-trick inspired a Manchester United fightback from a goal down to thrash Ipswich 5-2 and get their Premier League season up and running on Sunday After a nightmare 2-0 defeat to Hull last weekend, another newly-promoted side had the Red Devils on the ropes when Leif Davis opened the scoring for the Tractor Boys. But Fernandes blasted home to level before half-time and then converted from the penalty spot after a Jacob Greaves own goal put United in front. The United captain completed his hat-trick from close range before adding an assist to his fine afternoon for Bryan Mbeumo. Marcus Rashford was handed his first United start in nearly two years as Michael Carrick made four changes to the side that kicked off the campaign with a woeful display eight days ago. Rashford and the return of his England international teammate Kobbie Mainoo made a big difference, but United were again reliant on Fernandes as a difference-maker in the final third. Questions also remain over Carrick’s men at the back. Senne Lammens had to save one-on-one from Julio Enciso after he broke clear from a United corner before Ipswich took the lead on 29 minutes. Abdul Fatawu burned Luke Shaw for pace down the wing and his cross was brilliantly swept high into the net by Davis. Moments later, the Ipswich left-back had an even better chance to double the visitors’ lead, but his tame effort was saved by Lammens. Instead, the game swung on an Ipswich error as Marcelino Nunez slipped to gift possession to Matheus Cunha, who fed Fernandes to blast home on his weaker left foot. Another break went against Gary O’Neil’s men 11 minutes into the second half. The ball came off Harry Maguire’s arm before he fired a shot and the goal would have been ruled out had it directly found the net. However, because the effort was heading off target and deflected in off Greaves, it was allowed to stand as it was not deemed a handball leading directly to a goal. Greaves was still clearing his head from that setback when he chopped down Cunha as he bore down on goal. Fernandes, who was this week crowned last season’s player of the year by his fellow professionals, coolly converted the resulting spot-kick. It was a record 21 Premier League assists last season that powered Fernandes to a haul of individual awards as he only scored nine times. The Portuguese international is already a third of the way to matching that tally as he was in the right place to latch onto Mbeumo’s deflected shot and complete his hat-trick. And there was still time for Fernandes to add an assist when Mbeumo raced on to his pass over the top and looped the ball over giant Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. But a fine display going forward was book-ended by United errors at the back as Ipswich were gifted a consolation in stoppage time. Lisandro Martinez was caught in possession by Enciso, who teed up Chuba Akpom to tap into an empty net.

Novak Djokovic broke down in tears during a US Open first-round defeat by Argentina's Mariano Navone which provided further evidence age is fast catching up with the 39-year-old great The 24-time Grand Slam champion was overcome by emotion in the deciding set of a dramatic match where he struggled physically throughout and had to vomit into a towel bin. Djokovic, seeded fourth, showed the fight for which he has always been renowned before succumbing to a 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 4-6 6-2 6-1 loss in a humid New York. It was the first time the Serb had been beaten in the opening round at Flushing Meadows and the first time he had lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament since 2006. "I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. I don't want to take too much out of Mariano's win. Congrats to him, he's a nice guy and a fighter - but I didn't enjoy myself," Djokovic said. Djokovic managed to raise a smile as he congratulated 25-year-old Navone on what will rank as one of the biggest victories of the world number 49's career. But, after showing grace and class while congratulating his opponent, a disconsolate Djokovic was unable to keep a brave face for long and appeared close to tears again as he trudged back to the locker room. The defeat ended Djokovic's latest bid for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title, which would move him clear of Australia's Margaret Court. Chances are clearly running out for Djokovic. Many sensed this was another decent opportunity given world number one Jannik Sinner is missing through injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is making his comeback from a long-term wrist injury.

Barcelona are closing in on a move for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus worth £8.6m A deal for the Brazil international is believed to be at an advanced stage and, while the finer details still require finalising, the transfer is expected to be completed before Tuesday's deadline. Napoli had shown an interest in Jesus, but the 29-year-old is set to join last season's Spanish league champions and will travel for a medical on Monday. Jesus joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, scoring 32 goals and adding 22 assists in 123 appearances for the Gunners. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Jesus was not training with the squad before Monday's Premier League game against Aston Villa. When asked whether that meant Jesus was leaving, Arteta said: "Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it's clear." Jesus would be Barcelona's third signing from a Premier League club this summer, following the arrivals of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and Rodri from Manchester City. Earlier this week, Barcelona's pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez - also an Arsenal target - appeared to end as sources told BBC Sport that Atletico would not negotiate with their Spanish rivals. Meanwhile, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a medical with Al-Hilal. It is believed a deal of at least £50m has been agreed for the 25-year-old Brazil international, after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made clear he is not in his plans. It is understood Martinelli will sign a four-year contract, with Al-Hilal offering wages thought to be significantly more than his reported £180,000 per week deal at Arsenal.

Moses Itauma was still a schoolboy when he would turn up at boxing gyms in his uniform and give seasoned professionals a hiding On Saturday night at the O2 Arena, the 21-year-old was finally given an education, as the Briton ran out of gas and the granite experience of Filip Hrgovic carried the Croatian to the vacant IBF heavyweight title. The referee waved off the fight as Itauma's corner threw in the towel in the ninth round. But for long spells, Itauma was the quicker, sharper and more assured fighter, repeatedly finding Hrgovic with the left hand and showing exactly why so many inside boxing believe he has the tools to reach the very top. Yet what made the contest so compelling was the growing sense that, even while Itauma was winning rounds, he was drifting closer to defeat. His mouth opened in search of air and the spring disappeared from his legs. Hrgovic, hardened by the kind of difficult nights Itauma had never experienced, simply stayed there and waited for the younger man's body to betray him. The sight afterwards was a sobering one as Itauma - who suffered a first defeat in his 15th pro fight - left the arena on a stretcher, before being taken to hospital. "It's precautionary that he's gone to the hospital. That's what we always do to make sure because the most important thing is the boxer's health," promoter Frank Warren said. "He's done something to his leg as well and he was quite tired. It was a high paced, fast fight for both the guys." The remarkable night should not be remembered as the moment Itauma was exposed as incapable of operating at world level - his boxing showed the opposite. What it exposed was the difference between possessing world-level talent and having the conditioning, experience and ring craft required to manage a 12-round world-title fight.

Real Madrid maintained their 100 percent start to the La Liga season following a impressive 4-0 victory over Malaga in their third La Liga game of the 2026/2027 league season England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored a stylish goal to help Real Madrid beat Malaga in La Liga as returning boss Jose Mourinho racked up a third win in a row. Bellingham, who scored seven goals in the summer's World Cup as the Three Lions finished third, got the first of Sunday's match and his second of the season in the 19th minute. It came in superb fashion as he collected the ball 35 yards out and quickly dribbled past three players before shooting past Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero. Bellingham was heavily involved in Real's second goal seven minutes later as he headed at goal after Herrero parried a strike. The ball then bounced off the Malaga goalkeeper and over the line, with it credited as a Herrero own goal. Real made it 3-0 after only half an hour to kill the game as a contest. Trent Alexander-Arnold, left out of England's World Cup squad, recorded the assist, with his cross from the right superbly volleyed in by Kylian Mbappe. Real added a classy fourth goal in stoppage time at the end of the match when a quick break led to Vinicius Jr pulling the ball back from the byeline, with Arda Guler tapping in from close range. After the match, Mourinho called Bellingham an "incredible player" and added: "He is very demanding of himself and he is also demanding of others. I didn't want to see him defend almost like a second left-back." On the connection between Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Mbappe, Mourinho said: "Very, very good players want to play together always, because they have the same speed of thought, the same quality and they always have to be compatible. It was said that I didn't want the three, but what I say is that I always want the best. There is empathy and collective work. They are all very good." Mourinho returned to the Real Madrid head coach job in the summer, after previously being in charge from 2010 to 2013, winning the Copa del Rey in 2010-11 and La Liga the following season. Real sit top of the table on nine points, although Barcelona will join them on that total on Monday if they win at home against Rayo Vallecano.

Venus Williams lost her 15th singles match in a row as she was beaten by fellow American Sofia Kenin in a 2am finish at the US Open The 46-year-old very nearly took the first-round match into a deciding set, but 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin saved seven set points to win 6-2 7-6 (8-6). The match did not begin until 00:13 local time in New York as it followed Mariano Navone's five-set victory over Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was the latest starting match in US Open history, and there was barely 1,000 spectators left by the end. "It's not ideal. I would have preferred something else definitely. I think it wasn't great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best," Williams - who was given a wildcard to play her home Grand Slam tournament - said about the midnight start. "I just don't know any other sport where you have to start that late. I definitely think there's room for improvement there. I just kept pushing myself to try to find my best tennis and to find my rhythm. It's not easy to do in the first round. It's not easy to do it at 1am or 2am in the morning."

Unai Emery has insisted that there are no "good relations" between Chelsea and Aston Villa after a series of transfers between the clubs On Sunday Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea from Villa, completing the eighth deal between them in the past four years. Martinez's move to Chelsea comes after Nicolas Jackson's transfer the other way last week. No two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players, on permanent or loan deals, in the past four years. But Villa boss Emery said the relationship between the two clubs is "only through the deals for money". "Good relations? They want to kill us and we want to kill them! We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it's not a good relationship - it's a deal for money and a deal for players. I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea" he said. A series of deals betwen the clubs began after Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022 and signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20m that summer. Ian Maatsen (£37.5m, to Villa), Omari Kellyman (£19m, to Chelsea) and Axel Disasi (a £5m loan deal, to Villa) subsequently moved between the clubs. This summer alone has brought four more deals. Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m. Jackson then moved to Villa for £65m, before Martinez followed. Since 2022, Chelsea have paid Aston Villa £163.5m for players. Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players including Axel Disasi's loan fee. That figure could rise to £150.5m should certain criteria be met to make Garnacho's loan move permanent. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable.

Raphinha continued his strong start to the season as he helped Barcelona make it two wins from two in La Liga with victory over Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou The Brazil winger scored a wonderful goal - his third of the campaign - when he rounded Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon before Fermin Lopez secured the victory with eight minutes to go. Rodri also made his debut for Barcelona following his £65m move from Manchester City as a second-half substitute. Barcelona started on top at home as they looked to build on an opening victory against Elche. Hansi Flick's side had a number of early chances with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both going close. Former Leeds winger Raphinha, who had earlier hit the post, broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when he got past Athletic keeper Simon before finding the net after a through ball from Pedri. Athletic Club were struggling to create but Nico Williams shot wide from just outside of the area before the break. Anthony Gordon had a chance after the restart but he fired over the bar from inside the area. Lopez then had an effort well saved by Simon before Spain midfielder Rodri made his debut for Barcelona as he replaced goalscorer Raphinha just past the hour mark. Barcelona secured the three points when Lopez benefitted from some bad Athletic defending to score from close range and Flick's side made it a winning start at home this season.

UEFA is preparing criminal legal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the now scrapped plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and its other competitions to private investors Documents show an application has been made by European football's governing body requesting access to evidence and documents for use in proceedings in Switzerland against the embattled president himself, who UEFA accuses of "criminal mismanagement". UEFA also says it is considering pursuing criminal action against other Fifa officials. Shortly after this summer's World Cup, Infantino proposed creating a new company, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would have sold off stakes in FIFA's football competitions to private investors. The plan was scrapped after widespread backlash. In the application for evidence, UEFA said: "In truth, it was a vehicle for Infantino and that small circle to acquire a permanent stake in and otherwise profit from Fifa's most valuable assets to the detriment of Fifa, its members, and other parties within the football family," UEFA's application says. "Infantino pushed the plan through internal FIFA approval only days earlier at a hastily convened meeting where a limited number of FIFA's management officials and employees - some of whom had never heard of the plan - were given mere hours to sign off on an unprecedented multi-billion dollar scheme." Key figures at UEFA and in European football met today in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw, where Infantino's status was one item on the agenda. A statement sent to the media by UEFA said: "Those present unanimously mandated the UEFA president and administration to pursue every available institutional, political and legal avenue necessary to secure fundamental reform, restore proper limits on presidential authority and ensure that Fifa is once again governed as an institution – not around one individual."

Nottingham Forest have agreed a club-record fee worth around £50m to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical and sign a long-term contract at the City Ground this week. Delap's move comes a year after he joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town for £30m amid competition from Manchester United and Everton. However, Chelsea made him available for sale this summer after he scored just one Premier League goal in a previous campaign disrupted by shoulder and hamstring injuries. Forest have already signed defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for £34m, alongside free agents, Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager and goalkeeper Steve Benda. They sold England midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for a club-record £116m and striker Taiwo Awoniyi to Coventry City for £9m. Delap's arrival would provide competition for strikers Chris Wood and Igor Jesus, who failed to find the target in Forest's 1-0 defeat by Leeds in their home Premier League opener on Saturday. Chelsea have also signed two strikers this summer in Emmanuel Emegha from Strasbourg and Danny Welbeck from Brighton. Delap came up through Derby County's youth system before joining Manchester City in 2019. After helping City win the FA Youth Cup in the 2019-20 campaign, he scored 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 matches in 2020-21 as they won the title. In September 2020 the striker scored on his senior City debut in a 2-1 League Cup win against Bournemouth, and three days later made his Premier League debut in a 5-2 defeat by Leicester. Injuries played a part in limiting further first-team opportunities, and between 2022 and 2024 Delap spent time on loan in the Championship with Stoke, Preston North End and Hull City. In the summer of 2024 he was sold for £20m by City to Ipswich and scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for the newly promoted side.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw have won the Professional Footballers' Associations men's and women's player of the year awards Both were previously named the Football Writers' Association men's and women's footballers of the year for the 2025-26 season. Fernandes, who last season broke the record for the most assists in a single Premier League campaign with 21, is the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010. It is a second win in three seasons for Shaw, who secured her third consecutive Women's Super League (WSL) golden boot with 21 goals as Man City were crowned champions. City defender Nico O'Reilly succeeds Morgan Rogers as men's young player of the year, with the versatile 21-year-old cementing his place in the starting XI. He contributed eight goal involvements (five goals) and nine clean sheets in 34 league outings, scoring twice, and was named player of the match as City beat Arsenal in the League Cup final. Arsenal's Olivia Smith retained her crown as the women's young player of the year, becoming only the second player after England international Lauren Hemp, to win the award on multiple occasions. The Canada international, 22, scored 10 goals in all competitions after joining the Gunners for £1m last summer from Liverpool. Although it was another trophy-less campaign for Man United, Fernandes enjoyed individual success, surpassing Kevin de Bruyne and Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a Premier League campaign. Fernandes set up his side's opener on the final day of the season against Brighton – and scored their third – to finish 2025-26 with nine goals and 21 assists in 35 league outings. Man City's Rayan Cherki was the second-most prolific provider, with 12 assists. His haul helped United finish third and secure Champions League football. In total, the 31-year-old scored nine goals and contributed 22 assists in 37 matches in all competitions. Fernandes, who joined the club from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, beat Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya, and Declan Rice and Man City attackers Cherki and Erling Haaland to the award. He is only the second Portuguese to be named player of the year, following back-to-back wins for former Man United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 and 2008.

Manchester City have agreed to sign winger Allan Elias from Palmeiras in a deal worth up to £34.2m The 22-year-old Brazilian will come in as a replacement for compatriot Savinho, who looks set to join Tottenham. City are set to pay a fixed fee of £32m, plus £2.2m in add-ons, and a medical is scheduled to take place in the coming days. They remain in advanced talks to sell Egypt forward Omar Marmoush to Spurs, and sources with knowledge of the situation say there is a "good chance" the deal gets completed before the 1 September transfer deadline. Discussions are ongoing between the two clubs and there are some details yet to be agreed. Midfielder Nico Gonzalez may also depart Etihad Stadium before the end of the transfer window, with strong interest in the Spaniard from Newcastle.

Arsenal are in advanced talks with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal over the sale of Gabriel Martinelli for at least £50m The Brazil international, 25, is free to leave the club this summer, with manager Mikel Arteta making it clear the attacker is not in his plans. Discussions between the clubs have intensified in the last 24 hours, with a deal now close. If a final agreement is reached, it will be up to Martinelli - who has already turned down a move to Galatasaray - to decide whether he wants to play in the Saudi Pro League. The wage package Al-Hilal are offering is also understood to be significantly more than his reported £180,000-per-week deal at Arsenal. Martinelli, who joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019, has 12 months remaining on his deal at Emirates Stadium. He made 53 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 11 goals, as the Gunners won the Premier League title. But he was left out of the squad for their league opener against Coventry on Friday, which the Gunners won 3-0. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright was critical of Arteta's decision to omit Martinelli from the squad, as well as the club's treatment of the forward. Al-Hilal's interest in Martinelli runs alongside a move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. The England international did not feature in Aston Villa's opening weekend defeat by Brighton on Sunday, with manager Unai Emery refusing to guarantee the forward would stay at Villa Park.

Manchester United have signed Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a £70m deal The Old Trafford club have paid an initial £65m, plus a potential £5m in add-ons, for the 22-year-old, while Brighton have negotiated a sell-on clause. United targeted Baleba after deciding to strengthen their midfield further following the summer arrivals of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Baleba has signed a five year-contract at Old Trafford, with the option to extend for a further year. "It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams," he said. "Playing at Old Trafford is always special, but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour. I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick. His experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. "The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together." Baleba's move follows United's shock 2-0 defeat by Hull City in Saturday's Premier League opener, where Santos and Tielemans made their midfield debuts. United reignited their interest after attempting to sign him last year near deadline day, but were put off by Brighton's valuation, which was in excess of £100m. Baleba, who joined Brighton from Lille in 2023, is currently sidelined with an ankle injury he picked up during the Seagulls' pre-season training camp in Austria. He made 112 appearances for Brighton, scoring four times, and 31 in the Premier League last season as they finished eighth to qualify for this season's Conference League. The move has taken United's summer spending up to £153m as they prepare for a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Brazil winger Savinho from Manchester City for an initial £75m Savinho has joined Spurs on a long-term contract with Roberto de Zerbi’s side potentially paying a further £10m in add-ons. The 22-year-old’s move to north London has been more than 12 months in the making, with Spurs failing in a bid to sign him last summer. Savinho opted to remain at Etihad Stadium, but his game time was limited under Pep Guardiola last term when he made just seven Premier League starts. “It’s taken a while but I’m very happy to be here. It’s a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world. As soon as I spoke to the head coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team,” said Savinho. Savinho joined City from French side Troyes in a £30.8m deal in 2024 and has made 84 appearances for the club in total, scoring seven goals and providing 16 assists. The Brazil international joins Spurs following the arrivals of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, Sandro Tonali from Newcastle and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton this summer for a combined £312m. Spurs have also brought in defenders Marcos Senesi and Andrew Robertson in on free transfers and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. “Savio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions. He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity,” said De Zerbi. City also remain in advanced talks to sell Egypt forward Omar Marmoush to Spurs, and sources with knowledge of the situation say there is a “good chance” the deal gets completed before the 1 September transfer deadline.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says Vinicius Jr needs "great emotional control" after claiming the winger is being bullied on the pitch The 63‑year‑old's comments come after the Brazilian picked up an avoidable yellow card in a 2‑1 La Liga opening win over Espanyol for an argument with midfielder Cala in the first half. Vinicius Jr has been the target of regular abuse during his eight years at Real Madrid, including the night Mourinho was in the Benfica dugout when Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing the Brazilian - a claim the Argentine denied. "I run the risk of you going back months and pulling out my words when I was an opponent of Vini Jr. Now Vini Jr is mine. Vini Jr is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much," said Mourinho. Mourinho claims his star winger is being targeted by players to seek a reaction "from the first minute" and is "repeated" by all teams the Brazilian comes up against. "It's frustrating for him. He needs to have great emotional control," he said. After receiving the yellow card in Mourinho's first competitive match of his second Real Madrid spell, the Portuguese told Vinicius Jr to consider how his actions on the pitch can ignite reactions in the stands. "I spoke to him at half-time, and I even told him in detail: 'If you score a goal, be careful how you celebrate it so I can keep you on the field.' It's tough. We're in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vini Jr, we're still in the bullying era, whether it's from opponents or the crowd," he said. "We need to educate him as much as possible and prepare him as much as possible. And that's it."

Mohamed Salah scored twice on his first Turkish Super Lig start for Trabzonspor - and almost had a hat-trick - as they beat Istanbul Basaksehir The 34-year-old Egypt forward left Liverpool on a free transfer this summer, having scored 257 goals for the club in nine years. Having initially been expected to move to Saudi Arabia, he instead joined the Turkish team on a two-year deal, earning £280,000 a week. This was his third appearance for Trabzonspor, having come off the bench against Kasimpasa last weekend and started in their Europa League play-off first-leg defeat by Ferencvaros. And he got off the mark for his new club after taking the ball off away goalkeeper Muhammed Sengezer before scoring via a deflection and the inside of the post. After Eldor Shomurodov had levelled from the spot, Salah restored his side's lead with a first-time finish from 10 yards out. The veteran was shown a yellow card for diving when going down in the box with 11 minutes to go. And he thought he had a hat-trick in injury time when he scored into an empty net from 45 yards but he was ruled offside.

The football with which Diego Maradona scored his famous 'hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for £2.5m Maradona famously punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final win over England. After the game, he told reporters it had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God". Maradona later scored what became known as the 'goal of the century' in the same game, dribbling past five England outfield players before slotting the ball past Shilton. Though it sold for $3.3m (£2.5m) at Heritage Auctions in the United States on Saturday, the ball had been expected to fetch nearer $10m (£7.3m). Speaking to Reuters before the auction, Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage, said: "It's a true one-of-one item. Arguably the most significant soccer item that exists." Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser, who refereed the match in 1986, collected the Adidas Azteca ball at full-time and kept it for more than three decades. In 2023, he signed a letter to confirm it was the only ball used during the match, which has also been confirmed by further independent authentication. Bin Nasser sold the ball in 2022 for $2.37m (£1.74m). Its new owner again put it up for auction in 2023 though it did not sell as bids did not meet the minimum value set. The shirt worn by Maradona during the same match sold for £7.1m at auction in 2022.

Serena Williams will team up with Carlos Alcaraz for the US Open mixed doubles this coming week The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made her return to tennis in June, four years after "evolving away" from the sport. She has played three doubles matches since her return and made her singles comeback at Wimbledon, losing in three sets to Maya Joint. However, Serena will not feature in the singles in New York City as the final wildcard place was awarded to American Sofia Kenin. Serena lost in the doubles with elder sister Venus at the Cincinnati Open on Monday in her first match since injuring her knee at Wimbledon. Seven-time major winner Alcaraz is set to play for the first time in over four months following a wrist injury. The pair, who have a combined 44 singles and doubles Grand Slams, have been given a wildcard into the main draw of the competition. The US Open mixed doubles was controversially revamped last year to include singles stars in a bid to attract more attention to the format. The top six pairs with the best combined singles rankings have received direct entry into the main draw, with another eight receiving wildcards. Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori are the only doubles specialist pairing to receive a main-draw wildcard. The other pairings - including Britain's number one Henry Patten alongside top-ranked women's player Katerina Siniakova - will have to come through an eight-team qualifying round. The competition takes place from 24-26 August, finishing four days before the singles draw begins. Other high-profile pairings include world number one Aryna Sabalenka with 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, American pair Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz, and six-time major champion Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud. Ukraine's Elina Svitolina has paired up with husband Gael Monfils in the Frenchman's final Grand Slam before retirement. The tournament was revamped last year to include more pairings involving singles players - something that was criticised by a number of doubles specialists. A shorter scoring system was introduced, with only four games required to win a set in matches before the final, no 'advantage' scoring and 10-point match tie-breaks instead of a third set throughout. The tournament was also tweaked to place over two days in the week before the main draw began. Italians Errani and Vavassori - the only doubles specialist pairing invited to compete last year - last year issued a joint statement criticising the "profoundly wrong" move. However, the pair ended up walking away with the title - and $1m in prize money - and said afterwards they had "completed their mission".

New signing Carlos Espi scores a late winner as Jose Mourinho begins his Real Madrid return with a win at Espanyol Jose Mourinho's first competitive match of his second spell as Real Madrid manager ended with a thrilling 90th-minute winner from his side at Espanyol. The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when England midfielder Jude Bellingham headed in Arda Guler's wide free-kick. But Espanyol levelled in the 30th minute through summer signing Cala, who tapped in Javi Hernandez's cut-back at the far post. Real dominated for much of the encounter and twice hit the woodwork before their dramatic late winner from debutant Carlos Espi. Bellingham had another powerful header tipped on to the bar by Espanyol keeper Marko Dmitrovic, while Federico Valverde's curling effort hit the base of the post. But the Spanish giants brought on talent from the bench to change the outcome, including summer signings Espi, Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande - Real's record signing from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to £120m - and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Espi, who joined from Levante for £21m, struck after Diomande had found Kylian Mbappe in the box and the ball fell invitingly for the Spanish forward to calmly finish. After being frustrated by his side's inability to break down the hosts, the victory delighted Mourinho, who was named Real manager on a three-year deal in July, and started new signings Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva. His previous spell began in 2010 and lasted three seasons, yielding a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. The 63-year-old Mourinho has won 26 major official trophies across his managerial career, including three Premier League titles with Chelsea and Champions League titles at both Porto and Inter Milan. Real have failed to win a trophy in their past two seasons and parted ways with Xabi Alonso in January, before Alvaro Arbeloa led them through to the end of the campaign in a temporary spell.

Hull City stunned Manchester United on a dream return to the Premier League after nine years away with a first ever top-flight win against their shell-shocked visitors United came into the season high on confidence after their end to the 2025-26 campaign under Michael Carrick, where they finished third to qualify for the Champions League, and some new summer signings. But it was Sergej Jakirovic's Tigers - promoted through the play-offs last season - who impressed on their home turf with two defenders on the scoresheet. Semi Ajayi gave them the lead when he lashed in after Oli McBurnie's initial effort was tipped on to the post by United keeper Senne Lammens. And fellow defender and club-record signing Nobel Mendy scored on his debut when he headed in from Regan Slater's free-kick to seal a superb success in their first Premier League game since a 7-1 home loss by Tottenham in May 2017. Tigers keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was not as busy as he might have expected, but made five saves, including one to stop a Bryan Mbeumo effort late on.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after he played the ball. Sullivan reacted angerily to the slap, but the referee quickly intervened. The MLS confirmed Messi had been fined, but did not reveal the amount. Messi scored Miami's second goal at Subaru Park, finding the back of the net for the first time since his father passed away. The Argentina international was not the only one to clash with Sullivan, as Miami's Ian Fray was also fined by the MLS. Fray grabbed the neck of Sullivan after both players got tangled up with one another when Sullivan lost his footing in the box. A bad-tempered game ended with two red cards as Miami's Yannick Bright and Sullivan's brother Cavan were both sent off in stoppage time. Cavan's one-game suspension, however, has now been rescinded after review. Miami are currently second in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind leaders Nashville. Messi is back in Miami having been in Argentina for the funeral of his father, who was also his agent. Jorge Messi died aged 68 following a long illness, and in a tribute to his father, Messi suggested he may not continue playing football for much longer.

Mikel Arteta has played down the severity of Bruno Guimaraes and his groin problem after the midfielder missed Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Coventry City on Friday Guimaraes was pictured with ice strapped to his right leg after being forced off in last weekend’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City and was sidelined for the beginning of the Gunners’ Premier League title defence at Emirates Stadium. Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard secured a comfortable triumph for Arteta’s side and afterwards, the Gunners boss dismissed unconfirmed reports that Guimarães could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. “We expect that not to be weeks at all. Let’s see how he evolves this week. He didn’t even want to stop. He wanted to carry on. Now we start to understand the character of the player, but I don’t expect that to be a big issue,” Arteta said of the club’s £75 million summer signing from Newcastle. Arteta hailed the impact of another new signing, Christos Tzolis, on his home debut after a £34m move from Club Brugge. The winger won the ball back for Havertz’s opener and assisted Saka for Arsenal’s second goal in a lively display which earned him a warm ovation when substituted on 76 minutes. “I love that a player that has been with us just for a few weeks gets this kind of energy every time he’s on the ball,” said Arteta. “I think he’s earned it. I think the way he has performed in the last few games has been phenomenal. “What he transmits as a player is so direct, so incisive, constantly. He wants to make things happen and he has an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres. I think it’s up to him to make the right decisions. Even the spaces are sometimes really, really small. I’m very happy with him. “It was great because the start is always tricky; we played a team that had a long time to prepare as well, and they are really good at what they do, but I’ve been really impressed with what I saw today (Friday night).”

Brazil international Joao Pedro has signed a new contract with Chelsea until 2034 Pedro arrived the Stamford Bridge in July 2025 from Brighton & Hove Albion. The striker made an immediate impact, scoring in the Club World Cup semi-finals and final as the Blues were crowned world champions. The 24-year-old netted 20 goals in all competitions and ended the 2025/26 campaign as the supporters’ Player of the Season. “I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea. I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club. Chelsea has a long tradition of winning and it has big ambitions for the future,” Pedro told the club’s official website. “I have a very good relationship with everyone here at the club and I have felt at home here in London from the moment that I joined. Everyone is very excited for this season. We know we can achieve a lot of things, we have a great team, we have a coach who wants to win and has won already. I am fully committed, everyone is ready and hopefully we can achieve our targets.”

Two-time world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in South Africa The 38‑year‑old was killed in what has been described as an ambush in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape on Friday. Officials said Tete was in his car waiting for the gate to his house to open when two armed suspects in balaclavas emerged from a vehicle and fired "multiple shots" at him and a 27‑year‑old female passenger, who remains in hospital. South Africa's minister of sport, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie, said: "South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced." The two suspects fled the scene and a major investigation has been launched, McKenzie added. Tete held the WBO bantamweight title from 2017 to 2019, as well as the IBF super-flyweight title in 2014. Tete beat Liverpool's Paul Butler in 2015 in one of the eight times he fought in the United Kingdom. He also holds a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight, ending his match with Siboniso Gonya inside 11 seconds in 2017. Tete last fought in July 2022, beating Briton Jason Cunningham by knockout In London, but it was later ruled a no-contest after he failed a drugs test. He tested positive for anabolic steroid stanozolol and was given a four-year ban by the UK Anti-Doping Agency. His ban ended on 29 July, 2026 and after his death, manager Mla Tengimfene confirmed he had been training for a comeback fight. Tete had 29 wins in 34 fights, with four losses and one no-contest.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to action with a goal as Al Nassr cruised to a 4-0 victory over Al Riyadh on Friday The Portugal captain came off the bench and put the finishing touch on a dominant performance from Al Nassr, scoring in the 83rd minute following a brilliant assist from Yahya. The goal was his 977th career goal, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday Ronaldo had been absent from the starting lineup in Al Nassr’s previous match and watched from the stands as his side defeated Al Fateh on Saturday. Al Nassr took the lead in the 18th minute when Al Amri found the net, giving the away side an early advantage. Angelo doubled Al Nassr’s lead, scoring in the 46th minute before Joao Felix made it 3-0 in the 58th minute. Ronaldo then completed the rout in the 83rd minute, capping his return with a goal and helping Al Nassr secure another convincing victory. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s return provides another boost for Al Nassr as the club continues its push for success in Saudi football.

World number one Jannik Sinner confirmed on Friday he will not compete in the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, because of a right knee injury “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year. We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue,” the Italian said in a statement. The five-time Grand Slam winner has not played since winning Wimbledon on July 12, pulling out of US Open warm-up hard court tournaments in Cincinnati and Montreal. “I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there,” said the 24-year-old who won the US Open in 2024 but lost last year’s final to Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner will remain in Europe and continue his recovery with the aim of being ready for the Asian swing and the tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai. He had been dominating the 2026 season with an impressive record of 44 wins against three losses and six titles won, including Wimbledon. However, he suffered a major disappointment at the French Open, where he arrived as the overwhelming favourite but crashed out in the second round after suffering in the heatwave. On Thursday, his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz, announced that he would return to competition at the US Open following a more than four-month absence due to a wrist injury.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab have confirmed the signing of Ghana international Thomas Partey The former Arsenal midfielder, who made 167 appearances for the Gunners between 2020 and 2025, became a free agent this summer when Villarreal decided against extending his expiring contract. The 33-year-old is scheduled to stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. During this summer's World Cup, Partey was denied entry to Canada before Ghana's opening match of the tournament against Panama because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK. Partey wrongly told officials he had never been arrested or charged with a crime. He went on to play in Ghana's other three games at the tournament as they lost in the last 32 stage to Colombia. Al-Shabab, whose squad contains former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill and ex-Wolves winger Daniel Podence, finished 13th last season in the Saudi Pro League and lost their opening match this term.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says it will be hard to find the "perfect set-up" to fit Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham into the same team, but insists the trio are not "incompatible" After last season was overshadowed by chaos, amid fan unrest and allegations of players fighting at the Bernabeu, Mourinho will need all three of his stars if Los Blancos want to reclaim the Spanish title from a Barcelona team who have won the past two. However, the 63‑year‑old, whose return to Real for a second stint in charge was confirmed in June, admitted he faces a "difficult" task in fitting all three players into the same starting eleven. Speaking to the media before Real's La Liga opener against Espanyol on Saturday, Mourinho said: "They are incredible players and incredible players want to play with incredible players. Top players have frustration when they play with teammates who are not top. "The best want to play with the best. After the tactical adjustments, it might be a little bit more difficult," he added. Before facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final last season, Jude Bellingham said "it can be difficult" to be at his individual best when he, Mbappe and Vinicius are all on the pitch together. "It's difficult, because I still feel like there have been many games where we've mixed really well," Bellingham said when asked about combining with his star team-mates. It can be difficult when we're all on the same side. We're fluid, we have freedom to move around, at times that can disorganise a bit, but with both of them, you have to trust in their ability." Mourinho said England's Bellingham, France's Mbappe and Brazil's Vinicius all played in "perfect" roles for their countries during the World Cup, but admitted replicating that in Madrid this season will be a tougher task. "It's harder for Mourinho to find the perfect set-up for all three. It's harder. But here we are. I want all three of them to feel comfortable on the field together," he said. "I'm very confident that you'll say it's great when the three play together because they're high-quality players, and I don't think their positions are incompatible either. I'm very confident that we're going to have a great season with them."

Tottenham have agreed a deal with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho for £75m, with a further £10m in potential add-ons Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has been given a 10-match ban for the role he played in on-field clashes after his side were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Fifa's disciplinary committee has also handed his team-mate Nahuel Molina a seven-match suspension. Argentina have also been ordered to play their next two home matches with 50% capacity, though one match of that sanction is suspended. The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) has been fined $321,000 for breaches of the Fifa disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters. Fifa have ordered that $100,000 of the fine must be invested in a plan to combat discrimination - and $100,000 of the fine is suspended, with a probationary period to apply. After defeating England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final, several Argentina players held up a banner claiming Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory. Last month, Fifa appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened after the final whistle at the New York New Jersey Stadium, when multiple Argentina players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players. As well as their suspensions, Paredes and Molina will both pay fines of $90,000. Paredes grabbed Eric Garcia by the throat and wrestled Spain's Gavi to the ground, before appearing to strike the latter in the face. Gavi - who said he did not think Paredes should be punished - will serve a one-match suspension and pay a fine of $30,000 for his part in the post-match confrontations, as will Argentina's Thiago Almada. Roberto Ayala, a member of Argentina's coaching staff, has been given a three-match suspension and a fine of $30,000 for striking Spain's Dani Olmo in the face. The match suspensions will only be enforced in international fixtures. The AFA said it will appeal the sanctions, and if unsuccessful will take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). There were many elements of Argentina's behaviour around the World Cup final that left a sour taste – now world governing body Fifa has come down hard on those it feels were responsible. A 10-match ban for experienced central midfielder Paredes and seven matches for Molina, who punch man of the match Rodri as he ran to celebrate Spain's success. In addition, the fine of $321,000 includes a punishment for the Argentina team unveiling a "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" – the Malvinas are Argentinian – banner following their semi-final triumph against England. It is a significant punishment, underlining how annoyed Fifa are at having their showpiece occasion, broadcast to an estimated 1.5bn people globally, tarnished by such awful scenes. Argentina have been one of the world's best teams for some time. Today shows them to be one of the worst behaved.

Tottenham have agreed a deal with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho for £75m, with a further £10m in potential add-ons Savinho, 22, will now have a medical before signing a long-term deal with Spurs. The Brazilian's move to north London has been more than 12 months in the making, with Spurs failing in a bid to sign him last summer. Savinho opted to remain at Etihad Stadium, but his game time was limited under Pep Guardiola last term when he made just seven Premier League starts. Having spent a combined £185m on midfielders Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi is looking to strengthen his side's attack. But Spurs are unlikely to end their spending here, with sources telling BBC Sport talks for Savinho's City team-mate Omar Marmoush are progressing positively. The Egypt forward, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell down the pecking order at City last season. Spurs also remain interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but it is unclear whether they could finance a deal for the Netherlands attacker as well as moves for Marmoush and Savinho. Savinho's arrival will push Spurs' spending this summer past £300m, although they have recouped about £140m through the sales of Cristian Romero, Djed Spence and Luka Vuskovic. Tottenham kick off their Premier League campaign at Brentford on Saturday, while City host Bournemouth on Sunday. Savinho's output at Manchester City makes Tottenham's decision to invest heavily in him look curious at first glance. The Brazilian, who last October signed a contract extension to 2031 at City, has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists. In the Premier League, the winger has scored just twice over his two seasons at the Etihad. But those numbers tell only part of the story of a player who joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in 2024. Savinho's reputation was built during a breakout 2023-24 campaign with Girona, where he was on loan from Troyes, when he became one of La Liga's most dangerous ball carriers. He featured in 37 league matches as Girona secured Champions League qualification for the first time, registering nine goals and eight assists across his various attacking roles.

Arsenal made the perfect start to their Premier League title defence with a stylish 3-0 win against Coventry in the opening game of the season on Friday Mikel Arteta’s side brushed aside promoted Coventry in emphatic fashion at the Emirates Stadium, underlining their determination to retain the title. Kai Havertz struck early in the first half, and Bukayo Saka doubled the lead before Martin Odegaard netted after the interval to complete Arsenal’s masterclass. The Gunners have not successfully defended the English title since the 1930s, but Arteta insisted this week his players are hungry for more silverware. Just 89 days after rounding off their title-winning campaign with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace in May, the champions showed no signs of being sated by that long-awaited triumph as they put Coventry to the sword. The only downside for Arsenal was the realisation they have to wait 10 days for their next game at Aston Villa. Worryingly for Arsenal’s rivals, they are only getting stronger and new signing Ezri Konsa was given a warm welcome when he was presented to fans before kick-off. The England defender completed his £51 million ($69 million) move from Villa earlier on Friday and could make his debut against his old club on August 31. Greek winger Christos Tzolis dazzled on his first league start for Arsenal after his close-season move from Club Brugge. Fellow new signing Bruno Guimaraes was hardly missed after being sidelined by an injury suffered in last weekend’s Community Shield win over Manchester City. Coventry were playing their first Premier League game since 2001 after winning the Championship last season to end their long exile from the top-flight. Having spent a season in the fourth tier, plunged into administration and twice been forced to ground-share away from Coventry in the 25 years since they were last in the Premier League, the return of Frank Lampard’s side was a feel-good moment. But Arsenal had no room for sentiment as they dispatched Coventry in merciless style. In their first home league game since being crowned champions last season, Arsenal strode onto the pitch with the acclaim of the sell-out 60,000 crowd ringing in their ears. The party atmosphere created by Arsenal’s jubilant fans in north London was a fitting backdrop to a swaggering performance. Tzolis, who provided two assists in the Community Shield, nearly bagged his first Arsenal goal in the opening minutes, firing just over from Odegaard’s pass. He went close again moments later with a close-range effort that was cleared off the line by Bobby Thomas. It was no surprise when Arsenal took the lead ruthlessly after 15 minutes. Coventry defender Milan van Ewijk surrendered possession carelessly on the right flank, and Riccardo Calafiori pounced, whipping in a cross that Havertz met with a clinical low strike from just inside the penalty area. Arteta’s rampant team scented blood and went for the kill in the 23rd minute. Rice and Odegaard exchanged passes to work the ball out to Tzolis, whose cross was pushed out by Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth into the path of Saka for a simple close-range finish. Coventry had been reduced to helpless bystanders by Arsenal’s ceaseless pressing and clever movement. If it was not already over, Odegaard put the result beyond doubt in the 49th minute. Saka and Ben White teamed up to rip through the Coventry defence before Odegaard’s miscued shot from 10 yards was scuffed past Rushworth’s weak attempted save.

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a double deal for forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush According to reports, negotiations between the clubs are progressing, although an agreement has yet to be reached. Spurs' interest in Brazilian winger Savinho dates back to 2025, when the 22-year-old opted to remain at Etihad Stadium. But he was limited to just seven starts in the Premier League last season, and is now minded to leave the club after joining for a £30m fee in 2024 from French club Troyes. Marmoush, a £59m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025, fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola in 2025-26 and the 27-year-old managed eight goals in 36 appearances in all competitions. City's valuation for the pair is unclear, but the club would expect to make a significant profit on both. Tottenham head coach Roberto de Zerbi has revamped his midfield this summer, signing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a combined £185m. But the Italian has stressed the need to strengthen his attack following the side's 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last term, scoring just 48 goals in 38 games. Spurs remain interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but it is unclear whether the club could finance a deal for the Netherlands international as well as moves for Marmoush and Savinho. City have already sold a host of players this summer, including Rodri, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and second-choice goalkeeper James Trafford. Spurs kick off their Premier League campaign away at Brentford on Saturday, while City host Bournemouth on Sunday.

Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Former world number 13 Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended, external since 4 August. The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension "but has not done so to date". In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made "a huge mistake" and takes "full responsibility" for it. Under the suspension, Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men's and women's tennis tours pending the outcome of a tribunal. Kyrgios could be banned for up to four years - but if he can prove he took the drug outside of a competition, the maximum ban he would face is three months. The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with knee and wrist injuries in recent years. He last played in the men's doubles at Wimbledon, where he and partner Alexander Bublik lost in the first round. In a lengthy statement on Instagram, Kyrgios said the last few years of injuries had taken "a huge toll on me, both mentally and physically". "My body hasn't been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did," he wrote. Kyrgios said he would be stepping away from social media and public life for the next 28 days to "focus on getting myself right". Cocaine is classified as a stimulant and substance of abuse on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. Reduced sanctions apply for athletes who test positive for the substance out of competition. However, Kyrgios' sample was submitted during a tournament in which he played singles, ultimately losing in the first round to Adam Walton. "I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself," Kyrgios added. His behaviour on court has been widely criticised and he has been given numerous large fines for smashing racquets, making audible obscenities and arguing with the umpire. In 2023, he admitted assaulting an ex-girlfriend two years earlier. He avoided a criminal conviction. He was criticised further for making a series of comments which have been considered misogynistic. In 2024 he shared a post from controversial influencer Andrew Tate. He later said he had gone "to all lengths" to distance himself from the self-proclaimed misogynist. Kyrgios was also critical of the handling of two high-profile anti-doping cases involving top players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, calling them "disgusting" for tennis. Kyrgios has won seven ATP Tour singles titles and reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic. He and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis won the Australian Open men's doubles title together in 2022. Kyrgios has also spoken about his struggles with mental health, saying he "genuinely contemplated" suicide and spent time in a psychiatric hospital in London after losing at Wimbledon in 2019.

Arsenal have agreed a deal worth more than £50m to sign Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa The England international is set to have a medical before completing his move to Emirates Stadium. Last week, Arsenal reopened talks with Villa over a deal for Konsa but still fell short of reaching an agreement. The Gunners then appeared to pivot to Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah. However, Arsenal refocused their efforts on Konsa and have now struck a deal for the player with Villa. The 28-year-old, who joined the Villans in July 2019, has made 286 appearances over the past seven seasons. Konsa featured 48 times last term in all competitions, scoring two goals and contributing one assist, as Unai Emery's side lifted the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League football for 2026-27. Konsa has not featured at all during Aston Villa's pre‑season, including the 2‑1 defeat to Paris St‑Germain in the Uefa Super Cup, after Emery gave him four weeks off following the World Cup. He played in every game of England's World Cup run as the Three Lions finished third. Speaking after the final warm‑up match against Borussia Monchengladbach, Emery explained the absence of Konsa, Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins, saying: "They are joining us after this match."

Spain’s World Cup-winning captain Rodri said he was ready to “feel that excitement again” after completing his move to Barcelona from Premier League side Manchester City on Tuesday In a statement on their website, the La Liga champions said the 30-year-old has signed a deal that will run until 2030, bringing an end to one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer. After two failed bids, Barca and Man City reached a deal on Sunday, which a source from the English club told AFP would go up to 76.5 million euros ($88.6 million), including bonuses. Rodri then arrived in the Catalan capital the following day to thresh out personal terms with his new club. “I’m very happy and excited about this new stage in my career. It’s a fresh challenge, a chance to experience new things and feel that excitement again,” Rodri said during his unveiling on Tuesday. After seven trophy-laden years at Man City, the former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal player was reported to be close to joining Real Madrid, before finally opting for their arch-rivals. The midfielder has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but shone as Spain won their second World Cup in North America last month. Despite Barca’s recent dominance of La Liga, they have failed to lift European club football’s biggest trophy since 2015, when the club’s star-studded attack of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez fired them to their fifth Champions League title. “It’s a pleasure to be at Barca. I’ll give 100 percent of everything I have. I’m here to compete for everything, for big things like the Champions League. I’ve come to a hugely ambitious club that really suits my personality, so I’ll try to help in every way I can to achieve our objectives this season,” Rodri said. To help him achieve these goals is a Camp Nou dressing room replete with familiar faces from Rodri’s Euro 2024 and World Cup successes with Spain, including Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo. He will also join up with new teammates, widemen Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, after the pair joined Barcelona earlier in the close season. One of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants at City, Rodri said he believed his new coach at Barcelona, Hansi Flick, would “bring a lot to my career”. “(Flick has) a style that I think is somewhat different from what I’ve experienced before, so it will be enriching and help me grow as a player,” he added. Rodri was a vital figure for Guardiola during their time together at the Etihad Stadium, leading City to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies. “I am leaving the club with a huge sense of pride about what we have achieved and gratitude too for so many amazing memories. What we have done together in these years is something both very special and unforgettable,” Rodri said in a statement on City’s website.

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala says he is being treated for a "neurological dysfunction" after collapsing during a match for the second time in a four-day period On Tuesday, Musiala collapsed six minutes after coming off the bench in Bayern's 4-2 friendly victory at Heidenheim. The 23-year-old appeared dazed as he received medical treatment and was helped off the pitch. The incident occurred after he collapsed during Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over RB Leipzig in Munich. Musiala later posted a statement on Instagram to ease fears about the situation. "I've been diagnosed with temporary, brief, but easily treatable absence seizures, which are due to a neurological dysfunction. These can lead to the recent episodes, like the one against Leipzig or now in Heidenheim. I know they seem scary at first glance - but for me, they're currently just part of my everyday life. I'm receiving excellent medical treatment and am very optimistic. FC Bayern and my family and friends are always by my side and supporting me on this journey," he explained. Following Tuesday's game, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl had said the player would be speaking about the matter later, adding: "We knew about it and we are aware of the situation. Jamal will speak out. He's in the dressing room, getting changed and taking a shower." Musiala missed the first six months of last season after breaking his ankle at the 2025 Club World Cup, but returned in the second half of the campaign and started three of Germany's four games at the 2026 World Cup.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has said he is set to start negotiations to extend his contract with the Bundesliga champions beyond 2027 Speaking at a media day in Munich, the 33-year-old England captain told reporters the discussions had been delayed until after he returned from a post-World Cup holiday, but would begin soon. “I’m not sure exactly when, but they’ll start this week or next week. We’re calm, they’re calm with the situation. Obviously now’s the time to start talking, because with only a year left it’s important. But both sides are relaxed and I’m pretty sure there’ll be talks this week or next week,” Kane said of the extension talks. Kane arrived at Bayern on a four-year deal in 2023 and has won two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup, while making the Champions League semi-finals in two out of three seasons. He has scored a remarkable 146 goals in 147 games in all competitions for Bayern. Bayern have repeatedly said they want to extend Kane’s deal at the club, having called the former Spurs striker their “best transfer ever” at the end of last season. German media reported Kane’s new deal would run until at least 2029. On Tuesday, German World Cup winner Lothar Matthaeus said Kane should be the favourite for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in October. Matthaeus, who won the award in 1991, said Kane “deserves” the award more than any other player after a stellar season, in which he scored 61 goals in 51 games. “(Kane) delivered outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn’t have a single weak spell,” Matthaeus wrote in a column for Sky Germany. Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern play at Borussia Dortmund in the season-opening Super Cup on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo says this season is likely to be his last as a player after a glittering career The 41-year-old married his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Tuesday and is contemplating a future orientated around his family. A five-time Ballon d'Or and five-time Champions League winner, Ronaldo has won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia and is the all-time top goalscorer in men's international football. The Portugal captain has spent almost four years at Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr, where he has one year remaining on his contract. "This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy. I have my future all mapped out. I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one," Ronaldo told Vogue in an interview about his wedding. "Have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I've earned - what we've earned.Because after all it's been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice." Ronaldo is 24 goals away from scoring 1,000 senior career goals. His long-time rival Lionel Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or accolade a record eight times, recently also said he was unsure how much longer he would continue playing football. The players' respective World Cup campaigns could hardly have looked more different as Messi scored eight goals and led Argentina all the way to the final, while Ronaldo's Portugal bowed out in the round of 16. Asked in July whether his sixth World Cup would be his last, Ronaldo said he would decide "with a calm head" in a conversation with his family. Al-Nassr opened their Saudi Pro League title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday and Ronaldo did not play, but he watched the champions win from the stands with his family.

Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City for about £65m The 30-year-old, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, is set to sign a four-year deal with the Spanish champions. The transfer is expected to be completed in the coming days. Rodri made 298 appearances across seven trophy-laden seasons at City after joining them from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club record £62.8m. He missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue. However, he was back to his best at the World Cup in the summer, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament. Rodri leaves City having won 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23. Last week City rejected Barca's opening offer of £38.5m for Rodri, who was set to enter the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium. It had looked like Real Madrid would be his next destination but La Liga rivals Barcelona stepped up their efforts to complete the signing in recent days. Speaking after City's defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, new boss Enzo Maresca said: "Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or. "He's a top player, all the teams need a Rodri, so it's not about if we miss Rodri or not."

Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 victory over tournament debutants Malawi to claim their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title Marie Ngah Manga’s close-range header put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead in the 20th minute and Naomi Eto doubled the lead with a stunning volley on the half hour mark in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The Central Africans made it 3-0 in the third minute of first-half added time as Eto rounded Malawi goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo and put the ball on a plate for striker Ngah Manga. Malawi, the lowest-ranked side at WAFCON 2026 at 153rd in the world, reached the final on the back of the attacking prowess of the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa. However, the two Scorchers stars were well marshalled by the Cameroon defence, who ensured that the Southern Africans were unable to secure a fairy tale ending to their unexpected run at the tournament. Ngah Manga missed a glorious chance to complete her hat-trick three minutes into the second half when she went past Sikelo but fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping. The Scorchers had their best chance just after the hour mark as Cameroon keeper Michaely Bihina saved a low effort from Tabitha Chawinga before her younger sibling turned and fired the rebound wide. Cameroon’s triumph is all the more remarkable given the Indomitable Lionesses missed the 2024 edition of WAFCON and failed to qualify for these finals, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Algeria in their second round tie. However, the Central Africans advanced to the tournament on the strength of their world ranking after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expanded the finals from 12 to 16 teams. Cameroon, who previously lost three WAFCON finals, pick up $2m (£1.48m) in prize money and become just the fourth side to win the title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. Both sides will feature at the 2027 Women’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow WAFCON semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.

Arsenal powered to a 3-0 win against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, delivering a swaggering statement of intent ahead of their Premier League title defence Mikel Arteta’s side used the annual curtain raiser to the English top-flight season as an opportunity to prove their long-awaited title triumph has done nothing to sate their appetite for success. The Gunners took just 24 seconds to show new City boss Enzo Maresca the standard required to keep up with the champions. Riccardo Calafiori’s quick-fire opening goal was followed by a clinical Kai Havertz header before half-time. Arsenal overwhelmed sloppy City with their trademark intensity and Martin Odegaard netted after the interval to cap a resounding victory. The glamour friendly at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium also allowed Arteta to parade Arsenal’s close-season recruits. Bruno Guimaraes, signed from Newcastle for £75 million ($101 million), slotted into midfield with ease, while Christos Tzolis, lured from Club Brugge for £34 million, gave a lively display including two assists. The north Londoners will start a campaign as champions for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Already installed as favourites to win their first successive English titles since the 1930s, Arsenal look primed for a sustained spell as the Premier League’s preeminent force. Their vibrant performance was the perfect warm-up before promoted Coventry visit the Emirates Stadium for the opening game of the Premier League season on August 21. It was a dispiriting wake-up call for Maresca, who will have noted how much more dynamic and cohesive Arsenal looked compared to his spluttering team. Pep Guardiola won 20 trophies in a glorious decade in Manchester, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his farewell season, but City haven’t won the title since 2024 and finished seven points behind Arsenal in second place last term. Hand-picked to succeed Guardiola after quitting Chelsea in January following a turbulent reign lasting less than two seasons, Maresca now knows it will take a huge effort to close the gap on Arsenal, starting with City’s opener at home to Bournemouth on August 23. Arteta believes his players are still “hungry” for trophies, with their painful Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in May providing motivation for this season. The Gunners took less than a minute to underline Arteta’s point with a beautifully crafted opener. Myles Lewis-Skelly featured in Arsenal’s midfield despite being linked to Chelsea and Manchester United and the teenager showed why he is in demand with a deft pass that split the City defence. Calafiori surged onto Lewis-Skelly’s ball, evading City’s woeful marking to slot a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma from 12 yards. The left-back’s goal was the quickest in the Community Shield since 1968 and rampant Arsenal struck again in the 27th minute. Martin Odegaard was gifted space to float a cross to the far post and Tzolis, left unmarked by Abdukodir Khusanov, headed it back into the six-yard box, where Havertz climbed above Ruben Dias to nod home. In his first showpiece occasion for City after his £116 million move from Nottingham Forest, England midfielder Elliot Anderson struggled to exert any influence. City talisman Erling Haaland was largely anonymous, wasting two good chances in the first half. Arsenal captain Odegaard showed his Norway teammate how to do it three minutes after half-time. Tzolis rolled a pass into Odegaard’s path and he slalomed through the City defence before leaving Donnarumma embarrassed with a clever dummy and close-range finish. Only City, in 2019, have gone onto become Premier League champions among the previous 15 winners of the Community Shield. On the evidence of their stroll in the Cardiff sunshine, Arsenal’s 18th Community Shield victory won’t be the last silverware lifted by Odegaard this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Al Nassr training in Riyadh sporting a striking copper-yellow hairstyle, days after marrying longtime partner Georgina Rodríguez in a private ceremony in Portugal following Portugal’s exit from the 2026 World Cup The Portuguese forward posted photos of himself in the club’s training kit on his social media accounts on Thursday, captioning the images simply “Back 🟡🔵”. The pictures showed the 41-year-old with a new copper-yellow hair, a clear departure from the dark brown style he had worn for years, including during Portugal’s World Cup campaign. Ronaldo rejoined the squad after Portugal’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the team was eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16. He was granted additional time off by Al Nassr following the tournament and his private civil wedding to Rodríguez on August 11 in Cascais, Portugal. The intimate ceremony was attended by their five children. The couple, who have been together for nearly a decade, confirmed the marriage with a photograph of their wedding rings. Last season, Ronaldo helped Al Nassr end a long wait for domestic glory by winning the Saudi Pro League title. He scored 28 league goals as the club finished top with 86 points, two clear of rivals Al Hilal winning his first major trophy with the Riyadh side since joining in late 2022 and Al Nassr’s first league crown since 2019. Al Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou and teammates welcomed the captain back with applause during a team session, acknowledging both his return and recent marriage, AS the club also posted images of his arrival, teasing fans with the caption asking who had shown up at the training ground. Ronaldo now prepares for the new Saudi Pro League season as a married man with Al Nassr preparing to open their title defence against Al Fateh on August 15. Fans reacted strongly to the post and the fresh look. #SumolaIdowu wrote “Started off a single man, now a married man. Congratulations Cristiano! May your new home last your lifetime.” While #Symplyher14 said “Welcome back to the pitch my GOAT!” #SundayOb posted “Welcome back to the team, time to perform and complete the 1000 goals target.” As #CAgbawe simply noted “That hair Wow!”, #underthetre_e declared “This is absolute GOLD ”.While #D_PenGame added “the GOAT is backkkkk congratulations on your wedding sir.” The new season marks another chapter for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he continues chasing career milestones with Al Nassr.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has officially withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president, rescinding an earlier letter of backing The decision followed severe backlash over controversial plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and other major tournaments to private investors. The FAI joins a growing number of national football associations, including the Welsh and English FAs, that have formally backed away from Infantino winning a fourth term as president following the collapse of his deal to sell a 20 percent stake in FIFA, which would have included tournament rights for the World Cup, to the private equity firm Thrive Capital, headed by American billionaire Josh Kushner. “Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the association supplied earlier this year. It has since written to FIFA to explain its reasoning,” a statement from the FAI on Thursday morning read. “The Association is grateful for the support FIFA provides to Irish football, but recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency, and the lack of meaningful consultation. Considering the governance challenges the FAI has had to overcome in recent years, the association feels a particular obligation to advocate for and uphold best practices.” Argentina, Qatar, the UAE, and Morocco are among the federations that have publicly backed Infantino to remain as FIFA president until 2031.

Premier League champions Arsenal have reportedly held talks with Turkish giants Galatasaray over the possibility of signing Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen Galatasaray initiated discussions over Arsenal duo Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri, but Osimhen has also been raised, with a stunning swap deal now a consideration. Arsenal have been on the lookout for a world-class forward in the summer transfer window and previously expressed interest in Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who ended up signing a new contract with Real, while fellow target Julian Alvarez is proving difficult to land. Alvarez is valued at over £100million by Atletico Madrid and is also of interest to Barcelona, forcing Arsenal to look elsewhere. Now an intriguing option has emerged during sporting director Andrea Berta’s discussions with Galatasaray over two possible sales. Martinelli and Nwaneri are among the players Mikel Arteta is willing to offload this summer and Galatasaray are interested in both. According to The Telegraph, Galatasaray have offered £38.4m for Martinelli and are also exploring a move for Nwaneri, who spent last season on loan with Marseille. During these talks, it is reported that a move for Osimhen to Arsenal was proposed. The 27-year-old former African Player of the Year, has been one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers in recent years and has consistently been linked with a move to the Premier League, including to Tottenham this summer. He only joined Galatasaray permanently from Napoli last summer for €75m (£64m) following a successful loan spell. Osimhen has 59 goals and 16 assists in 74 appearances for the club and is under contract until June 2029. Martinelli appears set to leave Arsenal after seven years, 62 goals and 278 appearances at the club. He has entered the final year of his contract and has been made available for a transfer alongside Gabriel Jesus, who is of interest to Napoli. Osimhen helped Galatasaray land the Turkish Super Lig title last season and finished as the club’s top scorer. It was his second league title with Galatasaray, after landing his first in the season before last when he was on loan from Napoli. He scored in Galatasaray’s 2-1 defeat to Villarreal, in their final pre-season game.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ended after losing to the Bayana Bayana of South Africa in their play-in match South Africa defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in the play-in on Thursday. The result means for the first time the Super Falcons will not be at the FIFA women’s World Cup since their debut in 1991. The Super Falcons missed the chance to qualify automatically after losing their quarterfinal game against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, but a win in theirt play-in match would have sent them to the inter-confederations playoff, but a loss to South Africa meant no more hope for Nigeria. The Nigeria men’s national team – Super Eagles – failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, now, their women – Super Falcons – will now miss out on the global showpiece.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his now-wife Georgina Rodriguez have been together since 2016 after meeting in Madrid; Ronaldo, 41, tied the knot just four days before his club Al Nassr start the new season; Ronaldo has five children with Rodriguez Cristiano Ronaldo has married his long-time girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at a civil ceremony in Portugal. The couple, who have been together since 2016 after meeting in Madrid, posted a picture on Instagram showing off their rings. Ronaldo, 41, tied the knot just four days before his club Al Nassr start their 2026-27 Saudi Pro League campaign. The couple were married in Cascais, a coastal resort town about 20 miles west of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, with the ceremony attended by their five children. Ronaldo has scored nearly 1,000 goals in a career playing for Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr and Portugal. He recently played in his sixth World Cup, sharing the record with Argentina's Lionel Messi for most appearances in the men's finals. Earlier this summer, Ronaldo confirmed he has played in his last World Cup game - but added he won't make any "rash decisions" on whether he has played his final game for Portugal. "I'm sad to be leaving the World Cup like this," he said. "I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I'll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won't be making any rash decisions. I don't decide anything in the heat of the moment. Now is not important whether I will continue. "I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly." Ronaldo will be 43 by the time the next major tournament comes around - the 2028 European Championships hosted in the UK & Ireland. Right now he is focused on the new season at Al Nassr - who are now managed by former Tottenham, Celtic and Nottingham Forest head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Nigeria's Super Falcons suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, and therefore failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, but all hope is not lost, as they still have a chance to make it to the global football showpiece. Nigeria’s Super Falcons may have suffered a setback in their bid to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, but their 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon does not completely end their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With the 2026 WAFCON serving as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the World Cup, the four teams that reach the semi-finals will secure Africa’s direct tickets to the tournament in Brazil. However, the four losing quarter-finalists, including Nigeria, still have another opportunity to remain in the qualification race, according to FIFA. Here is how Nigeria can still qualify: 1. Nigeria must win the African play-off Following their defeat to Cameroon, the Super Falcons will join the other three WAFCON quarter-final losers in an African play-off for the two places allocated to Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament. Nigeria must win its play-off match to secure one of those spots and keep its 2027 World Cup qualification hopes alive. The remaining WAFCON quarter-final result will determine the teams that join Nigeria in the play-off race. 2. Nigeria must then negotiate the intercontinental play-off The two African teams emerging from the play-offs will join eight other nations from the remaining FIFA confederations in the World Cup Play-Off Tournament. According to FIFA, the tournament will feature 10 teams: two each from Africa, Asia, Concacaf and South America, alongside one representative each from Oceania and Europe. 3. The Falcons must win their play-off pathway The intercontinental tournament will be played in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for November and December 2026 and the final phase set for February 2027. FIFA explained the format, saying, “The six teams will be drawn into three paths, with a direct knockout match to determine the final three teams qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. Teams from the same confederation will not be permitted to be drawn in the same pathway.” Nigeria would therefore need to win its assigned knockout pathway to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup. Why Nigeria still has a chance The new qualification format gives Africa more opportunities to reach the expanded 32-team Women’s World Cup. Brazil will host the 2027 tournament, while the competition has been expanded to 32 teams. Africa has four direct places through the WAFCON semi-finals, while two additional African teams will get another chance through the intercontinental play-off tournament. For the Super Falcons, the defeat to Cameroon has therefore complicated their route to Brazil but has not ended it. Nigeria must now regroup, successfully negotiate the African play-off and then win its pathway at the intercontinental tournament to book a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Harry Kane has been awarded the European Golden Shoe for the 2025/26 season after finishing as Europe’s leading league goalscorer The England captain earned the prestigious individual award following another prolific campaign with Bayern Munich. The European Golden Shoe is presented to the leading goalscorer across Europe’s top domestic divisions each season. Kane scored 73 goals across the season, including 12 for England, matching his best international return since the 2021/22 campaign. The former Tottenham Hotspur striker also made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as England recorded their best-ever finish at a men’s World Cup staged outside Europe. During the tournament, Kane became England’s leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history after first equalling and then surpassing Gary Lineker’s record. His performances also moved him into joint fifth place on the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscorers list. The award adds another individual honour to Kane’s prolific career and further underlines his goalscoring form for club and country.

A new champion will emerge at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after defending champions Nigeria were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals on Sunday South Africa, who also won the title in 2022, were eliminated by hosts Morocco on Saturday. The Indomitable Lionesses produced a resilient display in Casablanca to end Nigeria’s title defence and book their place in the semi-finals, while also securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon struck the decisive blow in the 19th minute through 20-year-old Myriam Maéva Nyadjou, who unleashed a thunderous effort from distance that flew into the top corner, leaving Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie helpless. Nigeria looked for an immediate response a minute later when Rasheedat Ajibade delivered a dangerous cross into the area, but Gift Monday was unable to make a clean connection after Cameroon had dealt comfortably with the initial threat. The Super Falcons continued to push forward and came close again in the 28th minute. Rinsola Babajide’s delivery found Jennifer Echegini in a promising position, but her effort was well saved as Cameroon protected their slender advantage. Despite Nigeria enjoying spells of possession and creating opportunities, Cameroon remained organised at the back and carried their 1-0 lead into the half-time break. Nigeria emerged for the second half with even greater urgency in search of an equaliser but found Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina in inspired form. The shot-stopper produced one of the saves of the tournament in the 70th minute, stretching out a strong hand to deny Uchenna Kanu’s powerful header and preserve her side’s lead. Cameroon nearly doubled their advantage six minutes from time when Achta Njoya’s well-struck free-kick from a tight angle forced Nnadozie into a sharp save, with the Nigerian goalkeeper tipping the effort over the crossbar. The defending champions threw everything forward in the closing stages and almost forced extra time through substitute Esther Okoronkwo. After using her pace to beat her marker, Okoronkwo sent a left-footed effort agonisingly wide of the post, with substitute Asisat Oshoala waiting for a simple lay-off beside her. Cameroon held firm through the final minutes to seal a memorable victory, eliminating the 10-time champions and punching their ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Following Nigeria’s defeat, the Super Falcons will face South Africa on Thursday for a place in the inter-confederation World Cup play-offs, with the fixture determining one of Africa’s representatives at the qualifying tournament.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after an emphatic 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday The defending champions entered the match needing a convincing win to keep their hopes of progressing alive following an opening defeat to Malawi and a hard-fought victory over Zambia. The result ensured Nigeria advanced to the knockout stage in pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title. Nigeria produced an attacking masterclass, scoring six times against the Pharaohs, who managed two goals in reply, as the Super Falcons completed one of the standout performances of the group stage. The comprehensive victory completed a remarkable turnaround for Justine Madugu’s side after their shock opening loss to tournament debutants Malawi. Nigeria had revived their campaign with a 1-0 win over Zambia despite playing much of that game with 10 players before sealing qualification with Wednesday’s commanding display against Egypt. The Super Falcons will now await their quarter-final opponents as they continue their quest to retain the continental title in Morocco.

Real Madrid have made Vinicius Jr an improved contract offer as they look to keep the Brazil winger at the Bernabeu The 26-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his contract and has attracted interested from Arsenal in recent weeks. Talks over a new deal at Real were at an impasse but the Spanish side have now made a new offer to Vinicius, who is understood to be appreciative of the fresh terms. Madrid are now awaiting Vinicius' final decision. If he rejects the contract, Arsenal are willing to accelerate their interest in the Brazilian.

Real Madrid and Portugal legend Luís Figo has called for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, slamming his controversial attempt to sell World Cup stakes to private equity as deceitful self-interest This follows a wave of backlash, lost support from national federations, and scrutiny surrounding FIFA leadership. The proposal was heavily condemned by global confederations, leading UEFA and other associations to threaten boycotts and withdraw support for Infantino’s upcoming re-election bid. Senior advisers and staff, including Carlos Cordeiro, resigned in protest over the direction of the leadership. However, in a chat with Daily Mail, Figo stated that Infantino has lost the backing of his senior staff, close advisers, and the global football community. He declared that “it is too late to save his dignity, but it is not too late to save football” and insisted that Infantino must step down now. “Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President. Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve. “He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner. It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

Arsenal are set to complete their protracted move for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes It has been reported by many media that Guimaraes was expected to move to the Premier League champions following a breakthrough in talks. And a full agreement is now almost done, with Guimaraes waiting for permission to leave Newcastle's training base in La Manga, in Spain, to finalise the formalities of his move to Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are now making preparations for the Brazil midfielder's medical this week. There is no confirmation of a fee but sources are indicating it could reach £80m. Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, has made clear his intention to join Arsenal as the 28-year-old has emerged as Mikel Arteta's first-choice central midfield target. Newcastle and Arsenal have been discussing the finer terms of the deal this week with a final agreement now considered a formality.

Mykhailo Mudryk made his first appearance for Chelsea in 20 months as a substitute in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by Juventus in Hong Kong The Ukraine international came on in the 82nd minute to cheers from the crowd of 43,000 at Kai Tak Stadium - just five days after his suspension for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium ended following a settlement with the Football Association and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In his first involvement, Mudryk almost latched on to an overhit through-ball from Estevao Willian and was seen closing down opponents while operating in his favoured position on the left wing. The 25-year-old also delivered a late left-footed cross - his brief appearance coming 615 days since he last touched a ball in a competitive game in November 2024, when he scored in a Conference League win over Heidenheim. Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso said: "It was emotional for everyone at the club to see him back, especially when I told him before the game that he could play for 10 to 15 minutes. "He was thrilled, for sure. After such a long period, it was a great feeling for him to be back on the pitch, and for everyone as well." From a fan perspective, there was clear excitement whenever Mudryk was involved. He also appeared to be one of the main targets for autograph hunters, while many in attendance wore shirts bearing his name and number. There were also supportive messages on the big screen welcoming the return of the forward, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 and scored 10 goals in 73 appearances before his suspension. Mudryk's appearance came a day after he featured in an open training session, as well as a further session behind closed doors, which convinced Alonso he was fit enough to feature. There had been some uncertainty over his efforts to maintain his fitness with a private coach while training at seventh-tier Uxbridge FC's Honeycroft Stadium. However, it was a second successive defeat for Alonso's new-look Chelsea side, with Edon Zhegrova's excellent curling strike in the 68th minute proving the difference. The Blues had been the better side, but striker Danny Welbeck, who made his first appearance since joining from Brighton, Jamie Gittens and Italian full-back Marco Palestra all failed to take their chances. Following a loan spell at Bayern Munich, striker Nicolas Jackson also made his first appearance for Chelsea in more than a year during a 37-minute cameo, but he was replaced by Mudryk in a pre-agreed change. It was a nice touch from Jackson and he turned to give a thumbs up to Alonso having come off.

Serena and Venus Williams have been given a wildcard entry for the women's doubles at the Cincinnati Open The sisters were scheduled to play together at Wimbledon in July until Serena, 44, picked up a knee injury in her singles comeback loss to Australia's Maya Joint. The WTA 1000 event which runs from 11-23 August in Ohio will be the first time the siblings have played doubles together since the 2022 US Open. It could also pave the way for Serena to return to play in the US Open this year. Her third-round loss at New York's Flushing Meadows four years ago had been her last appearance at a Grand Slam until she featured at the All England Club this summer. She is currently one short of the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, jointly held by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic. Together, Venus and Serena have won 14 major titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles. Venus, 46, has also received a wildcard into the singles draw of the tournament in Cincinnati.

Serbia and Sweden on Monday joined Wales in withdrawing their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term, dealing a fresh setback to his re-election campaign amid growing criticism of his leadership The backlash follows FIFA’s abandoned proposal to sell a roughly 20 per cent stake in a new commercial entity overseeing competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to private investors. The plan, which was expected to unlock up to $4.2bn, was shelved on Friday after strong opposition from stakeholders. In a statement, the Football Association of Serbia said it had reversed its earlier decision to back Infantino. “The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of FIFA. We remind that we provided Mr. Infantino with our support on May 25 of this year in written form, but after carefully reviewing the events that, in the recent period, have seriously damaged the image and reputation of both FIFA and its President, this is the only logical and rational decision.” The Swedish Football Association also announced it would no longer support the FIFA president. “At an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, SvFF has chosen not to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the upcoming re-election. “This is after a long-term assessment of the development within FIFA and the organization’s leadership. The decision is based on recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management, which means that trust in Gianni Infantino’s leadership no longer exists.” Earlier on Monday, Wales became the first national football association to formally withdraw its endorsement of Infantino. England’s Football Association is also expected to follow suit, according to Reuters. The withdrawals mark a significant escalation in opposition to Infantino as questions continue to be raised over FIFA’s governance and leadership following the collapse of its proposed commercial investment plan.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that the state is ready to host this year’s CAF Awards after a five-man team from the Confederation of African Football inspected the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, the designated venue for the ceremony The CAF team arrived in Nigeria last Thursday for an inspection of facilities being put forward by the country to host the organisation’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly and annual CAF Awards ceremony. The team is led by former NFF presidential aspirant and CAF’s Head of Safety and Security, Dr Christian Emeruwa. The delegation also includes Mohammed Bakeer (Technology), Inas Ahmed (Travel and Accommodation), Salah Mostafa (Transport) and Hervé Dassoundo (Branding). They were received by officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission, led by Director-General Lekan Fatodu, as they inspected the National Theatre on Monday. Sanwo-Olu said the state was committed to ensuring that Lagos delivers a successful event. “We guided them through the venue and gathered their feedback. Hosting an event of this scale means every single detail counts and our team is working hard behind the scenes to make sure we get it right. Lagos is ready and we look forward to putting on a brilliant show for African football,” the governor said in an X post on Monday. Nigeria has previously hosted the CAF Awards on four occasions, with Lagos staging the most recent edition in January 2015. While Abuja will host the CAF General Assembly on November 21, 2026, Lagos will take centre stage for the ceremony honouring the best players and other outstanding performers in African football. The CAF delegation had earlier inspected facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday before visiting the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the designated venue for the Congress, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Saturday. The CAF team is being accompanied on the inspection tour by a five-man NFF delegation comprising Dr Ademola Olajire, Director of Media and Communications; Alizor Chuks, Director of Marketing; Barnabas Joro, Head of Security; Emmanuel Ayanbunmi, Chief Protocol Officer; and Tasiu Riskuwa Shehu, Head of ICT. Two months ago, at the Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, President Bola Tinubu approved Nigeria’s hosting of the two major CAF events following a request by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.

Chelsea have been fined £10m and given a suspended ban from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022. But the club have had a six-point deduction, which was suspended until 30 June 2027, "set aside" on appeal Owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of Football Association rules when they purchased the club in 2022. Chelsea admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018. The FA said it was "continuing to investigate individual misconduct arising out of this case". The fine was set to be £26m, but was reduced by a third to £17.25m for self-reporting and what the regulatory commission's written reasons described as the "exceptional and unprecedented nature" of co-operation, which "amounts to mitigation". It was then cut by another third to £11.4m for an early guilty plea, then to £10m because of fines already given to the club by Uefa and the Premier League. The FA said it was "an appropriate penalty" that would punish the club and also "deter similar misconduct and maintain the integrity of the game". Manchester City's hearing over the 115 charges they face took place towards the end of 2024, but a verdict is yet to be announced. The number of charges and severity of the accusations are among the reasons the case has taken as long as it has. The £10m Chelsea have been fined will be invested into grassroots football. The regulatory commission said: "Had the club not brought these matters to the attention of the FA, it is unlikely that they would have been discovered." It added the initial points deduction had been suspended because the FA did not ask for one and the Premier League did not impose one. "Now the FA process has concluded, this brings all regulatory proceedings against the club to a close. We are grateful to Uefa, the Premier League and the FA for their engagement with the club throughout these processes," a Chelsea statement read. In March, Chelsea were given an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban and a £750,000 fine over the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022. All of the breaches relate to the period when Roman Abramovich was owner of Chelsea.

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is available to return to playing immediately after resolving his doping case with the Football Association Eddie Howe has stepped down as head coach of Newcastle United and the club confirmed the resignation.. Howe has left after nearly five years in charge, following a disappointing season where the Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League. The 48-year-old had helped the club earn Champions League qualification on two occasions, and win the League Cup in 2024-25. "After a period of personal reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to step away from my role," said Howe. Newcastle said the process to recruit a new head coach is at an advanced stage. German coach Matthias Jaissle is favourite to be handed the position. Howe added: "After nearly five years of giving my life, heart and soul into the club with unrelenting energy, I feel that it is in the best interests of both myself and the club to step away, recharge and take a break. "Although it's been incredibly difficult to make this decision, I know in my heart that it's the right one. It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have been the manager of Newcastle United." Howe's coaches Jason Tindall, Graeme Jones, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone will also leave St James' Park, as well as head of performance Dan Hodges. Howe took charge in November 2021 and steered the Magpies to an 11th-placed finish that season. In 2022-23 they qualified for the Champions League and did so again in 2024-25, as well as winning their first major domestic trophy in 70 years. Last season the Magpies reached the Champions League knockout phase for the first time, losing to Barcelona in the last 16, but they lost 17 of their 38 Premier League games and failed to secure European football for next season. "There have been so many incredible moments in our time here. From fighting relegation in our first season to the numerous unforgettable nights at St James' Park in the Champions League soon after. The progression was fast. Everyone came together, united and what a force we became. These are all memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life," Howe added. Howe's final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday. The Magpies have lost two key midfielders this summer - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has made it clear he wants to join the Premier League champions. Last summer, Newcastle spent in the region of £240m on new players, but Howe was left frustrated when Alexander Isak's drawn-out transfer saga ended with the Sweden striker joining Liverpool for a British record of £125m. "I remain incredibly positive and enthusiastic about the future of Newcastle. The club is in fantastic hands with a great leadership team and I have no doubt together, alongside whoever comes in to replace me, they will continue to deliver success on the pitch," said Howe. Newcastle's chief executive David Hopkinson added: "Eddie and his staff leave with the deep gratitude and respect of everyone at Newcastle United, and with a lasting place in the club's history. "While we are naturally disappointed to see Eddie leave, we remain immensely thankful for everything he has done for the club."

Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, with AC Milan saying their former captain's "example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA" Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, making 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals. He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad which won the 1982 World Cup. He played and was captain in the 1994 final, which Italy lost to Brazil. Baresi was made honorary president of Milan in 2020, and his number six shirt was retired when he finished his playing career. In the 1993-94 season, Baresi and AC Milan manager Fabio Capello lifted a third consecutive Serie A title, the Champions League and the Supercoppa Italiana Baresi formed part of one of European football's most celebrated defences alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti. He also lifted four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and the Intercontinental Cup twice. In the 1994 World Cup, he returned from a knee injury to play in the final and largely nullified the threat of Brazil's Romario and Bebeto in a 0-0 draw. It was the first World Cup final to be decided by a shootout and Baresi missed the first penalty, with Brazil eventually winning it 3-2. Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, and his last public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February. In a statement on X, AC Milan wrote: "Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is." In a further post on the club's website,, external they added: "Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan is incredibly difficult. But everyone at the club and all the Milanisti must live up to Franco Baresi's memory. In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he'll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever." Maldini, 58, who also spent his entire career at Milan, paid tribute to his former team-mate, writing on Instagram:, external "Today, I feel the same way I did whenever - for whatever reason - you couldn't take the field alongside us: how will we manage without our captain? "You taught me to fight until my very last breath, and showed me the meaning of devotion to the jersey and the true value of leadership. You protected me when I was a child, guided me as a young man, and inspired me as an adult. You were the greatest footballer I ever had the honour of playing with." Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon shared memories of his debut for Parma competing against Baresi as a 17-year-old in 1995. He wrote: "For a boy my age, finding myself on the field against champions like him was something incredible. From that day on, I had an even clearer understanding of what it meant to represent football with class, leadership and respect." Inter Milan said:, external "Farewell to Franco Baresi, protagonist of the great clashes in the Milan derby and one of the figures who most defined the history of the rivalry. Captain, team man and flagbearer of AC Milan, he lived every match-up with Inter between competition and respect, within a challenge that wrote unforgettable pages of Italian soccer." Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu said Baresi's death "is a sad day for the whole world, he represented being one of the greats in the history of football". Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said Baresi "was not only one of the greatest champions in (Italian) sports history, but also an example of loyalty, seriousness, and dedication". The head of the Italian football federation (FICG), Giovanni Malago, praised Baresi for the "romantic choice" of staying loyal to AC Milan throughout his career, "which rightfully made him enter the hearts of the fans and millions of Italians."

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is available to return to playing immediately after resolving his doping case with the Football Association The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, having been provisionally suspended after returning an "adverse finding" for banned substance meldonium. He was subsequently given the maximum four-year ban by the FA but appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The FA said anti-doping disciplinary proceedings have now been resolved with Mudryk and he can return to competition "with immediate effect" after he accepted breaking anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equal to the time already served. Mudryk said he was "grateful" to able to return to playing after "the most difficult period" of his career. He added: "As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance." Chelsea said they are looking forward to helping Mudyk "return to full fitness, back into the squad and back onto the pitch" and he will join the club's pre-season tour. Mudryk said he expresses "deep gratitude" to everyone at Chelsea and is looking forward to the "next chapter" of his career. The FA never previously disclosed details of the case, because their anti-doping programme is deemed strictly confidential. However, their statement on Friday confirmed Mudryk returned an adverse finding for meldonium, which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina, in an out-of-competition test on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024. He was charged by the FA in June 2025 and given a four-year suspension in January, which came to light in April after he appealed against the ban to Cas. The FA said the test showed "a low concentration" of the prohibited cardiovascular medication. It added that changes have since been made to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) technical document regarding meldonium. The FA said the changes are "not retroactive" but noted that had Mudryk's test been conducted today then "the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported" and no adverse finding would have been recorded. In a separate case resolution agreement to his Cas appeal, Mudryk and the FA have now, with the agreement of Wada, resolved the proceedings, leaving him able to return to all forms of competition. Chelsea welcomed the decision and said they were eager to help Mudryk return to full fitness. The club said they were looking forward to getting him “back into the squad and back on to the pitch,” with the winger set to join their pre-season preparations. Mudryk also expressed his appreciation to everyone at Chelsea and said he was excited for “the next chapter” of his career as he prepares to return to football.

Real Madrid swooped to sign striker Carlos Espi from Levante on Thursday for a reported 25 million euro fee The 21-year-old had been linked with several Premier League sides but record 15-time European champions Madrid pounced, with Gonzalo Garcia likely to leave for Fulham. “(Espi) will join our club for the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031,” said Madrid in a statement. Espi scored 11 goals in La Liga last season in 25 top-flight appearances. The striker is the fifth signing Madrid have made this summer, following Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries. Madrid have agreed terms with RB Leipzig’s Ivorian winger Yan Diomande according to media reports, while Manchester City midfielder Rodri is also a rumoured target. Madrid, who hired Portuguese veteran Jose Mourinho as coach to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, are overhauling their squad after going two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect Howe came under pressure last season as Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League after losing 17 of their 38 games. The 48-year-old's final match in charge was a 4-1 defeat by Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday. Matthias Jaissle, manager of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, is expected to be appointed as Howe's successor. Howe joined Newcastle in November 2021, a month after the Saudi Public Investment Fund bought the club. Well-placed sources have indicated a measure of surprise from Howe at the club's transfer business so far this summer, though he was aware of the necessity for the club to sell players. Earlier this year, Howe decided to remain at St James' Park regardless of the inevitably of sales, but his perspective changed over the summer. It is understood Howe communicated his intention to leave to the Newcastle hierarchy around a fortnight ago. Newcastle initially asked him to reconsider and continue leading the club next season. Eventually, though, Newcastle accepted Howe's wishes but asked him to stay as they identified his replacement - a request the coach accepted. Howe does not have another job lined up, with his decision purely based on a feeling that his tenure has run its course, and that he will take a break from football before deciding his next steps. Howe is said to be deeply emotional about the decision but it is one that has been on his mind for a number of months. Newcastle spent in the region of £240m on new players 12 months ago, but Howe was left frustrated by the departure of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool. In January, he described losing Isak as "ever-challenging", and in several media conferences stressed the need for reinforcements. Howe has lost two key players this summer - Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona - while Arsenal are chasing captain Bruno Guimaraes. The transfer strategy has prompted concern at how the squad is shaping up for next season and how competitive it may be, though that alone is not the only factor in Howe's decision to quit. Howe replaced Steve Bruce as manager and ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the 2025 Carabao Cup. He led the Magpies to Champions League qualification in 2023 and 2025. Last season, Newcastle reached the last-16 of the Champions League, losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona. Their EFL Cup defence ended in the semi-finals, but their league performance was severely underwhelming after finishing fifth in 2024-25. Newcastle won 84 of their 179 Premier League games under Howe, drawing 38 and losing 57. He oversaw more Premier League wins - 84 - than any other Newcastle manager. His Premier League win percentage of 46.9% at the club is bettered only by Kevin Keegan. Jaissle, Howe's expected replacement, joined Al-Ahli in 2023 and led the Saudi club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2024-25 and 2025-26. The 38-year-old spent his entire playing career in his native Germany, progressing through the Stuttgart youth system before playing senior football for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2014. Capped by Germany at Under-21 level, the defender was forced to retire through injury at the age of 25. Jaissle began his coaching career as assistant manager at Danish side Brondby, before he took charge of Austrian second division side Liefering. He succeeded Jesse Marsch as RB Salzburg manager in 2021, and won back-to-back Austrian Bundesliga titles and the Austrian Cup.

Bayern Munich have officially drawn a line under their summer transfer business, according to its Sporting Director Max Eberl As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Thursday, Eberl confirmed that Bayern do not intend to make any further signings after completing the arrivals of Nene Brown and Ismael Saibari. “We closed the transfers of Nene Brown and Ismael Saibari very quickly. I thought it was clear that we were done with incomings,” Eberl said. The Bayern chief also dismissed the numerous transfer rumours that have continued to link the Bundesliga champions with additional targets in recent weeks. “I had to smile about the names being linked to us. There’s 0% truth to these rumours,” he added. Eberl’s comments send a strong message that Bayern are satisfied with their current squad and have no plans to pursue any more reinforcements before the transfer window closes. While speculation surrounding potential arrivals is expected to continue until deadline day, Bayern’s hierarchy has made its position clear, with Eberl insisting that the club’s transfer business is complete unless unforeseen circumstances arise.

Chelsea have completed the signing of France defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £52 million Lacroix has signed a contract with the Blues until 2032, becoming the club’s third arrival of the summer transfer window. The 26-year-old centre-back, who has earned seven caps for France, joined Crystal Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2024 for an initial fee of £15.5 million and quickly became an important figure under manager Oliver Glasner. The defender made 55 appearances in all competitions last season as Palace won the UEFA Conference League, securing the club’s first major European trophy. He also featured three times for France at the 2026 World Cup, including the third-place play-off against England, as Les Bleus finished fourth. Lacroix joins Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra as Chelsea’s summer signings as the club prepares for its first season under new manager Xabi Alonso. Chelsea identified the Frenchman as a priority target after concerns over their defensive performances and the need to add more physicality and leadership to their backline. Although other defenders, including former Manchester City centre-back John Stones and Como’s Jacopo Ramon, were considered, Lacroix emerged as Chelsea’s preferred option. Negotiations between Chelsea and Crystal Palace over the transfer fee and personal terms took time, but Lacroix approved the move after France’s World Cup campaign ended. His arrival reflects Chelsea’s changing transfer strategy after a disappointing season in which they finished 10th in the Premier League and ended without a trophy. Co-owner Behdad Eghbali had previously indicated that the club would adjust its approach by adding more experience to a squad built around young talents such as Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill. Lacroix becomes the oldest player signed by Chelsea under the current ownership group, highlighting the club’s decision to bring in more established players. The Blues had also explored a move for Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, although that deal did not materialise. Alongside Morgan Rogers, who recently turned 24, Lacroix’s arrival fulfils Chelsea’s plan to add more ready-made players ahead of the new campaign.

Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title suffered a major setback on Tuesday as tournament debutants Malawi stunned the defending champions 3-2 in their Group C opener The Scorchers produced a spirited display to hand the record 10-time African champions a losing start to the defence of their continental crown. After a closely contested opening half, Malawi broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute through Temwa Chawinga before captain Tabitha Chawinga doubled the advantage six minutes later to leave the Super Falcons with a mountain to climb. Nigeria pulled one back in stoppage time when captain Rasheedat Ajibade calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 90+2nd minute, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback. Those hopes were short-lived as Temwa Chawinga struck again three minutes later to restore Malawi’s two-goal cushion and put the result beyond doubt. The Super Falcons, however, refused to give up, with substitute Uchenna Kanu scoring in the ninth minute of stoppage time to reduce the deficit to 3-2. However, there was no time left to salvage a result as Malawi held on for a famous victory. The result ranks among the biggest upsets in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with Malawi marking their tournament debut by defeating Africa’s most successful women’s national team. Nigeria will now have to bounce back in their next Group C fixture to revive their campaign, while Malawi’s historic victory has significantly boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stage. In the pre-match press conference, coach Lovemore Fazili set the tone from the outset: “Getting this far means that we are ready for this match. “People may underestimate us but we are a good team, capable of causing an upset. We are not resigned victims.” Captain Tabitha Chawinga approaches this historic encounter with boundless enthusiasm. “It was my dream to play in the WAFCON. The time has come. We know Nigeria’s worth. They are a great nation but we must focus on ourselves. Our players need to compete without any inferiority complex,” she stated before the game.

The Philadelphia 76ers have confirmed the signing of NBA superstar LeBron James James announced on Friday that he was joining the 76ers next season for what he says will be his final contract in the NBA. The 41-year-old, the highest points scorer in the history of the league, left the Los Angeles Lakers after eight years last month. "I am thrilled to welcome LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers. One of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the best athletes ever, his accomplishments are iconic," ownership managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement. "I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly." The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat were also rumoured to be in the running for the four-time NBA champion. "I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energise a new fanbase and start this incredible journey one last time," James said on X on Friday., external James has won an NBA title with all three teams he previously played for. He won two with Miami, who earlier this week mistakenly posted a link to an 'introductory press conference' for James. A Heat spokesperson told Reuters, external the video was posted in error by staff who were preparing for the possibility of James rejoining the team he played for between 2010 and 2014. Either side of that Miami stint, James had two spells with Cleveland, who drafted James in 2003 and are based near his hometown of Akron, Ohio. "Miami I'll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always [be] home," James added. James helped the Cavs become NBA champions in 2016 and joined the Lakers in 2018, claiming another NBA title two years later. He has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player four times, all between 2009 and 2013, and has been an NBA All-Star the last 22 seasons running.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri will be sidelined for a "short period of rehabilitation" following back surgery New manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday that Rodri would have an operation on Monday, and that he "needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us". No timeline has been set for his return. City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on 23 August. City said Rodri had been "feeling discomfort for some time but has now undergone a procedure to address the issue". Rodri, who has a year left on his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid after guiding Spain to World Cup glory this month. He was named player of the tournament. His past two seasons have been heavily disrupted by injury, and he missed most of City's 2024-25 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Meanwhile, as reported by BBC Sport in June, defender Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year deal which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2031. The 24-year-old Croatia international has made 122 appearances for City since joining from RB Leipzig in August 2023, winning six trophies, including the Premier League in his debut campaign.

Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has been confirmed as the head coach of the France national team Didier Deschamps, France's longest-serving manager, ended his 14-year stint in charge after the nation's semi-final exit to Spain at the 2026 World Cup. Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid for a second time as head coach in 2021. The 54-year-old, widely considered to be France's greatest player, will sign a contract that will see him lead the nation through the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. On being appointed, he said it was "a great source of pride" to lead the French national side following their fourth-place finish at the World Cup. "I've often said it: there's nothing greater than the French national team. So it's a joy and obviously a great source of pride to become the manager of this French national team. "It's also a responsibility. I want to thank [French Football Federation] president Philippe Diallo, the executive committee, and the French Football Federation for their confidence and acknowledge the 14 years of service from Didier and his staff," he added. "I also have a special thought today for all my coaches. Needless to say, I have high ambitions for the French national team." Diallo described the new head coach as a "legend" of French football. "The appointment of Zinedine Zidane as head coach of the French national team is a source of immense pride for the French Football Federation. It marks the meeting of a legend in the history of Les Bleus, who has become one of the most decorated and respected coaches of his generation, and a team with rare potential, driven by the highest ambitions," he said. Zidane's predecessor Deschamps guided France to three major finals over his 14-year reign, helping the country to their second World Cup success with victory in 2018. Zidane's first competitive fixture in charge will be a Nations League trip to Turkey on 25 September.

Sidny Lopes Cabral’s sensational strike for Cape Verde against Argentina has been voted the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament at the 2026 FIFA World Cup The 23-year-old defender produced one of the defining moments of the tournament during Cape Verde’s thrilling 3-2 extra-time defeat to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32. After gliding past Alexis Mac Allister, Lopes Cabral unleashed a sublime curling effort that flew beyond Emiliano Martinez into the top corner, a goal that ultimately topped the fan vote ahead of Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov and Haiti’s Wilson Isidor. His triumph places him alongside previous winners Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison. Speaking after receiving the award, Lopes Cabral said he instinctively decided to shoot after creating space for himself. “The moment I dribbled past my opponent, I saw an opening and thought, ‘Let’s have a go.’ I shoot well with both feet, so I aimed for the top corner and struck the ball really well,” he said. “When I looked up and saw it heading there, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’ Everybody dreams of scoring at the World Cup, but to score in that way against a team like Argentina was incredible.” The goal sparked unforgettable scenes in the stands, with the defender revealing that his mother, Teresa, fainted during his celebration. “Before the game, I’d told my mom and my girlfriend that if I scored, I’d run over to them. When I got there, everyone was helping my mom because she had fainted when I scored,” he said. Lopes Cabral also revealed that former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Marcelo, one of his childhood idols, sent him a congratulatory message after the match and disclosed that he had voted for the strike as the tournament’s best goal. The award caps an extraordinary rise for the Rotterdam-born defender of Cape Verdean descent. Just three years ago, he was playing in Germany’s fifth division and living in modest conditions. Now, he has etched his name into World Cup folklore with a goal that will be remembered as the finest of the 2026 tournament.

Anthony Joshua has secured a dramatic victory over Kristian Prenga, stopping the heavyweight challenger by knockout after a thrilling contest Joshua faced an early scare as Prenga came out aggressively and caught the former world champion with powerful punches in the opening round. The Briton was knocked down twice, leaving fans stunned as Prenga looked to pull off a major upset. However, Joshua recovered quickly and showed his experience, responding with relentless pressure and powerful combinations. The former heavyweight champion turned the fight around and forced the stoppage in the second round. He unleashed his right hand in the second round, with the final shot sending Albanian Prenga crashing down and forcing the referee to halt the contest. “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the family. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough,” Joshua, 36, said. He choked up and stepped away from the microphone, before adding: “It’s my brother. I don’t want to talk about it.” There had been speculation fellow Briton Fury might make an appearance despite insisting he would not attend. But the master of mind games stayed true to his word, with Fury nowhere to be seen barely 24 hours on from his own warm-up win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand. “I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we’re here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” Joshua said about the prospect of fighting Fury. Contracts have been signed, but the venue and date for a fight more than a decade in the making are still unknown. This chaotic night, however, belonged to Joshua in a victory forged through adversity during the most difficult months of his life.

Real Madrid have reached an agreement in principle with RB Leipzig for the transfer of Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, with the 19-year-old already having personal terms in place on a five-year contract According to sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs, who disclosed the update via his X handle on Sunday, he said, “Real Madrid reach an agreement in principle with Leipzig for Yan Diomande. Player already has terms in place on a five-year contract.” The Spanish giants and Leipzig have agreed a deal in principle for the highly rated teenager, who already has personal terms in place on a five-year contract that would keep him at the Santiago Bernabéu until 2031. Diomande, who was born in Abidjan on November 14, 2006, joined Leipzig from Spanish side Leganés and impressed during his debut Bundesliga campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing several assists in 33 league appearances. The pacey right-sided forward also featured for Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, earning widespread praise for his performances as the Elephants reached the knockout stages. The latest development comes a day after reports confirmed that Diomande had given Real Madrid the green light on contractual terms, following an earlier verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain in June. Madrid’s opening bid of around €90 million, plus a further €10 million in add-ons, was rejected by Leipzig, prompting the club to prepare an improved offer. The transfer update sparked immediate reactions on social media. “He really chose Real over PSG,” #victorbellamyke posted. “Madrid is finally winning a trophy next season,” #Timoatonai wrote. Another user, #CeePrince234, declared, “Barcelona in trouble next season.” Similarly, #Chidiugoo added, “They have Yamal. We have Diomande. Hala Madrid.” If completed, the transfer would strengthen Real Madrid’s attacking options under Jose Mourinho as the club continue an active summer transfer window. Further details on the final transfer fee and completion of the formalities are expected as both clubs work towards finalising the deal.

Barcelona signed forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund on Thursday for a reported fee of 29 million euros including potential add-ons “Adeyemi becomes a new Barca player for the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031,” said Barcelona in a statement. The versatile 24-year-old is Barca’s second signing after they splashed out on England international Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. Lightning quick, Adeyemi, who can play up front or on either flank, bolsters Barca’s attacking options after the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona also lost Marcus Rashford after his loan from Manchester United ended, leaving them short in attack. The Spanish champions have also made a bid for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, who is their primary target this summer. Barca coach Hansi Flick gave Adeyemi his debut for the German national team in 2021. The attacker joined Dortmund in 2022 from Red Bull Salzburg, netting 36 goals in 146 games across all competitions during four seasons before his Barca switch.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Greece international forward Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for a reported fee of £34m The 24-year-old has joined the Premier League champions on a long-term contract, with the club describing him as an “extremely versatile attacking player” who can operate across the front line. Tzolis arrives at the Emirates Stadium after an impressive spell with Club Brugge, where he recorded 43 goals and 45 assists in 108 appearances. His arrival follows the departure of Belgium forward Leandro Trossard to Besiktas earlier this month. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta praised the new signing’s qualities, highlighting his technical ability, finishing, and versatility. “Christos naturally operates on the left but is comfortable across the front line. He’s an excellent finisher with both feet, thrives in tight spaces, and possesses incredible technical ability,” Berta said. He added that Tzolis’ attacking output over recent seasons would strengthen Arsenal’s squad and bring energy, enthusiasm, and a strong mentality to the team. The forward began his professional career at Greek club PAOK before moving to Norwich City in 2021. During his time with the Canaries, he made 30 appearances and scored three goals, while also spending loan spells at FC Twente and Fortuna Düsseldorf before joining Club Brugge. Tzolis made his Premier League debut against Arsenal in September 2021, featuring in Norwich’s 1-0 defeat at the Emirates. Speaking after completing his move, Tzolis revealed he had a positive conversation with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about the club’s plans and his role in the team. “I’m a direct player, I go for goals or assists. That’s my point of view as an attacker, as a winger. I’m always hungry to score or to give the final pass to my teammates. And I can say I work hard for the team, also in the defensive part,” he said. The signing adds further attacking depth to Arsenal as they prepare for another season competing for major honours.

Chelsea have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign France defender, Maxence Lacroix in a major move to strengthen their defence The two Premier League clubs have concluded negotiations over a deal for the France international, with personal terms not expected to be a problem. Lacroix is set to undergo a medical before completing his move to Stamford Bridge. The 26-year-old centre-back is expected to sign a long-term contract, with the agreement understood to run until 2032. Chelsea’s move for Lacroix comes after two impressive seasons at Crystal Palace, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders. Lacroix played a key role under Oliver Glasner, helping Palace secure the UEFA Conference League title and enjoy strong domestic campaigns. He joined Palace from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in August 2024 and quickly became an important figure in the squad. His performances have earned widespread recognition, including a place in France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. The defender’s physical qualities are among the reasons Chelsea pushed to secure his signature. Standing at 6ft 4in, Lacroix combines aerial ability, strength in duels and impressive recovery speed. During the 2025-26 Premier League season, he was the only player to register at least 50 tackles, 200 duels won and 250 clearances, highlighting his defensive consistency. Chelsea also value his tactical flexibility, with Lacroix capable of playing in both a back four and a back three. His experience in different defensive systems is expected to give manager Xabi Alonso more options as the club continues to build its squad. The deal was negotiated at ownership level between the two London clubs, with Chelsea now closing in on the arrival of one of the league’s standout central defenders.

Pep Guardiola has rejected the chance to become the next head coach of Italy, with the decision reportedly driven by personal reasons rather than financial considerations The highly successful manager is taking time away from coaching and is currently focused on his family, while waiting for the right opportunity to return to the dugout. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X was quoted as saying, “Pep Guardiola said no to Italy due to a personal decision, it’s not about a financial proposal. Guardiola will be back coaching at the right time and when he feels a new project is the best one possible; now dedicating time to family.” The Spaniard has built one of the most impressive coaching careers in football history, winning major trophies with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. His achievements include multiple domestic league titles and UEFA Champions League triumphs. Italy had been interested in bringing Guardiola in as the man to lead the national team, but the former Barcelona and Manchester City boss decided against the move at this stage. Despite turning down the opportunity, Guardiola remains one of the most sought-after managers in world football, and his return to coaching is expected to attract significant attention whenever he decides the time is right. For now, the 55-year-old is choosing to step away from the pressure of management and dedicate more time to his family before considering his next chapter. It was that Guardiola had held talks with the Italian Football Federation over the possibility of becoming the next head coach of the Italy national team, federation president Giovanni Malago has confirmed.

Jurgen Klopp has warned that he could walk away from his role as Germany head coach if the media fails to respect his family’s privacy Klopp made the comments during his first press conference after being appointed Germany’s new head coach on a four-year contract. The former Liverpool manager, who replaced Julian Nagelsmann following Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit, said he loves the job but would not hesitate to leave if his family is affected by unwanted media attention. As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Klopp was quoted as saying, “If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away. I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be.” Klopp returns to management for the first time since leaving Liverpool in 2024 after admitting he had “run out of energy” following a successful nine-year spell at Anfield. The 59-year-old said taking charge of Germany represents the biggest challenge and the highest point of his coaching career. “Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any ‘career’ after the national team,” he said. “This is the pinnacle, the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.” The German coach is expected to lead the national team through the 2030 World Cup, with his first match coming against the Netherlands in a Nations League fixture on 24 September. Klopp’s appointment has generated huge excitement in Germany, but he faces the challenge of rebuilding confidence in a national team that has struggled in recent major tournaments.

Real Madrid players finished as the most prolific goalscorers among all clubs represented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining the Spanish giants’ attacking dominance on football’s biggest stage According to FIFA’s tournament statistics on Wednesday, Madrid players combined for 22 goals during the competition, comfortably outscoring representatives of every other club. France forward Kylian Mbappé led the way with 10 goals, winning the Golden Boot after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. England midfielder Jude Bellingham added seven goals, while Brazil winger Vinícius Júnior contributed four. Turkish youngster Arda Güler completed the tally with one goal. Together, the quartet accounted for more than seven per cent of the 308 goals scored across the tournament. Mbappé’s exploits also saw him become the first player to finish as the World Cup’s top scorer at two consecutive editions after previously claiming the Golden Boot at Qatar 2022. Paris Saint-Germain finished second in the club rankings, with their players scoring 15 goals, while Arsenal placed third on 13 goals. Despite Real Madrid’s dominance in the goalscoring charts, it was Barcelona forward Ferran Torres who netted the tournament’s decisive goal, scoring the winner as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final to lift their second FIFA World Cup title. The figures highlight Real Madrid’s influence on the global game, with four of the club’s stars playing decisive roles for their respective national teams throughout the tournament. See list below: Real Madrid – 22 goals Kylian Mbappé – 10 Jude Bellingham – 7 Vinícius Júnior – 4 Arda Güler – 1 Paris Saint-Germain – 15 goals Arsenal – 13 goals

Inter Miami have completed the signing of Brazilian midfielder, Carlos Casimiro, on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester United The Major League Soccer club announced on its website on Wednesday that the former Real Madrid star has signed a contract until the end of the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, with an option to extend the deal until June 2029. His registration remains subject to the receipt of a P-1 visa. Casemiro said Inter Miami’s ambition convinced him to make the move to South Florida. “What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the Club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me. “I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust—not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the Club has shown me,” he said. Inter Miami Managing Owner Jorge Mas described the signing as a reflection of the club’s ambition. “Casemiro’s arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami. We never settle. We’re always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game. “After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in football, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future.” Club co-owner David Beckham also welcomed the Brazilian. “I’m very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami. He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home,” Beckham said. The 34-year-old joins Inter Miami after three seasons at Manchester United, where he won the English League Cup and the FA Cup. Before moving to England in 2022, Casemiro enjoyed a trophy-laden eight-year spell at Real Madrid, winning five UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, three FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups. Across his Real Madrid career, he made 336 appearances, scoring 31 goals and providing 29 assists. Casemiro has also earned 91 caps for Brazil, winning the 2019 Copa América and representing the country at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. At the 2026 World Cup, he started all five of Brazil’s matches, scoring once in the Round of 32 and providing an assist in the Round of 16. The move sees Casemiro become the latest high-profile addition to Inter Miami as the MLS side continues to strengthen its squad.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has signed a new four-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2030 Foden's previous deal was due to expire next summer but he has opted to extend his stay under new head coach Enzo Maresca. The 26-year-old was given his first-team debut as a 17-year-old by former boss Pep Guardiola and has gone on to make 369 appearances for City, winning six Premier League titles, one Champions League and two FA Cups. Foden was left out of Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad in May after an inconsistent season where he made only 23 Premier League starts. He says "he can't wait" to work with Maresca again, with the Italian an assistant to Guardiola during City's Treble-winning 2022-23 season. "Committing my future to City means everything to me. Playing for this club is all  I've ever wanted to do and it's  always an honour to wear the shirt. It's not lost on me that I've been lucky enough to be part of a historic period with so many titles won, but we're always looking to the future and trying to win more. I can't wait to work with Enzo again. He was brilliant during the Treble season – someone all the players respected and loved working with," said Foden Foden, City's most decorated player alongside John Stones and Bernardo Silva, has played his entire City career under Guardiola, who ended his 10-year stint at the club in May. Over the past six seasons, Foden is one of only three Premier League players to have scored 10 or more goals in all competitions, along with former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. Foden set a high bar with his performances the year after City's Treble-winning season, registering a career-high 27 goals and 12 assists, but the subsequent two campaigns have been less productive, with Foden's function in the side changing. Last season, the pacier options of Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo fed striker Erling Haaland from out wide, with Rayan Cherki often preferred as the playmaker in an attacking midfield role. That meant Foden occasionally operated deeper, limiting his ability to score and supply the killer pass. Last season Foden scored seven goals and assisted five times in 33 Premier League games, while the previous campaign he scored seven and assisted twice in 28 top-flight matches. After being left out of Tuchel's World Cup squad this summer, the Professional Footballers' Association said Foden had been a "victim" of football's packed fixture schedule, adding he "has not been the version we saw two years ago".

Spain have become the first nation in football history to simultaneously hold the FIFA Men’s World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup titles. FIFA announced the milestone in a post on its official X handle on Sunday following Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New York. Celebrating the achievement, FIFA wrote, “History-makers Spain have become the first nation to hold both the @FIFAWorldCup and @FIFAWWC simultaneously!” Spain’s triumph in the men’s tournament came three years after the country’s women’s team lifted the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time by defeating England 1-0 in the 2023 final in Sydney, Australia, thanks to Olga Carmona’s decisive goal. The latest success also marked Spain’s second men’s World Cup title, having previously won the tournament in South Africa in 2010. By claiming the 2026 crown while remaining the reigning women’s world champions, Spain achieved a feat no other nation has managed since the inception of the two FIFA World Cup competitions. The historic double further highlights Spain’s recent dominance in international football. In addition to holding both World Cup trophies, the country’s men’s team won the UEFA European Championship in 2024, while its women’s side has remained among the leading forces in world football since capturing its maiden global title in Australia and New Zealand.

The landscape of international football has been completely rewritten following the dramatic conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America The latest real-time updates to the FIFA Men’s World Rankings on Monday, July 20, present a thrilling story of triumph, heartbreak, and massive shifts across the global stage. The ultimate prize has brought the ultimate reward. Following their grueling, dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in New Jersey, Spain has officially scaled the summit of world football. Driven by Ferran Torres’ decisive 106th-minute winner, La Roja captured their second-ever World Cup trophy and gained a massive 121.17 points over the tournament lifecycle. Boasting a grand total of 1,995.88 points, Spain has surged past everyone to claim the World No. 1 spot. For Argentina, the updates bring bitter heartbreak. Lionel Scaloni’s men entered the tournament fiercely defending their crown at the top of the table. Despite a magnificent run that saw them fight back to the final—briefly regaining the live lead after dispatching England in the semi-finals—their final defeat proved costly. The Albiceleste have officially been dethroned, slipping into 2nd place with 1,970.37 points. Top 5 Shuffle Directly beneath the finalists, a heavyweight scramble unfolded: France (3rd, 1,948.97 pts): Les Bleus held steady in third place, remarkably maintaining their position despite suffering a wild, high-scoring 6-4 defeat to England in their closing placement fixture. England (4th, 1,922.83 pts): The Three Lions consolidated their status as fourth in the world, picking up a major 33.41-point windfall from that spectacular ten-goal thriller against the French. Brazil (5th, 1,804.92 pts): The South American powerhouse managed to climb one spot into the top five, narrowly edging past continental rivals despite a shock 2-1 loss to Norway late in the campaign. The post-World Cup recalculations have left a profound impact across regional boundaries, particularly in Africa and Europe: Morocco (6th): The Atlas Lions continue to break boundaries. A sensational run to the World Cup quarter-finals catapulted them up to 6th in the world (1,803.99 points), firmly cementing their status as Africa’s undisputed number-one team. Egypt & Nigeria: Egypt’s impressive surge to the Round of 16—where they pushed Argentina to the absolute limit in a 3.2 thriller—saw the Pharaohs overtake Nigeria on the continental ladder. The Super Eagles held firm at 26th globally after their pre-tournament friendly against Portugal, but dropped to 4th in Africa due to Egypt’s World Cup exploits. Norway (19th): The absolute wildcards of the July ledger. Propelled by their stunning upset over Brazil, the Norwegians skyrocketed an incredible 12 places to break into the elite Top 20. These rankings will remain frozen until the next official update on October 7, 2026, leaving Spain to reign supreme over a completely transformed football hierarchy. The lower half of the global Top 10 reveals a fiercely competitive mid-tier trailing just behind the world’s heavyweights, anchored by consistent European mainstays and a major North American resurgence. Portugal firmly anchors the number 7 spot with 1,787.85 points, holding off a dense cluster of rivals through steady international displays. Breathing down their necks are Belgium in 8th place (1,778.36 points) and the Netherlands in 9th place (1,775.54 points), with the historical European powerhouses separated by less than three points in a razor-thin margin. The most dramatic headline of this bracket belongs to Mexico, who used an explosive run to skyrocket four positions up the leaderboard. By locking down the 10th spot with 1,754.30 points, El Tri has officially crashed the elite club, displacing trailing giants like Germany and Italy to round out the world’s ten most formidable footballing nations. Following the massive points shake-up from the World Cup, both of these traditional European powerhouses find themselves displaced from the elite top-10 tier in the July 20, 2026 updates: Germany sits in 12th place globally. The former world champions dropped two spots from their pre-tournament rank, landing on 1,726.22 points—just behind Colombia and directly ahead of Croatia. Italy is further down in 15th place. The Azzurri suffered a three-spot slide during the tournament calculations, sitting on 1,704.73 points, sandwiched between Switzerland (14th) and the United States (16th). In the July 20, 2026 rankings update, the 11th and 13th positions are occupied by two dangerous tournament teams that flank Germany on the leaderboard: 11th Place: Colombia – Los Cafeteros sit right on the doorstep of the top tier with 1,739.89 points. Their strong showing in the World Cup helped them pick up an additional 41.54 points, putting them ahead of several European giants. 13th Place: Croatia – The Vatreni hold the 13th spot with 1,723.05 points, gaining 8.18 points over the course of the tournament cycle to steady themselves just behind Germany. Rounding out the elite Top 20 in the July 20, 2026 update is an incredibly diverse mix of continental giants and tournament overachievers, anchored by a massive 22-point spread: 17th Place: Japan – The Samurai Blue lead this final tier of the Top 20 with 1,673.68 points, solidifying their status as Asia’s highest-ranked nation after climbing one spot over the tournament cycle. 18th Place: Senegal – The Teranga Lions hold down the 18th position with 1,653.43 points. Despite slipping three spots globally due to the rapid upward movement of other teams, they remain one of the most feared sides on the African continent. 19th Place: Norway – The absolute story of the month. Propelled by a historic tournament run and their staggering upset over Brazil, the Norwegians exploded 12 places up the board to claim 19th place with 1,651.29 points. 20th Place: Uruguay – La Celeste rounds out the global elite in 20th place with 1,634.70 points, dropping four spots following intense tournament recalculations but keeping a firm grip on a Top 20 finish.

Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75 following a battle with stage four cancer His family confirmed his death in a statement on Monday, saying the football legend was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments. “It is with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has passed away at the age of 75. The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments,” the statement read. “Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy.ddd Keegan’s family had announced in January that he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer and was preparing to begin treatment. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, Keegan enjoyed a glittering playing career spanning almost 750 club appearances. He won three First Division titles with Liverpool before claiming back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards in 1978 and 1979 while playing for German club Hamburg. At international level, he scored 21 goals in 63 appearances for England and later managed the national team between 1999 and 2000. Keegan also enjoyed a successful managerial career with Newcastle United, where he transformed the club after taking charge in 1992, steering them away from relegation before leading them to the Premier League and turning them into title challengers. He later guided Manchester City back to the Premier League after winning the Division One title in 2002. Following the announcement of his death, Newcastle United paid tribute to one of the most influential figures in the club’s history. “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential and deeply-loved figures in our club’s history,” the club said. “Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters. As a manager, he ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters hope and pride, and led a team whose style, spirit and passion captured the imagination of football fans around the world. “Kevin’s impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him. Today, we mourn the loss of a true giant of our history… Rest in Peace, King Kev,” the club added.

FIFA has opened an inquiry into a scuffle between Argentine and Spanish players immediately after the World Cup final in New Jersey, a match Spain won 1-0 to knock Argentina from the throne they’d held since 2022 The governing body announced the investigation on Monday, noting that its disciplinary panel had reviewed official match reports covering the chaotic scenes that erupted at the close of an emotionally charged contest settled in extra time. “FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has appointed a Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor to investigate potential breaches of the FDC with regard to the post-match incidents,” FIFA told Al Jazeera in a statement. The organisation added that it would release its conclusions once the review is complete. Spain’s moment of triumph, claiming their second world championship was overshadowed by the disorder, which had felt almost predictable given how visibly frustrated both squads and coaching staffs had become over the course of the game. The instant the final whistle sounded, some players on both sides collapsed to the turf, some in triumph and others in devastation, while a separate cluster of players descended into a physical confrontation. Footage that has since spread widely online shows Spain’s Lamine Yamal kneeling and lifting his hands skyward in what looks like a gesture of gratitude, even as skirmishes unfold just behind him, with Argentine players seen throwing punches at their Spanish counterparts. Argentina’s Leandro Paredes grabbed Spain’s Eric Garcia around the neck, and after Spanish substitute Gavi stepped in to break things up, Paredes shoved him down. Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, still leading the reigning 2022 champions at that point, sprinted in to pull Paredes away from the two Spaniards, though the defender continued shoving other Spanish players until a teammate physically restrained him. Not every interaction was hostile, Yamal and Argentine captain Lionel Messi shared a warm hug afterward. Still, tension lingered heavily between the two sides overall. Later, as staff prepared the podium for the trophy presentation, Spain’s players lined up to applaud Argentina’s team as they collected their runner-up medals. Argentina, however, did not reciprocate, its players faced away from Spain as the new champions received their gold medals and lifted the trophy. There’s no timeline yet for when FIFA’s investigation will wrap up, nor any indication of whether disciplinary action will follow. This comes on the heels of a separate FIFA probe, launched last week, into Argentina’s players unveiling a political banner following their World Cup semifinal win over England, a display that breached stadium conduct rules and provoked backlash in the UK, given the sensitivities around the Falkland Islands’ sovereignty, a British overseas territory located off Argentina’s coast. Defender Lisandro Martinez, joined by substitute Giovani Lo Celso, held up a sign reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentinian”) while celebrating on the field, smiling and waving to supporters after their come-from-behind victory that Wednesday. The gesture triggered criticism in Britain, where senior officials pressed FIFA to look into it, and the body confirmed it had opened a review, describing it as “standard procedure.” “FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA disciplinary code,” a FIFA spokesperson told Al Jazeera on Thursday. No further updates on that probe have been issued since.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup featured a record prize fund of $871 million (£662 million), making it the most lucrative tournament in the competition’s history FIFA had initially announced a prize pool of $727 million (£552 million), representing a 50 per cent increase from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a December report on the FIFA website noted. However, in April, the governing body approved a further increase by raising the base participation prize and preparation fee, taking the total prize fund to $871 million. The prize money was divided into performance-based rewards and non-performance-based financial support. The expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada and Mexico and concluded on Sunday, July 19, with Spain defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final to lift their second World Cup title. A day earlier, on Saturday, 18 July, England defeated France 6-4 in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal, leaving France to finish fourth. The tournament’s Round of 16 featured Morocco, France, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina and Switzerland, who all progressed to the quarter-finals after defeating Canada, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, the United States, Egypt and Colombia respectively. The tournament ran for 39 days, featured 48 teams, and comprised 104 matches, making it the largest FIFA World Cup in history. Teams received increasing financial rewards based on how far they progressed in the tournament. The breakdown is as follows: Champions: $51 million (£38 million) Runners-up: $34 million (£25 million) Third place: $30 million (£22 million) Fourth place: $28 million (£20 million) Quarter-finalists (5th-8th): $20 million (£14 million) Round of 16 (9th-16th): $16 million (£11 million) 17th-32nd place: $12 million (£8 million) 33rd-48th place: $10 million (£7 million) These performance-related payments account for $703 million of the total prize fund. The remaining $168 million was distributed equally among all 48 participating nations, regardless of their tournament performance. Each team received: Preparation funding: $2.5 million Additional team contributions: More than $16 million shared among participating nations Combined with the minimum $10 million participation payment for teams finishing between 33rd and 48th place, every nation was guaranteed at least $12.5 million for competing at the tournament. According to FIFA, the preparation funding is intended to help cover expenses such as pre-tournament training camps and travel, while the additional team contributions are designed to offset delegation, logistics, administrative and ticketing costs, with the aim of reducing financial disparities among participating nations. According to FIFA, the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured a record prize fund of $871 million, the largest in the tournament’s history. The governing body initially announced a total prize pool of $727 million in December 2025—already a 50 per cent increase over the amount distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—but later approved an increase in April 2026 by raising the base participation payment and preparation fee. The prize money was split between performance-based rewards and non-performance-based financial support. The champions received $51 million, runners-up $34 million, third-place finishers $30 million, while fourth place earned $28 million. Quarter-finalists each received $20 million, teams eliminated in the Round of 16 earned $16 million, those finishing between 17th and 32nd place received $12 million, while teams placed 33rd to 48th collected $10 million. In addition to performance-related earnings, every participating nation received a $2.5 million preparation grant to support pre-tournament expenses such as training camps and travel. FIFA also provided additional financial contributions to help offset delegation, logistics, administrative and ticketing costs, ensuring that every team was guaranteed at least $12.5 million for participating in the tournament.

Kylian Mbappe has become the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after earning the award for top scorer at the 2026 tournament The France forward netted 10 goals in eight games to edge out Lionel Messi in a high-quality race. Having struck eight times to finish top scorer at Qatar 2022, Mbappe has won the Golden Boot in back-to-back World Cups. The 27-year-old was the first man to reach double figures for World Cup goals since Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970. Only Just Fontaine, who hit 13 for France in 1958, and Hungary's Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, have scored more individual goals in a single tournament. Mbappe is also the men's World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals - one ahead of Messi. He moved clear of the Argentine on Saturday with two goals in the bronze match, although he could not stop France falling to a 6-4 defeat against England and finishing fourth. Mbappe also scored twice against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage, as well as Sweden in the last 32. He followed that with strikes against Paraguay in the last 16 - the 70th-minute winner from the penalty spot - and against Morocco in the quarter-finals. Messi could have overtaken the Real Madrid forward with a hat-trick in the World Cup final on Sunday. However, the 39-year-old could not find the net in New Jersey as his Argentina side were beaten 1-0 by Spain, and ended the competition with eight goals in as many matches. England's Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland of Norway scored seven times, while France forward Ousmane Dembele and English captain Harry Kane followed them in the list with six.

Spain are world champions again for the second time, after dominating the World Cup final for the wole 120 minutes of the game to defeat 2022 winners, Argentina Spain have been crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a thrilling final on Sunday. Substitute Ferran Torres emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the second period of extra time to hand La Roja their second World Cup title, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest, but the South Americans’ task became more difficult in stoppage time of the second half when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsí. With Argentina reduced to 10 men, Spain dominated possession in extra time and finally found the breakthrough when Nico Williams brilliantly knocked the ball into Torres’ path, allowing the forward to fire home the winning goal. Luis de la Fuente’s side capped an outstanding tournament with another disciplined defensive display, conceding just one goal in seven matches while combining defensive solidity with their trademark possession-based football. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, fought valiantly throughout the tournament, overcoming Egypt in the knockout stages and coming from behind to defeat England in the semi-finals. However, the holders were unable to find a way past Spain, who claimed the biggest prize in world football for the first time since 2010.

When Spain and Argentina meet in Sunday's World Cup final, the thought of lifting the famous trophy will be the only thing on the players' minds However, the result at New York New Jersey Stadium could prove significant beyond crowning the world champions - it could effectively decide who wins the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo domination may be long gone, but in recent years there has still always been a clear favourite to scoop the prize. There are plenty of contenders, although history tells us it is difficult to take top spot without also winning the Champions League or a major international tournament in the same year. Could the World Cup final decide who will earn the award - perhaps swinging it the way of Lamine Yamal or Messi - or will the winner be someone else? In one of the tightest races in history, the decisive moment might not have happened yet. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe all put up extraordinary goalscoring numbers in 2025-26, but that is only one part of the story. More often than not, a nominee needs to win a major continental or international trophy. Only four of the past 19 Ballon d'Or wins have gone to a player who did not triumph in the Uefa Champions League, World Cup, European Championship or Copa America in the same year. Messi accounts for three of those (2010, 2012, 2019) and Ronaldo the other (2013). Rightly or wrongly, that means the odds are stacked against Kane, Haaland, Mbappe, Michael Olise, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. Ousmane Dembele took the 2025 prize after winning the Champions League with Paris St-Germain. A successful defence this year means Dembele and team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are in the conversation. That takes us to the World Cup final, where two candidates go head to head. Messi, at 39, is looking win a record-extending ninth Ballon d'Or, while 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is hoping to better his second-place finish in 2025.

Football’s global governing body FIFA will assess match reports before deciding if they take any action over Argentina’s players holding up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands are Argentine) following their 2-1 victory over England A British minister had on Thursday called for FIFA to look into the incident following the World Cup semi-final match in Atlanta. FIFA released a statement late Thursday saying they were “assessing the match reports”. “As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa disciplinary code,” it said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office Thursday backed the calls by Business Minister Peter Kyle, who called the flag waving an “egregious violation” of FIFA rules, which ban political symbols on the field of play. “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. Argentina invaded the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic in 1982. But Britain regained the archipelago in a brief war after then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched a naval task force. “Politics needs to be separate from football. In fact, the World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football,” Kyle told BBC television. Argentina’s football association were fined £20,000 ($27,000) by FIFA in 2014 for players posing in front of a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia. FIFA said the gesture had breached rules on “political action” and team misconduct. Britain occupied the Falklands in the 19th century, but Argentina claims the islands are part of its territory. Argentina’s President Javier Milei called the stunt “perfectly valid and legitimate.” “It’s a feeling that exists within all Argentines. The Malvinas are Argentine, we’re going to recover them, and we will do it through diplomatic means,” he told El Observador radio station. Argentina’s vice president, Victoria Villarruel, upped the tensions ahead of Wednesday’s kick-off by dubbing the English “usurping pirates”. The 1982 conflict ended with the deaths of 649 Argentines and 255 Britons. After the World Cup match, Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said Buenos Aires had filed a formal protest over a British warship near the Falkland Islands. Quirno voiced on X “the strongest rejection” of Britain’s HMS Medway’s “unconsulted and illegal” passage through Argentine territorial waters.

Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after their players celebrated Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final victory over England by displaying a banner backing the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands The reigning world champions came from behind to beat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 in Atlanta, scoring twice late in the game to secure a place in Sunday’s final against Spain. Following the final whistle, several Argentina players held up a banner bearing the words “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”(“The Falklands are Argentine”), a political message that could attract sanctions from world football’s governing body. The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have long been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. The disagreement led to the 1982 Falklands War, a 74-day conflict in which 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen and three islanders were killed. According to BBC Sport, FIFA has previously sanctioned Argentina over a similar incident. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after the national team displayed an identical banner before an international friendly against Slovenia. FIFA ruled at the time that the act breached its regulations on political messages and team misconduct. Reacting to Wednesday’s victory, Argentina’s Vice-President, Victoria Villarruel, posted on X saying, “It wasn’t just another match”, alongside a video appearing to show Argentine soldiers. She added, “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.” Ahead of the semi-final, Villarruel had also described the match as being “about putting the invaders in their place.” Argentina’s players had earlier drawn attention for singing chants referencing the Falkland Islands, as well as football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, after their dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16. However, Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, had insisted during a press conference before the England match that football should remain separate from politics. “The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago. It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality. “Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match – we shouldn’t confuse the two,” he said. The semi-final, decided by late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez after England had taken the lead, was played under heightened security because of the long-standing historical tensions between the two countries.

England manager, Thomas Tuchel, defended his tactics after the Three Lions’ World Cup dream ended in an agonising late defeat to Argentina on Wednesday England appeared poised to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon fired them into the lead early in the second half in Atlanta. But England then invited wave after wave of late pressure from the defending champions and goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez secured a famous 2-1 victory. Tuchel said his team had become “too passive” after taking the lead at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,” Tuchel told the BBC. “We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots. We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored,” the German coach added. Tuchel is likely to face serious scrutiny for his substitutions, notably the decision to bring goalscorer Gordon off for defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute. “I did also offensive substitutions in the last games, we just tried to help the players. We conceded a chance straight away and we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open,” he said. “Straight after our goal, without any substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help.” Asked later at a press conference whether he believed he got his tactics wrong, former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Tuchel replied: “No, I believe that’s just the nature of the game. “As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It’s just what it is. No one knows what would have happened if we made different decisions. So it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism.” Asked why England had shied away from a more adventurous approach when leading, Tuchel replied: “Yes, but it doesn’t help if you can’t get the ball. We couldn’t get out. Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help. We couldn’t win any balls, we couldn’t keep the ball so I think it was not a structural problem, we changed nothing. But the match changed completely.” Tuchel signed a two-year contract extension in February which lasts through to the 2028 European Championships which England is co-hosting. Asked if he expected to remain England manager after Wednesday’s defeat, the German indicated he plans to honour his contract that leads up the the 2028 European Championship. “We keep on going for contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that. Even like now, it’s difficult to look that far ahead,” he said.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente made history after guiding his team to beat France in the semifinal of the World Cup 2026 on Tuesday Goals in each half from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured a 2-0 win against France and qualification for a first World Cup final since 2010. According to Stat Foot, De La Fuente becomes the first coach in history to be unbeaten (13 wins and one draw) after his first 14 matches on the bench in a major tournament with a European national team (EURO + World Cup). The 65-year-old unbeaten streak stretch back to the 2024 European Championships where Spain won all their seven fixtures and have already won six and drawn one of their 2026 World Cup matches. De la Fuente have the chance to extend the unbeaten run in the World Cup final against Argentina or England on Sunday. His first managerial job was at Portugalete, in the regional leagues. In summer 2000, he was appointed at Segunda División B club Aurrerá de Vitoria, but was sacked in March of the following year in spite of a seventh place in the table. After a spell back at Sevilla (academy), De la Fuente returned to Athletic. Initially a manager of the youths and the reserves, he also acted as match delegate for two years before returning to his previous duties. On 13 July 2011, De la Fuente was named Alavés coach, being dismissed on 17 October. De la Fuente began working in the Spanish youth teams in 2013, managing the under-19 team to victory in the 2015 European Championship and the under-21 side to the 2019 equivalent. He coached the Olympic team to the silver medal at the 2020 games, and took over at the seniors in 2022, winning the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024.

Video Assistant Referee decisions have continued to spark debate at the 2026 World Cup, with several calls dividing players, coaches and fans across the tournament’s group stage and knockout rounds This is the third World Cup to feature VAR since its introduction, and officials have been granted extra powers this time around, including the ability to issue yellow cards in cases of mistaken identity. Sports website Planet Football has now ranked the ten VAR incidents it considers the tournament’s most controversial so far. 10. Argentina v Egypt Egypt saw a second goal chalked off by VAR for a foul earlier in the buildup after leading Argentina 2-0. Planet Football rated the call correct but noted Egypt’s frustration at how far back in the passage of play the offence was picked up, especially after the North Africans were denied a possible penalty shortly before conceding the winner. Egypt reportedly lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, with coach Hossam Hassan alleging bias in the officiating. 9. England v Ghana Ghana were denied a penalty in a goalless draw after Ezri Konsa brought down Prince Adu inside the box. Planet Football described Konsa’s challenge as careless and potentially reckless, and one Ghana felt should have been punished. 8. Brazil v Scotland Vinicius Junior had what would have been Brazil’s second goal ruled out for what Planet Football called the faintest of fouls on Jack Hendry. Brazil went on to win regardless. 7. Colombia v Portugal Davinson Sanchez’s goal for Colombia was ruled out for offside by a matter of millimetres after a VAR review, despite appearing onside in real time. Former England striker Wayne Rooney criticised the decision on BBC punditry duty, saying: “It’s onside, I don’t care what they’re telling me.” 6. Ecuador v Germany Germany were allowed to keep a goal that Planet Football argued deserved a VAR review, after Aleksandar Pavlovic caught Ecuador’s Pedro Vite in the face while going for the ball in the buildup. 5. Germany v Paraguay Germany had a goal by Jonathan Tah disallowed in their round of 32 exit to Paraguay after VAR ruled that Waldemar Anton had held Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill unfairly at the corner. Planet Football called the decision soft, noting Gill was back on his feet by the time the header came in. 4. Portugal v Croatia Croatia had a stoppage-time equaliser by Josko Gvardiol ruled out for offside, after officials determined Igor Matanovic’s touch on the ball, rather than a deflection off a Portugal defender, kept Mario Pasalic onside in the buildup — a decision Planet Football said divided opinion despite being consistent with the letter of the law. 3. France v Senegal France were denied what Planet Football described as a clear penalty after Sadio Mane appeared to foul Kylian Mbappe without touching the ball. The referee not only upheld his no-penalty call after a VAR review but also overturned an earlier corner in France’s favour, ruling it should have been a goal kick. 2. USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina USA striker Folarin Balogun was sent off following a VAR review for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic that Planet Football said appeared to carry little real intent, in an incident that drew comment from United States President Donald Trump. Balogun’s suspension for the USA’s next fixture was later overturned. 1. Argentina v Algeria Lionel Messi avoided a red card despite a challenge on Aissa Mandi that Planet Football said looked, by the letter of the law, worthy of a dismissal. VAR did not recommend a review, and the referee’s decision to award only a free-kick stood — topping the list of the tournament’s biggest VAR controversies.

Introduction The four most expensive squads left in the 2026 World Cup just met in the semi-finals, and the gap between what the transfer market thinks a player is worth and what the betting market thinks he will do on the pitch has never been wider. Spain have already booked their final spot with a 2–0 win over France. England and Argentina meet tonight in Atlanta. Between these four teams, over €4.9 billion in transfer value is on the line. This article ranks the highest World Cup 2026 semi-final player valuations, compares those figures against tournament goals and betting odds, and explains what the mismatches mean for Nigerian bettors looking to compare odds on betCompare before kickoff. Table of Contents Why World Cup Semi-Final Player Valuations Matter for Bettors Squad Valuations at a Glance Top 12 World Cup Semi-Final Player Valuations Ranked Transfer Value vs Tournament Goals: Where the Numbers Disagree The Messi Anomaly: €15 Million, 8 Goals Golden Boot Race and What It Means for Odds What This Means for Nigerian Bettors Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Conclusion Why World Cup Semi-Final Player Valuations Matter for Bettors Transfer valuations tell you how much a club would pay for a player based on age, contract length, recent form, and market demand. Betting odds tell you how likely the market thinks it is that a player will score, assist, or influence the next match. When those two numbers agree, there is usually nothing to learn. When they disagree, that is where the story gets interesting. A player valued at €200 million should, in theory, dominate every match he plays. But a 39-year-old valued at €15 million has scored just as many World Cup goals this tournament as the most expensive teenager on the planet. Understanding why is the first step towards reading odds with sharper eyes. If you want to see how different Nigerian sportsbooks are pricing tonight's semi-final, you can compare odds across operators on betCompare before placing anything. Squad Valuations at a Glance Team Transfermarkt Squad Value World Cup Ranking by Value Tournament Goals (Total) Status France €1.52 billion 1st 17 Eliminated (lost 0–2 to Spain) England €1.36 billion 2nd 14 Semi-final (vs Argentina, 15 July) Spain €1.22 billion 3rd 13 Through to final Argentina €807.5 million 7th 18 Semi-final (vs England, 15 July) Argentina have the lowest squad valuation of the four semi-finalists by a wide margin, yet they have scored the most goals. Top 12 World Cup Semi-Final Player Valuations Ranked This ranking covers the 12 highest-valued players across all four semi-final squads, based on Transfermarkt valuations as of July 2026. Rank Player Team Position Transfermarkt Value Age World Cup 2026 Goals 1 Lamine Yamal Spain RW €200m 18 2 2 Kylian Mbappé France ST/LW €180m 27 8 3 Pedri Spain CM €150m 23 1 4 Michael Olise France RW €150m 24 1 5 Jude Bellingham England AM €130m 22 6 6 Declan Rice England DM €120m 27 0 7 Désiré Doué France LW €120m 20 0 8 Bukayo Saka England RW €110m 24 1 9 Julián Álvarez Argentina ST €100m 26 3 10 Enzo Fernández Argentina CM €100m 25 0 11 Lautaro Martínez Argentina ST €85m 28 2 12 Pau Cubarsí Spain CB €80m 19 0 Not ranked by value, but ranked by output: Lionel Messi (€15m, age 39) sits on 8 goals, level with Mbappé and two clear of Bellingham. Harry Kane (estimated €45m, age 32) has 6 goals. Neither appears in the top 12 by valuation, yet both are among the four highest scorers in the entire tournament. Transfer Value vs Tournament Goals: Where the Numbers Disagree This is the table that matters most. It compares each player's Transfermarkt valuation against their actual World Cup 2026 output and their current betting odds in the goalscorer markets. Player Value Goals Value per Goal Anytime Scorer Odds (Approx.) Odds-Implied Probability Lionel Messi €15m 8 €1.9m per goal ~1.80 ~56% Kylian Mbappé €180m 8 €22.5m per goal Eliminated (3rd-place match only) — Jude Bellingham €130m 6 €21.7m per goal ~3.50 ~29% Harry Kane ~€45m 6 €7.5m per goal ~2.50 ~40% Julián Álvarez €100m 3 €33.3m per goal ~3.75 ~27% Lamine Yamal €200m 2 €100m per goal ~4.50 ~22% Lautaro Martínez €85m 2 €42.5m per goal ~4.00 ~25% Mikel Oyarzabal ~€25m 5 €5m per goal In final only — The pattern is clear. The players delivering the most goals at this World Cup are not the most expensive. Messi's cost-per-goal ratio is extraordinary. Yamal, the most valuable player in world football, has converted the least of his valuation into tournament goals so far. This does not make Yamal a bad bet. It means valuation and short-term tournament output measure different things entirely. The Messi Anomaly: €15 Million, 8 Goals Messi is valued at €15 million because he is 39 years old and plays for Inter Miami in MLS. No European club would pay a premium transfer fee for a player at that stage of his career, regardless of his ability. Yet he has scored 8 goals in 6 matches at this World Cup. He opened with a hat-trick against Algeria, tying Miroslav Klose's all-time men's World Cup record at 16 goals, and has since extended that record to 21. For bettors, Messi is the clearest example of why transfer value and match odds are separate conversations. Nigerian sportsbooks currently price him as the most likely anytime scorer in the England vs Argentina semi-final at approximately 1.80 (56% implied probability). That is consistent with his tournament form, not his transfer value. If you are comparing anytime scorer prices across Bet9ja, SportyBet, and BetKing for tonight's match, the spread on Messi's odds is worth checking. Even small differences in decimal odds translate to meaningful value over time. Compare the latest prices on betCompare. Golden Boot Race and What It Means for Odds The Golden Boot goes to the tournament's top scorer. Here is where the race stands heading into the final matches. Player Team Goals Matches Remaining Golden Boot Odds (Approx.) Lionel Messi Argentina 8 Up to 2 (semi + potential final) Favourite (~1.63) Kylian Mbappé France 8 1 (3rd-place match only) ~2.90 Harry Kane England 6 Up to 2 ~12.00 Jude Bellingham England 6 Up to 2 ~28.00 Mikel Oyarzabal Spain 5 1 (final) ~61.00 Messi's edge comes down to matches remaining. If Argentina beat England tonight, Messi could play both the semi-final and the final, giving him two more chances to score. Mbappé can only add goals in the third-place match. Kane and Bellingham need a scoring run just to draw level. The FIFA tiebreaker rules are worth knowing: if two players finish level on goals, assists decide it. If assists are also level, the player with fewer minutes played wins. Messi leads on goals and has been efficient with his minutes, which is why the market favours him even at level with Mbappé. What This Means for Nigerian Bettors World Cup semi-final player valuations are useful context, but they should not drive your betting decisions on their own. Here is what the data actually tells you. Transfer value reflects long-term earning potential, not tonight's performance. Yamal at €200 million prices in a decade of future output at Barcelona. It says nothing about whether he will score against France or England on any given evening. Tournament form is a better short-term predictor than valuation. Messi at €15 million and 8 goals is a better guide to his semi-final odds than his Transfermarkt page. The sportsbooks agree, which is why his anytime scorer odds are shorter than Yamal's despite being valued at a fraction of the price. Odds vary between operators. Different Nigerian sportsbooks price these markets differently. A 0.20 difference in decimal odds on an anytime scorer market might not sound like much, but across multiple bets it adds up. This is exactly what odds comparison is for. See how operators stack up on betCompare. Accumulators built on star names carry extra risk. If you are building a multi-leg slip around the most valuable players scoring, remember that one failed leg voids the entire accumulator. Acca insurance terms vary by operator, so check the small print before you commit. Read our football tips and odds coverage for more on how these markets work. betCompare Insight If you are an accumulator bettor eyeing a multi-leg slip on tonight's semi-final, the valuation data here reinforces one simple point: price your selections on form, not fame. Messi at €15 million is outscoring every €100m+ player at this tournament, and his anytime scorer odds reflect that reality. Before locking in your slip, compare the anytime scorer and first goalscorer prices across at least two or three Nigerian operators. Even a shift from 1.80 to 1.90 on one leg changes your potential return meaningfully. Na small-small differences dey add up, as any experienced punter go tell you. For the value-conscious bettor who shops odds before every placement, this article is a reminder that transfer market hype and betting market pricing operate on different logic. The most expensive player is not always the shortest-priced scorer. Use our odds comparison tools to check where the real value sits across Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, and other licensed Nigerian sportsbooks before the semi-final kicks off tonight. FAQs What are World Cup 2026 semi-final player valuations based on? Valuations come from Transfermarkt and reflect estimated transfer worth based on age, contract length, club performance, and market demand. They are updated regularly and represent what a buying club might realistically pay. Who is the most valuable player in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals? Lamine Yamal of Spain tops the list at €200 million, making him the joint most valuable player in world football alongside Erling Haaland (eliminated). Yamal is 18 years old and has already reached the World Cup final. Does transfer value predict who will score at the World Cup? Not reliably. Lionel Messi is valued at €15 million yet leads the tournament with 8 goals. Transfer value reflects long-term career earning potential, while goalscoring odds reflect short-term match form and tournament context. Who is the Golden Boot favourite heading into the semi-finals? Messi is the current favourite at approximately 1.63 in decimal odds. He and Mbappé are tied on 8 goals, but Messi has more matches remaining if Argentina progress. How can I compare World Cup semi-final odds across Nigerian sportsbooks? Visit betCompare.ng to see how Bet9ja, SportyBet, BetKing, and other licensed operators are pricing match result, goalscorer, and player prop markets for tonight's semi-final. Why is Messi's transfer value so low despite his World Cup form? Transfermarkt valuations weight age and contract situation heavily. At 39, playing in MLS, Messi's resale value to a European club is minimal. His on-pitch output, particularly at international level, far exceeds what his valuation suggests. Related Resources Compare Odds Across Nigerian Sportsbooks Best Betting Sites in Nigeria Football Predictions and Tips About betCompare Conclusion The World Cup 2026 semi-final player valuations tell a fascinating story when held up against what has actually happened on the pitch. The most expensive players have not always delivered the most goals, and the most prolific scorer in the tournament is valued at a fraction of his peers. For bettors, the lesson is straightforward: valuation is context, not prediction. Before tonight's England vs Argentina semi-final, take five minutes to compare odds across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks on betCompare. Check the anytime scorer markets, compare the match result prices, and make your decision based on what the odds are actually telling you, not what the transfer market says a player is worth. The player valuations cited in this article are sourced from Transfermarkt and secondary reporting by PlanetFootball, beIN Sports, FanSided, and Yahoo Sports. Betting odds are approximate figures derived from international sportsbook pricing as of 14 July 2026 and may not reflect the exact prices available on Nigerian operators at the time you read this. Always verify current odds directly with your chosen sportsbook before placing any bet. Only stake what you can afford to lose entirely. 18+ only.

The half-time break in Sunday's World Cup final is expected to be the longest in the history of the FIFA World Cup, and will last between 20 and 25 minutes An 11-minute Super Bowl-style show, co-headlined by Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS, will take place during the interval at New York New Jersey Stadium. While sources within World Cup organisers Fifa suggest the break will be around 20 minutes, it is understood that one option is for the normal 15-minute half-time break and then the planned 11-minute show. The laws of the game, governed by IFAB (the International Football Association Board), state that players are entitled to a half-time break "not exceeding 15 minutes". Half-time of last year's Club World Cup final, also organised by FIFA and held in New Jersey, lasted a total of 24 minutes due to a performance featuring Coldplay, J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems and Emmanuel Kelly. Justin Bieber was last week added to the bill for Sunday's performance which, along with the headliners, also includes Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus featuring Coldplay, with singer Chris Martin having curated the show. The World Cup final will kick-off at 15:00 local time and there will be a closing ceremony starting at 13:30 local time. Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed are set to perform as part of the ceremony, with Jennifer Hudson to sing the United States' national anthem. Spain booked their place in the final by beating France 2-0 in the first semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday. They will face either England or Argentina, who meet in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Plans for a 64-team men's World Cup are set to be assessed after the 2026 tournament, with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino saying the event needs to be "for the whole world" The proposal for an expanded tournament was put forward last year, and Infantino says the success of the expanded 48-team tournament means Fifa should look at how a 64-team World Cup could work. "These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup. When organizing a World Cup, it's important to organise it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport, external when asked if the tournament could grow to 64 teams. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving." Infantino said that the first 48-team World Cup has been "a huge success", citing the progression of nine out of 10 African teams to the knockout stages. "At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa," he said. "That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams - to give them this opportunity to participate." The FIFA council approved the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2017. An official proposal to boost the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams was put forward by South American governing body Conmebol in April 2025, but no decision has been reached. The 2030 edition will be mainly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the three opening matches to be hosted by Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay to celebrate the centenary of the competition. Uruguay hosted the first World Cup, in 1930. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is among those to have dismissed the 64-team proposal, with the Slovenian saying it is a "bad idea" for both the tournament itself and the qualifying process. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa agreed, saying further expansion would bring "chaos". Victor Montagliani, president of the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), said the suggestion "doesn't feel right" and he believes the expansion would damage "the broader football ecosystem". However, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, said the United States could consider making a bid to host the 2038 World Cup and would be able to "handle it" if expanded to 64 teams. FIFA’s official position has always been it will discuss expansion ideas with stakeholders and it is duty bound to consider any proposals from council members. The FIFA council would make the ultimate decision, but there are no signs it is something expected to happen imminently. When Infantino was first elected in 2016, part of his manifesto was to increase the size of the World Cup from 32 teams to 40. In less than a year, that rose to 48 and was approved by the FIFA council, effective from the 2026 finals. Since then, speculation has never gone away that FIFA would like to go further and faster. Going up to 48 teams for the 2022 finals was discussed, but it was accepted that Qatar would not be able to host a tournament of that size on its own. And this is the issue – the bigger the World Cup becomes, the more challenging it is to host. This year it is in three countries across a vast area. In 2030, matches will be played in six countries – Morocco, Portugal, Spain, plus Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay as centenary hosts. Just how Saudi Arabia would be able to cope with a 64-team tournament, featuring 128 games, in 2034 is unknown. Firstly, it gives more countries the chance to play at a World Cup. Indeed, a 64-team World Cup would see almost a third of the 211 FIFA-affiliated countries qualify. A bigger World Cup also means more revenue to be distributed to the member associations.

FIFA has announced the match officials for Match 101 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with experienced Salvadoran referee, Ivan Barton, set to officiate the blockbuster semi-final between France and Spain The world football governing body confirmed the appointments in a post on its official X account on Monday. It reads, “The match officials for FIFA World Cup Match 101 have been appointed.” According to FIFA, Barton will oversee the highly anticipated clash at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, July 14, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 p.m. He will be assisted by fellow Salvadoran David Moran as Assistant Referee 1, while Argentina’s Antonio Pupiro has been named Assistant Referee 2. Sweden’s Glenn Nyberg will serve as the fourth official, with compatriot Mahbod Beigi appointed as the reserve assistant referee. The appointment places Barton in charge of one of the biggest fixtures of the tournament, with two European football giants battling for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. France booked their place in the last four after another impressive run, relying on their blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair. Led by captain Kylian Mbappé, Les Bleus are aiming to reach another World Cup final after lifting the trophy in 2018 and finishing runners-up in 2022. Spain, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers, with Barcelona star, Lamine Yamal as one of the brightest stars. The former world champions have impressed with their possession-based style, youthful energy and clinical finishing as they seek a second World Cup title, having last won the competition in 2010. Tuesday’s encounter will renew one of European football’s fiercest rivalries. Both nations boast rich World Cup histories, and the winner will advance to the final, while the loser will contest the third-place playoff. The France-Spain semi-final is one of the marquee fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, pitting two of Europe’s most successful football nations against each other for a place in the final. France are chasing a record-extending fifth appearance in a FIFA World Cup final. Les Bleus lifted the trophy on home soil in 1998 before reclaiming the title in 2018. They also finished runners-up in 2006 and 2022, and victory over Spain would see them reach a third consecutive World Cup final after appearances in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Spain, meanwhile, are seeking only their second appearance in a World Cup final. La Roja won their maiden world title in South Africa in 2010, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time, but have not returned to the final since then. A win over France would end a 16-year wait for another shot at football’s biggest prize. The two nations have met just once previously at the FIFA World Cup, with France coming from behind to defeat Spain 3-1 in the Round of 16 at the 2006 tournament. The encounter will rekindle their recent rivalry following Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, a result that propelled the Spaniards to the European title. With a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at stake, the semi-final promises to be a compelling contest between France’s tournament experience and Spain’s resurgent, possession-based style under a new generation of players.

Kylian Mbappé added another chapter to his remarkable FIFA World Cup career on Thursday after leading France to a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco, extending his list of tournament records and milestones. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 59th minute before Ousmane Dembélé added a second as France booked a place in the semi-finals. The goal also saw the France captain strengthen his position as the leading scorer in World Cup knockout matches, while adding to a growing list of achievements that have placed him among the competition’s all-time greats. Here are Mbappé’s major World Cup records and achievements: Three World Cup appearances: Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and 2026. One World Cup title: Winner with France in 2018. Two World Cup finals: Champion in 2018 and runner-up in 2022. France’s joint-most capped World Cup player: 20 appearances, level with Hugo Lloris. 17 World Cup victories: Level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Only Lionel Messi, with 20 wins, has more. 20 World Cup goals: Joint-highest scorer in tournament history alongside Lionel Messi. One goal per game: Averaging 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches. Five World Cup assists. Six braces across three World Cup tournaments. One World Cup hat-trick: Scored in the 2022 final against Argentina. 12 World Cup knockout goals: The highest tally by any player in the tournament’s history, surpassing previous record holders including Brazil’s Ronaldo and Leônidas. Four goals in World Cup finals: The most by any player in World Cup final matches. Golden Boot winner: Top scorer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with eight goals. FIFA Young Player Award: Won the award at the 2018 World Cup after helping France lift the trophy. The 27-year-old also became the first player to reach 12 goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup after scoring against Morocco, further extending the record he had already set earlier in the 2026 tournament. France will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Spain and Belgium for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, has defended the independence of World Cup match officials following controversy over the VAR decisions in Argentina’s Round of 16 victory over Egypt, insisting that referees cannot be influenced by anyone, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino Collina made the remarks in an interview published by FIFA on Thursday after criticism over officiating decisions during the knockout tie, saying allegations questioning the integrity of referees were unacceptable and had exposed officials and their families to threats. “Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA President [Gianni Infantino]. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best,” he was quoted as saying. Explaining the controversial decisions in the Argentina-Egypt match, Collina said VAR correctly intervened after Egypt midfielder Marwan Attia stepped on the foot of Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez during the attacking possession phase before a goal. According to him, the Laws of the Game do not impose any time or distance limit on incidents that can be reviewed if they lead to a goal. “We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious’, if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene. Equally, if no foul is identified in the build-up to a goal, the VAR will advise the referee accordingly. Stepping on an opponent’s foot is a foul, whereas a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal football contact has not committed a foul. “Again, an example of this came at the end of the same game. The referee and the VAR deemed it normal football contact between Egypt No. 10 Mohamed Salah and Argentina No. 10 Julián Álvarez,” he said. The Italian referee acknowledged that officiating decisions would always generate debate but maintained that FIFA was satisfied with how VAR had been applied throughout the tournament. “Of course, there will always be an element of subjectivity in some decisions, but we are happy with how this principle has been applied throughout the tournament,” he stated. Collina also gave a positive assessment of officiating standards after 96 matches at the expanded 48-team World Cup, saying FIFA remained satisfied with the overall performance of referees despite the increased workload. “Constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right,” he said.

The Egyptian football federation said Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team who handled the Pharoahs loss 3-2 last-16 to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup “Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match and leave the World Cup,” said a statement from the federation. On Tuesday evening, Letexes ruled out a Mostafa Ziko goal ruled out when they were leading 1-0 after VAR intervened to spot a foul on Lisandro Martinez much earlier in the move. A few minutes later, Ziko did put Egyptian 2-0 up and on the brink of a place in the last eight for the first time but there was further controversy in added time, after Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi had brought the champions level. In the build-up to Argentina’s winner scored by Enzo Fernandez, Egypt believe they should have instead been awarded a penalty for a pull by Alexis Mac Allister on Hamdy Fathy. “Aburida demanded the investigation of the entire team of referees, including the video technology referees, because of the blatant errors and insisting on not reviewing some of the footage that we believe are in favour of the Egyptian national team, and we see in it the Pharaohs’ right to a correct goal and a penalty,” said the Egyptian statement. It added that the president had also “demanded the exclusion of the referee and the entire crew from the World Cup after investigating these mistakes and proving the crime of discrimination against the Egyptian national team”. The statement echoed remarks by Egypt coach Hossam Hassan immediately after the game. “I do not want to put it nicely and talk about hard luck. We have been cheated unfairly today, we have suffered injustice. We haven’t seen respect or fair play. There has not been respect or fair play,” Hassan told journalists. Hassan told BeIN: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running. In football, there are sometimes external factors that go beyond the technical aspects. The world champions received support at every level.”

France coach, Didier Deschamps, revealed on Wednesday that an appeal against a yellow card shown to Michael Olise in the World Cup last-16 win over Paraguay had been rejected by FIFA Olise, who has been one of the tournament’s standout stars, was booked in the final minutes of the bad-tempered clash against Paraguay in Philadelphia after an altercation with Matias Galarza. “The yellow card has not changed. We were notified by FIFA this morning, it has been maintained,” Deschamps told reporters in Foxborough, on the eve of France’s quarter-final showdown with Morocco at the Gillette Stadium. Replays showed there was little contact between the two players. Bayern Munich star Olise put his finger in front of his mouth and the Paraguayan player dropped to the ground, claiming he had been hit in the face. The decision by world football’s governing body to uphold the booking means Olise is now walking a tightrope — if he is booked again against Morocco, he will be suspended for a potential semi-final against Spain or Belgium. Bradley Barcola and Manu Kone are also at risk of a ban after they were also booked against Paraguay. Deschamps said midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was recovering well from a thigh injury that ruled him out of the game against Paraguay. “Aurelien is doing better. I can’t say more than that. He will maybe take part in training today but I will need to see. The others are all available,” he said.

Three African teams saw their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns end in heartbreak after surrendering winning positions in the knockout stage. They are Egypt, Senegal and DR Congo ‎The trio looked on course for memorable victories against higher-ranked opponents before late comebacks by Argentina, Belgium and England, respectively, ended their hopes of progressing. Egypt throw away two-goal lead against Argentina Egypt suffered the most dramatic and latest collapse in the Round of 16 after squandering a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to defending champions Argentina on Tuesday. Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico put the Pharaohs in control, leaving them 11 minutes away from a famous victory at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. However, Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute before Lionel Messi equalised four minutes later. Enzo Fernandez then headed home the winner in stoppage time to send Argentina into the quarter-finals. The defeat was compounded by controversy after Egypt had a second-half goal ruled out following a VAR review, while Messi had earlier missed a penalty. Senegal collapse against Belgium Senegal also exited after surrendering a two-goal advantage in their Round of 32 clash against Belgium. Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr gave the Lions of Teranga a 2-0 lead before Belgium staged a late fightback. Romelu Lukaku reduced the deficit in the 86th minute before Youri Tielemans equalised three minutes later to force extra time. Belgium completed the comeback when Tielemans converted a penalty in the closing moments of extra time, sealing a 3-2 victory and eliminating Senegal. England end DR Congo’s dream DR Congo also fell after failing to protect an early lead against England in the Round of 32. Brian Cipenga fired the Leopards ahead in the opening stages, and they held the advantage until the closing stages of the match. England captain Harry Kane scored twice late on to complete a 2-1 comeback victory and book the Three Lions’ place in the last 16. England manager Thomas Tuchel praised his side’s resilience after avoiding what would have been a shock elimination. Pattern of late collapses The exits of Egypt, Senegal and DR Congo highlighted a recurring theme for African teams at the tournament. Despite producing impressive attacking displays and competing strongly against established football powers, all three sides were unable to protect their leads in the closing stages of their matches. Their eliminations have renewed discussions about game management, tactical discipline and maintaining concentration under pressure, even as their performances demonstrated the growing competitiveness of African teams on the World Cup stage.

United States, Mexico and Canada, joint hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, have all been eliminated from the tournament, following the USA’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday in Seattle ‎The US exit completes a difficult tournament for all three co-hosts, who had each reached the knockout stage on home soil but fell short of the quarter-finals. ‎Canada were the first of the trio to bow out, losing 3-0 to Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, in a tie in which Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi scored twice before a late strike from Soufiane Rahimi sealed the result. ‎Canada’s campaign was also hampered by injury concerns over star winger, Alphonso Davies. Mexico followed on Sunday, suffering a 3-2 defeat to England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in front of more than 80,000 fans. ‎Jude Bellingham scored twice in a 98-second span in the first half, and Harry Kane converted a penalty after England were reduced to 10 men, to end Mexico’s bid for a first quarter-final appearance since it last hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexico coach, Javier Aguirre, is set to be replaced by his assistant, Rafael Marquez, following the exit. ‎The United States’ elimination on Monday completed the sweep. ‎Belgium ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at Lumen Field in Seattle, a result that followed a build-up dominated by controversy over a reinstated red card against US forward, Folarin Balogun, and comments from US President Donald Trump on the match. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be jointly hosted by three nations, and the first held with an expanded 48-team format. ‎The tournament, which began on June 11, runs across 16 cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — and is scheduled to conclude with the final on July 19. ‎With all three co-hosts now out, the remaining quarter-final field is made up entirely of non-host nations, including Morocco, France, Norway, Spain, Belgium, England, Argentina and Egypt or Switzerland and Colombia, with the final pairings still to be completed.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion, shedding tears after his country completed a comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and keep their World Cup title defence alive Argentina were on the brink of elimination at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, trailing 0-2 as late as the 75th minute after Messi missed a penalty when his side was 1-0 down. But the defending champions produced a remarkable turnaround after Cristian Romero headed home in the 79th minute to spark hope. Messi equalised in the 85th minute with a clinical finish, and Enzo Fernández headed the winner in stoppage time from Lautaro Martínez’s cross. A video circulating online captures the moment the referee blew the final whistle amid a frantic finish. It shows Messi pumping his fists, visibly in tears, before covering his face. He was immediately rushed and embraced by his teammates, who lifted him in jubilation. Despite missing a crucial chance to equalise earlier in the game, Messi later proved central to the revival. The eight-time Ballon d’Or provided an assist and scored to extend his record of goals in nine consecutive World Cups. Egypt, who led through Yasser Ibrahim and Zico, mounted fierce resistance and nearly added more on the counter, but Argentina’s late surge proved decisive. The win propels Argentina into the quarter-finals, where their campaign continues.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career has ended after Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday, in Arlington, Texas. Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the match in the 91st minute Ronaldo had said before the match that this would be his last World Cup. He finishes with 27 appearances across six tournaments, 11 goals, and a record of being the first player to score in six different editions of the competition. Appearances: Ronaldo played at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups. His 27 appearances are the second-highest total in the tournament’s history, behind only Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has made 30 appearances. Goals: Ronaldo scored 11 goals across his six World Cups, a tally that ties him for ninth on the all-time World Cup scoring list. His goals came in different circumstances: two against Uzbekistan in this year’s group stage, a penalty against Croatia in the round of 32 this year, and a hat-trick against Spain in a 3-3 draw at the 2018 tournament, a group-stage match regarded as one of that edition’s best, though neither side advanced from that particular group. Tournament-by-tournament: • 2006: Ronaldo, then 21, helped Portugal reach the semi-finals, where they lost to France. • 2010: Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain. • 2014: Portugal did not advance from the group stage. • 2018: Ronaldo scored his hat-trick against Spain in the group stage; Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Uruguay. • 2022: Portugal reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to Morocco. Ronaldo, then 37, left the pitch in tears. • 2026: Ronaldo scored three goals in the group and knockout stages; Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain. Records: Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different World Cups after his goal against Uzbekistan this year. He also finishes as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. Ronaldo’s international trophy tally includes three titles with Portugal, among them the 2016 European Championship, which he has said he considers on the same level as a World Cup. He did not win a World Cup across his six appearances at the tournament. The 2026 World Cup is ongoing, with the quarterfinal round yet to be completed.

Brazil superstar Neymar indicated on Sunday that his international career was over after the five-time World Cup winners went out of the tournament in the last 16 at the hands of Norway Neymar came on as a late substitute at MetLife Stadium and scored a penalty deep in injury time, but that was a mere consolation after Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway, and Brazil lost 2-1. The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time top scorer, and, ironically, he got his first goal for his country in the same stadium, in a 2-0 win against the United States back in 2010. “I tried, and I tried. Now it’s over. It began here, and it ends here,” Neymar said in a brief exchange with a journalist from Brazil’s Globo Esporte after the game. He collapsed in tears when the final whistle went and had to be consoled by teammates. Worn down by injuries in recent years, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player, now back at his first club, Santos, was a surprise inclusion in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup. Injury prevented him from featuring in Brazil’s first two group games at the tournament, but he did come on in the 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami, which completed the opening round. That was his first international appearance since October 2023, but his only other appearance in the United States came Sunday against Norway.

FIFA “crossed a red line” with the controversial decision to suspend US star Folarin Balogun’s one game ban for a year, European football’s governing body UEFA said on Monday FIFA’s ruling, which came after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts’ World Cup last 16 match with Belgium later on Monday. “Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line. Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” read UEFA’s strongly worded statement. UEFA warned of the ramifications for the sport as a whole. “Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because is played everywhere with the same laws,” it said. “A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.” Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, had been set to miss the clash in Seattle after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender’s foot in the round-of-32 match the US won 2-0. Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban. Trump called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino asking him to review Balogun’s punishment, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly called for the card to be rescinded. The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. World football’s governing body said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was offered. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The Belgians were stupefied by the ruling. “I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it’s April Fool’s Day,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia told reporters.

Lionel Messi has laughed off the physical treatment he received from Cape Verde during Argentina’s World Cup last-16 qualifier He joked that his opponents “kick the crap” out of him on the pitch, before lining up afterwards to request his shirt and a selfie. Messi shared a light-hearted moment with Cape Verde’s players after Argentina secured a 3-2 victory at the World Cup in Miami on Friday. Several Cape Verde players waited behind after the final whistle to ask him for shirts and photographs, and he happily obliged, Goal.com reports. Argentina had been pushed hard throughout the encounter by their determined opponents. “They asked for my jersey, everything… On the field, they kick the crap out of me,” Messi joked, as quoted by TyC Sports. He also credited set-pieces for the win, noting that Argentina had struggled to convert from them in recent matches. “We’ve been working on it for a while, both offensively and defensively. In a competition like this, it’s important.” Argentina progressed to the next round, but Messi admitted the performance left room for improvement. He said his side lost control after taking the lead instead of building on their early advantage. “We lost possession, we sat back, we couldn’t press effectively,” he said. Argentina’s win booked their place in the last 16, where they will face Egypt after the North Africans progressed on penalties against Australia. Messi also reached a personal milestone, netting his 20th career World Cup goal.

FIFA has cleared United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the country’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium after overturning the suspension that followed his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina Balogun, who scored the first goal in the USA’s Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, was sent off later in the match, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee reversed the suspension ahead of Monday’s knockout fixture in Seattle after determining that the implementation of the disciplinary measure should be suspended, as reported by Fox Sports. “In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” the football body said in a statement. The decision came despite the fact that the United States Soccer Federation had no formal avenue to appeal the red card under FIFA regulations. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was said to have called for the red card to be rescinded. According to reports, the incident became contentious because the Video Assistant Referee intervened and asked Brazilian referee Raphael Claus to review the challenge using the pitch-side monitor, even though Balogun had not initially been cautioned on the field. Reacting to the development, the U.S. Soccer Federation welcomed the decision. “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans,” the federation said in a statement issued via Fox football analyst Stu Holden. President Donald Trump also reacted to the suspension, thanking football’s world governing body. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Balogun has been the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament with three goals. FIFA’s decision is in line with Chapter 4, Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which states that a judicial body “may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.” The code further provides that if a player benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature during the probationary period, the suspension may be revoked and the original sanction enforced in addition to any new disciplinary measures. Balogun’s availability is expected to boost the United States as it seeks a place in the quarter-finals against Belgium.

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz believes Colombia have weaknesses the Black Stars can exploit when both teams meet in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Colombia are unbeaten at the tournament and emerged surprise winners of Group K, which included European giants and one of the title favourites, Portugal. Queiroz, who managed Colombia between 2019 and 2020 admitted the South Americans are a strong side, but remains confident Ghana can trouble them. “Well, it’s true that I know the team well, the Colombian players. It’s also our obligation to study today’s Colombia, not yesterday’s Colombia. And we are aware of all the qualities of the team’s players at the moment. The team reminds me a bit of my Colombia at the Copa America,”Queiroz said during his interaction with the media. “It’s a good team, but we also have players with a lot of quality. And a very strong team, with a lot of determination. And what we have to do is play in our style, in our positive strengths, against the weaker points of Colombia. There are no perfect teams, there aren’t. Colombia is not perfect, it’s a great team, but it’s not perfect. We are a great team; we are not perfect,” he added. Queiroz warned that the Black Stars must avoid costly mistakes against a highly motivated Colombian side. “But tomorrow is a game where there is no room for mistakes. There are no tomorrows. We have to do everything right for 90 minutes. And that’s it, 120 minutes, if that’s the case. And that’s what will happen. We don’t have to create a lot of fantasy and speculate about the game. It’s a great football game, we know that it’s all for the winner, nothing for the loser,’ he continued. “So, there is a change of attitude during the game, because that creates a lot of pressure. But the pressure of a game like this is not a problem, it’s a privilege. It’s a privilege to be here, to play against great players from Colombia, great players from Ghana, on the stage of the best football in the world. So, tomorrow’s pressure is part of our lives, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, has confirmed that the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 will be his final tournament with the national team She stated on SportTV that fans should “enjoy it while it lasts,” as his international career is nearing its end. “We have to enjoy these moments. It’s the last dance for two players, both for Croatia and for Portugal. The most important thing is to enjoy these 20-odd years that we’ve lived, won, and come so far. I’m incredibly proud. I was in Qatar, I’m here. It’s a tremendous pride. I’m confident and we’ll smile at the end. Ronaldo is great and confident, less nervous than us. I felt a good energy and confidence. For us fans, it brings comfort. We can trust.” Aveiro said. When asked about the possibility of seeing Ronaldo with Portugal at Euro 2028, Aveiro replied: “From the information I have, they can say goodbye. Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not today that they’re saying goodbye, but it’s soon. I believe this is their farewell. Enjoy it a lot. It will be difficult to find someone like him. "I’m talking about the national team. The information I have, from a reliable source, I believe this is his last dance. For intelligent people, those who like football have to like Ronaldo. Those who don’t like Ronaldo don’t like football. They’re the ones who lose out. "He’s been tearing it up for over 20 years. Do they think we’re not happy? Look where we are, the Aveiro family, and where we came from. We’ve achieved so much, considering where we came from… after the struggle we went through, what my brother went through, the achievements my mother had… do they think the criticism will interfere with our happiness? Never."

Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye says he will be "taking a break" from playing for his country while the current management is in charge The 27-year-old's decision follows Senegal, who are managed by Pape Thiaw, letting a 2-0 lead slip as they were dramatically beaten by Belgium in their last-32 tie at the World Cup. Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had deservedly put Senegal in front before late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans sent the tie into extra time. Belgium were awarded a controversial penalty in the 125th minute and Tielemans scored from the spot to knock Senegal out. Gueye, who plays for La Liga side Villarreal in Spain, started the game but was replaced by Lamine Camara after 66 minutes. "I will come back to say a few words about the elimination... but I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team," Gueye, who has won 45 caps for Senegal and scored twice in their group-stage win over Iraq, said on social media. Thiaw has been in charge of Senegal since December 2024 and was at the heart of the controversy which resulted in his side being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. Thiaw ushered his team off the field when Morocco who were awarded a stoppage-time penalty in the Afcon final in January. The players eventually returned after a delay of about 17 minutes before Brahim Diaz's penalty was saved and Gueye scored an extra-time winner. However, Morocco were declared the winners of the tournament in March when the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal's walk-off. Senegal have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and hope to regain the title.

Introduction The group stage is done. Forty-eight teams played 72 matches across 17 days. Twenty-four went home. Thirty-two advanced: 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and 8 of the 12 third-placed teams. This page is the definitive reference for every group's final table, every result, and the key storylines that shaped who made the knockout stage and who did not. Bookmark this page and share it with your group chat. For odds on every knockout fixture that follows, compare prices across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. Table of Contents How the group standings work Group A through Group L: final tables and results Which third-placed teams qualified? What this means for bettors Key numbers to know betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion How the Group Standings Work Each group had four teams playing three matches. Teams earned three points for a win, one for a draw, zero for a defeat. The top two from each group advanced automatically. The eight best third-placed teams (out of 12) also advanced, ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. This is the first World Cup with third-place qualification, and it changed the dynamic of every final matchday. Teams that finished third with four points advanced comfortably. Teams on three points needed favourable results elsewhere. Teams on two or fewer went home. Group A (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Atlanta) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Mexico 3 3 0 0 6 0 +6 9 2 South Africa 3 1 1 1 2 3 -1 4 3 South Korea 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 3 4 Czechia 3 0 1 2 2 7 -5 1 Results: Mexico 2-0 South Africa, South Korea 2-1 Czechia, Czechia 1-1 South Africa, Mexico 1-0 South Korea, Mexico 3-0 Czechia, South Africa 1-0 South Korea. The story: Mexico were perfect. Three wins, zero goals conceded, group winners with maximum points. South Africa's 1-0 win over South Korea on the final day sent Bafana Bafana into the knockout stage for the first time in their history, one of the tournament's great moments. Group B (Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Switzerland 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 2 Canada 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 1 1 1 5 6 -1 4 4 Qatar 3 0 1 2 3 6 -3 1 Results: Canada 1-1 Bosnia, Switzerland 1-1 Qatar, Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia, Canada vs Qatar (Canada won), Switzerland 2-1 Canada, Bosnia 3-1 Qatar. The story: Switzerland topped the group comfortably. Canada qualified as runners-up despite losing to Switzerland on matchday three. Bosnia squeezed through as one of the best third-placed teams with four points, setting up a Round of 32 date with the USA. Qatar's World Cup ended as disappointingly as it began in 2022. Group C (New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Brazil 3 2 1 0 7 1 +6 7 2 Morocco 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 3 Scotland 3 0 0 3 1 7 -6 0 4 Haiti 3 0 0 3 2 6 -4 0 Results: Brazil 1-1 Morocco, Scotland vs Haiti (Scotland lost), Brazil 3-0 Haiti, Morocco 4-2 Haiti, Brazil 3-0 Scotland, Morocco vs Scotland (Morocco won). The story: The group everyone called the Group of Death delivered exactly that for Scotland and Haiti. Brazil and Morocco both finished on seven points, separated by goal difference. Vinicius Junior scored in all three group matches. Morocco's 4-2 comeback against Haiti, after trailing twice, was the first time Morocco had overturned a deficit at a World Cup. Scotland went home with zero points, their worst World Cup showing since 1998. Group D (Houston, Dallas, Kansas City) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 USA 3 3 0 0 8 2 +6 9 2 Australia 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4 3 Paraguay 3 1 0 2 3 6 -3 3 4 Turkiye 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4 1 Results: USA 4-1 Paraguay, Australia 2-0 Turkiye, then remaining matchday results. The story: The USA were ruthless as hosts, topping the group with maximum points and an opening-day 4-1 demolition of Paraguay. Australia secured second with a strong defensive display against Turkiye. Paraguay's three points as a third-placed team proved enough to qualify, and they repaid that lifeline by knocking out Germany in the Round of 32. Group E (Houston, Dallas) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Germany 3 2 0 1 10 4 +6 6 2 Ivory Coast 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 6 3 Ecuador 3 1 0 2 4 9 -5 3 4 Curacao 3 1 0 2 4 5 -1 3 Results: Germany 7-1 Curacao, Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador, Ecuador 2-1 Germany, then remaining results. The story: Germany's 7-1 opening win over Curacao disguised problems that became obvious when Ecuador beat them 2-1. Germany topped the group on goal difference over Ivory Coast but looked vulnerable. That vulnerability was confirmed when Paraguay eliminated them on penalties in the Round of 32. Ivory Coast, the reigning AFCON champions, were solid throughout. Ecuador squeezed through as a third-placed qualifier. Group F (Monterrey, Seattle, Vancouver) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Netherlands 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 2 Japan 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4 3 Sweden 3 1 0 2 7 5 +2 3 4 Tunisia 3 0 0 3 2 7 -5 0 Results: Netherlands vs Japan (draw), Sweden 5-1 Tunisia, then remaining matchday results. The story: The Netherlands topped the group despite a dramatic draw with Japan in the opener. Sweden's 5-1 demolition of Tunisia was the most one-sided result in Group F but did not save them from a third-place finish and a Round of 32 draw against France. Tunisia went home winless, their "group exit" trending across Nigerian social media. Japan justified their pre-tournament sleeper billing. Group G (Seattle, Los Angeles, Vancouver) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Belgium 3 1 2 0 7 3 +4 5 2 Egypt 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4 3 Iran 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2 4 New Zealand 3 0 1 2 3 6 -3 1 Results: Belgium 1-1 Egypt, New Zealand 2-2 Iran, Belgium 5-1 New Zealand, then remaining results. The story: Belgium's golden generation dug in when it mattered. The 1-1 draw with Egypt on the opening day looked like a warning sign, but a 5-1 hammering of New Zealand restored order. Egypt qualified as runners-up with Salah leading the line. Iran and New Zealand both went home, though Iran's two draws came agonisingly close to earning a third-place spot. Group H (Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Guadalajara) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Spain 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 7 2 Cabo Verde 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3 3 Uruguay 3 0 2 1 3 4 -1 2 4 Saudi Arabia 3 0 2 1 1 5 -4 2 Results: Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay, Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia, Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde, Cabo Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia, Spain 1-0 Uruguay. The story: The tournament's fairy tale. Cabo Verde, population 525,000, drew all three matches, finished second, and became the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage. Their 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha made seven saves against Spain and became a global sensation. Uruguay, two-time world champions, went home with two points. The group that nobody predicted correctly. Group I (New York, Philadelphia, Kansas City) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Norway 3 3 0 0 11 4 +7 9 2 France 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 6 3 Senegal 3 1 0 2 8 6 +2 3 4 Iraq 3 0 0 3 1 12 -11 0 Results: France 3-1 Senegal, Norway 4-1 Iraq, France 3-0 Iraq, Norway 3-2 Senegal, Norway 4-1 France, Senegal 5-0 Iraq. The story: The result that shook the tournament: Norway 4-1 France on the final matchday. Haaland scored twice as Norway topped the group with a perfect nine points and 11 goals. France, despite losing by three, still qualified comfortably as runners-up. Senegal's 5-0 destruction of Iraq on the final day secured third place and a knockout berth, though their run ended against Belgium in the Round of 32 after a 3-2 extra-time defeat. Iraq conceded 12 goals in three matches. Group J (San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Argentina 3 3 0 0 8 1 +7 9 2 Austria 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 4 3 Algeria 3 1 1 1 5 7 -2 4 4 Jordan 3 0 0 3 2 7 -5 0 Results: Argentina 3-0 Algeria, Austria 3-1 Jordan, Argentina 2-0 Austria, Algeria 2-1 Jordan, Argentina 3-1 Jordan, Austria 3-3 Algeria. The story: Messi's group. He scored six of Argentina's eight goals, including the hat-trick against Algeria that tied Klose's all-time record and the brace against Austria that broke it. Argentina were perfect: nine points, one goal conceded, and the look of champions defending their title. Austria and Algeria both finished on four points, separated by goal difference, with Austria advancing as runners-up. Algeria's 3-3 draw with Austria on the final day was not enough to leapfrog them, and their four points were insufficient to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Group K (Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 Colombia 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 2 Portugal 3 1 2 0 6 1 +5 5 3 DR Congo 3 1 1 1 5 3 +2 4 4 Uzbekistan 3 0 0 3 2 12 -10 0 Results: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo, Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan, Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan, Colombia 1-0 DR Congo, Colombia 0-0 Portugal, DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan. The story: Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo on the opening day was the biggest shock of the group stage. Ronaldo scored a brace against Uzbekistan to recover, but Colombia quietly topped the group with seven points and a stubborn defence that conceded once in three matches. DR Congo's four points as a third-placed team earned them a knockout spot and a date with England in the Round of 32. Group L (Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico City) Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts 1 England 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9 2 Croatia 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4 3 Ghana 3 1 0 2 3 5 -2 3 4 Panama 3 0 1 2 1 5 -4 1 Results: England beat Croatia (Kane brace), Ghana vs Panama, and remaining matches. The story: England were dominant, topping the group with maximum points and Kane scoring in every match to reach five tournament goals. Croatia, with 40-year-old Modric pulling the strings, secured second place and a Round of 32 date with Portugal. Ghana's three points as third placed were enough to squeeze through as one of the best third-placed teams, earning a match against Colombia. Which Third-Placed Teams Qualified? Eight of twelve third-placed teams advanced to the Round of 32. The eight qualifiers, ranked by points then goal difference: Group Team Pts GD Qualified? B Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 -1 Yes D Paraguay 3 -3 Yes E Ecuador 3 -5 Yes F Sweden 3 +2 Yes I Senegal 3 +2 Yes K DR Congo 4 +2 Yes L Ghana 3 -2 Yes H Uruguay 2 -1 No G Iran 2 -1 No A South Korea 3 0 Borderline J Algeria 4 -2 Borderline The exact cutoff depended on tiebreakers between teams level on points. The key takeaway: four points guaranteed qualification. Three points required a favourable goal difference or goals-scored tiebreaker. What This Means for Bettors The final group standings reveal patterns that carry into the knockout stage. Form indicators. Teams that topped their groups with maximum points (Mexico, USA, Argentina, England, Norway) entered the knockouts in peak rhythm. Teams that scraped through on draws or third-place tiebreakers (Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Paraguay) entered with less momentum but, as Paraguay proved against Germany, that does not always matter. Defensive records. Spain conceded zero goals in three group matches. Mexico conceded zero. England conceded one. These defensive records often correlate with deep knockout runs, because the same structure that keeps clean sheets in the group stage tends to hold up under the increased pressure of elimination football. Compare odds on low-scoring knockout fixtures at betcompare.ng with these defensive records in mind. The Norway factor. Norway's nine points and 11 goals, including a 4-1 win over France, make them the most dangerous unseeded team in the bracket. They face Brazil in the Round of 16. The market has them as underdogs, but their group-stage form is the best of any runner-up at the tournament. Key Numbers to Know 72 group-stage matches played across 17 days. 4 teams finished with maximum points: Mexico, USA, Argentina, Norway, England (5 teams actually, all on 9 points). 0 goals conceded by Spain and Mexico in the group stage. The two tightest defences at the tournament. 11 goals scored by Norway in three group matches, the highest total of any team. 12 goals conceded by Iraq in three matches, the worst defensive record. 8 third-placed teams qualified for the Round of 32, a new feature of the 48-team format. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors studying the knockout bracket, the group standings are your form guide. Teams that dominated their groups (Argentina, England, Norway, Brazil, Mexico) carry momentum and confidence into the elimination rounds. But form guides have limits: Germany topped Group E and still lost to Paraguay in the Round of 32. The group stage tells you who is playing well. It does not guarantee they will keep playing well. Use the standings as context, not as a prediction engine, and always compare odds on every knockout fixture at betcompare.ng. For the casual bettor who missed the group stage and is tuning in for the knockouts, this page gives you everything you need to understand why the bracket looks the way it does. Norway topped France's group. Cabo Verde drew with Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Paraguay finished third and knocked out Germany. These are not random results. They are the story of the 2026 World Cup so far, and understanding them helps you make sharper decisions when you compare odds on the Round of 16 at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. Frequently Asked Questions How many teams qualified from the group stage? Thirty-two: 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and 8 of the 12 third-placed teams. Which teams finished with maximum points? Mexico (Group A), USA (Group D), Norway (Group I), Argentina (Group J), and England (Group L) all won all three group matches for nine points. Which was the Group of Death? Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland) and Group H (Spain, Cabo Verde, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia) were the strongest groups. Group C eliminated Scotland and Haiti with zero points each. Group H eliminated two-time champions Uruguay. How did the third-place qualification work? The 12 third-placed teams were ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. The top eight advanced. Four points virtually guaranteed qualification. Three points required favourable tiebreakers. What was the biggest upset of the group stage? Norway 4-1 France on the final matchday of Group I. France were pre-tournament favourites, and Norway, at their first World Cup in 28 years, dismantled them to win the group. Where can I see the full knockout bracket? The complete bracket from Round of 32 to the Final is available in our bracket explainer on betcompare.ng. Compare odds on every knockout fixture at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup group stage produced more surprises, more records, and more drama than any previous edition. Norway topped France's group. Cabo Verde went unbeaten. Germany looked invincible against Curacao and vulnerable against everyone else. Messi broke the all-time goals record. Mbappe broke France's all-time scoring record. And ten African teams proved, collectively, that the continent belongs at this level. The knockout stage is now in full flow. The 32 teams who survived the groups carry their form, their confidence, and their scars into the elimination rounds. For Nigerian bettors, these standings are the foundation of every knockout bet you place from here until the Final on 19 July. Understand the form, compare odds at betcompare.ng, and enjoy the ride. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Accumulators are the most popular bet type among Nigerian sportsbook users during the World Cup, and the most misunderstood. The appeal is obvious: combine four, five, or six selections into one slip, turn ₦2,000 into ₦50,000, and feel like a genius for the rest of the day. The reality is less romantic. One failed leg kills the entire bet, the operator's margin compounds with every selection you add, and the maths works against you more aggressively than most bettors realise. This guide explains how accumulators actually work, why most of them lose, and how to build smarter World Cup accas that give you a realistic chance of landing. If you are building knockout-stage slips, compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng before confirming, because the price difference on a single leg can change your return by thousands of naira. Table of Contents What is an accumulator and why does it matter? How accumulators work at the 2026 World Cup What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about accumulator betting betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Is an Accumulator and Why Does It Matter? An accumulator (acca) is a single bet that combines multiple selections into one slip. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. If one fails, the entire bet loses. The combined odds are calculated by multiplying each selection's individual odds together, which produces the high potential returns that make accas so attractive. It matters because accumulators are, by a wide margin, the most common bet type placed by Nigerian World Cup bettors. Bet9ja, SportyBet, 1xBet, and BetKing all report that multi-leg slips account for the majority of bets placed during major tournaments. The World Cup, with multiple matches per day and familiar team names, is the peak season for acca betting. The problem is that the same maths that produces the exciting returns also produces the high failure rate. Every leg you add to the slip reduces the probability of the whole bet landing. A four-leg acca with each leg at 70% probability has an overall probability of just 24%. That means it fails roughly three out of every four times. Most bettors do not do this calculation before hitting "Place Bet." How Accumulators Work at the 2026 World Cup The basic mechanics You select multiple outcomes across different fixtures and combine them into one bet. The odds multiply. Worked example: a four-leg Round of 16 acca Leg Fixture Selection Odds 1 Canada vs Morocco Morocco to qualify 1.65 2 France vs Paraguay France to qualify 1.20 3 Brazil vs Norway Brazil to qualify 1.35 4 Mexico vs England England to qualify 1.55 Combined odds: 1.65 x 1.20 x 1.35 x 1.55 = 4.14 A ₦5,000 stake returns ₦20,700 if all four land. If Morocco lose on penalties, if Paraguay pull off a shock, if Norway hold Brazil, or if Mexico win at home in the Azteca, the entire slip returns zero. The margin compounds Each individual selection already has the operator's margin built in. When you multiply four margined prices together, the compounded margin is significantly higher than any single leg's margin. A four-leg acca built from legs with 5% individual margins carries an effective combined margin closer to 20%. You are paying that margin on the entire slip, and the operator collects it whether you win or lose. This is the hidden cost of accumulator betting. The headline return looks generous. The embedded cost is larger than most bettors realise. "To qualify" vs 1X2 in knockout accas In the group stage, 1X2 was the standard market for acca legs. In the knockout stage, the "to qualify" market is almost always the better choice. A draw at full time kills your 1X2 leg even if your team goes on to win in extra time or penalties. The "to qualify" market covers all paths to advancement: 90-minute win, extra time, or shootout. The odds are shorter per leg, but the probability of each leg landing is materially higher, which improves the overall acca probability. At this tournament, multiple Round of 32 matches have gone to extra time or penalties (Morocco vs Netherlands, Belgium vs Senegal, Germany vs Paraguay). If you had built accas using 1X2 on those fixtures, a single draw at full time would have killed your slip. Using "to qualify" would have protected you. How many legs is too many? The short answer: anything above five legs is a lottery ticket, not a bet. Here is why: Legs Assumed individual probability Combined probability Approximate failure rate 2 70% per leg 49% 1 in 2 fails 3 70% per leg 34% 2 in 3 fail 4 70% per leg 24% 3 in 4 fail 5 70% per leg 17% 5 in 6 fail 6 70% per leg 12% 7 in 8 fail 8 70% per leg 6% 17 in 18 fail 10 70% per leg 3% 33 in 34 fail A ten-leg acca with each leg at 70% probability fails 97% of the time. The return when it lands is spectacular. The journey to get there is 33 consecutive losing slips for every winner. That is not a strategy. That is hope dressed up as a bet slip. What This Means for Bettors Four practical rules for World Cup accumulator betting. Rule 1: Keep it short. Three to four legs maximum for the knockout stage. Every leg above four dramatically reduces your probability of landing and dramatically increases the operator's compounded margin. If you want a higher return, increase your stake on a shorter acca rather than adding legs to a longer one. The maths rewards concentration, not extension. Rule 2: Compare odds on every single leg. The difference between operators on one leg can be 0.10 to 0.20 in decimal odds. Across four legs, those differences multiply. A four-leg acca at combined odds of 4.14 on one sportsbook might be 4.60 on another because each leg is priced slightly better. On a ₦5,000 stake, that is ₦2,300 in additional returns for the same selections. Compare every leg at betcompare.ng. Every time. Rule 3: Use "to qualify" in knockout accas. The draw at full time is common in elimination matches. "To qualify" legs protect you. The odds are shorter, but the probability is higher, and the acca is more likely to land. Build the discipline of switching from 1X2 to "to qualify" the moment the tournament enters knockout football. Rule 4: Do not mix goalscorer legs with match-result legs carelessly. Anytime goalscorer markets carry wider margins than 1X2 or "to qualify" markets. Adding two goalscorer legs to a four-leg acca inflates the combined margin without adding proportional value. If you want a goalscorer leg, include one at most, and make sure the price is the best available across operators. Key Numbers to Know 97% is the approximate failure rate of a ten-leg acca where each leg has a 70% individual probability. That is the maths, not an opinion. 3 to 4 legs is the sweet spot for a realistic knockout-stage acca. Short enough to land with reasonable frequency, long enough to produce meaningful returns. 0.10 to 0.20 is the typical decimal odds gap between the best and worst operator on a single acca leg at the World Cup. Across four legs, that gap multiplies. Compare every leg at betcompare.ng. ₦2,300 is the return difference between a four-leg acca priced at 4.14 and the same acca priced at 4.60 on a ₦5,000 stake. Same selections, different operators, meaningful money. 5 Round of 32 matches at this tournament went to extra time or beyond. If your acca used 1X2 on any of those fixtures, a single draw at full time killed your slip. The "to qualify" market would have survived. Common Misconceptions About Accumulator Betting "Adding more legs is smarter because the return is bigger." The return is bigger, but the probability of landing is dramatically smaller. A six-leg acca does not pay more because it is a better bet. It pays more because it is a worse bet, and the operator is compensating you for the overwhelming likelihood that you lose. The return reflects the risk, and the risk is enormous. "If each leg is a 'safe' pick, the acca is safe." There is no such thing as a safe pick in football. Morocco were "safe" to beat the Netherlands. Germany were "safe" to beat Paraguay. Both lost. Every leg you add, no matter how "safe" it looks, introduces another point of failure. Four "safe" legs at 80% individual probability still produce an acca that fails 59% of the time. Na so the thing dey work. "Acca insurance means I get my money back if one leg fails." Acca insurance, offered by some Nigerian operators, typically refunds your stake (as a free bet, not cash) if exactly one leg of your acca fails and all other legs win. The conditions vary: some require a minimum number of legs (usually five or six), minimum odds per leg, and specific markets. Read the terms before assuming you are covered. The insurance is a marketing tool, not a safety net. Check the exact terms on your operator before relying on it. "I should always include the heavy favourite because it is basically free." Heavy favourites at 1.10 or 1.15 add almost nothing to your combined return (5% to 15% per leg) but still carry the risk of failure. Argentina at 1.10 to qualify against Cabo Verde feels automatic until it is not. And when that leg fails, it takes the entire slip with it. If a leg does not meaningfully improve your combined odds, it is not worth the risk it introduces. betCompare Insight For the acca builder who lives for the World Cup multi-leg slip, the knockout stage is the moment to tighten up. Group-stage accas allowed room for error because draws still earned points and favourites had multiple matches to recover. Knockout accas have no second chances. One upset and you are done. Build your R16 accas with three "to qualify" legs, compare odds on each one at betcompare.ng, and resist the urge to add a fourth or fifth leg just because the day's schedule has five matches. Not every match needs to be on your slip. The best acca builders are the ones who leave matches off, not the ones who add them on. For the bettor who has been burned by accas all tournament and is wondering whether to keep going, here is the honest answer: accas are entertainment, not a strategy. If you enjoy them, set a weekly budget specifically for accumulator betting, keep the legs short, compare odds, and treat the returns as a bonus, not an expectation. The bettors who profit consistently at the World Cup are the ones placing single bets on well-researched fixtures at the best available price, not the ones chasing ten-leg dreams. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for match-by-match previews that help you identify the strongest individual selections, whether you use them as singles or as legs in a disciplined, short acca. Frequently Asked Questions What is an accumulator bet? A bet that combines multiple selections into one slip. All selections must win for the bet to pay out. The odds multiply, producing higher potential returns than individual bets, but one failed leg loses the entire stake. How many legs should a World Cup acca have? Three to four for the knockout stage. Anything above five dramatically reduces the probability of landing and increases the operator's compounded margin. Shorter accas land more often and reward discipline. Should I use 1X2 or "to qualify" in knockout accas? "To qualify" in almost every case. Knockout matches frequently go to extra time or penalties. A draw at full time kills a 1X2 leg but does not affect a "to qualify" leg. The odds are shorter, but the probability of each leg landing is higher. What is acca insurance? A promotion offered by some Nigerian sportsbooks that refunds your stake (usually as a free bet) if exactly one leg of your accumulator fails. Conditions apply: minimum legs, minimum odds per leg, and specific eligible markets. Always read the terms before relying on it. Why do my accas keep losing? Because the combined probability of multiple selections all winning is much lower than the probability of each individual selection. A four-leg acca at 70% per leg fails 76% of the time. This is the mathematical reality of accumulator betting, not bad luck. Can I compare acca odds across different sportsbooks? You can compare the odds on each individual leg across sportsbooks at betcompare.ng, then build your acca on the operator offering the best price on the most legs. Some operators also offer acca bonuses (a percentage added to your winnings if the acca lands), which can tip the balance. Is it better to place four singles or one four-leg acca? Four singles cost more in total stake but give you four separate chances to win. One four-leg acca costs less but requires all four to land. Singles are lower risk, lower reward. Accas are higher risk, higher reward. The choice depends on your appetite for risk, but singles are the mathematically sounder approach over time. Conclusion Accumulator betting at the World Cup is not going anywhere. It is too exciting, too social, and too deeply embedded in Nigerian betting culture to disappear. The group chat builds the slip, everyone adds a leg, and the ₦2,000 stake carries the dreams of five people for 90 minutes. That is part of the tournament's magic. But magic and maths are not the same thing. The maths says: keep it short, compare every leg, use "to qualify" in knockouts, and treat accas as entertainment with a defined budget. The bettor who builds a disciplined three-leg acca at the best available odds on betcompare.ng will have a better tournament than the bettor who builds a ten-leg dream slip every matchday and watches it die on leg seven. The World Cup has 17 days left. Build smart, bet within your means, and enjoy every match whether your slip lands or not. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Vinicius Junior has scored in every group-stage match at the 2026 World Cup. One against Morocco. One against Haiti. Two against Scotland. Four goals in three matches, all from the left wing, all with the directness and explosiveness that make him the most feared attacker in club football. He is the fifth Brazilian to achieve this feat at a World Cup, joining Jairzinho (1970), Romario (1994), Ronaldo and Rivaldo (both in 2002). Brazil won the tournament on every previous occasion. On Saturday night in New Jersey, Vinicius and Brazil face Erling Haaland's Norway in the Round of 16. Two of the Golden Boot's leading contenders on opposite sides of the same pitch. Compare odds on the match and on both players' goalscorer markets at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football, because this fixture is the most loaded individual battle at the tournament. Table of Contents World Cup career at a glance The defining World Cup moment What the record actually tells us 2026 expectations: the Haaland showdown and beyond Common misconceptions about Vinicius at the World Cup betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion World Cup Career at a Glance Tournament Age Apps Goals Assists Brazil Result Key Moment 2022 (Qatar) 22 4 1 1 Quarter-finals (lost to Croatia on penalties) Scored vs South Korea in R16, assisted Richarlison vs Serbia 2026 (USA, Mexico, Canada) 25 4 4 1 Round of 16 (ongoing) Scored in all 3 group games, fifth Brazilian to achieve this at a WC Career 8 5 2 2026 goals by match: Morocco (1, 32nd minute, low strike after through ball), Haiti (1, 45+3', team combination), Scotland (2, 7th minute tap-in after defensive error and 45+3' header from Bruno Guimaraes cross). The header against Scotland was his first in international football. He also had a goal disallowed by VAR in the same match for a foul on Jack Hendry, meaning he could have had five in the group stage alone. Across the opening two matches, FIFA reported he was directly involved in all four of Brazil's goals. The Defining World Cup Moment It has not happened yet. And that is the point. In 2022, Vinicius was 22, part of an ensemble cast, and his World Cup ended on a penalty shootout loss to Croatia in the quarter-final. He scored against South Korea, assisted against Serbia, but the tournament is remembered for Brazil's tears in Lusail, not for Vinicius individually. In 2026, the dynamic has changed completely. Neymar was injured for the first two group matches. Vinicius was the talisman from the first whistle. Four goals, all from different types of chance (low finish, team-move tap-in, close-range poach, header), and all delivered with the confidence of a player who knows he is the best attacker on the pitch every time he steps onto it. The defining moment is still ahead: a knockout goal, a semi-final performance, a Final masterclass. If Vinicius delivers one of those, his tournament jumps from excellent to historic. And the 2002 omen looms: every Brazilian who scored in all three group games went on to lift the trophy. The omen means nothing statistically, but it means everything in the narrative of Brazilian football, and Vinicius knows it. As he told CazéTV after the Haiti match: "I came into this World Cup fully focused on playing my game. Fortunately, the goals have arrived." What the Record Actually Tells Us Five World Cup goals in eight appearances is a strong record for a winger, but the context matters more than the numbers. In 2022, Vinicius scored one goal in four matches. Good, not exceptional. His role was different: he was 22, operating alongside Neymar, Richarlison, and Raphinha in an attack that shared the creative burden. He created chances, he threatened on the dribble, but the finishing numbers did not reflect his influence. In 2026, under Carlo Ancelotti, everything has changed. Ancelotti managed Vinicius at Real Madrid and understands exactly how to maximise his strengths: space to run into, freedom to drift centrally, and a tactical structure that feeds him early. The numbers prove it. Vinicius has scored seven goals in 13 matches under Ancelotti for Brazil, compared to six goals in 39 matches under all previous coaches combined. As ESPN noted, Ancelotti has used Vinicius "a little more centrally, allowing Douglas Santos to provide the width," and the positional shift has unlocked a different level of goal threat. The record tells you that Vinicius at a World Cup is a different proposition under Ancelotti than under anyone else, and that the four group-stage goals are a product of tactical design, not just individual brilliance. 2026 Expectations: The Haaland Showdown and Beyond Brazil face Norway in the Round of 16 on Saturday 5 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kick-off is late for Nigerian viewers: approximately 2 AM WAT. This is the match where the Golden Boot subplot gets personal. Vinicius has four goals. Haaland has five. Both are chasing Messi (six) and Mbappe (six) at the top of the tournament scoring chart. A goal in this match could change the entire complexion of the Golden Boot race. The anytime goalscorer market on both players will be priced aggressively, and comparing odds across operators at betcompare.ng is essential because the gap between the best and worst price on a Vinicius anytime goalscorer market at this tournament has been as wide as 0.20. Norway's defence is not their strength. They have conceded in every match at the tournament, and their progression has been built on Haaland's goals and attacking intent rather than defensive solidity. For Vinicius, this is the kind of fixture he thrives in: space to exploit on transitions, a high defensive line to run in behind, and a match context where Brazil are likely to dominate possession and territory. If Brazil beat Norway, the quarter-final would pit them against the winner of Mexico vs England on the left side of the bracket. That path could take Vinicius all the way to the semi-final and beyond, giving him up to three more matches to chase Messi and Mbappe for the Golden Boot. At 25, turning 26 during the tournament (his birthday is 12 July), he is at his physical peak and playing the best football of his international career. The 2002 omen: Jairzinho scored in every group game in 1970 and Brazil won. Romario did it in 1994 and Brazil won. Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did it in 2002 and Brazil won. Vinicius has now done it in 2026. It is a coincidence, not a prophecy. But try telling that to a Brazilian. Or to anyone in a Lagos viewing centre at 2 AM on Saturday night. Common Misconceptions About Vinicius at the World Cup "He only performs at club level, not for Brazil." Under Ancelotti, Vinicius has seven goals in 13 international appearances. The notion that he cannot translate club form to the national team is based on pre-Ancelotti data. The manager changed the system to suit his best player, and the results followed immediately. "Four group-stage goals against weak opposition does not mean he will score in the knockouts." Morocco are ranked in the world's top 15 and had just come off a 2022 semi-final run. That was not weak opposition. The Scotland goals came from defensive errors, which happen against every level of opponent. And the Haiti goal was a team combination finish that would work against any defence. The quality of the goals matters as much as the quality of the opposition. "He is not in the Golden Boot conversation because Messi and Mbappe are too far ahead." He is two goals behind. Two goals is one match. If Vinicius scores twice against Norway and either Messi or Mbappe has a quiet match, the gap closes to zero. The Golden Boot race is live and will be decided in the knockout rounds, not the group stage. "Neymar's return will reduce Vinicius's goal output." Neymar came off the bench against Scotland after three years away from Brazil duty. He is a substitute, not a starter, and his minutes will be carefully managed. Vinicius is the first-choice attacker, and Ancelotti has made it clear that the team is built around him. Neymar's presence adds depth but does not reduce Vinicius's role. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors building Saturday night slips, Brazil to qualify against Norway is one of the more reliable legs available in the Round of 16. Brazil topped their group, have the deeper squad, and face a Norway side whose defensive record does not inspire confidence. But reliable legs at short odds compress your returns. Consider pairing Brazil to qualify with a Vinicius anytime goalscorer bet in a separate market or as a BetBuilder leg, where the combined odds offer better value than backing Brazil's match result alone. Compare both markets at betcompare.ng before confirming anything. For the casual bettor who wants a stake in the Golden Boot race without committing to the outright market, Vinicius anytime goalscorer against Norway is one of the best individual-match bets of the Round of 16. He has scored in every match so far, Norway's defence is porous, and Brazil's tactical setup is designed to feed him. The kick-off is late (2 AM WAT), so if you are staying up, you might as well have something riding on the man most likely to make the alarm worthwhile. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for the full Brazil vs Norway preview and odds comparison. Frequently Asked Questions How many World Cup goals has Vinicius Junior scored? Five across two tournaments. One against South Korea in the 2022 Round of 16, and four in the 2026 group stage (Morocco, Haiti, Scotland x2). Is Vinicius Junior in the Golden Boot race? Yes. He is on four goals at this tournament, two behind joint leaders Messi and Mbappe (six each) and one behind Haaland and Kane (five each). He is among the top six scorers at the 2026 World Cup. When does Brazil play next? Brazil vs Norway, Round of 16, Saturday 5 July, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Kick-off is approximately 9 PM ET, which is 2 AM WAT for Nigerian viewers. What is the "2002 omen"? Every Brazilian player who has scored in all three group-stage matches at a World Cup saw Brazil go on to win the tournament: Jairzinho (1970), Romario (1994), Ronaldo and Rivaldo (2002). Vinicius is the fifth to achieve this feat. Who is Brazil's manager at the 2026 World Cup? Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian who managed Vinicius at Real Madrid. Ancelotti took charge of Brazil in 2025 and has overseen a dramatic improvement in Vinicius's international output: seven goals in 13 matches under Ancelotti compared to six in 39 under all previous coaches. Is Neymar playing for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup? Neymar is in the squad but has been injured for most of the group stage. He came off the bench against Scotland for his first Brazil minutes in three years. He is expected to be available as a substitute in the knockout rounds but is not expected to start ahead of Vinicius. Conclusion Vinicius Junior arrived at the 2026 World Cup as the player everyone expected to deliver, and so far he has delivered beyond anyone's projections. Four goals in three group matches, each one different, each one confirming that the 25-year-old Real Madrid winger is ready for the stage his talent demands. Under Ancelotti, the tactical fit between player and system is seamless, and the results speak for themselves. Saturday night in New Jersey against Haaland's Norway is the next test. It is also the next opportunity: to add to his Golden Boot tally, to extend the 2002 omen, and to take Brazil one step closer to a sixth World Cup title. Compare odds at betcompare.ng, set your alarm, and watch the best left winger on the planet do what he does best. If you are awake at 2 AM WAT, you are in for something special. And if Vinicius scores, the whole neighbourhood will hear about it anyway. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Half a million people. Ten islands in the Atlantic. One goalkeeper who went from 500,000 Instagram followers to 17.4 million in two weeks. And now, a Round of 32 match against Lionel Messi and the defending world champions. Cabo Verde are the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup. They drew with Spain. They drew with Uruguay. They drew with Saudi Arabia. Three matches, three draws, zero defeats, and a second-place finish in Group H that nobody outside the archipelago predicted. Tomorrow night in Miami, they face Argentina. This is the story, the context, and the betting angle for the most improbable fixture at the 2026 World Cup. Table of Contents The backstory: who are Cabo Verde? What happened in Group H What it means for the tournament The Nigerian angle betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The Backstory: Who Are Cabo Verde? Cabo Verde is an archipelago of ten islands off the west coast of Africa, roughly 570 kilometres from Senegal. The population is just over 525,000. The land area is 4,033 square kilometres, smaller than most Nigerian states. The economy runs on tourism, fishing, and remittances from a diaspora that outnumbers the home population. Football is the national sport, and the national team, nicknamed the Tubaroes Azuis (Blue Sharks), has been punching above its weight for years. This is not their first appearance at a major tournament. Cabo Verde have played at four Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2023. They came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, eliminated only in the final group match. When they beat Eswatini 3-0 in October 2025 to secure qualification for 2026, they became the second-smallest country by land area ever to reach the World Cup. But nobody expected this. Group H contained Spain (European champions), Uruguay (two-time World Cup winners), and Saudi Arabia (who stunned Argentina in 2022). Cabo Verde were ranked 67th in the world. The pre-tournament odds for them to qualify from the group were astronomical. If you had backed Cabo Verde to reach the knockout stage before the tournament, you would be sitting on one of the best bets of the entire World Cup. What Happened in Group H Three matches. Three draws. Zero defeats. And a story that grew louder with every whistle. Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde (15 June, Atlanta). The opening match that announced Cabo Verde to the world. Spain, with Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and the full weight of Euro 2024 momentum behind them, could not break down a defence marshalled by Diney Borges and protected by a 40-year-old goalkeeper named Vozinha. He made seven saves. He kept Yamal quiet. He turned the match into a siege that Spain could not crack. Al Jazeera reported that Vozinha's Instagram following exploded overnight, jumping from 500,000 to 17.4 million during the tournament, more than Tom Brady, more than Victor Wembanyama. A 40-year-old goalkeeper from a country most football fans could not place on a map became one of the faces of the World Cup. Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde (21 June, Miami). The match where Cabo Verde proved they were not just defending for their lives. Kevin Pina scored in the 21st minute with a low, right-footed free kick from 30 yards that went through the wall and into the bottom corner. It was the first goal in Cabo Verde's World Cup history. They went toe-to-toe with Uruguay, twice went behind, twice pulled level, and earned a draw that was worth more than a point. It was worth belief. Cabo Verde 0-0 Saudi Arabia (26 June, Houston). The match that sent them through. At the same time in Guadalajara, Spain beat Uruguay 1-0, confirming that Cabo Verde's three points and unbeaten record were enough for second place. The final whistle in Houston was greeted with tears, embraces, and the realisation that an archipelago of half a million people was in the knockout stage of the World Cup. They became the first debutant to reach the knockouts since Slovakia in 2010, and the smallest nation ever to do so. What It Means for the Tournament Cabo Verde's run is the tournament's purest David vs Goliath story, and tomorrow it reaches its climax. Argentina vs Cabo Verde in Miami is a fixture between the world's number one ranked team (19-goal Messi, defending champions, eight-match World Cup winning streak) and a nation of 525,000 that had never played a World Cup match before 15 June. The market will price Argentina as overwhelming favourites. Expect "to qualify" odds in the range of 1.05 to 1.10 for Argentina. Cabo Verde to qualify will be priced somewhere between 10.00 and 15.00. The match result market will be similarly one-sided. The question is not whether Cabo Verde can win. By any rational measure, they almost certainly cannot. The question is what the match means for the tournament's narrative and for the markets around it. If Cabo Verde keep it tight for 60 or 70 minutes, the live odds will shift. If Vozinha produces another seven-save performance, the in-play market on under 1.5 goals will collapse. And if, somehow, they take it to extra time or penalties, the scenes in Miami and across every African viewing centre will be the stuff of World Cup legend. For the broader tournament, Cabo Verde's presence in the knockout stage validates the 48-team format. Critics said expansion would produce mismatches and meaningless group matches. Instead, it produced the most compelling underdog story at the tournament and a team that earned their place on merit: three draws against three established nations, without losing once. The Nigerian Angle Cabo Verde are an African island nation with a diaspora spread across Portugal, the United States, and West Africa. Their story resonates across the continent, and for Nigerian fans watching from home, they represent something specific: proof that African football at the World Cup is not just about the big five or six federations. Nigeria did not qualify. Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and the other larger African nations get most of the attention. But Cabo Verde, with a fraction of the population of any Lagos local government area, are in the knockout stage. Na proper madness. If you watched the Super Eagles fail to qualify and felt the sting, Cabo Verde's run is the reminder that the World Cup can still belong to anyone who earns it. For Nigerian bettors, the Argentina vs Cabo Verde fixture is less about backing a winner and more about the live markets. If the match stays goalless into the second half, the in-play odds on a draw at full time will offer value that the pre-match market does not. Cabo Verde's entire strategy is built on defensive discipline and making the opposition work for every inch. That strategy produces tight scorelines and late goals, which is exactly the environment where live betting rewards patience. Compare pre-match and in-play odds at betcompare.ng and watch the match before committing. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, Argentina to qualify against Cabo Verde is one of those legs that looks automatic but pays almost nothing. At 1.05 to 1.10, you are risking your entire slip for a return of 5% to 10% on that leg. If Argentina do win comfortably, the leg barely moved your returns. If they stumble (Morocco beat the Netherlands on penalties, Paraguay beat Germany on penalties, this tournament has proven that upsets happen), the slip dies for a leg that was meant to be "free." Either include Argentina at a better-value market (Argentina to win and over 1.5 goals, for example) or leave it out entirely and build your acca around fixtures with more balanced pricing. Compare options at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. For the casual bettor who just wants to enjoy the fairy tale, the best approach is to watch the match without a pre-match bet and see how it unfolds. Cabo Verde will defend deep, Vozinha will be busy, and the first 30 minutes will tell you whether this is a match that ends 3-0 or 1-0. If Cabo Verde are still in it at half-time, the in-play markets will offer options that the pre-match market did not. A draw at half-time on Cabo Verde priced at long odds, only for them to still be level at 60 minutes, is the kind of sequence where patient bettors find value. Head to betcompare.ng during the match and compare odds in real time. Frequently Asked Questions Who are Cabo Verde? An archipelago of ten islands off the west coast of Africa, with a population of approximately 525,000. They qualified for the 2026 World Cup by beating Eswatini 3-0 in October 2025. This is their first World Cup appearance. How did Cabo Verde qualify for the knockout stage? They drew all three group matches: 0-0 vs Spain, 2-2 vs Uruguay, 0-0 vs Saudi Arabia. Their three points and unbeaten record earned them second place in Group H behind Spain. Uruguay and Saudi Arabia were both eliminated. Who is Vozinha? Cabo Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper, whose real name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias. He made seven saves against Spain in the group opener and kept two clean sheets in three matches. His Instagram following grew from 500,000 to over 17 million during the tournament. When is Argentina vs Cabo Verde? Friday 3 July, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Kick-off is 6 PM ET, which is 11 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. What are Cabo Verde's chances of beating Argentina? Slim. Argentina are the defending world champions, Messi has scored six goals at this tournament, and the squad depth is incomparable. But Cabo Verde have not lost a match at this World Cup, and their defensive record (two clean sheets in three games) gives them the platform to compete for longer than the odds suggest. Are Cabo Verde the smallest country to play in a World Cup knockout match? Yes. With a population of approximately 525,000 and a land area of 4,033 square kilometres, they are the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup. Conclusion Cabo Verde's World Cup run is the kind of story that reminds you why the tournament matters. Not for the favourites or the record-breakers, but for the moments where a team of 525,000 people holds Spain to a goalless draw, scores their first World Cup goal from 30 yards against Uruguay, and qualifies for the knockouts without losing a single match. Vozinha's seven saves. Pina's free kick. The tears in Houston when the final whistle confirmed second place. These are the images that outlast the stats. Tomorrow in Miami, the fairy tale meets the cold reality of Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, and the best squad at the tournament. The odds say it ends here. But the odds said Cabo Verde would finish last in Group H, and instead they finished second. Compare odds at betcompare.ng, set your alarm for 11 PM WAT, and watch the smallest country in World Cup knockout history take on the biggest name in World Cup history. Whatever happens, you will not regret staying up for it. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The 2026 Golden Boot race is the best in World Cup history, and it is not close. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are level on six goals each, separated only by assists. Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are one behind on five. Ousmane Dembele and Vinicius Junior sit on four. Six world-class attackers, within two goals of each other, with up to four matches still to play. This is the full standings, the path to the finish, and what the top scorer odds are telling you. If you are betting on the Golden Boot market, compare odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng before placing anything, because the pricing on this race has been moving after every matchday. Table of Contents What is the Golden Boot and why does it matter? The standings after the Round of 32 How the race plays out from here What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about the Golden Boot betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Is the Golden Boot and Why Does It Matter? The adidas Golden Boot is awarded to the top scorer at the end of the World Cup. If two or more players finish level on goals, the player with the most assists wins. If goals and assists are equal, the player who achieved the total in fewer minutes played takes the award. The tiebreaker system means that every goal, every assist, and every minute matters right down to the final whistle of the tournament on 19 July. The Golden Boot matters beyond the trophy itself because it drives one of the most popular betting markets at the tournament. The top scorer outright market is available on every Nigerian sportsbook, and the odds shift after every matchday based on who scored, who did not, and how deep each player's team progresses. A player can be the best striker at the tournament and still lose the Golden Boot if his team gets eliminated early. The market prices team progression and individual form simultaneously, which makes it one of the most dynamic and interesting bets available. The Standings After the Round of 32 The current top scorers at the 2026 World Cup, updated after the Round of 32 (as of 2 July): Rank Player Country 2026 Goals Assists Next Match 1 Kylian Mbappe France 6 Leads tiebreaker R16 vs Paraguay, 4 Jul 1 Lionel Messi Argentina 6 Behind on assists R32 vs Cabo Verde, 3 Jul 3 Erling Haaland Norway 5 TBC R16 vs Brazil, 5 Jul 3 Harry Kane England 5 TBC R16 vs Mexico, 5 Jul 5 Ousmane Dembele France 4 TBC R16 vs Paraguay, 4 Jul 5 Vinicius Junior Brazil 4 1 R16 vs Norway, 5 Jul 7 Ismael Saibari Morocco 3 TBC R16 vs Canada, 4 Jul 7 Jonathan David Canada 3 TBC R16 vs Morocco, 4 Jul 7 Julian Quinones Mexico 3 TBC R16 vs England, 5 Jul 7 Matheus Cunha Brazil 3 TBC R16 vs Norway, 5 Jul How they got there: Mbappe (6): Two against Senegal in the group opener (including the controversial penalty), two against Iraq, two against Sweden in the Round of 32. He also set France's all-time international scoring record (now 60+) during this run. He leads Messi on the assists tiebreaker, meaning he currently holds the Golden Boot. Tracked by Olympics.com. Messi (6): Three against Algeria (hat-trick in the opener, oldest WC hat-trick scorer ever), two against Austria (broke Klose's all-time record), one against Jordan (free kick off the bench). He has scored in six consecutive World Cup matches. His career total of 19 is three clear of Mbappe's 18 on the all-time list, but the Golden Boot only counts this tournament's goals. Full breakdown on ESPN. Haaland (5): Two against Iraq in Norway's opener, then added more through the group stage and hit the net again in the Round of 32 win over Ivory Coast. Sky Sports reports that his winner against Ivory Coast took him to five for the tournament. Norway's progression to the Round of 16 (where they face Brazil) keeps his campaign alive. Kane (5): Two against Croatia in the opener, one against Panama, two against DR Congo in the Round of 32 to rescue England from a goal deficit. He has overtaken Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading World Cup scorer. He faces Mexico in the Round of 16 on 5 July. Dembele (4): One against Iraq in the group stage, then a blistering hat-trick against Norway in the final group match. That hat-trick changed the perception of France's attack: they are not just Mbappe-dependent. If both Mbappe and Dembele keep scoring, France could have the top two scorers at the tournament. Vinicius Junior (4): One against Morocco, one against Haiti, two against Scotland. Plus one assist. At 25, this is his first World Cup as Brazil's talisman, and the four goals in the group stage confirmed that he translates club form to the international stage. He faces Haaland's Norway in the Round of 16 on 5 July. Eliminated scorers to note: Denis Undav (Germany, 3 goals) and Ismaila Sarr (Senegal, 3 goals) can no longer add to their totals. Their Golden Boot campaigns ended with their teams' knockout exits. How the Race Plays Out from Here The mathematics are simple: the more matches a player's team plays, the more opportunities they have to score. A player whose team reaches the Final could play up to four more matches. A player eliminated in the Round of 16 gets one. This is why team progression is the single biggest variable in the Golden Boot race. Mbappe's France are among the strongest teams left. If France reach the Final, Mbappe has four more matches to add to his six. If Argentina are eliminated by Cabo Verde tomorrow (unlikely but possible), Messi's tally freezes at six. The bracket matters too. France face Paraguay in the Round of 16, then likely Morocco or Canada in the Quarter-final. England face Mexico, then potentially Brazil or Norway. These matchups determine the quality of opposition each scorer faces. Haaland facing Brazil is a tougher fixture for goal output than Mbappe facing Paraguay. The single-tournament record to watch: Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in six matches at the 1958 World Cup. Only two other players (Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, Gerd Muller with 10 in 1970) have ever reached double figures in a single tournament. At the current pace, both Messi and Mbappe could challenge Fontaine's record if their teams reach the semi-finals or beyond. As Sky Sports notes, three or more players hitting double figures at this tournament is a genuine possibility. What This Means for Bettors The top scorer market is one of the most volatile at the World Cup, and that volatility creates both risk and opportunity. Risk: The market moves sharply after every goal. If Mbappe scores twice against Paraguay on 4 July and Messi does not score against Cabo Verde on 3 July, Mbappe's Golden Boot odds will shorten dramatically overnight. You cannot time the market perfectly. The price you see today will not be the price you see on Friday. Opportunity: The volatility means that the market sometimes overreacts. A player who has a quiet match sees his odds drift, even if the underlying factors (team quality, remaining fixtures, tactical role) have not changed. Haaland on five goals facing Brazil is a harder sell than Haaland on five goals facing a weaker opponent, and the market will price that accordingly. If you believe Haaland can score against Brazil despite the difficulty, the drifted odds may offer value. The team-depth factor: France having both Mbappe and Dembele in the top six is a double-edged sword for Golden Boot bettors. If France score five goals in the Round of 16, those goals might split between Mbappe, Dembele, and others. A team's attacking depth can actually work against any single player's Golden Boot chances, because the goals are shared. Argentina's goals, by contrast, are concentrated through Messi (6 of Argentina's 9 group-stage goals). Concentration favours the individual scorer. Compare top scorer odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng/best-betting-sites-nigeria. The spread between operators on this market is among the widest of any World Cup bet, because each operator models team progression and player form differently. Key Numbers to Know 6 goals for both Messi and Mbappe, the joint leaders. Mbappe leads on the assists tiebreaker. 13 is Just Fontaine's single-tournament record from 1958. Both leaders would need seven more goals in up to four matches to break it. Ambitious but possible. 4 is the maximum number of matches remaining for any player (R16, QF, SF, Final). Players eliminated in the Round of 16 add zero. 19 is Messi's all-time career World Cup total (6 at this tournament). Mbappe's career total is 18 (6 at this tournament). The all-time race and the 2026 Golden Boot race are running in parallel. 3 former Golden Boot winners are at this tournament: Mbappe (2022), Kane (2018), and James Rodriguez (2014). No player has ever won the award twice. Common Misconceptions About the Golden Boot "The top scorer after the group stage always wins the Golden Boot." Not always. The 2022 Golden Boot went to Mbappe with eight goals, but he scored four of them in the Final alone. The group-stage leader does not always finish on top. Knockout matches produce fewer goals per game, and some early leaders see their teams eliminated before they can add to their tally. "Messi will win because he has the most career World Cup goals." The Golden Boot counts only goals scored at this tournament, not career totals. Messi and Mbappe are level on six at this World Cup. The all-time record is a separate achievement. "Backing the favourite for the Golden Boot is safe because the odds are short." Mbappe's odds may look short at +125 (approximately 2.25 in decimal), but the top scorer market is one of the hardest to call at a World Cup. The winner needs to outscore every other attacker at the tournament over eight possible matches, which requires both sustained personal form and deep team progression. Short odds on a volatile market is not the same as a safe bet. "Defenders and midfielders never win the Golden Boot." True historically, but the fact that Hakimi, a right-back, has three goals for Morocco shows that non-forwards can accumulate significant tallies. The Golden Boot has always been won by a forward, but the expanded 48-team format means more matches and more opportunities for non-traditional scorers to climb the table. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, resist the urge to combine a Golden Boot outright bet with match-by-match goalscorer legs on the same player. If you back Mbappe for the Golden Boot AND Mbappe anytime goalscorer in every France match, you are doubling your exposure to a single player's form without improving your overall expected value. The Golden Boot bet already prices in his expected goal output. Adding individual match bets on top of it is overconcentration. Pick one approach: either the outright Golden Boot market at the best available price on betcompare.ng, or individual match goalscorer bets across different fixtures and players. Not both on the same player. For the casual bettor who wants a piece of the Golden Boot race without committing to an outright bet, the anytime goalscorer market on individual matches is the simpler entry point. Back Messi against Cabo Verde on Friday if you think he scores. Back Haaland against Brazil on Saturday if you like the matchup. Each bet stands on its own merits, and you can compare odds on each fixture separately at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. The Golden Boot race is the best individual storyline at this World Cup, like watching two sprinters neck and neck with the finish line still four matches away. Enjoy it, bet smart, and check the standings after every matchday. Frequently Asked Questions Who is leading the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot? Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are tied on six goals each. Mbappe leads on the assists tiebreaker and currently holds the Golden Boot as of 2 July. How is the Golden Boot decided if players are tied on goals? The first tiebreaker is assists. If goals and assists are equal, the player who achieved the total in fewer minutes played wins. Can a player win the Golden Boot if their team is eliminated early? Yes, but it is extremely rare. The winner almost always comes from a team that reaches at least the quarter-finals, because deeper runs mean more matches and more goal opportunities. What is the record for most goals in a single World Cup? Just Fontaine scored 13 goals for France at the 1958 World Cup. Only two other players have ever reached double figures in a single tournament: Sandor Kocsis (11 in 1954) and Gerd Muller (10 in 1970). What are Mbappe's Golden Boot odds? Mbappe is the current favourite at approximately +125 (2.25 decimal). Odds vary by operator. Compare current pricing at betcompare.ng. Who are the dark horses for the Golden Boot? Erling Haaland (5 goals, Norway face Brazil in R16), Harry Kane (5 goals, England face Mexico), and Vinicius Junior (4 goals, Brazil face Norway) are all within striking distance. A hat-trick in any single knockout match would put any of them right in contention. Has anyone ever won the Golden Boot twice? No player has ever won the award at two separate World Cups. Mbappe (2022), Kane (2018), and James Rodriguez (2014) are all competing at this tournament with a chance to become the first. Conclusion The 2026 Golden Boot race is a contest between the greatest individual talents of their generation, playing at the peak of the biggest tournament in football history. Messi and Mbappe are level. Haaland and Kane are breathing down their necks. Dembele and Vinicius Junior are within one match of catching up. The expanded format, with up to eight matches per team, means the final tally could reach numbers the World Cup has never seen. For Nigerian bettors, the top scorer market is one of the most entertaining and most difficult bets at the tournament. Entertaining because the leaderboard changes after every fixture. Difficult because the outcome depends on both individual form and team progression, and predicting both simultaneously is nearly impossible. Compare odds at betcompare.ng, watch the matches, track the standings, and if you are going to back someone for the Golden Boot, do it with your eyes open and your expectations realistic. The finish line is 19 July. The race is only halfway run. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Hakimi is trending at BREAKOUT in Nigeria. Let me research his tournament stats.# Achraf Hakimi: Morocco's World Cup Machine While the world talks about Messi and Mbappe chasing goalscoring records, a 27-year-old right-back is quietly building a World Cup legacy that belongs in the same conversation. Achraf Hakimi has now played 14 World Cup matches across three consecutive tournaments, more than any Moroccan player in history and more than any African player alive. He has 100 caps for his country, a Champions League winners' medal on each hand, and the 2025 African Player of the Year award on his shelf. And he is not done. Morocco face Canada in the Round of 16 on 4 July, and Hakimi will captain the side from right-back, creating chances, completing passes at 94%, and doing things from the number two shirt that most attackers cannot manage from the number ten. If you are looking to compare odds on Morocco's knockout run at betcompare.ng, Hakimi's form is the first thing to factor in. Table of Contents World Cup career at a glance The defining World Cup moment What the record actually tells us 2026 expectations: Canada and beyond Common misconceptions about Hakimi at the World Cup betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion World Cup Career at a Glance Tournament Age Apps Goals Assists Morocco Result Key Moment 2018 (Russia) 19 3 0 0 Group stage exit Youngest player in Morocco's squad, debut tournament 2022 (Qatar) 23 7 0 0 Semi-finals (4th place) Chipped penalty to beat Spain in R16 shootout. First African semi-finalist. Captained the side. 2026 (USA, Mexico, Canada) 27 4 1 1 Round of 16 (ongoing) 100th cap vs Netherlands. First WC goal vs Haiti. Led penalty shootout win over Netherlands. Career 14 1 1 Most WC appearances by a Moroccan and African player The table does not tell the full story. One goal and one assist across 14 World Cup matches looks modest until you remember that Hakimi plays right-back. His contribution is measured in what he creates, not what he finishes. Across his World Cup career, he has created 21 chances, trailing only Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure (23) among all African players in the competition's history since 1966. At this tournament alone, he leads Morocco in completed passes (144), crosses (10), and shots on target (5). From the full-back position. Those are attacking midfielder numbers in a defender's body. The Defining World Cup Moment It was not the Netherlands shootout in 2026, dramatic as that was. It was the penalty against Spain at the 2022 World Cup in the Round of 16. Morocco were level after extra time. The shootout had reached sudden death. Hakimi, 23 years old, walked up to the spot knowing that the entire continent's World Cup hopes were resting on his right boot. The goalkeeper dived left. Hakimi chipped the ball down the middle. Panenka. In a penalty shootout. At a World Cup. Against Spain. The audacity of it was almost offensive. The beer parlours in Lagos erupted as if the Super Eagles had just scored, because in that moment, Hakimi's penalty was not just Morocco's victory. It was Africa's. That single kick changed the trajectory of African football at the World Cup. Morocco went on to beat Portugal in the quarter-final and reach the semi-final, the first African nation ever to do so. And the image of Hakimi, arms spread wide, the ball bouncing in the middle of the net while the goalkeeper lay in the wrong corner, became the defining image of the 2022 tournament. What the Record Actually Tells Us Fourteen World Cup matches is a substantial career at the tournament. For context, Ronaldo Nazario played 19, Miroslav Klose played 24, and Pele played 14. Hakimi matches Pele's total at 27, with at least one more match guaranteed and potentially several more if Morocco continue their run. The record tells us three things. First, Hakimi is durable. Three consecutive World Cups as an automatic starter at 19, 23, and 27. No other Moroccan player has maintained this level of consistency at the tournament across three editions. The fact that he is a right-back makes it more remarkable, because full-backs cover the most ground per match of any outfield position and the physical demands at a World Cup, with matches every four to five days in North American heat, are brutal. Second, his influence has grown with each tournament. In 2018, he was a talented teenager. In 2022, he was the captain who led a historic run. In 2026, he is the complete package: creator, defender, leader, and now goalscorer (his first World Cup goal came against Haiti, a header from a corner). The trajectory is still ascending. Third, the small-sample caveats that apply to most World Cup player records do not fully apply here. Fourteen matches across three tournaments, against opposition ranging from Croatia and Brazil to Spain and the Netherlands, is a diverse and meaningful dataset. Hakimi performs at the World Cup. The data is consistent enough to trust. 2026 Expectations: Canada and Beyond Morocco face Canada in the Round of 16 on 4 July in Houston. Kick-off is 6 PM WAT. Hakimi will captain the side. Canada are co-hosts, they beat South Africa in the Round of 32, and they will have crowd support in Houston. But they do not have a player like Hakimi, and they have not been to a World Cup knockout round before 2026. Morocco have reached the knockout stage at three consecutive World Cups and have tournament experience that Canada simply cannot match. Hakimi's role against Canada will be the same as it has been all tournament: provide width on the right, create crossing opportunities for Saibari and Rahimi, and track back to defend against Canada's pace on the counter. His 2026 tournament stats (144 completed passes, 10 crosses, 5 shots on target, 21 career WC chances created) suggest he will be Morocco's most influential player once again. For bettors, Morocco's "to qualify" odds against Canada should offer reasonable value. They are the more experienced side, the tactically more mature side, and the side with the player who has been here before and delivered. Compare odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football before the match, because Morocco's pricing tends to undervalue their defensive solidity and shootout composure. If Morocco beat Canada, the quarter-final would likely pit them against France or Paraguay. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the 2022 semi-final. A rematch would be the story of the tournament. Common Misconceptions About Hakimi at the World Cup "He is a defender, so he does not influence matches the way attackers do." Hakimi leads Morocco in completed passes, crosses, and shots on target at this tournament. He has created 21 chances across his World Cup career, approaching Yaya Toure's all-time African record. He influences matches from right-back the way some players cannot influence them from the number ten shirt. The position label is misleading. "Morocco's 2022 run was a one-off, and Hakimi was lucky." They have now reached the knockout stage at three consecutive World Cups. They beat Spain and Portugal in 2022. They beat the Netherlands on penalties in 2026. Hakimi has been the captain and the consistent performer across all three campaigns. This is not luck. This is a programme, a system, and a player at the peak of his powers. "His penalty miss against the Netherlands shows he is not clutch." Hakimi hit the post in the Netherlands shootout. Morocco still won. In 2022, he scored the decisive Panenka against Spain. One miss in one shootout does not erase the body of work, especially when his team still advanced. "He is only famous because of the Panenka against Spain." The Panenka is the moment most people remember. But Hakimi won back-to-back Champions Leagues with PSG in 2025 and 2026, won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, won the CAF African Player of the Year, and finished sixth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The Panenka was a single kick. The career is a monument. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors building Round of 16 slips, Morocco to qualify against Canada is one of the most attractive legs available. Morocco have the experience, the defensive structure, and the captain to navigate a tight knockout match. The odds will not be as generous as they were against the Netherlands (Morocco were underdogs in that fixture), but they should still offer value compared to the probability of advancement. Compare the "to qualify" price across operators at betcompare.ng and pair it with other knockout legs to build a balanced acca. For African football fans watching from Nigeria, Hakimi is the player to follow for the rest of this tournament. Not because of what he scores, but because of what he creates, how he leads, and what he represents. A boy born in Madrid to a market trader and a cleaner, who chose Morocco over Spain, who captained Africa's first World Cup semi-finalists, who won the Champions League twice and the AFCON once, and who is now leading Morocco's push for another deep run at 27 years old. If that story does not make you set your alarm for 6 PM WAT on 4 July, nothing will. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for the Canada vs Morocco preview and odds comparison. Frequently Asked Questions How many World Cup matches has Achraf Hakimi played? Fourteen across three tournaments: three in 2018, seven in 2022, and four so far in 2026. He holds the record for most World Cup appearances by a Moroccan player and is the most capped African player in World Cup history. Has Hakimi scored at a World Cup? Yes. He scored his first World Cup goal against Haiti in the 2026 group stage, a header from a corner. It was his 13th World Cup appearance before finally finding the net, reflecting his role as a creator rather than a finisher. What happened with Hakimi in the Netherlands penalty shootout? He hit the post with his penalty. However, Morocco still won the shootout 3-2 after Yassine Bounou saved from Summerville and Ismael Saibari scored the winner. When does Morocco play next? Morocco face Canada in the Round of 16 on 4 July at NRG Stadium in Houston. Kick-off is 1 PM ET, which is 6 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. What club does Hakimi play for? Paris Saint-Germain. He has won back-to-back Champions Leagues (2025, 2026), five Ligue 1 titles, and scored in the 2025 Champions League final against Inter Milan. Is Hakimi the best right-back in the world? By most measures, yes. He won the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year, finished sixth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or (the highest ever for a Moroccan player), and has won more trophies than almost any active full-back in world football. Conclusion Achraf Hakimi does not fit the template of a World Cup headline act. He is not a striker chasing a goalscoring record. He is not a 39-year-old playing his farewell tournament. He is a 27-year-old right-back at his absolute peak, quietly assembling a World Cup career that will define how African football is measured at this tournament for decades. Fourteen matches. Three consecutive knockout qualifications. One Panenka that changed the course of African World Cup history. And a Round of 16 match against Canada on Friday that could take Morocco one step closer to matching their 2022 semi-final. Compare odds at betcompare.ng, clear your evening from 6 PM WAT, and watch Africa's finest do what he does best. The numbers say he is Morocco's most important player. The eye test agrees. And the tournament is not done with him yet. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The group stage is done. The Round of 32 is nearly complete. From 4 July, the Round of 16 begins, and everything about how you bet on the World Cup changes. The draw is no longer a dead result. Extra time and penalties exist. Market structures shift. And the bettors who do not adjust their approach will pay for it. This guide explains exactly what changes between group-stage and knockout betting, which markets are worth your attention in the elimination rounds, and how to compare odds at betcompare.ng with the new structures in mind. Table of Contents What is knockout-stage betting and why does it matter? How it works at the 2026 World Cup What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about knockout betting betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Is Knockout-Stage Betting and Why Does It Matter? In the group stage, every match has three possible outcomes in 90 minutes: home win, draw, or away win. A draw is a perfectly normal, perfectly valid result that earns both teams a point. Plenty of group matches end 0-0 or 1-1 and everyone moves on. In the knockout stage, a draw after 90 minutes is not the end. The match continues into 30 minutes of extra time, and if the score is still level, penalties decide who advances. The match must produce a winner. That single structural change ripples through every betting market on every knockout fixture, and bettors who treat knockout matches the same as group matches are misunderstanding the product they are betting on. It matters because the market splits. In the group stage, you had one main market: the 1X2 result at full time. In the knockout stage, you have two: the 1X2 result at full time (where the draw is still a possible outcome), and the "to qualify" market (which team advances, regardless of whether they win in 90 minutes, extra time, or on penalties). These are different bets with different odds, different probabilities, and different risk profiles. Understanding the difference is the single most important adjustment you need to make as the tournament enters its decisive phase. How It Works at the 2026 World Cup The 1X2 market (90 minutes only) This market works exactly as it did in the group stage. You back the home win (1), the draw (X), or the away win (2), and the bet is settled at the full-time whistle after 90 minutes plus added time. If the score is level after 90 minutes, the draw wins. In the knockout stage, the draw is more likely than the market sometimes suggests. Elimination matches produce cautious football, especially in the first half. Teams that are evenly matched tend to cancel each other out. Of the Round of 32 matches completed so far, multiple have gone to extra time (Morocco vs Netherlands, Belgium vs Senegal, Germany vs Paraguay). The draw at full time is not a fringe outcome in knockout football. It is a genuine contender. The "to qualify" market (who advances) This is the knockout-stage market that does not exist in the group stage. You back one team to advance to the next round. It does not matter how they do it. A 3-0 win in normal time, a 1-0 win in extra time, or a penalty shootout victory all settle the bet the same way: your team qualified. The "to qualify" odds are always shorter than the 1X2 odds for the same team, because you are covering more winning scenarios. If France are 1.55 to win in 90 minutes, they might be 1.30 to qualify, because the qualifying price also includes the scenarios where they draw and then win in extra time or penalties. Draw no bet (DNB) A hybrid market. You back a team to win in 90 minutes, but if the match is a draw at full time, your stake is returned. You only lose if the other team wins in normal time. DNB odds sit between the 1X2 and the "to qualify" prices, because you are protected against the draw but not against extra time or penalties. Handicap markets in knockouts Asian Handicap works the same as in the group stage, but the dynamics change. Teams in knockout matches often play more conservatively, especially in the first half. Backing a team at minus 1.5 (they need to win by two or more goals) is harder to land in a knockout match than in a group match, because the losing team fights harder and the winning team manages the game rather than pushing for a margin. Extra time and penalty markets Some sportsbooks offer markets specifically on extra time: will the match go to extra time (yes/no), correct score in extra time, and who will win the penalty shootout. These are high-margin, high-volatility markets. The operator takes a larger cut because the outcomes are harder to price. They can be fun with small stakes, but they are not where disciplined bettors should focus their bankroll. What This Means for Bettors Four practical adjustments for the knockout stage. First, consider the "to qualify" market as your default. In the group stage, the 1X2 is the cleanest, tightest-margin market. In the knockout stage, the "to qualify" market often offers better value for your actual view on the fixture. If you think France will beat Paraguay, what you really mean is that France will advance. Backing France in the "to qualify" market covers every scenario where that happens. Backing France in the 1X2 does not cover the scenario where they draw 1-1 and win on penalties. The "to qualify" market matches your actual prediction more accurately. Second, respect the draw. In the 2022 World Cup, six of 16 knockout matches went to extra time. In the 2026 Round of 32, at least three matches have already gone past 90 minutes. The draw at full time is not a nuisance outcome. It is a structural feature of knockout football, and the 1X2 market prices it accordingly. If you are building an acca with multiple knockout legs, even one draw at full time kills every 1X2 leg in the slip. Using "to qualify" legs instead protects you from this. Third, margins tighten on marquee fixtures. Operators compete most aggressively on the matches the world is watching. Mexico vs England, France vs Paraguay, Brazil vs Norway: these Round of 16 fixtures will carry some of the tournament's tightest 1X2 and "to qualify" margins. Compare odds on every fixture at betcompare.ng before placing, because the gap between operators narrows on these high-profile matches, and even a small edge matters. Fourth, goalscorer markets become harder to land. Knockout matches produce fewer goals on average than group matches. Teams defend deeper, take fewer risks, and managers substitute tactically rather than chasing the game. The average goals per knockout match at recent World Cups is lower than the group-stage average. If you are including anytime goalscorer legs in your acca, adjust your expectations. A player who scored freely in the group stage against a lower-ranked opponent may go quiet against a disciplined knockout defence. Key Numbers to Know 120 minutes is the maximum regulation time for a knockout match (90 plus 30 extra time). Penalties follow if needed. 6 of 16 knockout matches at the 2022 World Cup went to extra time. The draw at full time was the most common first outcome in the knockout stage. 3+ Round of 32 matches at the 2026 World Cup have already gone to extra time or penalties (Morocco vs Netherlands, Belgium vs Senegal, Germany vs Paraguay). The pattern is holding. 0.15 is the typical decimal odds gap between the best and worst operator on a knockout "to qualify" market across Nigerian sportsbooks. On a ₦10,000 stake, that gap is ₦1,500 in potential returns. Compare every time at betcompare.ng. 2 markets you should always check on every knockout fixture: 1X2 (result at 90 minutes) and "to qualify" (who advances). Decide which one matches your actual view before staking. Common Misconceptions About Knockout Betting "The favourite always wins in knockout matches." They do not. Paraguay beat Germany. Morocco beat the Netherlands. Croatia beat Brazil in the 2022 quarter-finals. Knockout football rewards defensive discipline and penalty composure as much as squad depth and star quality. The favourite wins more often than not, but "more often than not" is not "always", and the odds reflect that distinction. "1X2 and 'to qualify' are basically the same bet." They are not. The 1X2 market settles after 90 minutes. The "to qualify" market settles after the team advances. A 1-1 draw at full time loses your 1X2 bet on either team but does not settle your "to qualify" bet, which stays live through extra time and penalties. The two markets have different odds, different probabilities, and different risk profiles. Choosing the wrong one for your view is like ordering jollof rice and receiving white rice. Same grain, completely different thing. "Penalty shootouts are pure luck, so you cannot factor them in." Penalty outcomes are not random. Teams with experienced, composed penalty takers and strong goalkeepers tend to perform better. Morocco's Bounou saved the decisive penalty against the Netherlands. Germany, with Neuer in goal and a history of shootout competence, lost theirs to Paraguay. Experience and composure matter. The "to qualify" market prices this, which is why favourites remain favoured in the "to qualify" market even when the 1X2 suggests the match is tight. "I should avoid betting on knockout matches because they are too unpredictable." Knockout matches are not more unpredictable. They are differently structured. The "to qualify" market accounts for the extended format, and the odds reflect the reality that the stronger team usually finds a way through, even if it takes 120 minutes. If anything, knockout matches are more predictable in terms of who qualifies, even if the 90-minute result is harder to call. Choose the right market and the knockout stage is as bettable as the groups. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, the switch to "to qualify" legs in the knockout stage is not optional. It is essential. A four-leg acca using 1X2 markets in the Round of 16 will fail if even one match goes to extra time. A four-leg acca using "to qualify" markets survives draws, extra time, and penalty shootouts. The odds are shorter per leg, yes, but the probability of the slip landing is materially higher. Build your knockout accas with "to qualify" legs, compare odds on every selection at betcompare.ng, and keep the slip to three or four legs. The knockout stage rewards discipline, not ambition. For the casual bettor who followed the group stage with 1X2 bets and is now looking at the Round of 16, the simplest adjustment you can make is to switch your default market from 1X2 to "to qualify." It matches what you actually care about (does my team go through?), it protects you from the draw, and it keeps you in the game for the full 120 minutes plus penalties. The Round of 16 starts on 4 July with Canada vs Morocco at 6 PM WAT and France vs Paraguay later the same evening. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for odds comparisons on every fixture and make the switch before kick-off. Frequently Asked Questions What is the "to qualify" market? A bet on which team advances to the next round, regardless of whether they win in 90 minutes, extra time, or on penalties. It only settles when one team is eliminated. It is the most important knockout-stage market. Does a draw at full time lose my 1X2 bet? If you backed either team to win and the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, your 1X2 bet is lost, even if your team goes on to win in extra time or penalties. The 1X2 market settles at 90 minutes only. What is "draw no bet"? A market where you back a team to win in 90 minutes, but if the match is a draw, your stake is refunded. You only lose if the other team wins in normal time. It is a middle ground between 1X2 and "to qualify." Are knockout matches lower scoring than group matches? On average, yes. Teams play more cautiously in elimination matches, defend deeper, and manage the game rather than chasing a high-margin win. This affects over/under and goalscorer markets. Should I avoid accumulators in the knockout stage? Not necessarily, but you should adjust how you build them. Use "to qualify" legs instead of 1X2, keep the slip short (three to four legs), and compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng. Knockout accas built with "to qualify" legs are more resilient than 1X2 accas. Do all Nigerian sportsbooks offer the "to qualify" market? Most major operators (Bet9ja, SportyBet, 1xBet, BetKing) offer the "to qualify" market on World Cup knockout fixtures. Availability on smaller operators may vary. Check your sportsbook's market list before the match. Can I bet on the penalty shootout specifically? Some sportsbooks offer markets on whether the match will go to penalties and which team will win the shootout. These are high-margin, high-volatility markets. They can be entertaining in small stakes but are not recommended as a core betting strategy. Conclusion The knockout stage is a different product from the group stage, and betting on it requires a different approach. The draw at full time is more common than casual bettors expect. The "to qualify" market exists specifically to address this. Goalscorer markets become harder to land against disciplined defences. And the emotional intensity of elimination football tempts bettors into decisions driven by narrative rather than numbers. The adjustment is straightforward: switch your default market from 1X2 to "to qualify," respect the likelihood of extra time, compare odds on every knockout fixture at betcompare.ng, and keep your accumulators short and disciplined. The Round of 16 starts on 4 July. Sixteen teams will be eliminated over four days. The margins are tight, the stakes are real, and the bettors who adapted their approach to the knockout format will be the ones still standing when the quarter-finals arrive. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Manuel Neuer stood in the mixed zone in Boston on Sunday night, eyes red, voice quiet. A reporter from ARD asked if that was his final game for Germany. He said one word: "Yes." Sixteen years, 128 caps, one World Cup trophy, and a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay to close the book. Neuer is the first of the last dancers to leave the stage. He will not be the last. Across the 2026 World Cup, a generation of players who defined the modern game are playing their final matches at football's biggest tournament. Some already know it. Some are finding out today. And for bettors in Nigeria, the emotional weight of these farewells creates a specific market distortion worth understanding before you place a single bet. Compare odds carefully on betcompare.ng, because sentiment moves prices, and sentiment is running high this week. Table of Contents The backstory: a generation bows out The farewells already sealed The ones still standing Today's match: Ronaldo vs Modric, one goes home What it means for bettors: the "legacy bet" trap The Nigerian angle betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The Backstory: A Generation Bows Out Every World Cup retires someone. The 1998 tournament was the end for Dunga's Brazil. The 2006 final was Zidane's headbutt farewell. The 2014 semi-final was Klose's last act, scoring his 16th goal before walking off into history. These exits are part of the tournament's DNA: the greatest stage producing the greatest goodbyes. But 2026 is different in scale. The players leaving this tournament are not one or two isolated legends. They are an entire era. Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, Neuer, Pepe, Thiago Silva. These are the names that have shaped international football for 15 to 20 years, and the 2026 World Cup is, for most of them, the final curtain. Some came back from retirement specifically for this tournament (Neuer). Some extended careers that should have ended years ago (Ronaldo). Some are simply running out of road at 39 or 40 and know it. The tournament is delivering a rolling series of farewells, some planned, some forced by results. And for the bettors watching from Lagos and Abuja, the emotional charge of these exits is both the best content of the tournament and the most dangerous influence on your betting decisions. The Farewells Already Sealed Manuel Neuer, Germany. Goalkeeper. Age 40. 128 caps. Retired 29 June 2026. Neuer came out of retirement specifically for this World Cup. He had walked away after Euro 2024, but returned because, as he wrote on Instagram, "wearing the national team jersey has always filled me with deep pride." He wanted to support the younger players. He wanted one more tournament. He got four matches: three in the group stage and one in the Round of 32. Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties in Boston. Neuer could not save any of the four penalties Paraguay converted. He walked off the pitch at 40 years old, having played in four World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2026, missing 2022 through injury), won one (2014), and redefined the goalkeeper position for a generation. His post-match message was dignified and final: "Despite the bitter end, I don't regret this decision for a second." Thomas Muller, Germany. Forward. Age 36. If Muller was in the squad (he was named in the provisional list), Germany's exit ends his international career too. The 2014 World Cup top scorer (five goals in the group stage against Portugal, Ghana, and Brazil) played his final tournament at a time when the team around him could not match his ambition. Four World Cups. Ten goals. One trophy. The quiet end of one of the most intelligent attacking players of his generation. The Ones Still Standing Lionel Messi, Argentina. Forward. Age 39. 19 World Cup goals. All-time record holder. The obvious one. Messi is not just at his final World Cup. He is having his best World Cup. Six goals in four matches, the all-time scoring record, and Argentina still in the bracket with a Round of 32 match against Cabo Verde on Friday. Every match he plays from here could be his last, and every goal he scores extends a record that may stand for a decade. The market knows this. Messi's anytime goalscorer odds are compressed because demand is astronomical. Everyone wants a piece of the farewell. That demand inflates prices and reduces value. More on this below. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. Forward. Age 41. 10 World Cup goals. Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player at the tournament and the first man, alongside Messi, to appear at six World Cups. He scored a brace in the group stage to reach 10 career World Cup goals, all of them in group matches. He has never scored in a World Cup knockout fixture. Today, he faces Croatia in the Round of 32 in Toronto. If Portugal lose, Ronaldo's World Cup career ends with that statistic intact. At 41, his role has shifted from talisman to figurehead. He still starts, but the players around him (Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes) carry the creative burden. The question for bettors is whether the market is pricing Ronaldo's name or his current output. Compare odds on Portugal's match at betcompare.ng and look past the shirt number. Luka Modric, Croatia. Midfielder. Age 40. Four World Cups. Modric's World Cup record is extraordinary: 2014 group stage, 2018 finalist (won the Golden Ball as best player), 2022 semi-finalist, 2026 still alive. At 40, he is playing the deepest-lying midfield role of his career, controlling tempo rather than driving forward, and Croatia have built their entire tournament identity around his passing. Today, Modric faces Ronaldo. Portugal vs Croatia in Toronto. One of them goes home. Both are almost certainly playing their final World Cup match against each other. The symmetry is cinematic, and the emotional weight of the fixture will bleed into every market. That is exactly the moment to step back and compare odds rationally on betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football rather than betting with your heart. Pepe, Portugal. Centre-back. Age 43. If Pepe is in the matchday squad today (he was named in Portugal's 26), he is the oldest player at the tournament and potentially the oldest outfield player to appear at a World Cup in the modern era. His inclusion is as much about leadership as on-pitch contribution, but his career spanning Real Madrid, Porto, and 130+ caps for Portugal is a story in its own right. Today's Match: Ronaldo vs Modric, One Goes Home Portugal vs Croatia in the Round of 32, BMO Field, Toronto, 2 July. This is the match where at least one all-time great plays his final World Cup minutes. Both players have defined their respective nations for nearly two decades. Ronaldo carried Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and four World Cup campaigns. Modric carried Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and two consecutive semi-finals. Neither has anything left to prove. Both want one more round. The market will price Portugal as marginal favourites. They have the deeper squad, the more explosive attacking options, and the benefit of having already navigated a tricky group (despite the DR Congo draw). Croatia are battle-hardened and have the experience of deep tournament runs, but they are ageing, and the new Round of 32 format gives less room for slow starts. For bettors, the key is to separate the narrative from the numbers. Ronaldo's farewell does not make Portugal more likely to win. Modric's legacy does not make Croatia more likely to qualify. The odds should reflect squad quality, current form, and tactical matchup, not the emotional significance of the players involved. If the market has overpriced the favourite because of sentiment, the value sits with the other side. What It Means for Bettors: The "Legacy Bet" Trap Every World Cup produces what we call "legacy bets": wagers driven by the emotional appeal of a player's farewell rather than by a rational assessment of probability. Backing Messi anytime goalscorer because "this is his last chance" is a legacy bet. Backing Portugal to win the whole tournament because "Ronaldo deserves one more" is a legacy bet. Backing Croatia to beat Portugal because "Modric's magic" is a legacy bet. Legacy bets feel good. They make the tournament more personal. And they are, on average, terrible value. Sportsbooks know that millions of bettors worldwide will back Messi, Ronaldo, and Modric in every market simply because of who they are. That demand compresses the odds below where they should be based on actual probability. The operator's margin on a Messi anytime goalscorer market is already built in. The additional demand from sentimental bettors compresses it further. The antidote is simple: compare odds. If you genuinely believe Messi will score against Cabo Verde, find the best price across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng before confirming. If you want to back Portugal because you think they will beat Croatia, price the squad, not the narrative. The legacy makes the tournament worth watching. It should not make your betting decisions for you. The Nigerian Angle Nigerians do not need to be told who Messi and Ronaldo are. The Messi vs Ronaldo debate has been running in every barber shop, office canteen, and WhatsApp group in this country for 15 years. This World Cup is the last chapter, and even without the Super Eagles in the tournament, Nigerian fans have a personal stake in watching both players until the final whistle. The Portugal vs Croatia match today is worth watching for more than just the football. It is the kind of match where you know, while it is happening, that you are watching something you will never see again. Two players who have been at the absolute summit of the game, facing each other at a World Cup, both knowing it ends here for one of them. If that does not get you reaching for the remote at whatever time the match airs in WAT, nothing will. For Nigerian bettors, the practical takeaway: the "last dance" fixtures generate the highest betting volumes of the tournament among Nigerian sportsbook users. That volume creates both opportunity (operators compete aggressively on pricing) and risk (the emotional favourite is usually overpriced). Check betcompare.ng before every bet this week. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, resist the urge to build a "farewell legends" acca combining Messi, Ronaldo, and Modric goalscorer markets. It feels poetic. It is terrible value. Each leg is individually compressed by sentimental demand, and the compounded margin across three short-priced legs makes the slip almost impossible to profit from over time. If you want to include one farewell player in your acca, pick the one with the genuinely best value (compare all three on betcompare.ng), and fill the remaining legs with selections driven by form rather than feeling. The slip will pay better and the maths will thank you. For the casual bettor who wants to mark the occasion, consider backing a "to qualify" market rather than an anytime goalscorer. Backing Argentina to qualify against Cabo Verde or Portugal to qualify against Croatia lets you ride the wave of the farewell without paying the inflated premium on an individual goalscorer price. It is a cleaner way to have skin in the game while keeping the emotional distortion at arm's length. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for today's Portugal vs Croatia preview and odds. Frequently Asked Questions Has Manuel Neuer retired from international football? Yes. Neuer confirmed his retirement on 29 June 2026, immediately after Germany's penalty shootout loss to Paraguay in the Round of 32. He is 40 years old with 128 caps and will continue playing for Bayern Munich at club level. Is this definitely Messi's last World Cup? Almost certainly. He is 39, playing in his sixth World Cup, and has said repeatedly that the 2026 tournament is his farewell. He has nothing left to prove after winning the trophy in 2022 and breaking the all-time goals record this month. Is Ronaldo playing today? Portugal face Croatia in the Round of 32 in Toronto on 2 July. Ronaldo is expected to start. If Portugal lose, his World Cup career is over. He is 41 years old. Could Ronaldo and Modric both go out today? Only one team can lose. Portugal vs Croatia eliminates one of them. The winner advances to the Round of 16. It is possible that both Ronaldo and Modric play their final World Cup minutes in the same match, but one of them will continue to the next round. What is a "legacy bet"? A bet driven by the emotional significance of a player's farewell rather than by a rational probability assessment. Legacy bets are common during World Cups featuring retiring legends. They tend to offer poor value because sentimental demand compresses the odds. Who are the oldest players at the 2026 World Cup? Pepe (Portugal, 43), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, 41), Manuel Neuer (Germany, 40, now retired), Luka Modric (Croatia, 40), and Lionel Messi (Argentina, 39) are among the oldest. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup is a farewell tour disguised as a football tournament. Neuer is already gone. Modric or Ronaldo will follow today. Messi's next match, on Friday against Cabo Verde, could be his last, or it could be the next step toward defending the title. Each fixture involving these players carries a weight that transcends the scoreline, and each farewell is a reminder that what we are watching will not come again. For bettors, the advice is simple and worth repeating: watch the farewells, enjoy the farewells, but do not let the farewells make your betting decisions. The market prices sentiment. Your job is to find the gaps where sentiment has pushed the price away from probability. Compare odds at betcompare.ng, back the value rather than the story, and appreciate that you are alive at the right time to watch Messi, Ronaldo, and Modric play their last World Cup football. That alone is worth the price of a DStv subscription and a late night. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Lionel Messi now owns the record outright. Nineteen goals across six World Cups, surpassing Miroslav Klose's 16, surpassing Marta's 17, and with at least one more knockout match to play. He scored a hat-trick against Algeria to tie the record, a brace against Austria to break it, and a free kick off the bench against Jordan to extend it. At 39 years old, in what is almost certainly his final tournament, he is doing things that should not be possible. And Kylian Mbappe, on 18 goals after his own brace in the Round of 32 against Sweden, is one behind and closing. This is no longer just a record. It is a live, match-by-match race between two of the greatest players in football history. If you are placing bets on player specials at this World Cup, compare odds on both players' goalscorer markets at betcompare.ng before every fixture, because the pricing is shifting daily. Table of Contents World Cup career at a glance The defining World Cup moment What the record actually tells us 2026 expectations: the Cabo Verde match and beyond Common misconceptions about Messi's World Cup record betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion World Cup Career at a Glance Tournament Age Apps Goals Assists Argentina Result Key Moment 2006 (Germany) 18 3 1 1 Quarter-finals Youngest Argentine to score at a WC 2010 (South Africa) 22 5 0 1 Quarter-finals Zero goals despite stellar club form 2014 (Brazil) 26 7 4 1 Final (runners-up) Four group-stage goals, Golden Ball winner 2018 (Russia) 30 4 1 2 Round of 16 Goal vs Nigeria, eliminated by France 2022 (Qatar) 35 7 7 3 Champions Two goals in the Final, seven in the tournament, lifted the trophy 2026 (North America) 38-39 4+ 6+ TBC Round of 32 (ongoing) Hat-trick vs Algeria, brace vs Austria, free kick vs Jordan. All-time WC record broken. Career 30+ 19 8+ All-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history 2026 goals by match: Algeria (3, hat-trick, 16 June), Austria (2, brace, 22 June), Jordan (1, free kick from bench, 28 June). He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining Just Fontaine (1958) and Jairzinho (1970) as the only men to achieve that feat. He has scored 7 of Argentina's last 8 World Cup goals dating back to the 2022 tournament. He is the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history, the oldest player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, and the first player to score in six different editions of the men's tournament. The Defining World Cup Moment It is not the 2022 Final, though that would be the answer for almost any other player. It is not the hat-trick against Algeria, though that was the record-tying moment that brought 80,000 people to their feet in Kansas City. It is the 17th goal. The one that broke Klose's record. Argentina were winning 1-0 against Austria on 22 June, Messi had already missed a penalty, and the Austrian press had been stifling him all match. Five defenders around him whenever he received the ball. Then a pull-back, a first-time finish with his left foot into the near corner, and 20 years of World Cup football crystallised into a single number: 17. The record was his. He added the 18th in stoppage time to make it 19-and-counting. But it was goal number 17 that mattered. That was the one where the argument ended. Not the greatest tournament player, not the greatest group-stage performer, not the greatest penalty-area finisher. Just the greatest. Full stop. As FIFA's official match report put it: he "brushed off missing an earlier penalty" and beat the goalkeeper with a first-time left-foot finish. That is what 20 years of World Cup experience looks like. Miss the penalty, score the record-breaker. The kind of composure that makes everyone in the beer parlour go silent for half a second before the place erupts. What the Record Actually Tells Us Nineteen goals across 30 World Cup appearances and six tournaments. That is a scoring rate of roughly one goal every 1.6 matches, sustained across two decades. The sample is no longer small. This is the largest individual goalscoring dataset in World Cup history, and it tells a clear story. First, Messi's goals cluster around his peak tournament performances. He scored zero in 2010 and one in 2018. He scored four in 2014, seven in 2022, and six (so far) in 2026. The record is not evenly distributed. It is loaded toward the tournaments where the team around him was strongest and the tactical setup gave him the freedom to operate. The 2026 Argentina squad, built around Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, and Mac Allister, is giving him the same platform the 2022 squad did. Second, the Mbappe race is real. At 18 World Cup goals after his brace against Sweden in the Round of 32, Mbappe is one behind. He is 27 years old and has at least two more tournaments ahead of him if he stays fit. Even if Messi finishes on 19 or 20, Mbappe's trajectory suggests the record will not stand for another 12 years the way Klose's did. This is a live contest, and the goalscorer markets reflect it. Third, the record has shifted from being about longevity (Klose scored across four tournaments, never more than five in one) to being about peak output. Messi has scored 13 of his 19 in just two tournaments (2022 and 2026). That concentration of goals in high-stakes knockout football is what separates this record from every previous one. 2026 Expectations: The Cabo Verde Match and Beyond Argentina face Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday 3 July at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Kick-off is 8 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. If you are betting on Messi's goalscorer markets, this is the fixture. Cabo Verde are the fairy tale of the tournament: debut nation, held Spain to a 0-0 draw, qualified for the knockout stage against all expectations. They are organised, disciplined, and will defend deep. But they are also the lowest-ranked team left in the bracket, and Argentina are the defending champions with the all-time leading scorer in peak form. Messi started on the bench against Jordan in the final group match and came on to score a free kick. Scaloni is managing his minutes carefully. The expectation is that Messi starts against Cabo Verde, because the knockout stage demands your best from the first whistle. If he plays 70 to 80 minutes, the anytime goalscorer odds will be compressed (likely 1.50 to 1.70 range), reflecting the market's view that a Messi goal is more probable than not. The question is value. At 1.50, the market is implying roughly a 67% chance of Messi scoring. His actual conversion rate this tournament is six goals in four matches, which is higher than any sustainable expectation. But one quiet game and the bet loses. Compare odds across sportsbooks on betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football before backing anything, because the gap between operators on Messi's anytime goalscorer market this week is the widest it has been all tournament. The all-time top scorers right now: Rank Player Goals Status 1 Lionel Messi (Argentina) 19 Active, R32 vs Cabo Verde on 3 July 2 Kylian Mbappe (France) 18 Active, R16 vs Paraguay on 4 July 3 Miroslav Klose (Germany) 16 Retired (record held 2014 to 2026) 4 Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil) 15 Retired 5 Gerd Muller (Germany) 14 Retired 6 Harry Kane (England) 13 Active, R16 vs Mexico on 5 July 7 Just Fontaine (France) 13 Retired (all in one tournament, 1958) Common Misconceptions About Messi's World Cup Record "The record only matters because of the hat-trick against Algeria, who are a weak team." Algeria are ranked 28th in the world, qualified for the knockout stage, and beat Jordan earlier in the group. They are not a weak team. More importantly, Messi also scored twice against Austria (a strong European side coached by Ralf Rangnick), including the record-breaking goal, and added a free kick against Jordan. The record is built across multiple opponents, multiple match contexts, and two decades of World Cup football. "Mbappe will overtake him anyway, so the record does not matter." It might. Mbappe is 27 and one goal behind. But records are records at the moment they are set. Messi holds it today, at his sixth World Cup, at 39 years old. Whether Mbappe breaks it in 2030 or 2034 does not diminish what Messi has done in 2026. "Backing Messi anytime goalscorer in every remaining match is guaranteed profit." Nothing is guaranteed. Even at six goals in four matches, Messi has had quiet games at previous World Cups (zero goals in five matches in 2010, one in four in 2018). His age means his workload will be managed. Short odds on short-priced players erode your returns quickly if the conversion rate drops even slightly. Be selective. "The penalty miss against Austria proves he is declining." He missed a penalty and then scored twice, including the record-breaking goal. His penalty conversion rate at World Cups (57%) is below his career average, but he compensated with two open-play goals in the same match. The miss is a footnote. The brace is the headline. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, Messi's anytime goalscorer against Cabo Verde will be one of the most popular legs in Nigeria this week. The odds will be short, the logic will feel obvious, and the temptation to add it to every slip will be strong. But short legs compress returns. If you are including Messi, pair him with higher-value selections elsewhere on the slip to balance the overall odds, and always compare pricing on betcompare.ng before confirming. The gap between the best and worst price on Messi anytime goalscorer across Nigerian sportsbooks has been as wide as 0.15 this tournament. On a ₦5,000 stake, that gap is ₦750. For the broader audience, what Messi is doing at this World Cup is something you will tell your children about. A 39-year-old man at his sixth tournament, scoring hat-tricks, breaking 12-year-old records, and carrying Argentina's defence of the title on his left foot. Whether you are betting or just watching, the Argentina vs Cabo Verde match on Friday is the next chapter of the greatest individual World Cup story ever written. Kick-off is 8 PM WAT, a comfortable evening slot. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for the pre-match odds comparison and enjoy every minute of what might be the last time you see Lionel Messi on a World Cup pitch. Frequently Asked Questions How many World Cup goals has Messi scored? Nineteen, across six tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). He broke Miroslav Klose's record of 16 with a brace against Austria on 22 June 2026. Who held the record before Messi? Miroslav Klose of Germany, with 16 goals scored across four World Cups (2002 to 2014). Klose held the record from July 2014 until June 2026. Is Mbappe going to overtake Messi? Mbappe is on 18 World Cup goals, one behind Messi. He is 27 years old and likely has two or three more World Cups ahead of him. He could overtake Messi at this tournament or in a future one. When does Messi play next? Argentina vs Cabo Verde, Round of 32, Friday 3 July, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Kick-off is 3 PM ET, which is 8 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. What are Messi's anytime goalscorer odds against Cabo Verde? Odds vary by operator but are expected to be in the 1.50 to 1.70 range. Compare current pricing across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng. Has Messi scored more World Cup goals than Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes. Messi has 19 World Cup goals. Cristiano Ronaldo has 10 (8 entering the tournament plus a brace in the group stage). The gap is nine goals. Is this Messi's last World Cup? Almost certainly. He is 39 and has said repeatedly that the 2026 tournament would be his final one. He has nothing left to prove, having won the trophy in 2022 and broken the all-time scoring record in 2026. Conclusion Nineteen World Cup goals. Six tournaments. Twenty years between his first (Serbia and Montenegro, 2006) and his most recent (Jordan, 2026). Lionel Messi's World Cup record is not just a number. It is a career compressed into the moments that matter most, from the teenage debutant in Germany to the 39-year-old record-breaker in Kansas City, with a World Cup trophy, a Golden Ball, and enough individual brilliance to fill a lifetime of highlight reels. Mbappe is one goal behind and the race is not over. But right now, on 2 July 2026, the record belongs to Messi, and Argentina play Cabo Verde tomorrow with a place in the Round of 16 at stake. Compare odds on the match at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football, set your evening free from 8 PM WAT, and watch the greatest goalscorer in World Cup history add to the total. Whatever happens from here, you watched it live. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Issa Diop headed in a 91st-minute equaliser. Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's penalty. Ismael Saibari buried the winner low and to the left. And for the second consecutive World Cup, Morocco sent a European heavyweight home while the rest of Africa roared. The Netherlands 1-1 Morocco (3-2 on penalties) result in Monterrey on 29 June was the standout fixture of the Round of 32 and the single most important result for African football at this tournament. Combined with Germany's exit to Paraguay a day earlier, it confirmed that the 2026 World Cup's expanded knockout stage is no respecter of reputation. For Nigerian bettors following the tournament from home, this is the match that reshapes the bracket, the outright market, and the question of which team to back for the rest of July. Table of Contents The backstory: Morocco's World Cup trajectory What happened in Monterrey What it means for the tournament The Nigerian angle betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The Backstory: Morocco's World Cup Trajectory Morocco's 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar was supposed to be a one-off. A glorious anomaly. The Atlas Lions beat Belgium in the group stage, knocked out Spain on penalties in the Round of 16, eliminated Portugal in the Quarter-finals, and became the first African or Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. They lost to France 2-0 in the last four, but the damage to the old order was done. African football had proven it could compete at the highest level of the knockout stage. The question entering 2026 was whether Qatar was a fluke or a foundation. The answer, after Monterrey, is emphatic. This Morocco side is built for tournament football. The core of the 2022 squad remains: Hakimi at right-back, Bounou in goal, Mazraoui and Diop in defence. What has changed is the emergence of Ismael Saibari as a genuine attacking force, the tactical refinement under Walid Regragui, and the collective belief that comes from having already done what no African team had done before. Two consecutive World Cups with knockout-stage wins over European heavyweights is not luck. It is infrastructure, mentality, and a squad that knows how to suffer and still win. What Happened in Monterrey The match at Monterrey Stadium on 29 June was a brutal, physical, breathtaking contest that required 120 minutes and penalties to separate two sides who refused to lose. The first half was cagey. Morocco had the better chances, with Neil El Aynaoui's header forcing a brilliant save from Bart Verbruggen and Saibari unable to reach a Hakimi cross at the back post. Neither side could break through, and the intensity was relentless. The match turned in the 72nd minute. Ronald Koeman had introduced Wout Weghorst as a tactical shift, and the substitute's flick header released Summerville down the right. Summerville crossed to Cody Gakpo, who finished clinically. Gakpo, who had announced the loss of his unborn son just two days earlier, fell to the ground in tears. It was a devastating, deeply human moment in the middle of a World Cup knockout match. Morocco needed a response, and it came in the most dramatic fashion. In the first minute of stoppage time, with the Netherlands closing in on victory, Issa Diop rose to glance a header past Verbruggen. 1-1. Extra time. The 30 additional minutes produced the best chance of the match: Soufiane Rahimi went through on goal in the 96th minute, only for Verbruggen to produce what Al Jazeera called a "jaw-dropping save." Morocco had 82% possession in the first period of extra time and still could not find a winner. Penalties. Morocco's first taker, El Aynaoui, hit the bar. The Netherlands' Justin Kluivert hit the post. Both sides converted their next attempts. Then Quinten Timber missed wide for the Netherlands. Hakimi, Morocco's talisman, hit the post. Bounou saved from Summerville. And Saibari stepped up, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, and sent Morocco into the Round of 16. 3-2 on penalties. Morocco advance. The Netherlands, for the first time in their World Cup history, fail to reach the Round of 16 at a tournament they qualified for. What It Means for the Tournament Three immediate consequences. The bracket opens up. The Netherlands were among the pre-tournament top 10 favourites. Their exit means one fewer contender on the left side of the bracket, where Morocco now face Canada in the Round of 16 on 4 July in Houston. Canada are a strong side, but they are not the Netherlands. Morocco's path to a Quarter-final, and potentially beyond, has become materially easier. If you are comparing outright odds on betcompare.ng, Morocco's price will have shortened significantly since Monterrey. African football's tournament narrative is no longer a story about participation. Morocco's run, combined with results across the group stage (Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cabo Verde, Algeria, and Ghana all advanced to the knockout stage), means African teams are not just making up numbers. They are shaping the bracket. If Morocco beat Canada, they could face France or Paraguay in the Quarter-final. An African semi-finalist for the second consecutive World Cup is a genuine possibility, not a fantasy. The "to qualify" market rewarded the bettors who understood tournament football. Morocco were underdogs in the 1X2 market against the Netherlands. But in the "to qualify" market, their price was shorter, reflecting the reality that Morocco's defensive discipline, shootout experience, and tournament pedigree made them live contenders to advance regardless of whether they won in 90 minutes. Bettors who backed Morocco to qualify at longer odds than the eventual result justified were rewarded. The lesson: in knockout football, the "to qualify" market is often smarter than the 1X2. The Nigerian Angle No Nigerian needs to be told why this match matters. When an African team knocks out a European giant at a World Cup, it is personal for every football fan from Lagos to Luanda, whether or not their own country is in the tournament. Morocco are carrying the continent's hopes the way Ghana carried them in 2010 and Cameroon carried them in 1990. For Nigerian bettors specifically, Morocco's continued run creates real opportunities. Their Round of 16 match against Canada on 4 July is a fixture you can watch, research, and bet on with full context. Morocco have proven they can beat anyone when the stakes are highest. Canada have home-crowd energy (Houston is close enough) but limited knockout experience. The odds should be competitive, and comparing them across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football before kick-off is the kind of edge this tournament rewards. If you are the type to back an African team deep into a World Cup, this is your moment. No Super Eagles shirt required. The Atlas Lions are carrying enough for the whole continent, and the way Saibari buried that penalty in Monterrey, with blood on his shirt and half a billion Africans holding their breath, that is the kind of moment that makes you glad you stayed up past midnight to watch. Na the real deal. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, Morocco's run is the ultimate temptation. They have beaten the Netherlands. They have knockout pedigree from 2022. They face Canada next. The urge to include "Morocco to qualify" as an acca leg is strong, and in this case, the fundamentals support it: Morocco's defensive record, Bounou's penalty heroics, and their superior tournament experience all point in their direction. But short-priced "to qualify" legs still compress your acca returns, so balance Morocco's leg with higher-value selections elsewhere on the slip and compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng before confirming. For the casual bettor watching from Nigeria, the 4 July Round of 16 is a perfect matchday to get involved. Morocco vs Canada kicks off at 6 PM WAT, a comfortable evening slot. You have time to research, compare odds, and place your bet before kick-off without losing sleep or rushing a decision. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for the pre-match preview and odds comparison across all licensed Nigerian sportsbooks. If Morocco go through, the Quarter-final path gets even more interesting. Frequently Asked Questions What was the final score of Netherlands vs Morocco? Netherlands 1-1 Morocco after extra time, with Morocco winning 3-2 on penalties. Gakpo scored for the Netherlands in the 72nd minute. Diop equalised for Morocco in the 91st minute. Who scored the winning penalty for Morocco? Ismael Saibari. He sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a low finish to the left, sealing a 3-2 shootout victory. Who does Morocco play next? Canada, in the Round of 16 on 4 July at NRG Stadium in Houston. Kick-off is at 6 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. Is this Morocco's best ever World Cup run? Not yet. In 2022, Morocco reached the semi-finals, beating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal along the way. Their 2026 run currently stands at the Round of 16, but if they beat Canada and progress further, it could match or exceed 2022. How many World Cup matches has Achraf Hakimi played? Hakimi has now played 13 World Cup matches across the 2022 and 2026 tournaments, a record for a Moroccan player. Are Morocco favourites to beat Canada? Morocco are likely to be slight favourites based on their superior tournament experience and the psychological boost from the Netherlands win. Exact odds will depend on the sportsbook. Compare current pricing at betcompare.ng. Conclusion Morocco's victory over the Netherlands in Monterrey was not a shock in the traditional sense. This is not a team that stumbled into a result. This is a team that equalised in the 91st minute, survived extra time, absorbed a penalty miss, and still found the composure to win the shootout through Saibari's ice-cold finish. That is not luck. That is the character of a squad that has been here before and knows what it takes. For the tournament, Morocco's run keeps the 2026 World Cup unpredictable and keeps African football at the centre of the story. For Nigerian bettors, it opens up a bracket path that is worth following, worth betting on, and worth staying up for. Compare odds on Morocco's Round of 16 fixture at betcompare.ng, set your alarm for 6 PM WAT on 4 July, and watch Africa's best make their case for another deep run. The continent is not here to participate. It is here to win. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The group stage is done. Thirty-two teams survived. The bracket is locked. And if you are a bettor in Nigeria trying to work out who plays who, when, and what it means for the odds, you have come to the right place. This guide maps the entire 2026 World Cup knockout bracket from the Round of 32 through to the Final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It includes every completed result, every upcoming fixture, and a clear explanation of how the bracket works so you can compare odds with full context at betcompare.ng. Table of Contents What is the knockout bracket and why does it matter? How the 2026 bracket works The full Round of 32: results and remaining fixtures The Round of 16: confirmed matchups The path to the Final: quarter-finals onward What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about the World Cup bracket betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Is the Knockout Bracket and Why Does It Matter? The knockout bracket is the fixed path every team must follow from the Round of 32 to the Final. Unlike the group stage, where points and goal difference decide who advances, every knockout match is win or go home. If the score is level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time are played. If it is still tied, penalties decide. The bracket matters for bettors because it determines which teams are on a collision course. If Argentina and Brazil are on the same side, they cannot meet in the Final. If France and Spain are on opposite sides, they can only meet on 19 July. These structural facts affect every outright market, every "to reach the semi-final" bet, and every accumulator you build across knockout fixtures. Knowing the bracket is not optional if you are betting on this tournament. How the 2026 Bracket Works The 32 knockout-stage teams were slotted into a fixed bracket based on how they finished in the group stage: as group winners (seeded), runners-up, or third-placed qualifiers. The bracket has two halves, each producing one finalist. Left side of the bracket: Contains the winners of Matches 73 to 80 in the Round of 32, feeding into Round of 16 Matches 89 to 92, then Quarter-finals 97 and 98, then Semi-final 101. Right side of the bracket: Contains the winners of Matches 81 to 88, feeding into Round of 16 Matches 93 to 96, then Quarter-finals 99 and 100, then Semi-final 102. The two semi-final winners meet in the Final (Match 104). The two semi-final losers play the third-place match (Match 103). Every matchup from Round of 16 onward is predetermined by the bracket. There are no redraws. The Full Round of 32: Results and Remaining Fixtures Completed results 28 June: South Africa 0, Canada (Group B runner-up) advanced. Canada move to R16. 29 June: Brazil (Group C winner) beat Japan (Group F runner-up). Brazil move to R16. Germany (Group E winner) lost to Paraguay (Group D third-place). Germany eliminated. Netherlands (Group F winner) lost to Morocco (Group C runner-up) on penalties. Netherlands eliminated. 30 June: Ivory Coast (Group E runner-up) lost to Norway (Group I runner-up). Norway advance. France (Group I winner) beat Sweden (Group F third-place). France advance. Mexico (Group A winner) 2-0 Ecuador (Group E third-place). Mexico advance. 1 July: England (Group L winner) beat DR Congo (Group K third-place). England advance. USA (Group D winner) 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B third-place). USA advance. Belgium (Group G winner) 3-2 Senegal (Group I third-place) after extra time. Belgium advance. Tielemans scored a 125th-minute penalty to send Belgium through after they came from 2-0 down. Today, 2 July Spain (Group H winner) vs Austria (Group J runner-up), SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles. Switzerland (Group B winner) vs Algeria (Group J third-place), BC Place, Vancouver. Portugal (Group K runner-up) vs Croatia (Group L runner-up), BMO Field, Toronto. Remaining Round of 32 3 July: Australia (Group D runner-up) vs Egypt (Group G runner-up), AT&T Stadium, Dallas. Argentina (Group J winner) vs Cabo Verde (Group H third-place), Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. Colombia (Group K winner) vs Ghana (Group L third-place), Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. The Round of 16: Confirmed Matchups As R32 results come in, the Round of 16 fixtures lock into place. Here is what is confirmed so far, with today's and tomorrow's results still to fill the remaining slots: 4 July: Canada vs Morocco, NRG Stadium, Houston, 6 PM WAT. France vs Paraguay, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, 10 PM WAT. 5 July: Brazil vs Norway, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, 9 PM WAT. Mexico vs England, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, 1 AM WAT (6 July Nigerian time). 6 July: Winner of Portugal/Croatia vs Winner of Spain/Austria, AT&T Stadium, Dallas, 8 PM WAT. USA vs Belgium, Lumen Field, Seattle, 1 AM WAT (7 July Nigerian time). 7 July: Winner of Argentina/Cabo Verde vs Winner of Australia/Egypt, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 5 PM WAT. Winner of Switzerland/Algeria vs Winner of Colombia/Ghana, BC Place, Vancouver, 9 PM WAT. The Round of 16 matchups that jump off the page for Nigerian bettors: Mexico vs England in Mexico City is a blockbuster. USA vs Belgium is a rematch of the 2014 World Cup Round of 16. France vs Paraguay pits the tournament's deepest squad against the team that just knocked out Germany. And Canada vs Morocco is a genuine 50-50 fixture between two sides exceeding expectations. The Path to the Final: Quarter-Finals Onward The bracket's two halves produce the following Quarter-final pairings once the Round of 16 is complete: Left side QF1 (9 July, Dallas): Winner of Canada/Morocco vs Winner of France/Paraguay. Left side QF2 (9 July, not yet confirmed): Winner of Brazil/Norway vs Winner of Mexico/England. Left Semi-final (15 July, Dallas): Winner of QF1 vs Winner of QF2. Right side QF3 (10 July, Kansas City): Winner of Argentina-path vs Winner of Australia-path. Right side QF4 (10 July, not yet confirmed): Winner of Portugal/Spain-path vs Winner of USA/Belgium. Right Semi-final (16 July, Atlanta): Winner of QF3 vs Winner of QF4. Final: 19 July, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Left semi-final winner vs Right semi-final winner. The implication for outright bettors: France, Brazil, and England are all on the left side of the bracket. They cannot all reach the Final. At most, one of them will be there on 19 July. The right side contains Argentina, Spain (if they beat Austria), Portugal (if they beat Croatia), and the USA. If Argentina and Spain both advance deep, they could meet in the right-side semi-final. This structural information directly affects outright odds. A team on the "easier" side of the bracket has a shorter path to the Final. Compare current outright pricing at betcompare.ng/best-betting-sites-nigeria to see how operators are adjusting. What This Means for Bettors Three things change when the tournament shifts from groups to knockouts. First, the draw is no longer a possibility in regulation. Every knockout match must produce a winner. This changes the market structure. The 1X2 market still exists (you can back the draw at full time), but the "to qualify" market (which team advances regardless of how) becomes the cleaner bet. If you back France to qualify vs Paraguay, you win whether France win in 90 minutes, extra time, or on penalties. The 1X2 market pays better odds but carries more risk, because a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes loses your "France to win" bet even if France go on to win the shootout. Second, margins tighten on high-profile knockout fixtures. Operators compete more aggressively on pricing for matches the whole world is watching. Mexico vs England and USA vs Belgium will carry some of the tightest margins of the tournament. Compare odds on every Round of 16 fixture at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football before placing anything. Third, the bracket tells you which fixtures to prioritise. If you are building a knockout-stage accumulator, the bracket shows you which matches are on the same day and which winners will face each other next. An acca combining France to qualify and Brazil to qualify is a bet on two teams meeting in the Quarter-final, which is relevant context for anyone building multi-leg slips. Key Numbers to Know 32 teams entered the knockout stage. Sixteen will be eliminated in the Round of 32. Eight more in the Round of 16. The field halves every round. 5 knockout rounds: R32, R16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Final (plus the third-place match). 8 matches to win the tournament from the group stage onward: three group games plus five knockout matches. That is one more than in 2022 (seven). 30 minutes of extra time if a knockout match is level after 90 minutes. Penalties follow if the score remains tied. 19 July is the Final. Every outright bet settles on this date or not at all. 2 distinct sides of the bracket. Left side: France, Brazil, England, Mexico, Canada, Morocco, Norway, Paraguay. Right side: Argentina (if they beat Cabo Verde), Spain (if they beat Austria), Portugal (if they beat Croatia), USA, Belgium, and others. This split is the single most important structural fact for outright bettors. Common Misconceptions About the World Cup Bracket "The bracket is random." It is not. The bracket slots were predetermined before the tournament started based on group positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd). Group winners are seeded against runners-up and third-placed teams. The specific matchups were fixed the moment the group stage ended. Nothing is redrawn. "Being on the 'easy' side of the bracket guarantees a Final appearance." There is no easy side. The left bracket contains France, Brazil, and England, three of the top five favourites. One of them will be eliminated by another before the semi-final. The right bracket contains Argentina and potentially Spain, who are both among the shortest-priced outright selections. Both sides are loaded. "Extra time and penalties are coin flips, so knockout betting is just luck." Extra time and penalties are not 50-50. Teams with stronger squads, better bench depth, and more tournament experience tend to perform better in extended matches. Penalties favour teams with composed, experienced penalty takers. The "to qualify" market prices these edges in. The 1X2 market at 90 minutes does not. "I should back the higher-ranked team in every knockout match." FIFA ranking is a lagging indicator. Paraguay are ranked far below Germany and they knocked Germany out. Morocco are ranked below the Netherlands and they did the same. Knockout matches reward form, tactical discipline, and mentality, not reputation. Check current form, not rankings, and compare odds on betcompare.ng before backing anyone. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, the knockout bracket is both an opportunity and a trap. The opportunity: you can build multi-leg slips across a single day's fixtures with clear context about who the winners will face next. The trap: knockout matches produce more upsets than group matches because there is no safety net. A single result goes against you and the slip is dead. If you build knockout accas, keep them to three legs maximum, use the "to qualify" market rather than 1X2, and compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng. The difference between operators on knockout fixtures can be as wide as 0.15 in decimal odds, which is the kind of gap that separates a profitable tournament from a frustrating one. Don't let anybody catch you paying more than you need to, oga. For the broader audience, the bracket is your roadmap for the next 17 days. It tells you which matches to set your alarm for (Mexico vs England at 1 AM WAT on 6 July is worth losing sleep over), which African teams are still alive (Morocco, at minimum, are in the Round of 16 and looking dangerous), and which paths could produce a dream Final. France vs Argentina on 19 July is the neutral's fantasy. Brazil vs Spain is the purist's dream. The bracket makes both possible, but not both at the same time. Follow the draw, compare odds, and enjoy the ride. Visit betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for daily knockout previews and odds comparisons. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Round of 32 at the World Cup? It is the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, new to this edition because of the expanded 48-team format. Thirty-two teams qualified from the group stage (12 group winners, 12 runners-up, 8 best third-placed teams) and play single-elimination matches to reach the Round of 16. How many teams are left in the 2026 World Cup? As of 2 July, 16 teams have secured Round of 16 places (the Round of 32 winners), with 6 more R32 matches still to play today and tomorrow. The final 16 will be confirmed by 3 July. When does the Round of 16 start? 4 July 2026, with Canada vs Morocco in Houston and France vs Paraguay in Philadelphia. Can Argentina and Brazil meet in the Final? Based on the current bracket structure, yes. Argentina are projected on the right side and Brazil on the left. If both advance to their respective semi-finals and win, they would meet in the Final on 19 July. Who has been eliminated from the World Cup so far? Group-stage eliminations include Tunisia, South Korea, Czechia, Qatar, Scotland, Haiti, Curacao, Uzbekistan, Panama, Jordan, and Iran. Knockout eliminations so far include Germany (lost to Paraguay), Netherlands (lost to Morocco on penalties), Japan (lost to Brazil), South Africa (lost to Canada), Ivory Coast (lost to Norway), Sweden (lost to France), Ecuador (lost to Mexico), Bosnia (lost to USA), Senegal (lost to Belgium in extra time), and DR Congo (lost to England). What does "to qualify" mean in knockout betting? It means you are backing a team to advance to the next round, regardless of whether they win in 90 minutes, extra time, or on penalties. It is a different market from 1X2, which only covers the result at full time. Which side of the bracket is stronger? The left side contains France, Brazil, England, Mexico, and Morocco. The right side contains Argentina, potentially Spain and Portugal, the USA, and Belgium. Both sides are formidable. Neither offers a free path to the Final. Where can I compare odds on Round of 16 fixtures? Visit betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for pre-match odds comparisons across all licensed Nigerian sportsbooks on every World Cup knockout fixture. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup bracket is set and the knockout stage is delivering exactly what the expanded format promised: more drama, more upsets, and more opportunities for bettors who do their homework. Germany are gone. The Netherlands are gone. Morocco, Paraguay, and Norway have all claimed scalps. The Round of 16 starts on 4 July with fixtures that would headline any tournament in history. For Nigerian bettors, the next 17 days are the sharpest end of the World Cup. Every match matters, every result reshapes the bracket, and every day brings new opportunities to compare odds at betcompare.ng and find value before the market catches up. Bookmark the bracket, check the kick-off times in WAT, and pick your spots wisely. The road to MetLife Stadium on 19 July runs through some of the best football you will see in your lifetime. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

The captain of Cape Verde, Ryan Mendes, has been accused of rape by a team translator after he allegedly entered her hotel room and choked her According to a report by Brazil’s Globo news outlet on Saturday, the 36-year-old Cape Verdean captain, who has played in all three of the African island country’s World Cup games so far, was accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman hired to be the team’s translator during a trip to New Zealand to play a game in March. The unidentified woman said she approached at least three officials from the Cape Verdean soccer authorities, who did not respond, according to Brazilian media. The case is now being investigated by New Zealand police, who have collected security camera footage from an Auckland hotel and are awaiting the results of a forensic investigation before deciding whether to charge Mendes. The alleged sex assault was reported by New Zealand media last month, but the name of the player was not revealed, only that he was on Cape Verde’s team. In her statement, the woman said, “I was hired by Cape Verde’s soccer team for their games in the FIFA Series in New Zealand, and after the first match against Chile, I was invited to a meeting in one of the hotel rooms reserved for the national side. “But when I realised that I wasn’t needed to translate and that this was a social gathering, I returned to my room and, shortly after, heard knocking on the door.” When she opened it, Mendes allegedly forced his way into her room, throttled, punched, and bit her, before raping her, the lady was quoted as saying in a statement to New Zealand police. She shared pictures of injuries to her mouth, neck, leg, and side, which were handed to the police. Mendes, whose Cape Verde team made history as the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, has not yet responded to the allegations. Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, issued a statement hours after the allegations were first reported on Sunday. The organisation said it is in contact with New Zealand authorities and takes allegations of misconduct “extremely seriously,” according to Brazil’s media. However, it said it could not comment on the allegations or confirm whether any investigations are underway.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has explained why Bafana Bafana were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup, saying his side could not match the power and speed of Canada in their last-32 defeat This is as he also suggesting he may reconsider his decision to retire from coaching. Speaking after South Africa’s 1-0 loss to co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday, the 74-year-old Belgian admitted that physical qualities made the difference between the two teams. “I have said many times that modern football is more than just technique. There is power and speed, and we do not have it in our team yet. Canada had those qualities,” said Broos in an AFP report. South Africa’s World Cup campaign ended when Stephen Eustaquio scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner to send Canada into the round of 16. Broos had previously announced that he intended to step away from football after South Africa’s participation at the World Cup, bringing an end to a coaching career spanning more than three decades. “I want to spend more time with my wife, children and grandchildren,” he told AFP in a pre-World Cup interview. However, the veteran coach indicated after the defeat that he may not be ready to make a final decision on his future. “It is not clever to make decisions when you are disappointed, so I will not do it here,” Broos said during his post-match press conference. Reports from within the South African Football Association suggest Broos could yet remain involved with the national team. A football association insider said: “Hugo may continue as head coach or fill some other role, such as scouting and watching South Africans playing in Europe.” Broos has earned widespread praise for transforming South Africa’s fortunes since taking charge in 2021. Under his leadership, Bafana Bafana qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 16 years and reached the knockout stage for the first time in their history. His tenure has also coincided with a resurgence in support for the national team. While fewer than 200 spectators attended a friendly against Botswana shortly after his appointment, a World Cup warm-up match against Panama in Cape Town attracted a capacity crowd of 50,000 fans. The coach also guided South Africa to a landmark Group A victory over South Korea during the tournament, helping the team advance beyond the group stage for the first time after three previous first-round exits. While South Africa head home following their elimination, Canada will face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the round of 16 in Houston. The next assignment for South Africa will be the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where they have been drawn in Group D alongside Kenya, Guinea and Eritrea.

Brazil advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday with a thrilling last-gasp 2-1 victory over Japan as the tournament’s knockout rounds got into full swing Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli was the hero for Brazil in Houston, scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time to settle an enthralling contest at the NRG Stadium. Japan had threatened to pull off one of the all-time great World Cup upsets after Kaishu Sano fired them into the lead with a superb 29th-minute goal on the counter-attack. Brazil looked stunned by the Japanese opener for the remainder of the half and the Asian giants comfortably protected their lead up to half-time. But Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti rolled the dice at half-time by bringing on an additional striker in Endrick for midfielder Lucas Paqueta and the South Americans immediately looked more threatening. They equalised on 56 minutes, Casemiro nodding in at the far post after a superb curling cross from the left by Gabriel Magalhaes. Japan though appeared to have done enough to force extra time, but paid the price after Ao Tanaka coughed up possession on the edge of the area in injury time. The ball was quickly played to Martinelli, who took a touch before burying the winner. Brazil will face either Ivory Coast or Norway in the last 16. The Houston classic was the first of three last 32 knockout games scheduled on Monday, with Germany facing Paraguay at the Gillette Stadium near Boston and Morocco facing the Netherlands in Monterrey in Mexico. Germany’s tie with Paraguay is their first World Cup knockout match since they defeated Argentina in the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Currently ranked 10th in the world, Germany are not widely seen as genuine contenders to win the trophy, even if coach Julian Nagelsmann insists that has to be their aim. “When you talk about the German national team, it is all about trying to win every game. It is all about winning the game tomorrow,” Nagelsmann said on Sunday. The winner of the Germany-Paraguay duel will face either France or Sweden in the last 16. The Netherlands meanwhile head into their tie with Morocco wary of the threat posed by the north Africans, who reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2022. “It’s a good team with a lot of quality, and they can score easily,” Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said. The Netherlands are World Cup royalty but have never been crowned, finishing as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010. Often cited as the best nation never to have won the tournament, they are unbeaten in 15 World Cup matches since losing the final in 2010, if penalty shootouts are excluded. The Dutch did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Awaiting the winners will be co-hosts Canada, who became the first team to reach the last 16 on Sunday with a 1-0 defeat of South Africa in Los Angeles. Captain Stephen Eustaquio scored the only goal in the second minute of injury time. “I think the effect that it will have in Canada and the inspiring of people will be immense,” said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.

The president of Saudi Arabia’s Football Federation, Yasser Al-Misehal, has announced his resignation after the Green Falcons were knocked out of the World Cup in the first round Saudi Arabia finished bottom of Group H with two points, after two draws against Uruguay (1–1) and Cape Verde (0–0), and a heavy 4–0 defeat to Spain. “The failure of the national team to qualify for the next round of the World Cup is a result that falls short of all our ambitions, and I bear full responsibility for it. I offer my apologies to everyone who hoped to see our team in a better position. A sense of responsibility requires giving the opportunity to open a new chapter, and I have decided not to continue until the end of my current term,” he wrote on X late Sunday. At the head of the federation for seven years, Misehal played a central role in Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 World Cup, a cornerstone of its strategy to diversify an economy heavily dependent on oil. Saudi Arabia was playing in its third consecutive World Cup this year. A series of poor results in friendly warm-up matches in March had already cost French coach Herve Renard his job, bringing a second spell by Renard to an end after he returned to replace Italian Roberto Mancini. The wealthy Gulf monarchy has invested nearly two billion dollars in football over the last three years, luring Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League, now one of the most lucrative competitions in the world.

France coach Didier Deschamps is to return home after his mother died and will miss his team’s final World Cup Group I match against Norway, the French Football Federation announced Tuesday “Didier Deschamps will not be able to be on the bench on Friday for the final Group I game. The coach had the painful experience this morning of learning of the death of his mother. He will return to France to attend the funeral,” said the federation in a statement. In Deschamps’ absence, his assistant Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad until the 57-year-old’s return. Having already qualified for the last 32 following a 3-1 victory over Senegal and a 3-0 win against Iraq, France will be aiming to top their group when they face Erling Haaland and Norway on Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It is Deschamps’ final tournament in charge of France. During his 14-year reign, France won the 2018 World Cup, but lost in both the 2022 World Cup final — on penalties to Argentina — and to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final.

Guinness World Records has highlighted four historic milestones achieved by Argentina captain Lionel Messi following his record-breaking performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he inspired a 2-0 victory over Austria in the group stage Messi, who scored twice in the match, set multiple records and further extended his dominance on football’s biggest stage. Argentina, the defending champions, secured the win in a group stage fixture played in North America, with Messi once again central to their attack despite missing a penalty earlier in the game. According to GWR in a statement shared on Monday, Lionel Messi broke all the records listed today. The records include: “Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a football (soccer) player — 18, Most FIFA World Cup matches played by an individual — 28, Most matches won by a player at the FIFA World Cup — 18, Most minutes played in the FIFA World Cup — 2,489 We are witnessing history,” GWR said in its assessment of Messi’s latest achievements. Messi’s brace also saw him surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals, taking his total to 18 in the competition. The 38-year-old, playing in his sixth World Cup, continues to redefine longevity at the highest level of international football, having made his tournament debut in 2006.

Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with an ankle injury The 26-year-old left-footed centre-back suffered the problem in his side's 2-1 win against Ivory Coast on Saturday and was replaced by Antonio Rudiger at half-time. A Germany national team statement said Schlotterbeck had "suffered an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his left ankle" and "will be out for several months". It added that the Borussia Dortmund player would "remain with the team in the USA for the time being". Germany, who have already secured top spot in Group E and their progress into the last 32 before they face Ecuador on Thursday, cannot call up a replacement as the tournament has started. Schlotterbeck had played the entirety of Germany's opening game at the 2026 World Cup - a 7-1 win against Curacao - scoring their second goal. "Schlotti will be greatly missed on the pitch as an outstanding defender, especially his excellent build-up play," said Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann. "It could have been his World Cup. Yesterday, we all tried to lift his spirits - fortunately, he is a very positive character who is already looking ahead again. It is a very positive sign that he will initially remain here within the team, because he also has an influence off the pitch." Germany's remaining centre-back options are Jonathan Tah, Rudiger, Waldemar Anton and Newcastle's Malick Thiaw. Schlotterbeck had been linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund but signed a contract extension, external with them until 2031 in April.

A well-known Ghanaian traditional priest ‘babalawo’, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, has declared that he is spiritually targeting England captain Harry Kane to help the Black Stars ahead of their upcoming FIFA World Cup encounter The post was shared by TouchlineX, a popular football update handle on X. In the viral post, Bonsam stated: “I am working on Harry Kane. I have shown what I am capable of before, so I know what work I must do to stop him. I am not wishing him serious injury. It will be just enough to stop him against my country. I will do my work so that it can help Ghana.” The claim quickly sparked widespread reactions online, with football fans weighing in on the unusual pre-match development. Bonsam, who is often described in reports as one of Ghana’s prominent traditional priests, has previously made similar claims. He had once asserted involvement in Cristiano Ronaldo’s knee injury during the 2014 World Cup when Portugal faced Ghana. The England-Ghana fixture is already generating strong attention as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage. Ghana opened its campaign with a 1-0 win over Panama, while England also made a strong start, with Harry Kane among the goals. Social media users reacted swiftly to the latest comments. #Spotless_213 questioned the strategy, writing, “Why is he not working on Ghana to win the match or rather win the World Cup trophy?” Another user, #M4Mogul, dismissed the claims as attention-seeking, saying: “Bro can’t work to fix his country but wants to work Harry Kane. I know a clout chaser when I see one.” Meanwhile, #watchmetry77 referenced the priest’s past claim, saying: “If he really said this, then Harry Kane is scoring a hat-trick…. This man ‘tied’ Ronaldo’s leg in 2014 only for him to score his only goal of the tournament against Ghana.” The development has sparked mixed reactions across African football communities on X, with some users describing it as pre-match mind games or entertainment, while others argued that attention should remain on performance on the pitch rather than spiritual claims. England and Ghana are set to face off in their second Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history by netting his 17th tournament goal against Austria on June 22, 2026, surpassing the previous record held by Miroslav Klose Lionel Messi now stands alone as the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history. The Argentina legend scored his 17th career World Cup goal in the 38th minute against Austria on Monday, June, 22, breaking the previous record of 16 that was held by Germany's Miroslav Klose. Messi received a pass from the left as he ran into the box and gracefully fired straight past the goalkeeper to make history. Messi entered the 2026 World Cup on 13 career goals, but surged up to 16 after scoring a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina's opening game on June 17. Everyone thought he was going to break the record when he stepped to the line for a penalty kick 12 minutes into Monday's match against Austria, but shockingly, Messi missed and shot the ball wide right. Messi is now level with Brazil legend Marta for the most all-time World Cup goals. Marta has scored 17 goals in her six World Cup appearances. France star Kylian Mbappe is also climbing the list after he scored twice against Senegal for 14 career World Cup goals. The 27-year-old forward will look to add to that total later on Monday when France faces Iraq.

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room was the hero against Ecuador on Saturday, keeping out a barrage of shots to help the tiny Caribbean nation claim their first ever World Cup point in a goalless draw that keeps alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase Ecuador, who finished second in South American qualifying, had 28 shots, including 15 on target but Room stood firm in an astonishing display in Kansas City. His 15 saves are the most on record, since 1966, by any goalkeeper a World Cup match that did not feature extra-time. World Cup debutants Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to qualify for the tournaments, slumped to a 7-1 defeat against Germany in their opening match but restored pride in the American Midwest. Ecuador fans turned the Arrowhead Stadium, the home of NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, yellow, hugely outnumbering supporters of Curacao. But Curacao had royalty on their side in the form of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The island is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Out of their 26-strong squad, managed by vastly experienced Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, 25 were born in the Netherlands, and most play their football there. The match started at a fizzing pace. Ecuador seemed certain to open the scoring in the third minute when former West Ham forward Enner Valencia burst through the middle but Room tipped the ball around the post. Sherel Floranus fired over at the other end as Curacao showed their pace on the break. Valencia failed to beat Room from close range before Jordy Alcivar had an effort as Ecuador continued to dominate possession. The South American team ended the first half with 65 percent of possession but nothing to show for their dominance. They went close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark but Room kept out a Gonzala Plata header, before a flurry of Curacao chances. Ecuador, more than 50 places higher than Curacao in the FIFA rankings, looked increasingly frazzled as they pressed for a goal. As the match neared its end, chances continued to come thick and fast but Room stood firm. Ecuador substitute Angelo Preciado mishit a cross that bounced off the top of the crossbar and went behind. The Curacao players swarmed around Room at the end of the match, celebrating an extraordinary point.

At least three countries have been knocked out of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup Tunisia became the latest team to exit after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan in Monterrey on Sunday. They joined Haiti and Türkiye as the first sides to be eliminated from the tournament. The Carthage Eagles, who had already lost 5-1 to Sweden in their opening Group F match, were condemned to an early exit after failing to pick up a single point from their first two games. With a maximum of three points still available, they can no longer reach the Round of 32. In Philadelphia, five-time champions Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Haiti in Group C, confirming the Caribbean nation’s elimination. The result left Haiti bottom of Group C with zero points from two matches and a goal difference of -4. Their final group game against Morocco on June 24 will now be a dead rubber. In Group D, Türkiye suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium and joined Haiti in exiting the tournament. The loss left them with two defeats from two games and no points, confirming their elimination with one match still to play.

The Lionel Messi show rolls into Dallas with the Argentine maestro on the cusp of more footballing history when the World Cup holders face Austria on Monday Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria to pull level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals. The skipper broke down in tears after his first goal, and it later emerged that his father is recovering from an unspecified “health issue”. Inter Miami attacker Messi had not even committed to playing the tournament in North America until the last moment. But nobody realistically expected him to be absent from spearheading Argentina’s attempt to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup crowns. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain wizard dragged his country to World Cup glory four years ago, and the lure of representing his nation once again on the biggest stage proved irresistible. The impressive air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys for Argentina’s second group game against Austria would be the perfect stage for Messi to break Klose’s record. “In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more,” Messi said. Victory over Austria would put Lionel Scaloni’s side on the cusp of the last 32 as Group L winners with a game to go, giving Messi the chance to recharge for the knockout rounds. Fast forward to now, and even approaching middle age, Messi’s mere presence inspires his team-mates on and off the pitch.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced the second-highest number of own goals in the tournament’s history, with eight recorded just 10 days into the competition The tally leaves the expanded tournament on course to challenge the all-time record of 12 own goals set at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. With the 2026 edition featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, the current figure is expected to rise as the tournament progresses. Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Altambakti scored the latest own goal in his country’s 4-0 defeat to Spain on Sunday. The United States have benefited the most from the trend so far, with Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla and Australia’s Cameron Burgess both scoring own goals in matches against the co-hosts. Other players who have inadvertently found the back of their own net include Switzerland’s Miro Muheim, Qatar’s Mohamed Manai, Egypt’s Mohamed Hany, Iraq’s Aymen Hussein and Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab. Hussein’s own goal came in a match against Norway, where he also scored for Iraq, making him only the third player in World Cup history to score at both ends in the same game. According to tournament statistics, there have now been 61 own goals in FIFA World Cup history, with the eight recorded so far in 2026 accounting for nearly 13 per cent of the total. The first own goal at a World Cup was scored by Mexico’s Manuel Rosas during the inaugural tournament in 1930. Five editions of the competition, including Italy 1990, were completed without a single own goal being recorded. With many matches still to be played, the 2026 World Cup could surpass the record set eight years ago and establish a new benchmark for own goals in the tournament’s history.

Co-hosts Mexico became the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup with a narrow win over South Korea in Guadalajara Mexico midfielder Luis Romo was in the right place at the right time to tap into an empty net after goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu spilled the ball following a collision with his team-mate Lee Gi-hyuk in the 50th minute. South Korea's best chance came in the 87th minute when Cho Gue-sung's close-range header was saved by Raul Rangel and the Mexico keeper was able to keep out Yang Hyun-jun's follow-up. Earlier, captain Son Heung-min had chipped Rangel before his effort was cleared off the line by Edson Alvarez, although the former Tottenham forward was flagged offside. Backed by a boisterous home support who had booed their team at half-time following a toothless first half, Mexico almost added a second in the 75th minute but Raul Jimenez's effort from a tight angle was saved. Substitute Obed Vargas also forced Kim into a fine diving save late on with a driven strike. The result continued Mexico's 100% start at the World Cup and confirmed Javier Aguirre's side will advance as Group A winners. That means the co-hosts will be in Mexico City for both their last-32 and potential last-16 tie, where they could face England if Thomas Tuchel's side win their group and first knockout match. Despite their defeat, South Korea remain in a good position to also advance thanks to their opening-day win over Czech Republic. They face South Africa next on Thursday in Monterrey. Mexico take on Czech Republic in their final group game at the same time Mexico City.

Ghana have become only the second African nation to record six wins at the FIFA World Cup after edging Panama 1-0 in their opening Group L match on Thursday, equalling Nigeria’s long-standing record Caleb Yirenkyi scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner at Toronto Stadium, Canada, to hand the Black Stars all three points and deny Panama their first-ever World Cup point. With six minutes added on at the end of a tightly contested game, Brandon Thomas-Asante surged down the left flank, beat his marker and squared the ball for Yirenkyi, who tapped home from close range. The result was harsh on Panama, who matched the four-time African champions for long periods in only their fourth World Cup appearance since making their debut in 2018. The victory puts Ghana top of Group L alongside England ahead of their second group game next Tuesday. More importantly, it takes the Black Stars level with Nigeria as the African teams with the most wins at the World Cup. Ghana have now won six of their 16 World Cup matches, matching Nigeria’s tally of six victories from 21 games. Both countries are followed by Cameroon, who have five wins from 26 matches. However, like Nigeria, the Indomitable Lions failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament. Morocco sit fourth on the list with five wins from 23 matches and could also surpass Nigeria’s record during the tournament. The Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, setting a new benchmark for African teams at the World Cup. Senegal, despite losing their opening game against France at the 2026 World Cup, boast one of the best win ratios among African nations, with five victories from just 13 matches. The Teranga Lions made their World Cup debut in Korea/Japan 2002 and famously reached the quarter-finals. Ghana’s World Cup journey began in Germany 2006, where they reached the round of 16 before losing to Brazil. They improved on that feat in South Africa 2010, reaching the quarter-finals and suffering a heartbreaking penalty-shootout defeat to Uruguay after one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. The Black Stars have qualified for every World Cup since then except the 2018 edition in Russia. Cameroon, Nigeria and Morocco boast longer World Cup histories. Morocco have featured at seven editions — 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Cameroon made their debut in 1982 and have since appeared at the 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2022 tournaments. Nigeria’s World Cup story began in 1994, followed by appearances in 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018. Since their group-stage exit in Russia, the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for two consecutive editions. With Nigeria absent from the 2026 tournament, Ghana, Morocco and Ivory Coast all have the opportunity to move past the Super Eagles’ record of six World Cup wins before the competition ends.

The 2026/27 Premier League season schedule has been released, with all 380 fixtures set to run from Friday, August 21, 2026, through the campaign Kick-off times remain standard, with weekend and Bank Holiday matches scheduled for 15:00 UK time, while midweek games will typically begin at 20:00 unless otherwise stated. “All fixtures remain subject to change,” a release on the EPL website read on Friday. The defending champion Arsenal will kick off the match week one hosting newly promoted Coventry at the Emirates on Friday. Others play on Saturday an Sunday with the week ending Monday when Fulham hosts Chelsea at the Craven Cottage. The season gets underway shortly after the traditional curtain-raiser, with the 2026 FA Community Shield scheduled for Sunday, 16 August 2026, when Premier League champions Arsenal meet FA Cup winners Manchester City at 3pm. Clubs competing in Europe will again have a tightly packed calendar, with nine Premier League sides involved across continental competitions — five in the UEFA Champions League, three in the Europa League, and one in the Conference League. Their midweek commitments are expected to influence scheduling across multiple weekends throughout the season. The league has also noted that Premier League fixtures may be adjusted depending on clubs’ progress in the FA Cup, particularly in the later rounds. The FA Cup semi-finals and final are scheduled on weekends that also feature Premier League rounds, adding further potential for calendar reshuffling as the season develops.

Introduction The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and whether you are watching from your sitting room in Lekki or streaming on your phone during a go-slow on Oshodi Expressway, you have questions. Who is playing today? What happened yesterday? How does the new format work? Where can I compare odds? Is Messi still scoring at 38? What about Saka and the other Naija boys wearing different jerseys? This guide answers all of it. Plenty of FAQs, current results, records broken so far, and everything you need to bet, watch, and follow the biggest World Cup in history. Bookmark this page and come back daily as the tournament progresses. For match-by-match odds comparisons across all licensed Nigerian sportsbooks, head to betCompare! Table of Contents The Basics: Format, Hosts, Dates Groups and Fixtures Results So Far Records and Milestones Already Broken Players to Watch Nigerian Interest: Our Boys in Other Jerseys Betting at the 2026 World Cup How to Watch in Nigeria betCompare Insight Conclusion The Basics: Format, Hosts, Dates Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup? Three countries: the United States (11 stadiums), Mexico (3 stadiums), and Canada (2 stadiums). It is the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations, and 16 cities across North America are involved. The FIFA tournament page has the full venue list. How many teams are at the 2026 World Cup? Forty-eight, up from 32 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is the largest World Cup in history. When did the World Cup start and when does it end? The tournament kicked off on 11 June 2026 with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final is on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That is 39 days of football, also a record. How many matches are there in total? One hundred and four. The previous record was 64 matches at the 2022 World Cup. How does the new format work? Forty-eight teams are split into 12 groups of four (Groups A through L). Each team plays three group matches. The top two from each group advance automatically, and the eight best third-placed teams also qualify. That gives you 32 teams in the knockout stage, which is why there is a new Round of 32 before the familiar Round of 16. From the Round of 32 onward, it is single elimination: lose and you go home. What does "best third-placed teams" mean? After all group matches are played on 27 June, the 12 third-placed teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. The top eight go through to the Round of 32. The bottom four go home. This means finishing third in your group is not necessarily an exit, which is a significant change from previous World Cups. How many knockout rounds are there? Five: Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final (plus a third-place play-off). A team winning the whole tournament will play eight matches, one more than the seven required at the 2022 World Cup. Who are the favourites to win? Based on pre-tournament odds across Nigerian sportsbooks, Spain and France are the joint shortest-priced, followed by Argentina, Brazil, and England. Groups and Fixtures What are the 12 World Cup groups? Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia. Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland. Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland. Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye. Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia. Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay. Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway. Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan. Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Colombia, Uzbekistan. Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama. How many African countries qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Ten: South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Cabo Verde, DR Congo, and Ghana. This is the most African representatives at any World Cup, reflecting the expanded format. Punch Nigeria has covered this extensively. Which teams are making their World Cup debut? Four nations are playing their first ever World Cup: Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan already scored their first ever World Cup goal, through Abbosbek Fayzullaev against Colombia. When do the group stages end? The final group matches are on 27 June 2026. The Round of 32 starts on 28 June. What kick-off times should I expect in Nigerian time (WAT)? Most matches kick off between 8 PM and 3 AM WAT. The earliest regular slot is 8 PM WAT (noon Eastern Time in the US). The latest is 3 AM WAT (10 PM Eastern, for West Coast US venues). Full schedule details are available at ESPN's match schedule page. Results So Far What has happened in the World Cup tournament so far? Through the first round of group matches (all 48 teams have now played at least once), here are the key results: Group A: Mexico 2-0 South Africa, South Korea 2-1 Czechia. Group B: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland 1-1 Qatar. Group C: Scotland beat Haiti, Brazil edged a tight match against Morocco. Group D: USA 4-1 Paraguay, Australia 2-0 Turkiye. Group E: Germany 7-1 Curacao, Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador. Group F: Netherlands and Japan drew in a dramatic match, Sweden 5-1 Tunisia. Group G: Belgium 1-1 Egypt, New Zealand 2-2 Iran. Group H: Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde, Uruguay 1-1 Saudi Arabia. Group I: France 3-1 Senegal, Norway 4-1 Iraq. Group J: Argentina beat Algeria (Messi hat-trick), Austria beat Jordan. Group K: Portugal drew with DR Congo (upset), Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan. Group L: England beat Croatia (Kane brace, Bellingham starred). What was the France vs Senegal VAR controversy? France beat Senegal 3-1 on 16 June, but the result was overshadowed by a disputed penalty decision. Kylian Mbappe went down in the box after contact with Sadio Mane, and referee Alireza Faghani awarded a penalty after consulting VAR. Mbappe scored from the spot and added a second later. The decision became the tournament's biggest talking point. CBS Sports covered the match in full. Which result has been the biggest upset so far? Portugal drawing with DR Congo in Group K is arguably the biggest shock. Cabo Verde holding Spain to a goalless draw in Group H is a close second. Five African teams have already picked up points from their opening fixtures, prompting widespread commentary that African football is rebounding at this tournament. How are the African teams performing? Exceptionally well so far. Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Cabo Verde, and South Africa have all either won or drawn their opening matches. There is a real possibility that roughly 20% of the knockout-round teams will be from Africa, which would be a record. Records and Milestones Already Broken What records has Messi broken at this World Cup? Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria on 16 June, bringing his career World Cup total to 16 goals, tying Miroslav Klose's all-time record. At 38 years and 357 days, he became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record. He is the first player to appear at six different World Cups. He has the most World Cup appearances of any player in history (26 and counting). He has the most career goal contributions at a World Cup (24: 16 goals and 8 assists), surpassing Pele's 21. He also made his 200th international appearance, a first for a South American man. The ESPN stats tracker has the full breakdown. What records has Mbappe broken? Mbappe scored twice against Senegal, bringing his career World Cup total to 14, level with Gerd Muller. His second goal set a new France all-time international scoring record (58 goals), passing Olivier Giroud's 57. He now has the most multi-goal games at a men's World Cup (five). He also became the third Frenchman to score in three separate World Cup editions. Olympics.com tracks the goal race between Messi and Mbappe. What about Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup records? Ronaldo entered the tournament with eight World Cup goals across five editions. He is expected to become, alongside Messi, the first player to play at six World Cups. His all-time World Cup goal tally trails Messi (16) and Mbappe (14) significantly, but he can still add to Portugal's all-time scoring records. All eight of his World Cup goals have come in the group stage; he has never scored in a knockout match at the tournament. What other records have been set? The tournament itself is a record: 48 teams, 104 matches, 39 days, 16 host stadiums, three host countries, and three separate opening ceremonies (all firsts). Mexico's 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the youngest player to debut for Mexico at a World Cup. Erling Haaland scored Norway's first ever World Cup goals (a brace against Iraq). Four debut nations played their first World Cup matches. Harry Kane reached 10 World Cup goals with a brace against Croatia. Players to Watch Who are the top scorers so far? After the first round of matches, Messi leads on 16 career World Cup goals (three at this tournament so far), followed by Mbappe on 14 (two at this tournament). Kane is on 10 career goals (two at this tournament). Haaland has two from his first World Cup match. Is Messi playing his last World Cup? Almost certainly. He is 38, playing in his sixth World Cup, and has nothing left to prove after winning the 2022 edition. This is widely expected to be his farewell to the international stage. Is Ronaldo playing his last World Cup? Yes. At 41, this is expected to be his final World Cup. Portugal are in Group K and have already drawn with DR Congo in their opener, making their remaining group fixtures (Colombia and Uzbekistan) critical. Who is Erling Haaland and why should I care? Haaland is a Norwegian striker who plays for Manchester City and is one of the most prolific goalscorers in European football. The 2026 World Cup is his first tournament appearance. He scored twice against Iraq in Norway's Group I opener. He is priced among the top scorer contenders, and you can compare odds on his markets at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. Who is Luca Zidane? The son of Zinedine Zidane. He committed to Algeria at international level and is their starting goalkeeper at this World Cup. He faced Messi in Algeria's Group J opener against Argentina. Who is Michael Olise? A Bayern Munich winger with a Nigerian father who plays for France. He was instrumental in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, leading the second-half fightback. He is one of approximately 16 players of Nigerian heritage at this tournament who represent other countries. Nigerian Interest: Our Boys in Other Jerseys Why is Nigeria not at the World Cup? The Super Eagles failed to qualify after losing on penalties to DR Congo in the CAF playoff round. It extends Nigeria's absence from the World Cup following a similar miss for Qatar 2022. Which players of Nigerian heritage are at the tournament? At least 16 players with Nigerian roots are representing other nations, spread across some of the tournament's strongest squads. The most prominent, according to ESPN's detailed feature, Premium Times, and Nairametrics: England: Bukayo Saka (Yoruba heritage, Arsenal), Eberechi Eze (Igbo heritage, Crystal Palace), Noni Madueke (Nigerian parents, Chelsea). Germany: Jamal Musiala (Nigerian-British father, Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Igbo heritage, Borussia Dortmund). France: Michael Olise (Nigerian father, Bayern Munich). USA: Folarin Balogun (Nigerian parents, born in New York). Switzerland: Manuel Akanji (Yoruba heritage, Manchester City), Noah Okafor (Nigerian roots, AC Milan). Austria: David Alaba (Nigerian father, Real Madrid), Carney Chukwuemeka (Igbo heritage, Borussia Dortmund). Canada: Tani Oluwaseyi, Promise David. Norway: Antonio Nusa (Nigerian father, RB Leipzig). South Africa: Ime Okon (Nigerian father, Hannover 96). Could these players have played for Nigeria? Most were eligible through parentage. The Nigerian Football Federation was aware of many of them during their development years. Some, like Musiala and Zirkzee (Netherlands), were actively tracked. The decisions came down to a mix of personal identity, sporting opportunity, and the timing of senior call-ups. It remains one of the most debated topics in Nigerian football. Which matches should Nigerian fans watch for these players? England's group matches (Saka, Eze, Madueke vs Croatia, Ghana, and Panama), Germany's remaining fixtures (Musiala vs Ivory Coast and Ecuador), and any France knockout match where Olise features prominently. If you are betting on these fixtures, compare odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng. Betting at the 2026 World Cup What are the main betting markets available? Match result (1X2), both teams to score (BTTS), over/under goals, correct score, anytime goalscorer, first goalscorer, outright tournament winner, group winner, Asian Handicap, and same-game multi (BetBuilder). All are available across major Nigerian sportsbooks including Bet9ja, SportyBet, 1xBet, and BetKing. How do I find the best odds on a World Cup match? Compare odds across all licensed Nigerian sportsbooks on betcompare.ng. Different operators price the same fixture differently, and the gaps can be meaningful. On a ₦5,000 stake, the difference between odds of 2.10 and 2.20 on the same outcome is ₦500 in your pocket if the bet wins. What is the bookmaker's margin and why does it matter? The margin (or overround) is the operator's built-in profit on every market. On high-profile World Cup fixtures, margins typically sit between 3% and 6% on the 1X2 market. On less popular matches and more complex markets (correct score, BetBuilder), margins can exceed 10%. The tighter the margin, the better the return for you. Compare odds to minimise it. Should I bet on every World Cup match? No. There are 104 matches across 39 days. Betting on all of them is a guaranteed way to erode your bankroll. Be selective: focus on the fixtures you have researched, the markets you understand, and the matches you can actually watch live. If you are not watching, you are guessing. What about accumulator betting during the World Cup? Accumulators are popular but risky. The operator's margin compounds across every leg, and a single failed selection kills the entire slip. If you build accas, keep them short (three to four legs maximum), compare odds on each individual leg at betcompare.ng, and understand that acca insurance (offered by some Nigerian sportsbooks) typically covers only the first failed leg and comes with conditions. Can I bet on Messi to break the all-time World Cup goals record? Yes. Player specials markets, including "Messi to be top scorer" and "Messi anytime goalscorer" per match, are available across Nigerian sportsbooks. He needs one more goal to break Klose's record outright. The odds on this have shortened significantly after his hat-trick against Algeria. Where can I see prediction tips for upcoming World Cup matches? Visit betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for pre-match analysis and odds comparisons on every World Cup fixture. How to Watch in Nigeria Where can I watch the World Cup on TV in Nigeria? SuperSport on DStv (Compact and above) carries all 104 matches. GOtv Jolli and Max packages include SuperSport channels. NTA broadcasts selected matches free-to-air, including the opening match, African team fixtures, and the final. Can I stream the World Cup on my phone? Yes. Showmax and DStv Stream both carry live SuperSport content. Data consumption runs between 700 MB and 2.5 GB per match depending on stream quality. Set your resolution to 480p on metered data. What time are the matches in Nigeria? Most matches fall between 8 PM and 3 AM WAT. The 8 PM slot (noon Eastern US time) is the most comfortable for Nigerian viewers. The 2 AM to 3 AM slot (West Coast US venues) is the hardest. Is the World Cup on free TV? Selected matches are on NTA free-to-air. For full coverage, you need a DStv, GOtv, or Showmax subscription. betCompare Insight For the casual bettor tuning in after work, the World Cup is a month-long feast of opportunities and traps. The opportunities are real: lower margins, more competitive pricing, and operators fighting for your deposits. The traps are equally real: 104 matches tempting you to bet on fixtures you have not researched, goalscorer markets that look obvious but carry compressed odds, and the 2 AM kickoffs where your judgment is as tired as your eyes. The bettors who finish this tournament in profit will be the ones who were selective, who compared odds on every single bet at betcompare.ng, and who treated the matches they could not watch as entertainment, not betting opportunities. For the football fan who just wants to enjoy the tournament with the occasional punt, start with the African fixtures. Ten CAF nations are at this World Cup, more than ever before, and several of them are already exceeding expectations. Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Egypt are genuinely competitive. Cabo Verde held Spain to a draw. The narrative of African football rising at this tournament is not hype, it is playing out on the pitch. Follow the fixtures, compare odds, and if you are placing a bet, make sure it is on a match you are actually going to watch. There is no better month to be a football fan in Nigeria, even without the Super Eagles. Conclusion The 2026 FIFA World Cup is one week in and already delivering records, upsets, controversies, and the kind of football that makes you late for everything. Messi has tied the all-time goals record. Mbappe has broken France's scoring record. Five African teams picked up points in their openers. Portugal have already been stunned. And the group stage is not even halfway done. For odds, predictions, and operator comparisons across every fixture, betcompare.ng is your home base. The football is here. Make sure you are watching it with the best information and the best odds available. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The 2026 World Cup offers more betting markets per fixture than any previous tournament. If you have only ever placed a match result bet, you are looking at a fraction of what is available. From the straightforward 1X2 to correct score, anytime goalscorer, and outright tournament winner, each market type works differently, carries a different margin, and suits a different kind of bettor. This guide explains every major market type you will encounter across Nigerian sportsbooks during the tournament, with worked examples using real 2026 fixtures. Before placing anything, compare odds across licensed operators at betcompare.ng to find the best price on your chosen market. Table of Contents What are betting markets and why do they matter? How each market works at the 2026 World Cup What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about World Cup betting markets betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Are Betting Markets and Why Do They Matter? A betting market is a specific question about a match or tournament that a sportsbook allows you to stake money on. "Will France beat Senegal?" is one market. "Will both teams score?" is another. "Will Mbappe score at any point in the match?" is a third. All three relate to the same fixture, but each prices a different outcome with different odds and a different margin. Understanding which markets exist, how they are priced, and which ones carry the widest operator margins is fundamental to making informed bets. A bettor who only knows 1X2 is like a shopper who only visits one aisle of the supermarket. The product they want might be three aisles over, at a better price, with better value for what they are actually trying to do. At the 2026 World Cup, Nigerian sportsbooks will offer dozens of markets per fixture. You do not need to bet on all of them. You need to understand what each one means so you can pick the right market for your view on the match. How Each Market Works at the 2026 World Cup Match Result (1X2) The most basic market. You pick one of three outcomes: home win (1), draw (X), or away win (2). At a World Cup, "home" and "away" are assigned based on the fixture listing, not the venue. Worked example: England vs Croatia (Group L, 17 June) England 1.65 | Draw 3.80 | Croatia 5.50 If you stake ₦5,000 on England and they win, you receive ₦8,250 (₦5,000 x 1.65). If the match ends in a draw or Croatia win, you lose your ₦5,000. The 1X2 market is the tightest-margin market on most fixtures, meaning the operator takes the smallest cut here. It is the best starting point for new bettors and the market where comparing odds across sportsbooks on betcompare.ng produces the most consistent value. Both Teams to Score (BTTS) A yes or no market. Will both teams score at least one goal in the match? It does not matter who wins, what the final score is, or when the goals are scored. If both teams find the net, "Yes" wins. If either team keeps a clean sheet, "No" wins. Worked example: Brazil vs Morocco (Group C, 13 June) BTTS Yes 1.72 | BTTS No 2.05 This market is popular because it keeps you interested for the full 90 minutes regardless of who is leading. A 2-0 Brazil lead at half-time still leaves "BTTS Yes" alive if Morocco pull one back. One thing to note: BTTS markets at the World Cup tend to offer slightly wider margins than 1X2, because the two-outcome structure (yes/no) gives the operator less room to balance the book and more reason to build in a cushion. Over/Under Goals You bet on whether the total number of goals in the match will be above or below a specified line. The most common line is 2.5 goals. Over 2.5 means three or more goals in the match. Under 2.5 means two or fewer. Worked example: France vs Senegal (Group I, 16 June) Over 2.5 goals 1.85 | Under 2.5 goals 1.95 Sportsbooks also offer alternative lines: over/under 1.5, 3.5, 4.5, and sometimes half-goal increments like 2.75 (which splits your stake between two adjacent lines). The further the line from the expected total, the more extreme the odds in either direction. At the World Cup, group-stage matches between mismatched teams (Germany vs Curacao, for example) will have lower over/under lines than a tight tactical fixture like Spain vs Uruguay. The line itself tells you what the market expects. Double Chance A safety-net version of 1X2. You cover two of the three outcomes in a single bet: home or draw (1X), away or draw (X2), or home or away (12, which excludes the draw). The odds are lower because you are covering more outcomes, but the probability of winning is higher. Worked example: Ghana vs Panama (Group L, 17 June) Ghana or Draw (1X) 1.35 | Panama or Draw (X2) 2.10 | Ghana or Panama (12) 1.25 Double chance is useful when you have a view on who will not lose but are not confident enough to back the outright win. The trade-off is clear: safer bet, shorter odds, lower return. Correct Score You predict the exact final score of the match. This is one of the hardest markets to win because you need both the result and the goal count to land precisely. Odds are high, typically ranging from 6.00 for common scorelines (1-0, 2-1) to 100+ for unlikely outcomes (5-4, 0-6). Worked example: Mexico vs South Africa (Group A, 11 June) 1-0 Mexico 6.50 | 1-1 Draw 6.00 | 0-1 South Africa 11.00 | 2-1 Mexico 8.00 The margin on correct score markets is significantly wider than on 1X2 or BTTS. Operators build in a larger cushion because the number of possible outcomes (typically 20 to 30 scorelines are priced) makes the market harder to price efficiently. If you bet correct score, you are paying a premium for the high potential return. Anytime Goalscorer You back a specific player to score at least one goal during the match, at any point in the 90 minutes plus added time. It does not matter whether they score the first, the last, or the only goal. One goal is enough. Worked example: Mbappe anytime goalscorer, France vs Senegal Mbappe 1.70 | Dembele 3.00 | Thuram 3.50 | Haaland (different fixture) 2.10 This market is where the operator's margin gets creative. The sum of implied probabilities across all goalscorer options in a single fixture can exceed 200% or even 300%, because the same goal can settle multiple bets (if both Mbappe and Thuram score, both "anytime" bets win). The margin structure is fundamentally different from 1X2, and the effective cost to the bettor is higher. Anytime goalscorer is the most popular player-level market and the one most commonly added to accumulators. It feels intuitive, but the compressed odds on short-priced players (Mbappe at 1.70, for instance) mean the return rarely justifies the risk unless you are getting the best available price. Compare odds across sportsbooks on betcompare.ng for every goalscorer leg before adding it to a slip. First Goalscorer Tighter than anytime goalscorer. You back a specific player to score the first goal of the match. If your player scores but someone else scored before them, you lose. If the match ends 0-0, most operators refund the stake (check the specific sportsbook's rules). Odds are higher than anytime goalscorer because the probability is lower. Mbappe anytime at 1.70 might be Mbappe first goalscorer at 4.00 in the same fixture. The margin is also wider. Outright Winner (Tournament Winner) You back a team to win the entire World Cup, not just a single match. This is a long-term market that remains open throughout the tournament, with odds adjusting after every round. Illustrative pre-tournament odds: Spain 5.50 | France 6.00 | Argentina 7.50 | Brazil 8.00 | England 9.00 | Germany 15.00 Outright bets are placed before or during the tournament and settled only after the final on 19 July. Your money is locked in for the duration. The upside is that outright odds are typically generous compared to match-by-match markets, because you are accepting the risk of a full tournament's worth of uncertainty. The downside is that one bad match and your selection can be eliminated. Some operators offer "each-way" on outright markets, paying a fraction of the odds if your team reaches the final but does not win. Check whether your sportsbook offers this and what fraction they pay. Group Winner You back a team to finish top of their group. This is a shorter-term outright market, settled after the final group-stage match on 27 June. Worked example: Group C Brazil 1.55 | Morocco 4.00 | Scotland 8.00 | Haiti 25.00 Group winner markets are popular because they settle relatively quickly (within the first 17 days) and the pricing reflects three matches rather than an entire tournament. The margin is moderate, typically between the tight 1X2 margin and the wider outright margin. Asian Handicap The sportsbook gives one team a hypothetical goal advantage or disadvantage to level the playing field. If Germany are given a handicap of -1.5 against Curacao, Germany need to win by two or more goals for the bet to win. Curacao at +1.5 would win the bet if they lose by one goal, draw, or win. Asian handicaps eliminate the draw as an outcome (in most variants), which appeals to bettors who want a two-way market. The margin is typically comparable to 1X2. This market is more common among experienced bettors and is offered by all major Nigerian sportsbooks. What This Means for Bettors Not all markets are created equal when it comes to the operator's cut. The general rule: the simpler the market, the tighter the margin. The more outcomes the market contains, the wider the margin. Here is a rough hierarchy from tightest to widest margin on a typical World Cup fixture: 1X2 and Asian Handicap (tightest), then Over/Under and BTTS, then Double Chance, then Anytime Goalscorer and First Goalscorer, then Correct Score (widest). If you are building an accumulator, every leg's margin compounds. An acca with four anytime goalscorer legs is paying a much higher combined margin than an acca with four 1X2 legs. This is not a reason to avoid goalscorer markets entirely. It is a reason to be selective and to compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng before confirming your slip. For outright and group winner markets, place your bet early if you have a strong view. Odds shorten as the tournament progresses and results confirm what the market suspected. The best value on outright selections is typically available before the opening match. Key Numbers to Know 3 outcomes in a 1X2 market. This is the simplest and usually the tightest-margin market on any fixture. 2.5 is the most commonly offered over/under goals line at the World Cup. Over 2.5 means three or more goals. 104 matches across 39 days. That is 104 separate sets of markets, each with its own pricing and margin. Nobody needs to bet on all of them. 200% to 300%+ is the typical total implied probability across all options in an anytime goalscorer market. This is not comparable to a 105% total on a 1X2 market. The margin structure is different because multiple selections can win on the same goal event. 19 July is when outright winner bets settle. Your money is committed from the day you place the bet until the final whistle of the final in New Jersey. Common Misconceptions About World Cup Betting Markets "The match result market is the only one worth betting on." It is the simplest, but it is not always the best market for your specific view. If you think France will beat Senegal but are not sure by how many goals, the 1X2 is fine. But if your view is specifically that both teams will score in a high-tempo group opener, the BTTS market captures that view more precisely than a match result bet. Choose the market that matches what you actually believe will happen. "Correct score is worth it because the odds are so high." High odds reflect low probability, not hidden value. The margin on correct score markets is among the widest on any fixture. The occasional big payout does not compensate for the frequency of losing. If you enjoy correct score as entertainment with a small stake, that is fine. If you are treating it as a strategy, the maths works against you. "Adding more goalscorer legs to an acca increases the potential payout without much extra risk." Each goalscorer leg carries a wider margin than a 1X2 leg, and the margins compound across the slip. A six-leg acca with all goalscorer selections is paying a significantly higher combined margin than a six-leg acca with all 1X2 selections. The potential payout is higher, yes, but so is the effective cost. The house edge on that slip is chunkier than you think, oga. "If a player is in good form, his anytime goalscorer odds are good value." Not necessarily. The sportsbook has already priced his form into the odds. Short odds on an in-form player do not mean value. They mean the market agrees with you, and you are paying the margin on top of that agreement. Value exists when the odds are longer than the probability justifies, not when they are short because everyone can see the same form. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors who build multi-leg slips across World Cup matchdays, understanding which markets carry the widest margins changes how you construct a bet. Every goalscorer leg you add increases the operator's compounded edge over you. That does not mean you should never include goalscorer markets. It means you should be deliberate: include one or two goalscorer legs where you have a genuine view, fill the rest with 1X2 or over/under legs where the margin is tighter, and compare odds on every single leg at betcompare.ng. The difference between a ₦5,000 stake returning ₦40,000 and the same stake returning ₦48,000 is often just three or four better-priced legs across the same selections. For new bettors experiencing the World Cup for the first time, start with the 1X2 market. It is the simplest to understand, the easiest to research, and the tightest margin market on any fixture. Once you are comfortable reading odds, calculating implied probability, and comparing prices, branch out into BTTS and over/under. Leave correct score and first goalscorer until you are confident you understand the margin you are paying. There is no rush. The tournament runs for 39 days. You have time to learn, and betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football has match-by-match previews to help you along the way. Frequently Asked Questions What is the easiest World Cup betting market to understand? The match result (1X2) market. Pick home win, draw, or away win. It is the simplest market and typically carries the tightest operator margin. What does "over 2.5 goals" mean? It means three or more goals scored in the match by both teams combined. If the final score is 2-1, 3-0, or 4-3, over 2.5 wins. If the final score is 1-0, 0-0, or 1-1, under 2.5 wins. Can I combine different market types in one accumulator? Yes. Most Nigerian sportsbooks allow you to combine 1X2, BTTS, over/under, and goalscorer selections from different fixtures in a single acca. You cannot usually combine conflicting markets from the same fixture (for example, under 0.5 goals and anytime goalscorer in the same match). What is the difference between anytime goalscorer and first goalscorer? Anytime goalscorer wins if your player scores at any point in the match. First goalscorer wins only if your player scores the opening goal. Anytime is easier to win but pays shorter odds. When are outright winner bets settled? After the World Cup final on 19 July 2026. Your stake is locked in until then. Do all Nigerian sportsbooks offer the same markets? No. Market availability varies. Most major operators (Bet9ja, SportyBet, 1xBet, BetKing) offer the full range of markets on high-profile World Cup fixtures. Smaller operators may offer only 1X2, BTTS, and over/under. Check your sportsbook's market depth before placing a bet. What is Asian Handicap? A market that gives one team a hypothetical goal advantage or disadvantage. It eliminates the draw as an outcome. For example, Germany -1.5 means Germany must win by two or more goals. Curacao +1.5 means Curacao can lose by one goal, draw, or win. Which market has the lowest margin? Generally, the 1X2 (match result) and Asian Handicap markets carry the lowest margins on any fixture. Correct score and first goalscorer markets typically carry the highest. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup will generate more betting markets per fixture than any previous tournament, and understanding what each market means, how it is priced, and what margin you are paying is the foundation of informed betting. You do not need to use every market. You need to use the right market for your specific view on a match, and you need to get the best available price on it. Start with 1X2 if you are new. Explore BTTS and over/under once you are comfortable. Compare odds on every bet at betcompare.ng, regardless of which market you are using, because the operator offering the best price on a match result is not always the same operator offering the best price on a goalscorer market. The World Cup runs for 39 days. That is 104 matches, thousands of markets, and enough time to learn, compare, and bet with your eyes open. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Every price you see on a sportsbook has the operator's profit margin baked into it. That margin is called the overround, and understanding how it works is the single most important thing separating a bettor who shops for value from one who accepts whatever price is in front of them. During the 2026 World Cup, when Nigerian sportsbooks are competing for your attention across 104 matches, knowing how to spot and compare margins helps you keep more of your money over the long run. This guide explains what overround is, how to calculate it in seconds using decimal odds, and why comparing margins across operators on betcompare.ng before every World Cup bet is not optional: it is the baseline of smart betting. Table of Contents What is bookmaker margin and why does it matter? How it works at the 2026 World Cup What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about bookmaker margins betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Is Bookmaker Margin and Why Does It Matter? When a sportsbook prices a football match, it does not offer you the true probability of each outcome. It offers you slightly worse odds than the real probability would suggest. The difference between what the odds imply and what reality suggests is the margin, also called the overround or the vig. It is the operator's built-in profit on every market, regardless of the result. Think of it this way. If you flip a fair coin, the true probability of heads is 50%. Fair odds on heads would be 2.00 in decimal format. But a sportsbook would price both heads and tails at something like 1.91. You can still win, but the payout is slightly less than the risk justifies. Over thousands of bets, that gap is how the operator makes money. Every single market on every single World Cup fixture works on this principle. The margin matters because it is the invisible cost of every bet you place. Two operators can price the same team to win a World Cup match at 2.10 and 2.20 respectively. The team's actual chance of winning has not changed. But the operator offering 2.20 is taking a smaller cut from your potential return. Over the 104 matches of this World Cup, choosing the better price on every bet adds up to a meaningful difference in your overall returns. How It Works at the 2026 World Cup Here is how to calculate the margin on any three-way football market (home win, draw, away win) using decimal odds. You need three numbers: the odds for each outcome. Step 1: Convert each set of odds into an implied probability. The formula is simple: implied probability = 1 divided by the decimal odds, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage. Step 2: Add the three implied probabilities together. If the market were perfectly fair, they would add up to exactly 100%. In practice, they always add up to more than 100%. The amount over 100% is the margin. Worked example: Mexico vs South Africa (Group A opener, 11 June) Suppose Operator A prices the match as follows: Mexico 1.75, Draw 3.40, South Africa 5.00. Mexico implied probability: 1 / 1.75 = 0.5714, or 57.14% Draw implied probability: 1 / 3.40 = 0.2941, or 29.41% South Africa implied probability: 1 / 5.00 = 0.2000, or 20.00% Total: 57.14% + 29.41% + 20.00% = 106.55% The margin is 106.55% minus 100% = 6.55%. That 6.55% is the operator's built-in edge on this market. Now suppose Operator B prices the same match: Mexico 1.80, Draw 3.50, South Africa 5.25. Mexico: 1 / 1.80 = 55.56% Draw: 1 / 3.50 = 28.57% South Africa: 1 / 5.25 = 19.05% Total: 55.56% + 28.57% + 19.05% = 103.18% The margin is 3.18%. Operator B is taking roughly half the cut that Operator A is taking on the same fixture. If you backed Mexico with Operator A, you would receive ₦8,750 on a ₦5,000 stake. With Operator B, the same ₦5,000 stake returns ₦9,000. Same match, same outcome, ₦250 difference in your pocket. Now multiply that across 30 or 40 bets over a tournament and the numbers start to look like real money. Step 3: Compare across operators. This is where betcompare.ng does the work for you. Rather than calculating margins manually for each operator, you compare odds side by side and pick the best available price. The operator with the highest odds on your selection is, by definition, the one offering you the lowest effective margin on that outcome. What This Means for Bettors World Cup margins are typically lower than domestic league margins. This is good news for bettors. High-profile World Cup fixtures attract enormous betting volume, and operators compete more aggressively on pricing to capture that volume. A Premier League match between mid-table sides might carry a 7% to 10% margin on the 1X2 market. A World Cup group-stage match between two high-profile teams is more likely to sit between 3% and 6%. Knockout matches, especially from the quarter-finals onward, can drop even lower. Lower margin does not mean no margin. Even at 3%, the operator still has an edge on every market. Over time, that edge grinds down bettors who do not shop for the best price. The only way to partially offset it is to consistently take the highest available odds on your selected outcome, which means comparing across multiple sportsbooks before confirming every bet. Margins vary by operator and by market. One Nigerian sportsbook might run tight margins on the 1X2 match result but wider margins on the over/under goals market for the same fixture. Another might do the opposite. The cheapest operator for a Mexico win is not necessarily the cheapest operator for over 2.5 goals in the same match. If you are serious about value, you compare odds on each specific market, not just each specific match. Margins also vary by fixture profile. The Mexico vs South Africa opener, watched by hundreds of millions, will have tighter margins than Curacao vs Ecuador, watched by far fewer. Operators price popular fixtures more competitively because the volume compensates for the thinner margin. Less popular fixtures carry wider margins because fewer bettors are shopping around. Key Numbers to Know 100% is the theoretical total of implied probabilities in a perfectly fair market with zero margin. No sportsbook offers this. It is the benchmark against which every real market is measured. 3% to 6% is the typical margin range on a high-profile World Cup 1X2 market across Nigerian sportsbooks. This is lower than the domestic league average. 7% to 12% is the typical margin range on less popular World Cup fixtures and on secondary markets like correct score, first goalscorer, and BetBuilder selections. The more complex the market, the wider the margin tends to be. ₦250 per ₦5,000 stake is what the margin difference between two operators can cost you on a single bet, based on the worked example above. That is a meal. Over 40 bets across a tournament, it is ₦10,000. 15 licensed Nigerian sportsbooks currently compete on World Cup pricing. That level of competition benefits bettors who compare before placing. You can compare odds across all of them on betcompare.ng. Common Misconceptions About Bookmaker Margins "If I back the favourite, the margin does not affect me." The margin affects every outcome in the market. When the total implied probability is 106%, every price in that market is lower than it should be, including the favourite. The favourite's odds are compressed too. You are paying the margin regardless of which selection you back. "The operator with the best welcome bonus is the best value." A ₦100,000 welcome bonus with a 5x wagering requirement is a separate calculation from the margin on individual match markets. An operator with a generous bonus but consistently wide margins will cost you more over the life of your account than an operator with a modest bonus and tight pricing. The bonus is a one-time event. The margin is every bet you ever place. "Small differences in odds do not matter." They do not matter on a single bet in isolation. But betting is not a single bet. It is a sequence of decisions over weeks and months. The bettor who consistently takes 2.20 instead of 2.10 on the same selections will have materially better returns over 50, 100, or 200 bets. That is not a theory. It is arithmetic. E no dey lie. "All sportsbooks price the same match the same way." They do not. Margins vary from operator to operator, from fixture to fixture, and from market to market. Two Nigerian sportsbooks can price the same team to win the same World Cup match at meaningfully different odds. The only way to know is to check, and the fastest way to check is to compare odds on betcompare.ng. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, the margin compounds across every leg of your slip. If each leg carries a 5% margin and your acca has six legs, you are not paying 5% overall. You are paying a compounded margin that grows with every selection. This is one of the reasons long accumulators are so hard to land: the operator's edge multiplies while your edge, if you ever had one, stays flat. Before building any World Cup acca, check each leg individually on betcompare.ng and take the best available price for every single selection. One leg at 2.10 instead of 2.20 can be the difference between a slip that returns ₦45,000 and one that returns ₦50,000. For value-focused bettors who shop across multiple Nigerian sportsbooks, the World Cup is the best time of year to exploit margin competition. Operators are fighting for your deposits during the tournament, and they compete on pricing as much as on bonuses. That means the gaps between the best and worst price on any given fixture are wider than usual. If you are not comparing, you are leaving money on the table, every match, every market, every day for 39 days. Frequently Asked Questions What is bookmaker margin in simple terms? It is the sportsbook's built-in profit on every market. The odds you are offered are slightly worse than the true probability of the outcome. The difference is the margin, and it is how the operator makes money regardless of the result. How do I calculate the margin on a World Cup match? Divide 1 by each set of decimal odds (home, draw, away), add the three results together, and subtract 1. Multiply by 100 to get the margin as a percentage. If the total is 105%, the margin is 5%. What is a good margin on a World Cup match? Anything under 5% on a 1X2 market is competitive for a World Cup fixture. The best operators on high-profile matches can drop below 3%. Above 8% is wide and worth avoiding if a better price is available elsewhere. Do all Nigerian sportsbooks have the same margin? No. Margins vary significantly between operators and between fixtures. Two sportsbooks can price the same match with a 3% gap in total margin, which translates directly into different returns for you. Comparing is essential. Does the margin change during a match? In-play (live) markets typically carry wider margins than pre-match markets because the operator is pricing in the additional risk of fast-moving events. If you bet live, expect to pay a higher effective margin than on the same fixture pre-match. Why are World Cup margins lower than league football margins? Higher betting volume and more operator competition. World Cup fixtures attract enormous global interest, and sportsbooks compete more aggressively on pricing to attract that volume. Less popular domestic league fixtures do not generate the same competitive pressure. Is there a way to eliminate the margin entirely? No. Every legal sportsbook operates with a margin. You can minimise its impact by consistently taking the best available odds across multiple operators, but you cannot remove it. That is the cost of betting. Conclusion The overround is the single most important concept in sports betting that most bettors never learn. It is the operator's edge, built into every price on every market on every fixture at the 2026 World Cup. You cannot eliminate it, but you can reduce its impact by doing one thing consistently: comparing odds before every bet. The difference between the best and worst price on the same selection across Nigerian sportsbooks can be ₦250 on a ₦5,000 stake, and across a full tournament of bets, that gap compounds into real money. The 2026 World Cup offers 104 matches across 39 days, more opportunities to compare odds than any event in the football calendar. Operators are competing for your custom, and that competition shows in their pricing. Take advantage of it. Compare odds on betcompare.ng, calculate the margin when something feels off, and treat every bet as a price decision, not just a prediction decision. The operator always has an edge. Your job is to make that edge as small as possible. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The 2026 World Cup has 48 teams, 104 matches, and a brand-new knockout bracket that could produce collisions football fans have been waiting decades to see again. Some of these rivalries were built on moments so vivid they need no introduction. Others are quieter, newer, and shaped by recent tournaments rather than ancient history. All of them carry the kind of weight that makes a neutral fixture feel personal. This is not a ranking. It is a guide to the rivalries most likely to matter at this tournament, where the bracket could bring them together, and what the outright markets suggest about the teams involved. If you are placing early tournament bets, understanding these potential paths helps you compare odds with sharper context on betcompare.ng. Table of Contents The backstory: why World Cup rivalries hit differently The six rivalries to watch at the 2026 World Cup Where the bracket could bring them together What the outright markets say The Nigerian angle betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The Backstory: Why World Cup Rivalries Hit Differently Club football produces rivalries through repetition. Manchester United play Liverpool twice a season, every season, and the intensity is sustained by familiarity. World Cup rivalries work on the opposite principle. They are built on scarcity. Two nations might meet once every four years, sometimes once a decade, and every meeting carries the accumulated weight of everything that came before. That scarcity is what makes a World Cup rivalry feel so loaded. When England face Argentina, it is not just 90 minutes of football. It is Maradona's Hand of God in 1986. It is Beckham's red card in 1998. It is Simeone cupping his ear, Owen's solo goal, and Campbell's disallowed header in a single evening. None of the players involved in any of those moments will be on the pitch in 2026, but the memory of each one will be in every pundit's mouth and every bettor's calculation. That is what a World Cup rivalry does: it turns a fixture into a story before a ball is kicked. The 2026 bracket, with its expanded 48-team format and new Round of 32, creates more potential collision points than any previous World Cup. Some of the greatest rivalries in the sport have a realistic path to meeting. Others would require upsets, second-place finishes, or specific third-place scenarios. Knowing which is which matters if you are betting on the tournament's deeper rounds. The Six Rivalries to Watch at the 2026 World Cup Brazil vs Argentina The biggest rivalry in world football needs no hype. Three World Cup meetings, the most recent being the 2014 semi-final path that never materialised and the 2022 tournament where Argentina won the whole thing while Brazil fell in the quarter-finals. Brazil are in Group C (with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland). Argentina are in Group J (with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan). They are on potentially different sides of the bracket, meaning the earliest they could meet is the semi-final or final. The narrative writes itself: defending champions Argentina, led by 39-year-old Messi in his last tournament, against a Brazil side with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and a point to prove after 2022. In the outright markets, both teams are among the top six favourites. A Brazil vs Argentina final would be the most-watched football match in history, and every sportsbook in Nigeria knows it. Germany vs France Here is the fixture that the bracket might serve up far earlier than anyone expects. Germany are in Group E. France are in Group I. If both teams finish second in their respective groups, the Round of 32 bracket pairs them directly: Match 77, Arlington, Texas, 30 June. That is not a semi-final. That is not a quarter-final. It is the first knockout round. Germany and France have five World Cup meetings, including the brutal 1982 semi-final in Seville (one of the greatest matches ever played) and the 2014 quarter-final that Hummels' header decided. France won the 2018 and 2022 editions. Germany exited at the group stage in both. The gap in recent tournament pedigree is enormous, but group-stage slip-ups happen, and a second-place finish for either team would make this collision real. The thought of Mbappe vs Germany's rebuilt defence in the Round of 32 is the kind of scenario that makes you check the odds twice. England vs Argentina Three of the most dramatic World Cup matches in history involve these two teams. 1986: Maradona's Hand of God and the Goal of the Century in the same match. 1998: Owen's solo run, Beckham's red card, and a penalty shootout heartbreak in Saint-Etienne. 2002: Beckham's penalty in the group stage, the last time they met at a World Cup. England are in Group L. Argentina are in Group J. The bracket does not pair their group winners directly, but their paths converge deeper in the tournament. If both progress as expected, a semi-final or final meeting is plausible. The outright markets price England and Argentina among the top five favourites, and a knockout clash between them would carry more emotional baggage per square metre of pitch than almost any other fixture in the draw. Ghana vs Uruguay For African football fans, this is the rivalry that refuses to fade. Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg: everybody over the age of 20 remembers where they were on 2 July 2010 when Luis Suarez handled the ball on the goal line in the World Cup quarter-final, denying Ghana a place in the last four. Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty. Uruguay won the shootout. Africa's best chance of a World Cup semi-final died in the cruellest way imaginable. Ghana are in Group L. Uruguay are in Group H. They are not in the same group, but the knockout bracket offers multiple scenarios where they could meet. A Round of 16 or quarter-final collision is possible depending on finishing positions and third-place allocations. If it happens, every viewing centre from Lekki to Kumasi will be packed to the rafters, and the emotional stakes will dwarf anything the odds can capture. Suarez is back in the Uruguay squad at 39. The script is too perfect. Spain vs France This is the modern rivalry. Spain knocked France out of Euro 2024 in the semi-finals, and the two nations have been trading blows at major tournaments for the best part of a decade. Spain are in Group H. France are in Group I. The bracket places them on the same side of the draw, which means they cannot meet in the final but could meet in the semi-finals. Both teams are in the top three of the outright market. France have Mbappe, Dembele, and the deepest attacking squad in the tournament. Spain have Pedri, Yamal, and the tactical discipline that dismantled everyone at Euro 2024. A semi-final between them would be a coin-flip in the betting markets, and the winner would be overwhelming favourite for the final. Germany vs Netherlands The oldest European World Cup rivalry, and one that the 2026 draw has placed tantalizingly close. Germany are in Group E. Netherlands are in Group F. The bracket does not pair their group winners directly, but the paths from Groups E and F cross early in the knockout rounds. A Round of 16 meeting is plausible. The history runs deep: 1974 (Dutch Total Football vs German resilience in the final), 1978, 1990 (Rijkaard spitting at Voller), and the rivalry's cultural dimension that extends far beyond football. Both teams have enough quality to progress from their groups but neither is among the outright favourites. A knockout meeting between two teams with something to prove, and 50 years of shared antagonism, would be one of the fixtures of the tournament. Where the Bracket Could Bring Them Together The 2026 knockout bracket is not fully locked until the group stage ends on 27 June. Third-place allocations shift depending on which groups produce qualifying teams. But based on the bracket structure already published by FIFA, here is where each rivalry could collide: Brazil vs Argentina: Semi-final or final. Both are on potentially opposite sides of the bracket if they win their groups. The earliest plausible meeting is the last four. Germany vs France: Round of 32 (Match 77, Arlington) if both finish second in their groups. This is the most explosive early-round possibility in the entire bracket. England vs Argentina: Semi-final or final. Both are expected to win their groups, placing them on paths that converge in the deep rounds. Ghana vs Uruguay: Round of 16 or quarter-final, depending on finishing positions. Multiple bracket scenarios create a path. Spain vs France: Semi-final. Same side of the bracket. Cannot meet in the final. Germany vs Netherlands: Round of 16 or quarter-final. Groups E and F feed into crossing bracket paths. What the Outright Markets Say The outright winner market tells you how sportsbooks price the tournament, and the pricing of these rivalry teams reveals which collisions the market considers most likely to matter in the late rounds. At the time of writing, the approximate outright odds among Nigerian sportsbooks are: Spain (shortest), France (close behind), Argentina, Brazil, England, and then Germany and Netherlands further back. Compare odds across operators at betcompare.ng/best-betting-sites-nigeria before backing any outright selection, because outright pricing varies meaningfully between sportsbooks. The market essentially says: Spain vs France in the semi-final is the most likely high-stakes rivalry collision. Brazil vs Argentina in the final is the dream. England vs Argentina deep in the tournament is plausible. Ghana vs Uruguay is the emotional wildcard nobody can price but everybody wants to see. The Nigerian Angle Nigeria are not at this tournament, and that absence stings. But for Nigerian bettors watching from home, these rivalries give the World Cup a narrative structure that makes the tournament worth following even without the Super Eagles. Ghana vs Uruguay is personal. It is West African. It is unfinished business. Every Nigerian football fan adopted Ghana as their team on that night in 2010, and if the 2026 bracket produces a rematch, the betting volumes from Lagos alone will be worth watching. Beyond the African angle, England vs Argentina and Brazil vs Argentina are the fixtures that Nigerian Premier League viewers know best, given the concentration of EPL and LaLiga followers in the country. These are not abstract rivalries in Nigeria. They are the teams your colleagues argue about at lunch. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, rivalry matches are the most dangerous legs to include in a slip. The emotional weight of a Ghana vs Uruguay or an England vs Argentina pushes casual bettors toward the favourite based on narrative rather than form, which compresses the odds and reduces value. If you are building tournament accumulators that include knockout fixtures, compare odds on every leg at betcompare.ng and ask yourself whether the price reflects the actual probability or the story the market wants to believe. The story of 2010 does not make Ghana more likely to beat Uruguay in 2026. The story of 1986 does not make Argentina more likely to beat England. For casual football bettors, the rivalries are what make the World Cup worth staying up for at 2 AM WAT. These are the fixtures where the atmosphere bleeds through the screen, where the stakes feel personal even as a neutral, and where a single moment can define the tournament. Our job at betCompare is not to tell you which rivalry will produce the best match. It is to make sure that when a Ghana vs Uruguay or a Germany vs France materialises in the bracket, you can find the best available odds across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks in seconds. Bookmark betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football and check back as the knockout bracket takes shape. Frequently Asked Questions Can Brazil and Argentina meet at the 2026 World Cup? Yes. They are in different groups (C and J) and on potentially opposite sides of the bracket, meaning the semi-final or final is the earliest plausible meeting if both win their groups. Could Germany and France really meet in the Round of 32? Yes. If Germany finish second in Group E and France finish second in Group I, the bracket pairs them in Match 77 on 30 June in Arlington, Texas. It is one of the most explosive early-round possibilities in the draw. Will Ghana play Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup? It is possible but not guaranteed. Ghana (Group L) and Uruguay (Group H) are in different groups, and a knockout meeting depends on their finishing positions and the bracket allocation. Multiple scenarios produce a Round of 16 or quarter-final pairing. What are the biggest World Cup rivalries of all time? Brazil vs Argentina, Germany vs Netherlands, England vs Argentina, Germany vs France, and Italy vs Germany are among the most frequently cited. For African fans, Ghana vs Uruguay (since 2010) and Cameroon vs England (1990) carry particular weight. Which rivalry fixture is most likely to happen at the 2026 World Cup? Based on the bracket structure and market pricing, Spain vs France in the semi-final is the most probable high-stakes rivalry collision. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup bracket is built for drama. A format that pushes 48 teams through five knockout rounds, with third-place qualifiers floating across multiple bracket slots, means that rivalry collisions are not just possible but structurally likely. Germany vs France in the Round of 32. Spain vs France in the semi-final. Ghana vs Uruguay somewhere in between. Brazil vs Argentina on the final Sunday in New Jersey. None of these are guaranteed. All of them are plausible. For Nigerian bettors, these rivalries are the signposts of the tournament. They tell you which fixtures to circle on the calendar, which knockout matches to set your alarm for, and which legs of an accumulator deserve extra scrutiny before you confirm the slip. Compare odds at betcompare.ng as the bracket takes shape after 27 June, and let the rivalries play out. Some of the best football you will ever watch is about to happen, and you do not need a Super Eagles shirt to feel every moment of it. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Argentina and Algeria have played each other exactly once in the history of senior international football. It was a friendly in Barcelona in 2007, it finished 4-3, and a 19-year-old Lionel Messi scored twice. That is the entire head-to-head record. No competitive meeting. No World Cup history. Nothing. On 17 June in Kansas City, at 2 AM WAT, the defending world champions open their Group J campaign against a team they have never faced in a match that mattered. This article applies our five-step framework to a fixture with almost no historical data, and explains why that absence of data is the most important thing to understand before you compare odds on betcompare.ng. Table of Contents The prior meeting: one friendly, 19 years ago Why one match across 19 years tells you nothing How the markets are likely to price 2026 Applying our five-step framework What actually matters going into this fixture Common misconceptions about this fixture betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The Prior Meeting: One Friendly, 19 Years Ago 5 June 2007, international friendly, Barcelona. Algeria 3-4 Argentina. The only time these two nations have met at senior level produced seven goals and a one-goal margin. Messi scored twice. Carlos Tevez added another. Algeria scored three times and made life difficult for a side that included Javier Mascherano, Juan Roman Riquelme, and a teenage Sergio Aguero on the bench. It was an entertaining match. It was also a meaningless one for the purposes of predicting anything about 17 June 2026. The squads, coaches, tactical systems, and contexts have changed so completely that citing the 2007 result as evidence of anything is like using your grandmother's university exam results to predict your own. The names on the shirt are the same. Everything else is different. Why One Match Across 19 Years Tells You Nothing This is the cleanest possible case for the central argument of our H2H framework: past meetings between national teams are a story, not a dataset. One friendly, played 19 years ago, with entirely different personnel on both sides, in a different tactical era, at a neutral venue in Spain with nothing at stake, provides zero predictive information about a World Cup group-stage opener in Kansas City. If the H2H record for Brazil vs Scotland (four World Cup meetings) is a small sample, this is not a sample at all. It is an anecdote. The framework's five-step method is designed for exactly this situation: when the historical record is thin or empty, the framework tells you to skip the history and weight everything on current form, squad composition, and tournament context. That is what we do here. How the Markets Are Likely to Price 2026 Argentina will be heavy favourites. They are the world's number one ranked side, the defending champions, and they topped CONMEBOL qualifying with 12 wins from 18 matches and a goal difference of plus 21. Algeria are ranked 28th. The market will reflect this. Expect illustrative match result odds in the range of: Argentina 1.30 to 1.40, Draw 4.50 to 5.50, Algeria 9.00 to 12.00. The implied probability on Argentina sits somewhere around 70% to 75%, which is where the market typically prices a strong favourite opening a tournament against a mid-ranked African side. The question for bettors is not whether Argentina are likely to win. They are. The question is whether the price adequately compensates for the scenarios where they do not: a disciplined Algerian defensive display, a Messi-less or Messi-reduced Argentina if fitness is managed early, or the defending champion's curse (no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962). Compare odds across Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng before backing anything at these compressed prices. Applying Our Five-Step Framework Step 1: Sample. How many prior meetings are there? One. A friendly in 2007. This is functionally zero relevant data. The framework says: proceed to current form and tournament context immediately. Step 2: Dates. When did they last meet? 19 years ago. Even if there were ten matches in the record, a 19-year gap would render most of them irrelevant. Football evolves faster than the gap between meetings. Step 3: Squads. How many players from prior meetings are involved? One. Lionel Messi played in the 2007 friendly and will play in 2026. He is the only surviving connection between the two fixtures, and he was 19 then and is 39 now. His role, physical profile, and on-pitch function have changed completely across those two decades. Step 4: Context. What was at stake in prior meetings? Nothing. It was a pre-season friendly in Barcelona. A World Cup group-stage opener for the defending champions carries the maximum possible competitive pressure. The contexts are incomparable. Step 5: Current form. What do we know about both teams right now? This is where all the information lives. What Actually Matters Going into This Fixture Argentina's current form: Won their last six matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding one. The recent run includes a 6-0 demolition of Puerto Rico, a 5-0 win over Zambia, and a 3-0 victory over Iceland in their final warm-up fixture on 10 June. Lionel Scaloni's squad is settled. Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister control the midfield. Julian Alvarez provides the goalscoring support Messi needs. The defence, anchored by Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, has conceded once in six matches. The key concern is left-back. Nicolas Tagliafico is ruled out of the tournament, and Scaloni has been testing solutions in warm-up fixtures. Depending on whether he uses a back four or a back three, the left side could be exposed against Algeria's quick transitions. Algeria's current form: Three wins, two draws, one defeat in their last six matches. Twelve goals scored, two conceded, five clean sheets. The standout result: a clean sheet away to the Netherlands. That is not the record of a team that will simply roll over. Coach Vladimir Petkovic (who managed Switzerland at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup) plays a possession-based but cautious system. Algeria's defensive structure is the foundation. In midfield, Ismail Bennacer, Nabil Bentaleb, and Ramiz Zerrouki are physical, high-energy, and designed to crowd the central passing lanes that Argentina rely on. In attack, the headlines are split between a legend and a newcomer. Riyad Mahrez, at 35, remains Algeria's most creative player, cutting inside from the right onto his left foot. Ibrahim Maza, 20, is the emerging talent that Algerian media have compared to a young Mahrez. And then there is the goalkeeper. Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine, recently committed to Algeria and is expected to start. The surname writes its own story, but the player has earned the shirt on merit after strong performances in qualification. Tournament context: Argentina are aiming to become only the third nation in history to retain the World Cup, after Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). Messi is at his sixth and almost certainly final World Cup. The emotional weight on this Argentine squad is enormous, and opening with a comfortable win is the best way to manage it. Algeria's objective is different. They are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014. A point against Argentina would be a massive result. A win would be seismic, the kind of upset that makes the whole of Africa lose sleep celebrating, the kind of result people in Lagos and Algiers talk about for the next 20 years. Common Misconceptions About This Fixture "The 2007 friendly tells us this will be a high-scoring match." One friendly, 19 years ago, with entirely different players and coaches, tells us nothing about the goal profile of a 2026 World Cup opener. Argentina's recent defensive record (one goal conceded in six matches) and Algeria's five clean sheets in six matches suggest this could be far tighter than 4-3. "Algeria have no chance against the defending champions." Algeria's 1982 World Cup campaign included a 2-1 victory over West Germany, the tournament favourites. Their 2014 campaign took them to the Round of 16, where they lost to Germany only in extra time. Their 2026 qualifying form includes an away clean sheet against the Netherlands. Dismissing them outright is lazy analysis and poor betting. "Messi guarantees Argentina will score." Messi is 39. He played the 2007 friendly as a teenager and he enters this fixture as one of the oldest outfield players at the tournament. His role has evolved from dribbler to orchestrator, and his minutes will be managed across the group stage. Whether he starts, plays the full 90, or is introduced as a substitute affects every goalscorer market in this fixture. Check team news before betting. "This is a dead rubber because Argentina will top Group J regardless." No World Cup group-stage match involving the defending champions is a dead rubber, least of all the opener. Argentina need to set the tone. A stumble here changes the entire dynamic of Group J and hands Austria and Jordan belief they would not otherwise have. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, Argentina match result at 1.30 to 1.40 is one of those legs that looks safe but pays almost nothing and dies horribly when the upset lands. If you are including Argentina in a group-stage acca, consider the Asian Handicap market (Argentina -1.5 at better odds) or over 1.5 Argentina goals as an alternative that offers a better return for what is still a high-probability outcome. Whatever market you choose, compare odds across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng before confirming, because pricing on heavy-favourite fixtures varies more between operators than you might expect. For African football fans watching from Nigeria, this is the first marquee African fixture of the tournament. Algeria in 2026 are not the Algeria of 2018 or 2022 (they missed both). They are the Algeria of 2014, the team that pushed Germany to extra time in the Round of 16 with defensive discipline and counter-attacking bite. Petkovic's side are set up to frustrate, and if they can keep it tight for 60 minutes, the atmosphere in Kansas City and every viewing centre from Ikeja to Oran will become something special. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for our match-by-match odds comparison as Group J plays out. Frequently Asked Questions Have Argentina and Algeria ever played at a World Cup before? No. Their only senior meeting was a 4-3 friendly in Barcelona in 2007. This is their first competitive match and their first World Cup fixture against each other. When is Argentina vs Algeria at the 2026 World Cup? Tuesday 17 June 2026, Kansas City Stadium. Kick-off is 6 PM ET, which is 11 PM WAT for Nigerian viewers. Is Messi playing in this match? Messi is in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. Whether he starts against Algeria or is managed for later fixtures is a decision Lionel Scaloni will make based on fitness and tournament strategy. Check team news before placing any bet that depends on his participation. What are Algeria's chances of beating Argentina? Algeria are significant underdogs, but they have World Cup pedigree (beat West Germany in 1982, reached the Round of 16 in 2014) and strong recent defensive form (five clean sheets in six matches, including away to the Netherlands). An upset is unlikely but not impossible, and the odds reflect that. Who is Luca Zidane? Luca Zidane is the son of Zinedine Zidane. Born in France, he committed to Algeria at international level and is expected to be their starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup. He previously played for Real Madrid's youth and reserve teams. Who else is in Group J? Austria and Jordan. Austria are a solid European side with Bundesliga-based players. Jordan are making their World Cup debut after a breakthrough qualification campaign. Conclusion Argentina vs Algeria is a fixture with almost no history and enormous present-tense stakes. The defending champions, led by a 39-year-old Messi at his final World Cup, against an Algerian side built on defensive discipline and coached by a man who knows how to set up against favourites. The framework says: ignore the 2007 friendly, focus entirely on current form, and respect what both teams bring to the pitch on 17 June. The market will price Argentina as heavy favourites, and the market will probably be right. But "probably right" is not the same as "good value at any price". Before backing Argentina in any market, compare odds on betcompare.ng, check the team news for Messi's involvement, and ask yourself whether the price you are being offered compensates for the slim but real possibility that Algeria do what African teams have done at World Cups before: turn up, defend with everything, and make the giants sweat for every inch of the pitch. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Super9ja is Bet9ja's free-to-enter weekly football prediction game. Players pick the exact scores of six selected matches each round; nail all six and you win a share of the jackpot. There is no entry fee and no deposit requirement. The product is meaningfully different from a deposit-match bonus or an accumulator boost; it sits closer to a lottery in its odds profile, but with a skill element since you choose your own predictions. This article sets out exactly how Super9ja works, the scoring system, what the realistic odds of winning look like, and what casual entrants should expect from a typical round. Table of Contents What Super9ja Offers Full Game Rules The Scoring System How a Typical Super9ja Entry Plays Out Realistic Odds of Winning the Jackpot Restrictions and Edge Cases How to Enter Super9ja How It Compares to Similar Products in Nigeria Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict What Super9ja Offers Super9ja is a weekly, free-to-enter football jackpot. Players predict the scores of six matches selected by Bet9ja each round, with a jackpot of ₦10,000,000 for predicting all six correctly. If two or more players predict all six correct, the jackpot is split equally between them. Below the jackpot, there is a weekly consolation prize pool. The total consolation prize for each Super9ja round is ₦265,000, split among the 20 players with the highest points totals that week. If the jackpot is won, the player who won it counts as classified in the weekly leaderboard, so the number of consolation places is reduced accordingly. The product is genuinely free. There is no deposit requirement, no stake, and no entry fee. Each registered Bet9ja customer is allowed one free entry per round. What you are spending is your time and your football judgement, not your money. Full Game Rules The terms below reflect the standard structure of Super9ja. Verify the live rules on Bet9ja's help site before relying on specific figures for your entry, since prize structures and selected fixtures change each round. Eligibility: registered Bet9ja customers, aged 18 or over, resident in Nigeria. Entry cost: free. No deposit or stake required. Entries per week: one per player per round. What you predict: the exact score of all six Super9ja matches selected for that round, plus a Total Goals figure used only as a tiebreaker. Submission deadline: the competition closes when the first game of the round kicks off, after which no changes are allowed. Edits before deadline: you can change your predictions as many times as you like before kick-off of the first match. Jackpot: ₦10,000,000 per current product page (₦50,000,000 baseline per T&Cs, "unless otherwise specified" - verify which is live). Consolation pool: ₦265,000 total, split among the top 20 by points each week. Tie-breaking: in the case of a tie on points, the Total Goals prediction decides the higher rank. If still tied, the earlier submitter ranks higher. Match completion threshold: if only 5 of the 6 matches complete, the jackpot is reduced. If fewer than 5 complete, Bet9ja may adjust the prize fund at its discretion. Match validity: a match is considered void if postponed, abandoned, or not played for at least 90 minutes. Prize crediting: winnings can take up to 45 days to reach the player's account after the round closes. Identity verification: winners must verify age, identity, and residence to Bet9ja's satisfaction before a prize is paid. The Scoring System Super9ja awards points on two levels per match. 10 points for predicting the exact score of a match. 1 point for predicting the correct result (home win, draw, or away win) without the exact score. Maximum of 10 points per match. So if you predict Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle and the match ends 2-1, you score 10 points. If it ends 3-1 (a home win but a different score), you score 1 point for the correct result. If it ends 1-1 (a draw rather than the home win you predicted), you score zero. Across six matches, the theoretical maximum is 60 points. The jackpot requires all six exact scores, which is the only way to score 60. A skilled predictor on a typical round might land 1 or 2 exact scores and 2 or 3 correct results, for a total in the 12 to 25 point range. That is usually enough to feature in the upper half of the leaderboard but not enough to make the top 20 consistently. Total Goals is a separate figure you submit alongside your six score predictions. No points are awarded for getting it right; it exists only to break ties when multiple players land on the same points total. How a Typical Super9ja Entry Plays Out Imagine a typical weekend round where Bet9ja's six selected matches are drawn from the major European leagues: two Premier League fixtures, two Bundesliga, one La Liga, one Serie A. You spend 30 minutes reading form guides and team news, then submit your six exact-score predictions, plus a Total Goals figure. Saturday afternoon arrives. Of your six predictions, one match lands the exact score (10 points), three more land the correct result but the wrong score (3 points), one draws when you predicted a home win (0 points), and one is rained off and declared void (no points, no penalty). Your total for the week is 13 points across five completed matches. Where 13 points sits on the leaderboard depends on the round. On a high-variance weekend with several upsets, 13 might place you inside the top 50 nationally and outside the top 20 cash positions. On a more predictable weekend, the top 20 might require 25 to 30 points, putting 13 well outside the prize positions. The honest read is that consolation prizes go to genuinely strong predictors on rounds that suit their picks, not to casual entrants who guess. Now picture the jackpot scenario. You would need all six exact scores in the same round. That is 60 points. To put that in perspective, you would not just need to beat the rest of the field; you would need to land six independent low-probability outcomes in a row. The realistic frequency of this happening across thousands of weekly entrants is the reason most Super9ja rounds do not pay out the jackpot. Realistic Odds of Winning the Jackpot Super9ja sits structurally close to a lottery in its long-tail outcome, but with a skill element since you choose your predictions. A back-of-the-envelope calculation: a typical football match has dozens of plausible scorelines, and the most likely single score (typically 1-1, 2-1, or 1-0 depending on the fixture) usually carries an implied probability of around 12% to 18% on the betting markets. The implied probability of correctly predicting the exact score of one match is therefore around one in six to one in eight on a well-chosen pick, falling sharply if the match is unpredictable or your selection is not the most likely score. For all six matches, those probabilities multiply. Picking the single most likely score for each of six matches and landing every one of them works out to roughly one in tens of thousands at the optimistic end, and one in several million at the pessimistic end. The real-world probability depends heavily on which matches Bet9ja selects each round. The takeaway is simple. Super9ja is a long-odds game even for skilled predictors. Anyone treating it as a probable route to ₦10,000,000 is misreading the maths. Treat it as a free weekly entertainment with a small chance of consolation prizes for genuinely strong predictors, and a vanishingly small chance of the jackpot for anyone. Restrictions and Edge Cases One entry per player per round. Multiple accounts are not permitted and entries from suspected duplicate accounts are voided. Once the deadline passes (first match kick-off), entries are locked. There are no late submissions. Players who predict all six correct split the jackpot equally if there are multiple winners. A void match (postponed, abandoned, or under 90 minutes played) carries no penalty; you are simply judged on the remaining valid matches. If only 5 matches complete in a round, the jackpot is reduced and consolation prizes recalibrate. If fewer than 5 complete, Bet9ja can adjust the prize structure at its discretion. The Total Goals figure is purely a tiebreaker. No points are awarded for landing it. Prize crediting can take up to 45 days, which is significantly slower than standard Bet9ja withdrawal timelines. How to Enter Super9ja Register a Bet9ja account if you do not already have one. Verify your account through the link sent to your email or the OTP sent to your phone. From the Bet9ja website or app, navigate to the Super9ja section. The current round's six fixtures are listed there. Read each fixture and submit your predicted exact score for all six matches. Enter your Total Goals prediction in the field provided. This is a tiebreaker only. Submit your entry. You can return and edit your predictions any number of times before the first match kicks off. After the deadline passes, check the leaderboard through the Super9ja section to see your live points total as matches complete. If you finish in a prize position, prize crediting follows automatically, subject to identity verification. How It Compares to Similar Products in Nigeria Several Nigerian operators run free-to-play or low-cost prediction products. The mechanics differ in number of matches, prize structure, and entry conditions. Product Jackpot Entry Matches Notes Bet9ja Super9ja ₦10,000,000 Free 6 Weekly. Top 20 consolation. MerryBet Jackpot Product Varies Verify on operator site Verify Format and prize pool change cycle to cycle. MSport Jackpot Product Varies Verify on operator site Verify Format varies. State lotteries (e.g. Baba Ijebu, Golden Chance) Varies Paid stake N/A LSLGA-authorised. Game of pure chance, no skill element. Two general patterns are worth noting. First, the free-to-play products from sportsbooks (like Super9ja) are essentially customer acquisition and retention tools. The operator is using the chance of a big prize to bring you back to the platform weekly, where you may also place paid bets. There is no obligation to do so, but the design intent is clear. Second, the genuine long-odds nature of these products means they should never be a meaningful part of anyone's financial planning, even when the entry is free. Considerations The biggest consideration with Super9ja is the gap between what the marketing suggests and what the maths supports. A ₦10,000,000 weekly jackpot is a real prize, and it does occasionally pay out. But the realistic frequency of any individual entrant winning it is so low that treating Super9ja as anything other than free entertainment with a remote upside is a misreading. The consolation prizes are more attainable but still demanding. ₦265,000 split among the top 20 works out to ₦13,250 per consolation winner if all 20 places are filled. Reaching the top 20 nationally on a competition that draws thousands of entrants requires consistently strong prediction skill across six matches, not luck. Skilled regulars do feature in the consolation positions repeatedly; casual entrants almost never do. The 45-day crediting timeline is worth knowing about. Prize money does not arrive in your account immediately; if you win, plan to wait. Finally, the identity verification step on prize claims is real. Winners need to satisfy Bet9ja that they are 18 or over, resident in Nigeria, and the registered account holder. Entrants without verifiable ID will not be able to claim prizes. betCompare Insight For the casual football bettor who enjoys reading form guides and following the major European leagues: Super9ja is a genuinely fun weekly hobby. Spending 20 to 30 minutes researching the six selected fixtures is a low-cost way to test your prediction skill against a national leaderboard, with the upside of a consolation prize if you have a particularly sharp week. The discipline it builds (paying attention to team news, injuries, recent form) can also sharpen your judgement on paid slips you place elsewhere, where the cost of being wrong is higher. For the lottery player drawn to long-odds prize games: Super9ja offers a structurally similar payoff profile (very low probability of a very large prize) but with two real advantages. Entry is free rather than paid, so the cost-of-play is zero. And the skill element means consistent effort can plausibly move you onto the consolation leaderboard over time, which is not true of a pure lottery draw. The jackpot itself remains a long shot regardless of skill, and should be treated as a thrill rather than a target. Frequently Asked Questions How much does it cost to enter Super9ja? Nothing. Super9ja is free to enter for any registered Bet9ja customer. There is no deposit requirement and no stake. Can I enter Super9ja more than once a week? No. Each player gets one entry per round. You can edit your predictions any number of times before the deadline, but you cannot submit multiple separate entries. Do I need to place real-money bets to participate? No. The free entry is genuinely free and independent of any paid betting activity on your Bet9ja account. Some historical versions of Super9ja awarded additional entries for placing sports bets; the current standard structure is one free entry per player per week. What happens if one of the six Super9ja matches is postponed? The match is treated as void. You are not penalised; your points total is calculated on the remaining valid matches. If only five of the six matches complete, the jackpot is reduced. If fewer than five complete, Bet9ja can adjust the prize fund. How long does it take to receive a Super9ja prize? Prize crediting can take up to 45 days from the round closing. Winners must complete identity verification before payment is released. Is Super9ja the same as a Bet9ja Super Bonus or a welcome bonus? No. Super9ja is a free-to-play prediction game with a fixed prize structure. The Bet9ja Super Bonus (the 170% Multiple Boost) is an accumulator winnings boost on paid bets. The welcome bonus is a first-deposit match. All three are separate products with different mechanics. Conclusion Super9ja is one of the better-designed free-to-play products in the Nigerian sportsbook market. The mechanics are clean, the rules are transparent, the entry is genuinely free, and the weekly cadence makes it a sustainable hobby for anyone who enjoys following football. The combination of a long-odds jackpot and more attainable consolation prizes gives skilled predictors a real reason to keep entering. The honest caveat is the gap between the marketing and the maths. The ₦10,000,000 jackpot is real but vanishingly unlikely for any individual entrant. The ₦265,000 consolation pool is more attainable but still demands consistent top-20 finishes against a large national field. Treat Super9ja as a free weekend pastime with a small chance of a small prize and a tiny chance of a large one, and it earns its place on a casual bettor's regular schedule. Treat it as a probable route to wealth and the maths will let you down. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction SportyBet's Multiple Bet Bonus is one of the most widely advertised promotions in Nigerian sports betting. The headline figure, up to 1,000%, sounds extraordinary. What you actually earn on a typical four-to-six-leg accumulator is considerably more modest. This review breaks down exactly how the bonus works, what you can realistically expect from a ₦5,000 stake, and where the small print will catch you out. Table of Contents What the Bonus Offers Full Qualifying Terms Worked Example: What Does a Typical Accumulator Actually Pay? Restrictions and Excluded Scenarios How to Access the Bonus How It Compares to Alternatives Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict Disclaimer What the Bonus Offers SportyBet's Multiple Bet Bonus is a winning boost applied to the returns from any accumulator (multiple bet) with two or more qualifying selections. The bonus is a percentage of your potential winnings, and the percentage scales upward with the number of qualifying legs on your slip. The advertised headline is a 1,000% maximum boost. In practice, that figure is only reachable with a very large number of selections, each clearing the minimum odds threshold. For a typical four-to-eight-leg football accumulator, the realistic boost sits in the single-to-low-double-digit range. Crucially, this is not a deposit bonus. You do not receive any money upfront, and there is no separate wagering requirement to clear. The bonus is calculated and credited only if your accumulator wins. Full Qualifying Terms Term Detail Minimum selections 2 qualifying selections Minimum odds per selection 1.20 (each leg below this does not count toward the bonus tier) Eligible markets All sports, all markets, including live/in-play betting Bonus calculation Stake × total odds × bonus rate Wagering requirement None: the boost is applied directly to winning returns Cash-out Full cash-out: bonus void. Partial cash-out: bonus calculated on remaining active stake only Void or postponed selections Treated as odds of 1.0; removed from the qualifying selection count, which may reduce the bonus tier Eligibility Open to all registered SportyBet Nigeria customers (new and existing) Minimum deposit to participate ₦100 Licence LSLB (Lagos State Lotteries Board) — verify current licence status at sportybet.com/ng before wagering The bonus rate is determined by the number of qualifying selections — that is, selections with odds of 1.20 or higher. SportyBet's live promotions page publishes the full tier table, which is dynamic and can change. Confirm the current tier table at sportybet.com/ng/promotions before placing a bet, as the exact percentages at each tier could not be confirmed from a primary source at the time of writing. What has been confirmed from SportyBet's published terms and third-party sources: two qualifying selections attract a 3% bonus, and six qualifying selections at odds of 1.20+ attract a 10% bonus in the Super Bonus configuration. The bonus formula published by SportyBet is: Bonus = Stake × Total Odds × Bonus Rate Worked Example: What Does a Typical Accumulator Actually Pay? Scenario: Emeka places a six-leg Saturday football accumulator Stake: ₦5,000 Selections and odds: Selection Event Odds 1 Arsenal to win (Premier League) 1.60 2 Real Madrid to win (La Liga) 1.50 3 Napoli to win (Serie A) 1.80 4 Sporting Lisbon to win 1.70 5 Man City to win 1.55 6 Chelsea to win 1.65 All six selections are at 1.20+, so all six count toward the bonus tier. Combined odds: 1.60 × 1.50 × 1.80 × 1.70 × 1.55 × 1.65 = approximately 19.00 Standard winnings without bonus: ₦5,000 × 19.00 = ₦95,000 With a 10% bonus (six qualifying legs): ₦95,000 × 10% = ₦9,500 bonus Total return with bonus: ₦104,500 That is a meaningful uplift on a winning slip. However, a six-leg accumulator at these odds has an implied probability of around 5% before the operator's margin, meaning it loses roughly 19 times in 20 attempts. The bonus improves your return when you win; it does not change your losing frequency. If one selection is voided (say selection 6 is postponed), the slip drops to five qualifying legs, the odds for that selection revert to 1.0, and the bonus rate adjusts downward to the five-leg rate. Restrictions and Excluded Scenarios Cash-out removes the bonus entirely. If you cash out your six-leg accumulator before all matches settle, the bonus does not apply. A partial cash-out means the bonus is calculated only on the remaining active stake, at potentially a lower bonus tier if the remaining legs drop below a threshold. Below-threshold odds do not count. If any of your selections are priced below 1.20, they are excluded from the qualifying count. Your slip might show eight selections, but if three are priced at 1.10, only five count, and your bonus tier is based on five legs. Voided selections reduce your tier. As shown in the example above, a postponement or cancellation moves the voided selection to 1.0 odds and removes it from the qualifying count. This is particularly relevant for Nigerian bettors adding NPFL fixtures, which are occasionally postponed at short notice. The 1,000% figure is not a realistic target for most bettors. To approach that level, you would need an accumulator with a very large number of qualifying selections, dramatically increasing the probability that at least one leg fails. The headline is accurate in that the structure allows for very high percentages with enough legs; it is not representative of what a typical four-to-eight-leg bettor can expect. How to Access the Bonus The Multiple Bet Bonus is automatic. There is no opt-in code, no button to click, and no registration step. Log in to your SportyBet Nigeria account at sportybet.com/ng or via the SportyBet app. Build your accumulator with two or more selections, each at odds of 1.20 or higher. The bet slip will display your bonus rate and projected bonus amount before you confirm the bet. Place the bet. If the accumulator wins, the bonus is credited to your account alongside the standard winnings. How It Compares to Alternatives Operator Acca Boost Name Min. Selections Min. Odds Max. Boost Wagering on Boost? SportyBet Multiple Bet Bonus 2 1.20 Up to 1,000% (advertised) None Bet9ja Multiple Boost 5 1.20 Up to 170% None BetKing Multi Boost Varies Varies Varies — check current terms None SportyBet's two-selection minimum is lower than Bet9ja's five-leg requirement, making it accessible even on a doubles bet. The advertised maximum is also higher. However, the realistic bonus rate at four-to-six legs is broadly comparable to Bet9ja's equivalent tier. Verify current BetKing terms at betking.com, as their acca boost structure changes periodically. Considerations The 1,000% headline and the lived reality are very different. The structure does allow for an extraordinary boost at a very high number of legs, but the probability of that accumulator winning is exceptionally low. Chasing a large number of legs to maximise the bonus increases risk dramatically, it does not improve expected value. Cash-out and the bonus are incompatible. Many bettors use cash-out mid-accumulator precisely on the kind of high-odds slips where this bonus would be valuable. You must choose one or the other. The tier table is not printed on the bet slip at the time of purchase. While the projected bonus amount is shown on the slip, you cannot verify the published tier rate without visiting the promotions page. SportyBet reserves the right to amend the promotion, which means a tier that applied when you researched the bonus may have changed by the time you place a bet. Void selections can silently downgrade your bonus. If you place a bet expecting a 15% bonus on eight legs and two selections are voided, you may end up at a 10% tier. This is disclosed in the terms but easy to miss. betCompare Insight For the accumulator bettor who builds a regular four-to-six-leg Saturday slip, the Multiple Bet Bonus is a genuine and straightforward enhancement: no opt-in, no wagering, no waiting. A ₦5,000 stake on a six-leg slip with combined odds around 18.00 returns roughly ₦9,000 more if it wins than it would without the bonus. That is worth knowing and factoring into your operator choice. The low minimum odds threshold of 1.20 also suits bettors who prefer shorter-price selections across multiple leagues. For the bonus-driven bettor tempted by the 1,000% headline, our advice is to anchor on the realistic tier for your typical slip size, not the theoretical maximum. A ten-leg accumulator built to maximise the bonus tier is still a ten-leg accumulator — with all the associated risk that carries. Compare the full landscape of acca boosts, one-cut insurance, and cashback options across SportyBet, Bet9ja, and BetKing to find the combination that suits your actual betting pattern. Frequently Asked Questions Does the Multiple Bet Bonus apply to in-play (live) bets? Yes. The bonus applies to all markets, including live betting, provided each selection is at odds of 1.20 or higher. Do I need to opt in to receive the bonus? No. The bonus is applied automatically to any qualifying accumulator. The projected bonus amount is displayed on your bet slip before you confirm. What happens if I cash out my accumulator? A full cash-out voids the bonus entirely. A partial cash-out means the bonus is calculated only on the remaining active stake, and only on the qualifying legs still outstanding. One of my selections was postponed. Does the bonus still apply? Yes, but the voided selection is counted at odds of 1.0 and is removed from the qualifying selection count. If your slip drops below a tier threshold, your bonus rate will be lower than originally projected. Is there a maximum payout including the bonus? SportyBet publishes a maximum payout limit for the Nigeria market. Verify the current cap at sportybet.com/ng before placing a very large stake, as this changes periodically. Can I use the Multiple Bet Bonus alongside a Discount Gift (First Deposit bonus)? Discount Gifts used on the bet slip reduce the effective stake. The Multiple Bet Bonus is calculated on the remaining active stake after any Discount Gift is applied. Check your current gift terms before combining. Does the bonus apply to virtual sports multiples? The published terms cover all sports markets. Confirm at sportybet.com/ng/promotions whether virtual sports selections count as qualifying legs, as this can vary. Conclusion The SportyBet Multiple Bet Bonus is one of the more bettor-friendly accumulator boosts in the Nigerian market because there is no wagering requirement, no opt-in, and a low two-selection minimum. What you win in bonus is real money, credited alongside your winnings. The 1,000% headline is technically accurate in the sense that the structure extends to very high tiers. For a typical four-to-eight-leg Saturday football slip, expect a boost in the low-to-mid single-digit percentages, not four figures. Verify the current tier table on SportyBet's promotions page before each bet, as the structure can change. If you already bet with SportyBet, you are leaving value on the table by not building two or more qualifying legs on your slip. If you are choosing between operators, compare this bonus against Bet9ja's Multiple Boost and any current BetKing offer on their respective promotions pages. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction If you have ever watched a ten-leg multi sail through nine games only to fall at the last selection, you already understand the appeal of SportyBet's One-Cut Insurance. The feature, also called Multi Bet Insurance on some Nigerian platforms, is designed to soften that exact blow. But the headline, "get your stake back if one leg loses," comes with conditions that every bettor should read before ticking the box. This review covers what One-Cut actually offers, what the qualifying terms mean in practice, and an honest worked example using a modest ₦5,000 stake. Table of Contents What the Bonus Offers Full Qualifying Terms Worked Example: ₦5,000 Multi Bet with One-Cut Restrictions and Excluded Features How to Activate One-Cut on Your Bet Slip How It Compares to Alternatives Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict What the Bonus Offers SportyBet One-Cut Insurance is a pre-bet feature that protects your multi-bet stake if exactly one selection on your accumulator loses and all other legs win. When that condition is met, SportyBet refunds your stake as a free bet gift credited to your account. It is available on selected multi-bet slips and must be activated at the point of placing the bet, not after. The appeal is straightforward. Multi-bets are notoriously difficult to land in full. One-Cut gives the accumulator bettor a second life on a near-miss, which is why the feature is one of the most used on the SportyBet platform. Full Qualifying Terms Term Detail Feature type Multi-bet protection Trigger condition Exactly one leg loses; all others win Refund format Free bet gift (not cash) Minimum selections Verify with SportyBet cashier (flag — see below) Minimum odds per leg Verify with SportyBet cashier (flag — see below) Maximum refund Verify with SportyBet cashier (flag — see below) Eligible bet types Selected multi-bets (pre-match and live) Void selections A voided or postponed leg does not count as the "cut" leg Activation Tick "Cut 1" box on your bet slip before confirming Bonus funds Bets placed with bonus funds or gifts do not qualify Cash-out One-Cut bets are not eligible for cash-out Edit Bet One-Cut bets cannot be edited after placement The critical distinction here is the refund format. The refund arrives as a free bet gift, not as withdrawable cash. Free bet gifts typically return winnings only, not the stake itself. This is meaningfully different from a cash refund, and it matters when calculating the real value of the protection. Worked Example: ₦5,000 Multi Bet with One-Cut Imagine you build a six-leg Saturday afternoon accumulator covering Premier League and NPFL fixtures. Your selections: Arsenal to win (odds 1.80) Chelsea to win (odds 1.75) Manchester City to win (odds 1.60) Remo Stars to win (odds 1.90) Over 2.5 goals in Wolves vs Ipswich (odds 1.70) Both teams to score in Aston Villa vs Tottenham (odds 1.85) Combined odds: approximately 25.20 (illustrative) Stake with One-Cut activated: ₦5,000 Potential return (all legs win): approximately ₦126,000 Five legs land. Your Chelsea selection loses. Without One-Cut, you lose your entire ₦5,000. With One-Cut activated, SportyBet refunds ₦5,000 as a free bet gift. Because the refund is a free bet (not cash), you cannot withdraw it. You must use it to place another bet. If that bet wins, only the winnings — not the ₦5,000 stake element — are paid as withdrawable funds. Practical value of the refund: a ₦5,000 free bet at, say, odds of 2.00 would return ₦5,000 in winnings, for a total of ₦5,000 withdrawable (not ₦10,000, because the free bet stake is not returned). This is still meaningful protection on a near-miss. But it is not the same as getting ₦5,000 back in your wallet. Restrictions and Excluded Features Several other SportyBet features are incompatible with One-Cut. You must choose one or the other at the point of placing your bet: Edit Bet: One-Cut slips cannot be edited once confirmed. If you activate One-Cut and then want to remove a leg mid-match, you cannot. System Bets: One-Cut is not available on system bet types. FlexiBet: SportyBet's FlexiBet (which allows you to win even with two or more failed legs) is separate from One-Cut and cannot be used on the same slip. Cash-out: You cannot cash out a One-Cut slip. Once One-Cut is activated, the slip runs to completion. Bonus funds: Bets placed using bonus wallet funds or free bet gifts do not qualify for the One-Cut refund. ACCA Boost compatibility: Verify directly with SportyBet whether One-Cut can be stacked with their ACCA Boost multiplier on the same slip before placing. This could not be confirmed from a primary source at time of writing (see Flags). How to Activate One-Cut on Your Bet Slip Log into your SportyBet Nigeria account. Add your selections to your bet slip as you normally would (minimum selections apply — verify with SportyBet). Before entering your stake, look for the "Cut 1" checkbox on your bet slip. Tick the box to activate One-Cut Insurance. Enter your stake and confirm the bet. The activation must happen before confirming. You cannot add One-Cut protection retrospectively. How It Compares to Alternatives Feature SportyBet One-Cut Betway Cut-1 Bet9ja Cut 1 Trigger 1 leg loses, all others win 1 leg loses, all others win 1 leg loses, all others win Minimum legs Verify 6 5 Refund type Free bet gift Cash Partial cash payout Maximum refund Verify Up to 20x stake depending on legs Based on odds of cutting leg Cash-out eligible No No No Compatible with ACCA Boost Verify N/A No (at 170%) Betway's Cut-1 pays your refund as cash (not a free bet), which is more valuable because you can withdraw it directly. The minimum odds requirement varies by number of legs, and the potential refund scales up significantly with larger slips. Bet9ja's Cut 1 calculates the payout based on the odds of the leg that cuts your ticket and the number of selections. The formula is more complex, but the refund arrives as cash. SportyBet's advantage is brand familiarity and the integration of One-Cut into a platform that Nigerian accumulators already use for its ACCA Boost, competitive odds on NPFL, and mobile experience. The free bet format is the main trade-off against competitors that pay in cash. Considerations Free bet, not cash: The refund cannot be withdrawn directly. It must be used to place another bet, and only winnings from that bet are withdrawable. No cash-out option: Activating One-Cut locks your slip until all legs settle. If your multi is looking strong early, you lose the option to take a profit via cash-out. No Edit Bet: You cannot adjust the slip after placing it with One-Cut active. Exact terms unverified: The minimum number of selections, minimum odds per leg, and maximum refund amount could not be confirmed from SportyBet's primary T&C page at time of writing. These must be checked in the bet slip or via customer support before placing. Real cost of protection: Activating One-Cut can reduce the overall potential payout on the slip compared to a standard multi. Verify whether the potential return shown on the bet slip with One-Cut ticked differs from the standard multi payout. betCompare Insight For the accumulator bettor building five to eight-leg slips on Premier League and NPFL weekends, One-Cut fills a real gap. A ₦5,000 stake across a weekend slip represents entertainment spending within a defined budget. Getting that stake back as a free bet after a near-miss, even if it is not withdrawable cash, gives you a second shot rather than a complete write-off. The value is real, as long as you go in knowing the refund arrives as a gift, not a cash credit. For the odds-shopping bettor who regularly compares platforms, the free bet format is a genuine disadvantage versus Betway's cash refund on Cut-1. If your priority is maximum refund value and flexibility, our comparison tool lets you weigh SportyBet's One-Cut against cash-paying alternatives side by side. The right choice depends on which platform's odds and market coverage already fits your betting pattern. Frequently Asked Questions Does One-Cut pay out in cash or as a free bet? SportyBet credits the refund as a free bet gift, not as withdrawable cash. Only the winnings from a subsequent bet placed with the free bet can be withdrawn. Can I use cash-out on a One-Cut slip? No. Activating One-Cut disables the cash-out option on that slip. The bet runs to full settlement. What happens if a match on my slip is postponed or voided? A voided or postponed selection is removed from the slip but does not count as the "cut" leg. Verify with SportyBet whether the slip still qualifies for One-Cut if the number of remaining legs falls below the minimum. Can I activate One-Cut and the ACCA Boost on the same slip? This could not be confirmed from a primary source. Check the bet slip directly — the available options will show which combinations are active together. Do bets placed with free bet gifts or bonus wallet funds qualify for One-Cut? No. One-Cut is only available on bets placed with real money from your main wallet. Is One-Cut available on in-play (live) bets? Third-party sources suggest it is available on selected live bets. Verify on the live bet slip before placing, as availability can vary by event. Conclusion SportyBet's One-Cut Insurance is a useful feature for the regular multi-bettor, and activating it takes seconds. The protection is genuine: one failed leg returns your stake rather than wiping it entirely. The core consideration is the refund format. A free bet gift is not the same as cash. Betway's Cut-1 pays in cash, which gives you full flexibility to withdraw or re-deploy. If refund format matters more to you than platform, that comparison is worth running. For SportyBet regulars who are already using the platform for its odds, NPFL coverage, and mobile app, One-Cut adds meaningful risk management to the accumulator experience without requiring anything complicated. Tick the box, know what you get, and bet within your means. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Lionel Messi recorded the first FIFA World Cup hat-trick of his career after bagging all three goals as Argentina thrashed Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City on Wednesday With the hat-trick, Messi, at 38 years and 357 days old, became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record. Ronaldo was 33 years and 122 days old when he scored a hat-trick against Spain in a 2018 group-stage match. Messi’s hat-trick came 20 years to the day he made his World Cup debut in a match against Serbia and Montenegro, in which he also scored. It helped Argentina get off to a better start than the last World Cup in Qatar, when they were stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in their opening match. Against Algeria, Messi opened the scoring with a long-range strike in the 17th minute before getting on the score sheet again on 60 minutes by poking in a rebound to make it 2-0. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star completed the hat-trick in the 76th minute with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box. His third strike against Algeria drew him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history. It was Messi’s 11th hat-trick in international football. Argentina will continue their pursuit of back-to-back World Cup titles in Arlington, Texas, when they play Austria on Monday and Jordan on June 27. Algeria face Jordan on Monday in Santa Clara, California, before taking on Austria in their Group J finale on June 27 back in Kansas City.

Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana’s World Cup opener after losing his appeal against a travel ban The former Arsenal midfielder had his initial visa request to enter Canada blocked by authorities ahead of the match against Panama in Toronto on June 18. Partey, 33, was denied entry into Canada due to ongoing criminal proceedings he faced in the UK. Ghana FA chiefs appealed the decision, pointing to the fact that Partey was allowed to fly in to the squad’s main base in Providence, Rhode Island. But the Federal Court judge, Justice Roger Lafreniere, denied the emergency injunction applicationat a hearing in the Canadian capital Ottawa today. The decision came barely two hours after Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz admitted he was still in the dark. Speaking at his pre-match news conference at BDO Field, Carlos said: “Nothing is perfect in life but we have tried to make the best of the opportunities we’ve had. “There is nothing to say about Thomas. We want to be able to count on all 26 players and then we will make a decision about the starting line up.” The midfielder was named in Ghana’s squad despite being charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police last July. He was then charged with a further two rape counts added in February. Partey pleaded not guilty to the charges but has since been charged with two new counts of rape. He also pleaded not guilty to those charges in April at Southwark Crown Court. Partey is alleged to have carried out the offences between 2021 and 2022. He is still expected to face England in their second World Cup group game in Boston on June 23. The midfielder had been hoping to travel with his team-mates to Toronto from Ghana’s base camp. But a FIFA statement confirmed Partey was denied entry to Canada and will not play against Panama, meaning he will have to stay behind in the US.

Senegal coach, Pape Thiaw, insisted on Monday that the controversy of January’s Africa Cup of Nations final was firmly a thing of the past as his side focuses on the World Cup and their opening opponents, France “I am not going to go back over the AFCON, that’s behind us. This is the World Cup. We have prepared well for it, and we are focused on tomorrow’s match,” Thiaw said of Tuesday’s Group I clash at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It is almost exactly five months since January’s Cup of Nations final in Rabat, in which Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time. That was after much of the Senegal team walked off in protest at a late penalty awarded to the hosts — the players eventually came back on, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz had the spot-kick saved, and Pape Gueye went on to score the winner. Senegal, who had been furious at a goal for them being disallowed, were able to celebrate becoming African champions for the second time. However, they were sensationally stripped of the title two months later by the Confederation of African Football as a punishment for the walk-off. They have taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the Lions of Teranga are still awaiting the outcome of that appeal. Thiaw was an unused substitute when Senegal beat France 1-0 in their opening game at the 2002 World Cup. That was a shock of monumental proportions, but he insists a repeat performance this time would not be. “It would not be a surprise if we beat a France team with world-class players. France are favourites, but our team has been champions of Africa, and we have qualified for a third straight World Cup,” he said. Senegal will be led by Sadio Mane, returning to the World Cup at 34 after missing the 2022 edition with injury. Skipper Kalidou Koulibaly, the central defender who was born in France, is fit after a back problem.

Lionel Messi opened his record-breaking sixth World Cup with a hat-trick to become the tournament’s joint all-time top scorer on Tuesday as holders Argentina launched their bid for back-to-back titles with a dazzling 3-0 rout of Algeria On a magical night at Kansas City’s 69,045-capacity Arrowhead Stadium, Messi delivered an electrifying individual display to join Miroslav Klose at the top of the World Cup scorers charts with 16 goals. The 38-year-old had started an unforgettable occasion — his 200th international appearance — by claiming a piece of history, becoming the first man to play in six World Cups as he led Argentina onto the field for what would become a one-sided Group J clash. Messi, who first played in the World Cup as a teenager during the 2006 finals in Germany, then emphatically stamped his class over proceedings with a memorable hat-trick — the first of his World Cup career. A 17th-minute curling strike took his World Cup goals tally to 14, putting him alongside German legend Gerd Muller and France superstar Kylian Mbappe in the all-time rankings. He then moved one clear of Muller and Mbappe to join Brazilian great Ronaldo on 15 goals in the 60th minute after pouncing on a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister shot to make it 2-0. He joined Germany’s Klose on 16 goals in the 76th minute, sweeping in a low finish from the edge of the area before departing to deafening applause and a standing ovation from an adoring crowd four minutes later. Argentina defeated France in an epic 2022 World Cup final in Doha, winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw that saw Les Bleus striker Mbappe score a hat-trick.

Erling Haaland struck his first World Cup goals as Norway beat Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday in their first game at a major tournament in 26 years The Manchester City striker turned in from close range to give Norway the lead on 29 minutes in Boston, but Aymen Hussein’s header brought Iraq level. Haaland pounced on an error at the back to put Norway ahead again before half-time and take his goals tally at international level to 57 in just 51 matches. Leo Ostigard headed in a third for Norway moments after coming off the bench to effectively wrap up victory. Norway got a fourth deep into stoppage time through a Hussein own goal. The win left Norway on top of Group I on goal difference, level with France on three points after Les Bleus overcame Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day. The Norwegians face the African powerhouses in their next game in New Jersey on June 22. No team endured a longer or more perilous road to the World Cup than Iraq, who secured their place as the 48th and final qualifier in March after a 21-match campaign that stretched across 867 days. Hussein, scorer of the decisive goal in the play-off win over Bolivia, was then held and questioned for hours by US immigration officials after arriving with the squad ahead of Iraq’s first World Cup since 1986. Norway last played at the tournament in 1998, when coach Stale Solbakken was a member of the squad that famously beat Brazil in the group stage before exiting in the last 16. He also featured at Euro 2000. After breezing impressively through qualifying, twice thrashing Italy, they are hoping a golden generation of players – led by Haaland and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard – can break new ground in North America. Solbakken predicted Haaland would make a “very big impact” at his first major finals, and the City star was quick to deliver on that promise. Antonio Nusa’s trickery was a problem for Iraq, and his incisive pass released the overlapping David Moller Wolfe clear before Haaland stretched to steer in the low cross from the left. Iraq, who lost all their of group games on their only previous appearance, did not let that get to them as they equalised 10 minutes later. Amir Al-Ammari found space just inside the area and clipped in a cross, with Hussein rising brilliantly to power a header past Orjan Nyland. But Iraq only had themselves to blame as they giftwrapped Haaland’s second of the contest. Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan was slow to react to a softly-hit backpass, his attempted clearance smacking off Haaland’s shin and ricocheting into the net. Iraq again responded well, with Ibrahim Bayesh denied by a desperation block, Ali Al-Hamadi dribbling an effort wide and centre-back Akam Hashim lashing a spectacular volley just over the bar. Ostigard nodded in Odegaard’s corner on 76 minutes to seal the points for Norway, before Haaland was thwarted by Hassan when another loose pass sent him clean through and seeking his hat-trick. Haaland nonetheless had a hand in Norway’s late fourth, his looping header back across goal deflecting off Hussein before trickling over the line.

Spain are preparing for their FIFA World Cup opener against Cape Verde, but while at home Spanish striker, Rafa Mir has received a jail sentence for assault and bodily arm and is set to go to prison for eight and half years The Fourth Section of the Provincial Court of Valencia has sentenced footballer Rafa Mir to eight and a half years in prison. The court found him guilty of sexual assault and bodily harm, as reported this Monday by the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV). The legal proceedings also involve a second defendant, a footballer and friend of Mir. In his case, the Valencia Court sentenced him to 2 years in prison after finding him guilty of sexual assault, crimes against moral integrity, and minor bodily harm. The judicial ruling, which was officially notified to the parties involved this Monday, is not final. This means that the defense for those convicted still has the legal option to appeal the court’s decision before higher courts. Likewise, the ruling handed down by the judges establishes the corresponding civil liabilities in the form of compensation. The sentence sets payment at 64,000 euros for Rafa Mir’s victim. Meanwhile, the second convicted man must pay 6,280 euros to the other complainant.

Real Madrid have confirmed the reappointment of Jose Mourinho as head coach Real Madrid have agreed a deal worth up to £51.8m to sign Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella after the World Cup. The 27-year-old is currently with Spain at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but a deal - worth £47.5m with a further £4.3m in add-ons - has been struck between all parties for a permanent transfer. Since president Florentino Perez was re-elected and appointed Jose Mourinho as manager, Real are understood to also be targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries, while France defender Ibrahima Konate is set to join after leaving Liverpool. Cucurella, who joined Chelsea for £63m from Brighton in 2022, was understood to have been keen to return to Spain, having come through Barcelona's academy. He had been linked with Atletico Madrid and a move back to Barcelona. The Catalan also gave an interview during the March international break criticising Chelsea's hierarchy following Enzo Maresca's mid-season departure. He was part of a core group of Spanish-speaking players who were frustrated by the situation and struggled to perform under Maresca's successor, Liam Rosenior. Cucurella had three years left on his contract, despite agreeing improved terms without an extension last season, which is likely to have played a part in Chelsea's decision to accept the offer. Rosenior was eventually sacked, with Chelsea finishing 10th and failing to qualify for Europe despite the temporary appointment of Calum McFarlane as caretaker manager. Former Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has since been appointed as the club's permanent manager for the 2026-27 campaign.

Tunisia have reportedly sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi following their heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tunisian coach Sabri Lamouchi has been sacked immediately following intense pressure over the squad's defensive collapse against Sweden. Former national team manager Mondher Kebaier has been appointed to take immediate charge of the Carthage Eagles for the remainder of the tournamen A brutal start to the tournament, and Tunisia become the first team to make a managerial change at this World Cup.

President Donald Trump will not be in attendance when the United States opens its World Cup competition against Paraguay on Friday in Inglewood, California As reported by the Economic Times on Friday, this was confirmed by the CEO of the World Cup task force, Andrew Giuliani, in an interview with a radio station in the United Kingdom. “He’s not going ‌to end up ⁠attending ⁠the opening game. As we’ve said, his scheduling is tight. But I know he’s going to be engaged throughout this World Cup. He needs to be in Washington, D.C., later in the weekend. He is hosting the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Sunday, his 80th birthday,” Giuliani told TalkSport. While it is uncommon for ⁠a head ‌of state from a host country to miss the nation’s World Cup opener, it is not unprecedented. President Claudia Sheinbaum ⁠of co-host Mexico was not in attendance on Thursday when her nation defeated South Africa 2-0. The Mexican government held a contest to give away Sheinbaum’s seat. The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. The State Department confirmed their attendance in a news release earlier this ‌week. Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said he wasn’t sure when Trump would make an appearance. “Having known President Trump for ⁠now 30 years, what I can tell you is: expect the unexpected. Always expect a cliffhanger with him,” Giuliani said. “Throughout the course of this tournament, it wouldn’t surprise me if we see him engage more and more with the World Cup.” A sports fan said Trump has attended several big events while president, including Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden earlier this week. He was met with a chorus of boos.

Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is often considered routine for football powerhouses such as Brazil, Germany and Argentina For smaller nations with limited populations and resources, however, reaching football’s biggest stage remains one of the sport’s greatest achievements. Over the years, several tiny countries have defied the odds to earn a place among the world’s elite, proving that population size is not always a barrier to success on the international stage. Leading the list is Curaçao, which became the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup after securing a place at the 2026 tournament. With a population of just 185,000 people, the Caribbean island surpassed Iceland’s previous record and etched its name into football history. Iceland, with a population of around 340,000, previously held the distinction after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Nordic nation had already captured global attention by reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 before earning its first World Cup appearance. Another remarkable newcomer is Cape Verde. The island nation, home to about 528,000 people, secured a historic place at the 2026 World Cup, becoming one of the smallest countries ever to reach the finals. Paraguay, despite now having a population of more than seven million, was one of the world’s smallest World Cup participants when it competed at the inaugural tournament in 1930. Historical estimates place its population at roughly 860,000 at the time. Trinidad and Tobago’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup remains one of the Caribbean’s greatest football achievements. With a population of approximately 1.3 million, the Soca Warriors earned worldwide admiration after holding Sweden to a draw during their debut tournament. Northern Ireland also features prominently on the list. With a population of around 1.4 million during its World Cup appearances, the nation enjoyed memorable campaigns, including a famous victory over hosts Spain at the 1982 tournament. Kuwait became one of Asia’s early World Cup representatives when it qualified for the 1982 finals in Spain. At the time, the Gulf nation had a population of approximately 1.5 million. Three countries share the final positions on the list with populations of around 1.9 million at the time of their World Cup appearances. Slovenia qualified for its first World Cup in 2002 following its independence from the former Yugoslavia, while Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 despite having fewer than two million residents. The United Arab Emirates also reached the finals in 1990, becoming one of the earliest Gulf nations to compete on football’s biggest stage. The 10 countries ranked according to their populations. Curaçao — 185,000 Iceland — 340,000 Cape Verde — 528,000 Paraguay — 860,000 Trinidad and Tobago — 1.3 million Northern Ireland — 1.4 million Kuwait — 1.5 million Slovenia — 1.9 million Uruguay — 1.9 million United Arab Emirates — 1.9 million The achievements of these nations serve as a reminder that success in football is not determined solely by population size. Through strong development systems, talented players, and determined performances, some of the world’s smallest countries have earned their place on the grandest stage in world football.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his country’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada The 32-year-old, who is part of Ghana’s squad and currently plays for Spanish club Villarreal, was expected to travel with the team from their training base in Boston. However, his visa application was rejected by Canadian authorities, preventing him from entering the country for the fixture. In a statement, FIFA confirmed the development and clarified that it does not intervene in immigration decisions taken by host nations. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country,” the governing body said. Partey’s absence is a significant blow for Ghana ahead of their Group stage opener, given his experience and importance in midfield. The player has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022. He is scheduled to stand trial next year. Ghana are now expected to adjust their midfield plans as they prepare for their opening fixture against Panama, with further squad decisions likely ahead of kick-off.

Real Madrid have confirmed the reappointment of Jose Mourinho as head coach The 63-year-old has agreed a three-year deal and will begin work when the squad return for pre-season training on 13 July. Real Madrid have paid Benfica £13m (15m euros) in compensation to bring the Portuguese head coach back to the Bernabeu - some 13 years after his first stint at the club came to an end. Florentino Perez had vowed to reappoint Mourinho as head coach if re-elected as club president earlier this month. The 79-year-old, who has been in office since 2009, beat challenger and renewable energy magnate Enrique Riquelme in the election by picking up 65% of the votes. That cleared the way for the man who led Porto and Inter Milan to Champions League titles to rejoin a club who have won that competition a record 15 times. Mourinho's previous spell in Madrid, which began in 2010 and lasted three seasons, yielded a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup. He has since taken charge of Premier League clubs Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and had stints at Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica. During the only season of what was his second stint at Benfica, Mourinho led the two-time European Cup winners to an unbeaten Liga Portugal campaign, though it was only enough to secure a third-place finish. Earlier this week, Benfica agreed a deal to appoint former Fulham manager Marco Silva as Mourinho's replacement. Mourinho, meanwhile, heads back to Real Madrid with the club having failed to win a trophy in the past two seasons. They parted ways with Xabi Alonso in January before Alvaro Arbeloa led them through to the end of the campaign.

Three players were sent off as World Cup co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa in a dramatic opening match at a packed Azteca Stadium South Africa finished with nine men, while Mexico were reduced to 10 in the closing moments. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced the flurry of red cards, dismissing South Africa's Yaya Sithole for denying a goalscoring opportunity and Themba Zwane for a slap, then sending off Mexico's Cesar Montes for a late foul. Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup, while three had never been shown in a tournament-opening game before. Long before any hint of that turn of events, Mexico delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals after only nine minutes. South Africa midfielder Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball dropped to Julian Quinones whose powerful strike went though the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. He almost made it 2-0 just before half-time, but his 12-yard first-time shot bounced off the foot of the right post. The hosts' task became much easier when Sithole was sent off five minutes into the second half, bringing down Brian Gutierrez when he was going through on goal. Striker Raul Jimenez, 35, sealed the victory with his first goal at a World Cup, heading in powerfully from Roberto Alvarado's cross for Mexico's second, a moment that appeared to bring tears from the veteran. Mexico's best runs at the World Cup came in the 1970 and 1986 tournaments they hosted, when they reached the quarter-finals on both occasions South Africa were playing in the finals for the first time since they hosted the 2010 competition, but they ended with nine men as substitute Zwane was ordered off for slapping the face of Alvarado. Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder, Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this tournament, became the second youngest to appear in a World Cup, behind only Brazil great Pele, who played in the 1958 competition when he was also 17. Mexico had a red card of their own late on, when Montes fouled Khuliso Mudau, but the hosts maintained their two-goal advantage.

Introduction Kylian Mbappe has scored 12 World Cup goals in 14 appearances. He is 27 years old, captaining France at his third tournament, and four goals away from matching Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16. No player in the history of the competition has accumulated this many World Cup goals this early in their career. And if you are looking to compare odds on Mbappe's top scorer and anytime goalscorer markets across Nigerian sportsbooks, betcompare.ng is the place to start. This article breaks down every goal, every tournament, and what the record actually tells us about his chances at the 2026 World Cup. It is not a fan piece. It is a data read, applying the same small-sample logic we use across every piece of World Cup analysis on betCompare. Table of Contents World Cup career at a glance The defining World Cup moment What the record actually tells us 2026 expectations: squad role, fitness, and market pricing Common misconceptions about Mbappe at the World Cup betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion World Cup Career at a Glance 2018 goals by match: Peru (1), Argentina round of 16 (2), Croatia final (1). 2022 goals by match: Australia (1), Denmark (2), Poland round of 16 (2), Argentina final (3). The pattern is worth noting. Eight of his 12 goals have come in knockout matches or finals. This is not a player who pads the record in dead rubbers. His World Cup goals arrive when the stakes are highest, and for the bettors who track anytime goalscorer markets, that distinction matters. The Defining World Cup Moment It has to be the 2022 final. France were 2-0 down to Argentina with 10 minutes of normal time remaining. Every neutral in the world, and certainly every person watching in a Lagos viewing centre, had already written France off. Then Mbappe scored twice in 97 seconds: a penalty on 80 minutes and a stunning half-volley on 81. The match went to extra time. Messi scored again. Mbappe completed his hat-trick from the spot to make it 3-3. Argentina eventually won on penalties. In any other context, a hat-trick in a World Cup final would define a player's legacy for decades. For Mbappe, it defined a defeat. But it confirmed something the numbers already suggested: this is a player who operates at a different level when the occasion demands it. Four goals in World Cup finals, the most by any player in history. Two separate finals. Both decided by fine margins. Whether France won or lost, Mbappe showed up. What the Record Actually Tells Us Twelve goals in 14 matches is extraordinary. It is also, by any honest statistical standard, a small sample. Fourteen football matches are not enough to establish a reliable scoring rate for predictive purposes. That does not mean the record is meaningless. It means it should be read in context. Three things stand out. First, Mbappe has scored in knockout stages consistently, not just in group-stage walkovers. Second, his goal involvement has increased from tournament to tournament: four goals at 19, eight at 23. Third, his supporting cast has been deep in both tournaments, meaning he has not been a lone scorer dragging a weak team forward. He has been the sharpest point of an already sharp attack. What the record does not tell you is how he will perform at 27, at a new club, with a different tactical role, under the specific conditions of a North American summer tournament. The data from 2018 and 2022 gives you a story. The 2026 market gives you a price. They are not the same thing. 2026 Expectations: Squad Role, Fitness, and Market Pricing Mbappe enters the 2026 World Cup as France's captain and undisputed attacking centrepiece. He has scored 25 goals in LaLiga for Real Madrid in 2025/26 and is, by any measure, in his peak years. This is his third tournament and Didier Deschamps' last as France manager. The institutional motivation to deliver is enormous. The injury question is real. Mbappe sustained a thigh injury last month that caused him to miss key Real Madrid matches in the LaLiga run-in. He is in the 26-man squad, and Al Jazeera reported he is expected to captain the side, but his match fitness at the start of the tournament is a genuine unknown. If you are betting on Mbappe in early group-stage markets, his fitness on matchday one matters more than anything in the historical record. France are in Group I with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. On paper, this is a group France should win comfortably. Their first match is against Senegal on 16 June in New York (2 AM WAT, for the Nigerians staying up). Iraq and Norway follow. The group structure gives Mbappe six potential goal-scoring opportunities before the knockout rounds. In the top scorer market, Mbappe will be among the shortest-priced players at the tournament. His anytime goalscorer odds in individual group matches will be similarly compressed. The question for value-focused bettors is not whether he will score, it is whether the price the market offers adequately compensates for the risk that he does not. Compare odds across operators on betcompare.ng before backing any player special, because pricing on Mbappe markets varies more than you would expect between Nigerian sportsbooks. Records within reach at this tournament: Mbappe needs one goal to match Just Fontaine's French World Cup record of 13. He needs five to break Klose's all-time record of 16. If France reach the final and Mbappe maintains anything close to his career World Cup scoring rate, both records are realistic. Common Misconceptions About Mbappe at the World Cup "Mbappe is guaranteed to be top scorer because of his record." No player is guaranteed anything at a World Cup. The top scorer market is one of the most volatile in the tournament because it depends on how deep a team progresses, how many minutes the player gets, and whether penalties fall their way. Mbappe scored eight in 2022 and still finished in a losing team. James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot in 2014 with six goals and Colombia were eliminated in the quarter-finals. "He was better in 2022 than 2018, so he will be even better in 2026." Tournaments are not a linear progression. Squad dynamics, injuries, opponents, and tactical setups change. The 2026 France squad around Mbappe is arguably deeper than 2022, with Dembele, Olise, Cherki, and Doue competing for attacking places, but deeper squads can also mean fewer minutes or a different role. "His hat-trick in the final makes him the greatest World Cup performer ever." It makes him one of the most dramatic. Greatest is a different claim. Pele won three World Cups and scored 12 goals. Ronaldo Nazario scored 15 across four tournaments. Mbappe has time and goals to make that argument, but the case is not closed yet. "Backing Mbappe anytime goalscorer in every France match is easy money." Even at a 50% conversion rate, which would be exceptional, you lose half the time. At compressed anytime goalscorer odds (typically 1.60 to 1.90 for a player of his calibre in a favourable fixture), the margin for error is thin. One goalless match wipes the profit from two winning ones. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors building World Cup slips, Mbappe's anytime goalscorer is one of the most commonly added legs in the Nigerian market. The odds look short, the logic feels sound, and the temptation to include him in every France match slip is strong. But short-priced legs are the silent killers of accumulators. One France match where Mbappe plays 70 minutes and does not score, and the slip is dead. If you are including him, do it selectively: target the fixtures where France are likely to dominate possession and territory (Iraq and Norway look more favourable than Senegal) and always compare odds across sportsbooks on betcompare.ng before confirming your bet. The price difference between operators on a single anytime goalscorer market can be meaningful. For the broader audience, Mbappe's World Cup story is one of the great narratives in modern football, the kind of thing that makes you and your mates argue over pepper soup about whether he has already surpassed Ronaldo Nazario's tournament legacy. Our role at betCompare is not to tell you who will win the Golden Boot. It is to make sure that when you decide to back Mbappe, or anyone else, you are getting the best available price from a licensed Nigerian sportsbook. Head to betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for match-by-match odds breakdowns as the tournament progresses. Frequently Asked Questions How many World Cup goals has Mbappe scored? Twelve goals in 14 appearances across two tournaments (2018 and 2022). Four in 2018 and eight in 2022. What records can Mbappe break at the 2026 World Cup? He needs one goal to match Just Fontaine's French World Cup record of 13. He needs five goals to break Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16. Is Mbappe fit for the 2026 World Cup? He is in France's 26-man squad and is expected to captain the side. However, he sustained a thigh injury last month that caused him to miss Real Madrid matches. His match fitness for the opening game against Senegal should be monitored through team news before placing any bet that depends on his participation. What are Mbappe's World Cup top scorer odds? Mbappe is among the shortest-priced players in the Golden Boot market. Specific odds vary by operator. Compare current pricing across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks at betcompare.ng. When does France play at the 2026 World Cup? France vs Senegal: 16 June, New York (2 AM WAT). France vs Iraq: 22 June, Philadelphia (2 AM WAT). Norway vs France: 26 June, Boston (2 AM WAT). All three Group I fixtures fall in the late-night WAT window for Nigerian viewers. Has Mbappe scored more World Cup goals than Messi or Ronaldo? Yes. Mbappe has 12 World Cup goals. Messi finished with 13 across five tournaments. Cristiano Ronaldo has eight across four tournaments. Mbappe reached 12 in just two tournaments and 14 appearances. Conclusion Twelve goals in 14 World Cup matches. Four of them in finals. A hat-trick that nearly rescued the 2022 final from 2-0 down. At 27, Mbappe arrives at the 2026 World Cup with the kind of tournament record that most players do not accumulate in an entire career. The numbers are remarkable and, like all small-sample tournament data, they are a story rather than a guarantee. What the record tells you is that Mbappe performs when the stakes are highest and that his ceiling at a World Cup is as high as any attacker alive. What it does not tell you is whether his thigh holds up, whether Deschamps' final tactical setup suits his best role, or whether the compressed pricing in the goalscorer markets leaves any genuine value for bettors. Compare odds, read the team news, and let the football do the rest. The tournament starts tomorrow, and Mbappe's chapter three begins on 16 June. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts tomorrow, and if you are in Nigeria, you need a plan. Between pay-TV, free-to-air options, mobile streaming, and kick-off times that range from comfortable evening viewing to 3 AM decisions you will regret at work, this guide covers every route to watching the tournament live from anywhere in the country. Whether you are streaming on your phone in traffic on Third Mainland Bridge or settling into your sitting room with DSTV, the information below is current as of 10 June 2026. Where details remain unconfirmed, we have flagged them clearly. Table of Contents What watching the World Cup in Nigeria actually involves How it works: every confirmed broadcast and streaming route What this means for bettors Key numbers to know Common misconceptions about watching the World Cup in Nigeria betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion What Watching the World Cup in Nigeria Actually Involves This is the first 48-team World Cup. That means 104 matches across 39 days, played in 16 stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The time zone gap is the single biggest factor for Nigerian viewers. North America is five to eight hours behind West Africa Time (WAT), which means most matches kick off between 8 PM and 3 AM Nigerian time. The broadcast landscape in Nigeria for this tournament involves three layers: satellite pay-TV (DStv and GOtv via SuperSport), free-to-air television (NTA), and mobile or internet streaming (Showmax, DStv Stream, and potentially other platforms). Each layer has different coverage, different costs, and different trade-offs on picture quality and data consumption. How It Works: Every Confirmed Broadcast and Streaming Route SuperSport on DStv (pay-TV, full coverage) SuperSport, distributed through MultiChoice's DStv platform, carries all 104 matches live. This is the most comprehensive option. DStv Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium packages include SuperSport channels. If you already have an active DStv subscription at Compact level or above, you are covered. DStv also offers DStv Stream, its internet-based streaming service, which mirrors the satellite feed. You can watch on a phone, tablet, or laptop. DStv Stream requires an active DStv subscription and a stable internet connection. GOtv (pay-TV, partial coverage) GOtv, MultiChoice's more affordable terrestrial platform, carries SuperSport coverage on selected packages. GOtv Jolli and GOtv Max typically include SuperSport channels. GOtv Lite and GOtv Jinja may not carry the full tournament schedule. Check your specific package before assuming coverage. NTA (free-to-air, selected matches) The Nigerian Television Authority is expected to broadcast a selected package of marquee matches on free-to-air television. This typically includes the opening match, matches involving African teams, semi-finals, and the final. NTA's exact match schedule for the 2026 tournament had not been formally published at the time of writing. If you are relying on NTA as your primary route, confirm the schedule on NTA's channels before each matchday. Showmax (now "DStv Stream" -streaming, subscription required) Showmax Pro, MultiChoice's streaming app, is expected to carry live SuperSport content including World Cup matches. The service is in a transition phase into DStv Stream; the most practical route for mobile-first viewers who do not have a DStv dish. It requires a subscription and a data connection. Data consumption for live sport typically runs between 1 GB and 2.5 GB per match depending on stream quality settings. Data-saving tips for mobile viewers If you are watching on metered data, and most Nigerian viewers are, take these steps: set the stream quality to the lowest acceptable resolution (typically 480p, which uses roughly 700 MB to 1 GB per match), download the app on Wi-Fi before the tournament starts, and avoid background app refresh while streaming. If you are using Airtel, MTN, or Glo, check whether your provider offers a sport-specific data bundle during the tournament. These have appeared during previous AFCON and Champions League windows. What This Means for Bettors If you are betting on World Cup fixtures, you want to watch the match live. Live betting markets (in-play) move fast, and having eyes on the game gives you context that odds alone cannot. Before placing any bet, compare odds across licensed Nigerian sportsbooks on betcompare.ng to find the best available price. Operators price the same fixture differently, and the gaps widen during live markets. The kick-off time schedule matters for your betting routine as well. Matches at 8 PM WAT are prime time, you are alert, you have done your research, and you can watch the full 90 minutes. Matches at 2 AM or 3 AM WAT are a different proposition entirely. Betting on a match you are half-asleep watching, or not watching at all, removes one of the few genuine edges a bettor can have: real-time information. If you cannot watch a late fixture, consider sitting it out. Not every match needs a bet. Key Numbers to Know 104 total matches across 39 days. 8 PM WAT is the earliest regular kick-off time in Nigeria for most matchdays. These are the comfortable evening slots. 11 PM WAT is the second window. Late, but manageable for most people on a weekend. 2 AM to 3 AM WAT is the graveyard shift. West Coast US venues (Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco) produce the latest kick-offs for Nigerian viewers. These matches start at 7 PM to 10 PM local US time but land in the early hours in Lagos. 1 GB to 2.5 GB is the typical data consumption per match on a mobile stream, depending on resolution. Over 104 matches, that adds up. Budget accordingly or prioritise the fixtures that matter. 16 host stadiums across three countries: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada. Common Misconceptions About Watching the World Cup in Nigeria "I can watch every match free on NTA." NTA's free-to-air package covers selected matches, not all 104. The full schedule requires a SuperSport subscription via DStv, GOtv, Showmax, or DStv Stream. If a specific match is not on NTA, you will need a paid option. "Streaming uses too much data to be practical." At 480p, a full match uses roughly 700 MB to 1 GB. That is manageable on most current data plans, especially if you are selective about which matches to stream. You do not need to stream all 104 fixtures. Pick your battles. "All the matches are in the middle of the night." The 8 PM WAT slot covers a significant portion of the schedule, including most of the marquee group-stage fixtures. The late-night matches are real, but they are concentrated in the West Coast US venues. Check the schedule before assuming every match is a 2 AM affair. "I need a VPN to watch for free." Using unlicensed streams or VPN workarounds to access foreign broadcasts carries legal and security risks. Stick to the licensed options available in Nigeria. The cost of a GOtv Jolli or Showmax subscription is far less than the cost of a compromised device or stolen banking details. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, the World Cup group stage is the most dangerous period of the entire tournament. Seventy-two matches in 17 days means the temptation to build a daily acca is constant, and the temptation to bet on matches you cannot actually watch is even stronger. Before building any slip, check the kick-off times against your actual schedule. If you are awake and watching, you have context. If you are asleep and hoping, you are gambling blind. Compare odds on betcompare.ng before every bet, because operator pricing on World Cup fixtures varies more than you might expect. For the broader Nigerian audience, this tournament is an unusual one: the Super Eagles are not there, but the football is still world-class, and ten African nations are. South Africa open the tournament against Mexico tomorrow at 8 PM WAT, a perfect time to settle in and see how the continent's representatives perform on the biggest stage. If you are exploring World Cup betting for the first time, start with our football predictions page at betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football for pre-match context and odds breakdowns before placing anything. Frequently Asked Questions What time does the World Cup start in Nigeria? The opening match, Mexico vs South Africa, kicks off at 8 PM WAT on Wednesday 11 June 2026. Can I watch the World Cup for free in Nigeria? NTA is expected to broadcast selected matches free-to-air, including the opening match, African team fixtures, and the final. For full coverage of all 104 matches, a DStv, GOtv, or Showmax subscription is required. Which DStv package do I need for the World Cup? DStv Compact, Compact Plus, and Premium packages include SuperSport channels carrying all World Cup matches. Packages below Compact may not include full SuperSport access. How much data does streaming a World Cup match use? Between 700 MB and 2.5 GB per match depending on stream quality. At 480p (the lowest practical quality for live sport), expect roughly 700 MB to 1 GB. What are the latest kick-off times in Nigerian time? The latest regular kick-offs are 2 AM to 3 AM WAT, typically for matches played at West Coast US venues. These are a minority of the schedule. Most matchdays include at least one fixture at 8 PM or 11 PM WAT. Is the World Cup on GOtv? GOtv Jolli and GOtv Max packages typically include SuperSport. Confirm your package includes SuperSport channels before the tournament starts. Will FIFA+ stream World Cup matches for free in Nigeria? FIFA+ streamed selected qualifying matches for free. Whether FIFA+ carries live World Cup 2026 matches in Nigeria had not been confirmed at the time of writing. Check the FIFA+ app on matchday one. Conclusion The 2026 World Cup is the biggest tournament in football history, and every route to watching it in Nigeria is available if you plan ahead. DStv and SuperSport cover everything. GOtv covers most of it at a lower price. NTA covers the highlights for free. Showmax and DStv Stream cover the mobile-first viewer. Pick the option that fits your budget, check the kick-off times in WAT, and budget your data if you are streaming. For anyone betting on the tournament, watching the match live is not a luxury, it is an edge. The difference between placing a bet on a fixture you are watching and one you are guessing at is the difference between informed and hopeful. Compare odds across licensed sportsbooks at betcompare.ng, build your watchlist around the fixtures you can actually see, and enjoy what promises to be 39 days of extraordinary football. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction On 11 June 2010, Mexico and South Africa kicked off the World Cup in Johannesburg with a 1-1 draw. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored what is arguably the most iconic opening goal in World Cup history. Rafael Márquez equalised. On 11 June 2026, exactly 16 years later, the same two countries will open the World Cup again, this time at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This piece walks through what that historical coincidence does and doesn't tell you about the 2026 fixture. Table of Contents The 2010 opener and what it meant The 2026 fixture in context How the markets are likely to price 2026 Applying our five-step framework What actually matters going into the rematch Common misconceptions about this fixture Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The 2010 Opener and What it Meant Tshabalala's strike at Soccer City was the first goal of the 2010 tournament and remains one of the most replayed goals in World Cup memory. A left-footed angled shot, lifted into the top corner, in front of a stadium full of vuvuzelas. Márquez levelled for Mexico in the 79th minute. The match finished 1-1, both sides went on to finish second in Group A, and South Africa became the first World Cup host nation to fail to advance from the group stage. That single match is the entire World Cup head-to-head record between Mexico and South Africa. Sample size: one. The fact that the 2026 fixture is also an opener, between the same two countries, on the same calendar date, is a striking coincidence. It is not a data point. The 2026 Fixture in Context Group A contains Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. Mexico are co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States, and they open at the Estadio Azteca, the same stadium that hosted Maradona's “Hand of God” in 1986 and Italy's 1990 quarter-final defeat to Argentina. The stadium itself is part of the editorial story, since this will be its third World Cup as a venue. South Africa qualified through CAF qualification for the first time since the 2010 home tournament. The intervening 16 years have seen multiple generations of South African footballers come and go without reaching the World Cup. The current squad is young, relatively unproven at major tournament level, and managed by Hugo Broos, who guided Cameroon to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. How the Markets are Likely to Price 2026 Mexico will open as significant favourites. Home advantage at the Estadio Azteca, a relatively experienced squad, and a generally strong group-stage record at recent World Cups will combine to price them around 1.50 to 1.70 decimal (implied probability around 59% to 67%). South Africa will be priced as substantial underdogs, around 5.50 to 7.50 (around 13% to 18%), with the draw at around 3.60 to 4.00. Those numbers may move materially as team news, squad announcements, and pre-tournament friendlies emerge. South Africa's AFCON 2025 performance will be relevant input to the market's pricing. Applying our Five-Step Framework Step 1: Sample. One World Cup meeting. The signal is zero. Step 2: Dates. The 2010 match was 16 years ago. That's four World Cup cycles. Step 3: Squads. Almost no players from the 2010 match will be active for either team in 2026. Rafael Márquez is 47. The South African squad in 2010 was mostly aged 25 to 32 at the time, making all of them 41 to 48 now and long retired from international football. Step 4: Context. 2010 was a tournament opener with South Africa as host nation. 2026 is a tournament opener with Mexico as host nation. The structural symmetry is appealing as a narrative device, but the competitive contexts are reversed: South Africa was the favoured opener in 2010 (home advantage); Mexico is the favoured opener in 2026 (home advantage). Step 5: Current form. Mexico's recent form under their current head coach has been mixed. South Africa's AFCON 2025 run was their strongest tournament performance in years. Those two facts are what the 2026 fixture price reflects. The 2010 draw is not. What Actually Matters Going into the Rematch For Mexico, the questions are squad cohesion, the goalscoring depth behind Santiago Giménez, and whether the team handles the pressure of opening a home World Cup at Estadio Azteca. Mexican teams have historically performed well in group stages and stumbled in knockouts; the group-stage question will be answered by the opening fixture's outcome. For South Africa, the questions are tournament inexperience at this generation of player, the gap from continental form to global form, and how a young squad handles the altitude and conditions of Mexico City. The Estadio Azteca sits at approximately 2,250 metres. South African players in domestic football are not used to that elevation, and conditioning ahead of the tournament will matter materially. Tactically, Mexico will likely look to control the ball and probe through their full-backs and creative midfielders. South Africa under Hugo Broos have favoured a compact defensive shape with rapid transitions. Whether that compact shape holds in the noise and altitude of Estadio Azteca on the tournament's opening night is the most interesting variable. Common Misconceptions about this Fixture “South Africa did well at the 2010 opener, so they'll do well at this one.” Different squad, different stadium, different host country, different context. The structural symmetry is decorative, not predictive. “Mexico struggle in opening matches.” They drew their 2010 opener and have had varied results since. One pattern across two host-vs-opener matches doesn't establish a trend. “The Estadio Azteca always favours the home team.” Historically true at the club level, but the Azteca's most famous World Cup moments have included matches where the home team lost or underperformed. Home advantage is real but should not be over-weighted. betCompare Insight For new bettors approaching their first World Cup, the opening match is the highest-volume betting fixture of the entire tournament. Operators will heavily promote bonus offers, odds boosts, and BetBuilder specials around it. The temptation to place a bigger first stake than usual, often on the back of a “history repeating itself” narrative, is significant. A ₦5,000 first-tournament stake is a sensible ceiling for someone new to betting, and the framework above protects you from getting drawn in by a coincidence that has no predictive content. For the broader audience, our role at betCompare is to help you compare what operators are offering on this specific fixture across the market, including the value of any opening-day bonus or specials. The framework we used here applies to every fixture of the tournament. Apply it to the markets before any historically-flavoured bet, and the slip you place will be more honest than the one you would otherwise have built. Frequently Asked Questions What was the result of the 2010 Mexico vs South Africa opener? The match finished 1-1. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the tournament's opening goal for South Africa; Rafael Márquez equalised for Mexico. Why is this fixture being talked about as a historical repeat? Mexico and South Africa are opening the 2026 World Cup on 11 June, the same date in the calendar that they opened the 2010 World Cup. The coincidence is narrative, not statistical. Does altitude at Estadio Azteca affect performance? Yes, materially. The stadium sits at approximately 2,250 metres. Visiting teams unaccustomed to altitude can struggle with stamina, ball flight, and recovery. This is a real current factor unlike most H2H data. Is South Africa's AFCON 2025 form a reliable indicator for the World Cup? It's relevant but not directly comparable. AFCON squads, conditions, and competitive levels differ from World Cup squads, conditions, and levels. Use AFCON form as one input among many. Will Estadio Azteca be the same venue used in 1970 and 1986? Yes. Estadio Azteca is hosting the 2026 World Cup opener and other matches, becoming the first stadium to host three World Cups. Conclusion Mexico vs South Africa 2026 is a structurally beautiful fixture: two countries opening their second World Cup against each other, 16 years apart, on the same calendar date, in iconic stadia. The narrative writes itself. The data, on the other hand, doesn't tell you anything. One match, with completely different squads, in a completely different host country, is a story rather than evidence. If you bet this fixture, build the bet on what matters now: Mexico's current form, South Africa's tournament readiness, the altitude effect at Estadio Azteca, and whatever team news emerges in the final weeks. We'll publish further breakdowns of Group A and the wider tournament in the run-up to kickoff. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction In Seoul on 31 May 2002, the defending champions France lost 1-0 to a Senegal side making their tournament debut. Pape Bouba Diop scored the only goal. Senegal went on to reach the quarter-finals; France crashed out without a goal in three matches. Twenty-four years later, the two countries meet again in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The history is vivid. Whether it tells you anything useful about the 2026 rematch is the question this piece answers. Table of Contents The 2002 match and what followed How the markets priced 2002, and how they're likely to price 2026 Applying our five-step framework to this fixture What actually matters going into the rematch Common misconceptions about this fixture Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion The 2002 Match and What Followed France went into the 2002 World Cup as the reigning world champions and the reigning European champions. Senegal were making their first ever World Cup appearance. Most of the Senegal squad played in the French Ligue 1; several had been developed through French academies. The opening match in Seoul was billed as a celebration of French football, with Senegal as the picturesque underdog. Pape Bouba Diop's goal in the 30th minute changed the picture. France played the rest of the group stage without Zinedine Zidane (injured) and without their cutting edge in attack. They were eliminated at the group stage with one point and no goals. Senegal advanced to the quarter-finals, where they lost 1-0 to Turkey on a golden goal. That single match is the entire World Cup head-to-head record between these two countries. Sample size: one. How the Markets Priced in 2002, and How They're Likely to Price 2026 In 2002, France were priced as heavy favourites in the opening match. The exact opening lines varied by operator, but most short-priced France in the region of 1.30 to 1.40 decimal (implied probability around 71% to 77% before margin), with Senegal in the range of 8.00 to 11.00 (around 9% to 12% implied). For 2026, the market dynamic will be similar in shape. France enter the tournament as 2022 finalists and Euro 2024 semi-finalists, with Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and a deep squad. Senegal enter with the momentum and the controversy of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The France price is likely to sit between 1.40 and 1.55 decimal, with Senegal between 6.00 and 8.00. Those numbers will move as team news and squad announcements emerge. The point isn't whether France are favourites. They will be. The point is whether the 2002 result tells you anything useful about whether the 2026 price represents value. It doesn't. Applying our Five-Step Framework to this Fixture Step 1: Count the sample. One World Cup meeting. The statistical signal is zero. Step 2: Check the dates. The 2002 meeting was 24 years ago. Two entire generations of players have passed through both squads. Step 3: Check the squads. Of the 22 men in either starting XI in Seoul, none will be active for either team in 2026. The matchup is between completely different teams sharing only the flags they wear. Step 4: Check the context. The 2002 match was the tournament opener with the defending champions facing newcomers. The 2026 match is a group-stage fixture in the most heavily expanded World Cup in history. The competitive context is different. Step 5: Compare to current form. Both teams enter 2026 in interesting form, but for different reasons. France are the bookmakers' second or third favourites for the tournament overall. Senegal arrive carrying the unresolved aftermath of an Africa Cup of Nations final they won on the pitch and then lost in the appeals process. Both factors are current and pricing-relevant. The 2002 result is not. What Actually Matters Going into the Rematch For France, the current questions are squad cohesion under Didier Deschamps (or his successor by tournament time), Mbappé's fitness and form, the depth of the centre-back rotation, and the matchup-specific question of how they handle Senegal's physicality and counter-attacking transitions. For Senegal, the picture is more complex. They reached the 2025 AFCON final in Rabat on 18 January 2026 and beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of a Pape Gueye goal. Senegal's players walked off the pitch for around 15 minutes during stoppage time of normal time, protesting a penalty awarded to Morocco. The penalty was missed by Brahim Diaz and Senegal eventually won on the field. In March 2026, the CAF Appeal Board overturned the result and awarded Morocco a 3-0 forfeit victory. Senegal lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 25 March 2026; the case remains unresolved at the time of writing. This is the kind of “current context” that matters. The dispute affects squad morale, the question of whether veteran captain Sadio Mané returns from his stated AFCON retirement, federation relations with CAF, and the psychological backdrop the squad carries into the United States. None of those factors appears in a 2002 result. Add to that the routine current-form questions: who's playing well in club football, who's injured, what tactical setup head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw is settling on, and how the 2025 AFCON squad regenerates between January and June. These are the factors the market is pricing now. Common Misconceptions about this Fixture “France have a psychological block against Senegal.” They lost to Senegal once, 24 years ago, with a different generation of players and an injured talisman. That's a fact, not a pattern. “Senegal always raise their game against European opposition.” Senegal have played plenty of European opposition since 2002. Their record is mixed, not uniformly upward. The 2002 result was specific to that day, that squad, and that fixture. “The 2002 result tells you Senegal are good value at long odds.” It doesn't. The 2026 price will reflect both squads' current form, recent results, and squad strength. The 2002 result is already priced into the market by virtue of being known. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors building slips around the group stage, France vs Senegal will be one of the marquee fixtures pulled in to anchor a multi. The temptation is to lean on the “France always win at the World Cup against African opposition” reflex and price Senegal out of the slip. The 2002 match alone shows why that reflex isn't reliable. Treat the fixture on its current merits: who's fit, who's in form, what the squad's mental state actually is. If you're adding it to a multi, a ₦2,000 stake limits exposure if Senegal pull off a result that the market priced as remote. For the broader audience, our role at betCompare is to help you find the operator giving you the fairest price on whichever side of this fixture you back. The framework we used here, drawn from our guide on reading World Cup head-to-head history, applies to every fixture in the tournament. Apply it before any historically-flavoured bet, and the slip you place will be more honest than the one you would otherwise have built. Frequently Asked Questions Have France and Senegal met outside the World Cup? Yes, in friendlies. None of those results carries meaningful predictive weight for a World Cup match either. Is Sadio Mané confirmed for Senegal's 2026 squad? Mané indicated after the 2025 AFCON final that it would be his last AFCON appearance, leaving his World Cup involvement uncertain at the time of writing. Confirm with up-to-date team news before placing any bet that depends on his participation. Has the AFCON dispute been resolved? Not at the time of writing. Senegal's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the CAF Appeal Board decision is pending. Morocco officially remain the 2025 AFCON champions for record-keeping purposes; Senegal continue to dispute that ruling. Should I avoid the France vs Senegal market entirely? Not necessarily. There may be value in markets that don't depend on head-to-head reasoning, such as goalscorer markets, total goals lines, or specific event props. The market is generally more efficient on the headline result than on the periphery. What's the kickoff time and venue for the rematch? Match dates and venues for Group I fixtures were assigned at the FIFA schedule release in December 2025. Confirm the current schedule against the FIFA tournament page before placing any time-dependent bet. Conclusion France vs Senegal in 2026 will be one of the most-discussed group-stage fixtures of the tournament. Some of that discussion will be informed by the 2002 opener; most of it should not be. A single match between different squads two and a half decades apart is not a guide to a current matchup. It is a story. If you decide to bet this fixture, the framework we've applied here is the discipline: count the sample, check the dates, check the squads, check the context, and let current form do the work. We'll continue applying that approach across the other Group L, Group A, and Group C fixtures with prior World Cup history. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the Netherlands' World Cup campaign with a groin injury and replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida Timber had been out since the middle of March with a groin problem but featured in the second half of the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May. The 24-year-old came on as 66th-minute substitute against Paris St-Germain - his first appearance since a 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said before the final against Paris St-Germain that Timber was "fit" to play. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said on Monday that Timber had "not recovered sufficiently" to take part in the tournament in a "medically responsible manner". "In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team's pre-camp in New York after the [friendly] game against Uzbekistan," added the KNVB. Timber has been capped 23 times by the Netherlands and made his first international appearance in June 2021. Oranje boss Ronald Koeman has called up Geertruida, 25, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig. The Netherlands face Japan in their Group F opener on 14 June before games against Sweden and Tunisia.

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup finals, has been denied entry to the United States Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football men's referee of the year, was barred from entering the country at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey. No reason for Artan's repatriation has been issued by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump's administration. Artan is among the 52 referees announced by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from 12 June to 19 July. An official in the Somali national football league championships, Artan became a FIFA referee in 2018 and has officiated at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

England open their tournament against Croatia. Ghana brings incredible African tournament grit. England and Croatia have the history and edge to qualify 1966 champions England and 2018 finalists Croatia are heavy favorites, facing modern African giants Ghana and CONCACAF threat Panama. England will be competing at their 17th FIFA World Cup, with their best finish being their sole trophy lift on home soil in 1966. The European nation reached the quarter-finals at the last tournament in Qatar. Panama will be competing at their second World Cup, returning to the world stage after making their historical tournament debut back in Russia 2018, where they did not get past the group stage. Ghana will be competing in their fifth World Cup, following their group-stage run in Qatar. Their best finish was a famous quarter-final finish in 2010. Croatia will be playing at their seventh FIFA World Cup, carrying remarkable momentum after finishing as runners-up in 2018 and taking the third-place bronze medal at the last tournament in Qatar. The favorites to finish top two in this group are England and Croatia, while Ghana may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Portugal open their tournament against DR Congo. Colombia brings incredible South American flair and depth. Portugal and Colombia have the history and edge to qualify European powerhouses Portugal and South American giants Colombia are favorites, facing an emerging Uzbekistan and African hopefuls DR Congo. Portugal will be competing at their ninth FIFA World Cup, and their best finish was a third-place medal in 1966. The European nation was present at the last tournament in Qatar. DR Congo will be competing at their second World Cup, returning under their current name for the first time in 52 years since they competed as Zaire in 1974, where they exited in the group stage. Uzbekistan will be competing in their very first World Cup, making a historic tournament debut for Central Asia. Colombia will be playing at their seventh FIFA World Cup, bouncing back to the global stage after missing out on Qatar 2022. Their best run at the tournament was a spectacular quarter-final finish in 2014. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Portugal and Colombia, while Uzbekistan may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Argentina open their tournament against Algeria. Austria brings strong European tactical shape. Argentina and Algeria have the history and edge to qualify Defending world champions Argentina and African titans Algeria are favorites, facing a competitive Austria and tournament debutants Jordan. Argentina will be competing at their 19th FIFA World Cup, entering as the reigning holders after winning their third title at the last tournament in Qatar. Jordan will be competing at their very first World Cup, breaking new boundaries for Middle Eastern football. Algeria will be competing in their fifth World Cup, returning to the global tournament for the first time since 2014, where they achieved their best-ever Round of 16 finish. Austria will be playing at their eighth FIFA World Cup, marking an end to a 28-year absence since they last competed in 1998. Their best run at the tournament was a brilliant third-place finish in 1954. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Argentina and Algeria, while Austria may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

France open their tournament against Senegal. Norway brings explosive European star power. France and Senegal have the history and edge to qualify Two-time champions France and African heavyweights Senegal are favorites, facing a dangerous Norway and Asian representatives Iraq. France will be competing at their 17th FIFA World Cup, with their best finishes being two trophy lifts in 1998 and 2018. The European powerhouse finished as runners-up at the last tournament in Qatar. Iraq will be competing at their second World Cup, ending a 40-year drought since their lone appearance in 1986, where they failed to cross the group stage. Senegal will be competing in their fourth World Cup, aiming to build on their round-of-16 finish from the last tournament in Qatar. Their best-ever finish was a historic quarter-final run in 2002. Norway will be playing at their fourth FIFA World Cup, breaking a 28-year absence since they last competed in 1998. Their best run at the tournament was a round-of-16 finish achieved in 1938 and 1998. The favorites to finish top two in this group are France and Senegal, while Norway may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Spain open their tournament against Cape Verde. Uruguay brings deep historical tournament pedigree. Spain and Uruguay have the history and edge to qualify 2010 champions Spain and two-time winners Uruguay are heavy favorites, facing a dangerous Saudi Arabia and debutants Cabo Verde. Spain will be competing at their 17th FIFA World Cup, famously winning the tournament in 2010. The European nation was present at the last tournament in Qatar. Cabo Verde will be competing at their very first World Cup, making a fairytale debut for the small African island nation. Saudi Arabia will be competing in their seventh World Cup, looking to replicate their famous group-stage opening shock against Argentina from the last tournament in Qatar. Their best finish was a Round of 16 run in 1994. Uruguay will be playing at their 15th FIFA World Cup, aiming to reclaim old glory from their two tournament wins in 1930 and 1950. The South American side also featured in Qatar. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Spain and Uruguay, while Saudi Arabia may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Belgium open their tournament against Egypt. Iran brings strong recent Asian qualifying consistency. Belgium and Egypt have the history and edge to qualify European heavyweights Belgium and African powerhouses Egypt are favorites, facing a highly disciplined Iran and Oceania kings New Zealand. Belgium will be competing at their 15th FIFA World Cup, and their best finish was a stellar third-place run in 2018. The European nation was at the last tournament in Qatar. New Zealand will be competing at their third World Cup, making their first tournament appearance since South Africa 2010, where they went undefeated but exited in the group stage. Iran will be competing in their seventh World Cup, searching for their first-ever knockout berth after exiting the group stage in Qatar. Egypt will be playing at their fourth FIFA World Cup, returning to the world stage after last appearing in Russia 2018. Their best run at the tournament was an early eighth-place equivalent finish in 1934. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Belgium and Egypt, while Iran may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Netherlands open their tournament against Japan. Sweden brings strong historical tournament pedigree. Netherlands and Japan have the history and edge to qualify Three-time finalists Netherlands and Asian giants Japan are favorites, facing a strong Sweden and African contenders Tunisia. Netherlands will be competing at their 12th FIFA World Cup, with their best finishes being three second-place heartbreaks in 1974, 1978, and 2010. The European powerhouse was at the last tournament in Qatar. Tunisia will be competing at their seventh World Cup, securing consecutive qualifications after bowing out of the group stage in Qatar. They have never gone beyond the group stage. Japan will be competing in their eighth World Cup, consistently reaching the Round of 16, including a stellar knockout run at the last tournament in Qatar. Sweden will be playing at their 13th FIFA World Cup, returning after missing out on the 2022 edition. Their best run at the tournament was a second-place finish on home soil in 1958. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Netherlands and Japan, while Sweden may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Germany open their tournament against Curaçao. Ecuador brings strong recent qualifying consistency. Germany and Ecuador have the history and edge to qualify Four-time champions Germany and South American heavyweights Ecuador are favorites, facing African giants Ivory Coast and debutants Curaçao. Germany will be competing at their 21st FIFA World Cup, with their best finish being four tournament victories, most recently in 2014. The European nation was at the last tournament in Qatar. Curaçao will be competing at their very first World Cup, celebrating an unprecedented milestone for the Caribbean island nation. Ivory Coast will be competing in their fourth World Cup, returning to the tournament for the first time since 2014, having never progressed past the group stage. Ecuador will be playing at their fifth FIFA World Cup, coming directly from their group-stage run in Qatar. Their best-ever run at the tournament was a Round of 16 finish in 2006. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Germany and Ecuador, while Ivory Coast may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Co-hosts United States open their tournament against Paraguay. Australia brings strong recent knockout-stage consistency. USA and Australia have the history and edge to qualify Co-host USA and round-of-16 regulars Australia are favorites, facing a strong Türkiye and South American contenders Paraguay. The United States will be competing at their 12th FIFA World Cup, with their best finish being a third-place run, way back in the inaugural 1930 tournament. The North American nation was present at the last tournament in Qatar. Paraguay will be competing at their ninth World Cup, returning to the big stage for the first time since 2010, where they enjoyed their best-ever finish by reaching the quarter-finals. Australia will be competing in their seventh World Cup, having memorably reached the Round of 16 in Germany 2006 and Qatar 2022. Türkiye will be playing at their third FIFA World Cup, making their first appearance in 24 years since they last competed in 2002, where they recorded a stunning third-place finish. The favorites to finish top two in this group are joint hosts USA and Australia, while Türkiye may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Brazil open their tournament against Morocco. Scotland brings strong European qualifying consistency. Brazil and Morocco have the history and edge to qualify Five-time champions Brazil and 2022 semifinalists Morocco are favorites, facing a gritty Scotland and debutants Haiti. Brazil will be competing at their 22nd FIFA World Cup, holding the unique record of appearing in every single edition, with their best finishes being five historic titles. The South American powerhouse was at the last tournament in Qatar. Haiti will be competing at their second World Cup, making a highly anticipated return since their tournament debut back in 1974, where they failed to advance past the group stage. Morocco will be competing in their seventh World Cup, coming fresh off a historic fourth-place finish in Qatar. Scotland will be playing at their ninth FIFA World Cup, making their first appearance in 28 years since they last competed in 1998. Their best run has never seen them cross the group stage. The favorites to finish top two in this group are Brazil and Morocco, while Scotland may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Co-hosts Canada open their tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Switzerland brings strong recent knockout-stage consistency. Canada and Switzerland have the history and edge to qualify Co-host Canada and consistent knockout-qualifiers Switzerland are favorites, facing a strong Bosnia and Herzegovina and 2022 hosts Qatar. Canada will be competing at their third FIFA World Cup, looking to record their first-ever tournament points after appearances in 1986 and 2022. The North American nation was present at the last tournament in Qatar. Qatar will be competing at their second World Cup, making their first-ever appearance on foreign soil after automatically qualifying as hosts in 2022, where they never went beyond the group stage. Switzerland will be competing in their 13th World Cup, and their best finishes were three quarter-final runs in 1934, 1938, and 1954. The European nation was at the last tournament in Qatar. Bosnia and Herzegovina will be playing at their second FIFA World Cup, marking their first appearance in 12 years since last competing in 2014, where they failed to get past the group stage. The favorites to finish top two in this group are joint hosts Canada and Switzerland, while Bosnia and Herzegovina may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

Co-hosts Mexico open the tournament against South Africa. South Korea brings strong recent knockout-stage consistency. Mexico and South Korea have the history and edge to qualify Mexico will be competition at their 18th FIFA World Cup, and their best finish was two quarter-final finishes in 1970 and 1986, and they were host on both occasions. The North American nation were at the last tournament in Qatar. South Africa, who denied Nigeria a place at the Mundial, will be competing at their fourth World Cup, and this is their first outing since they last hosted in 2010. They have never gone beyond the group stage. South Korea will be competition in their 12th World Cup, and their best finish was in 2002, when they were joint host with Japan, and they finished fourth in the tournament. The Asian nation were at the last tournament in Qatar. Czech Republic will be playing at their 10th FIFA World Cup, and their first appearance in 20 years, which they last competed in 2006. Their best run at the tournament were two second place finishes in 1934 and 1962. The favourites to finish top two in this group are joint host, Mexico and South Korea, while Czech Republic may qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Groups A to L feature a mix of traditional heavyweights, historic rivalries, and four tournament debutants. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers will advance to the Round of 32.

France international Ibrahima Konate has agreed a four-year deal with Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez, who was re-elected club president on Sunday night, had promised last week that the centre-back would be his first recruit and also promised to sign Jose Mourinho as coach. The official announcement of his arrival on a deal until 2030 is expected on Tuesday, according to the source. The 27-year-old will join several French national team teammates, including captain Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, the latter who was not called up for the World Cup. It will be Konate’s fourth club after stints at Sochaux, Leipzig and Liverpool, where he arrived five seasons ago. Konate played 183 matches for Liverpool, winning the FA Cup in his first season under Jurgen Klopp, as well as the League Cup, but losing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Following the arrival of Arne Slot as manager in 2024, Liverpool won the English Premier League title last season. However, this year has been more challenging for the Reds, who secured qualification for next season’s Champions League only on the final day of the Premier League season. Konate, who has 28 caps for France, has been selected by Didier Deschamps for the World Cup in North America and is vying for a starting place in central defense. France play their final pre-World Cup friendly against Northern Ireland in Lille on Monday evening.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice will be England’s vice-captain for the World Cup Rice has earned 72 caps for the Three Lions and will be one of the most experienced players in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up. The 27-year-old has just helped Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time since 2003-04 and reach the Champions League final, which they lost on penalties to Paris St-Germain last weekend. Rice filled in as captain during Harry Kane’s absence for the October friendly against Wales, when Ollie Watkins replaced Kane in the England attack. “I think I would say Declan is my vice-captain,” Tuchel said (via BBC Sport) after Saturday’s friendly win over New Zealand. Asked whether Rice knows he has that role, the England manager added: “That is a good question. I was just thinking about it. Whether it is an official thing or not. But I think we had this talk when Harry was not in camp with us. We started with Ollie and I think Declan was captain. That was where I told him.” Rice and his Arsenal team-mates Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have now joined England’s training camp in the United States and began work with the group in Florida on Sunday. Tuchel’s side have one more friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday and will play a behind-closed-doors game with Miami FC before travelling to their Kansas City base on Saturday. The Three Lions begin their World Cup campaign on 17 June against Croatia and also face Ghana and Panama in Group L.

Christian Eriksen collapsed for the second time during a football match on Sunday during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine in Odense “Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances,” the Danish football association wrote on social media. The incident came five years after Eriksen, 34, suffered a cardiac arrest during a European Championship match against Finland. The association’s statement quoted the national team doctor, Morten Boesen, as saying Eriksen walked off the pitch by himself and that his pacemaker responded appropriately. “Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself. As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should. He was briefly unconscious but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him. “He will now undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident. We are in ongoing contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and he asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was okay,” Boesen said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, features a massive 48-team field packed with global superstars, established icons, and rising talents According to a post obtained from MSN.com on Friday, here’s a look at some of the most famous and impactful players heading to the tournament: Veteran Legends Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): The all-time international goalscorer is set for a record sixth World Cup at age 41. He remains Portugal’s captain and biggest draw, chasing the one major trophy still missing from his collection. Lionel Messi (Argentina): The 2022 champion captain is likely making his final World Cup appearance. Even in the twilight of his career, Messi’s genius continues to captivate fans worldwide. Global Superstars Kylian Mbappé (France): One of the top Golden Boot contenders and one of the world’s most dangerous forwards. Erling Haaland (Norway): Making his World Cup debut and expected to be a goal-scoring machine. Vinícius Júnior (Brazil): A dynamic, full-fledged global superstar bringing pace, skill, and flair to Brazil’s attack. Mohamed Salah (Egypt): Africa and the Middle East’s biggest icon. Egypt’s qualification ensures massive attention on Salah as he seeks a deep tournament run. Rising Stars and Breakout Candidates Lamine Yamal (Spain): The teenage sensation already regarded as one of football’s brightest young talents and a potential breakout star of the tournament. Jamal Musiala (Germany): Germany’s most exciting young player and a highly marketable star. A deep German run could send his profile into the stratosphere. Bukayo Saka (England): A key figure for England, known for delivering under pressure. Key Midfield Anchors and Leaders Jude Bellingham (England): Dynamic box-to-box midfielder and one of England’s main hopes. Declan Rice (England): The quiet backbone and leader of this England generation. His control, leadership, and consistency make him essential to England’s title ambitions. Harry Kane (England): Proven goalscorer and captain. Federico Valverde (Uruguay): The heart of Uruguay’s intense, aggressive style. Julián Álvarez (Argentina): Stepping into a bigger role as Argentina transitions beyond the Messi era. Rodri (Spain) and Ousmane Dembélé (France): Elite performers who anchor their teams. Other notable stars include Son Heung-min (South Korea’s Asian icon), as well as talents from qualified sides such as Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Argentina, and more. This edition marks a passing of the torch, the final dance for icons like Messi and Ronaldo, while the next generation (Mbappé, Haaland, Yamal, Musiala, etc.) aims to claim the spotlight. The tournament begins on June 11, 2026.

Global football governing body, FIFA said Friday it will allow fans to bring one “soft, plastic” disposable water bottle into World Cup venues after its ban on refillable bottles sparked an outcry “All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada,” World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi, said in a video posted on FIFA’s X account. The announcement, which FIFA called a “clarification” of its water bottle policy, came two days after FIFA said that refillable water bottles wouldn’t be allowed. That was a change to their official stadium code of conduct that could force thirsty supporters to pay for bottled water. FIFA justified the move on safety grounds, “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees. “Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums,” FIFA said in a statement to AFP. On Friday, FIFA said that those concerns remain valid. Schirgi said that “fans will not be permitted to bring in hard-sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons,” showing examples of bottles that will and won’t be allowed. Forecasters have warned that fans could face health risks from extreme heat at open-air venues during the World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting. A report published by the World Weather Attribution research group last month estimated that 26 of 104 games at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees. WBGT is a measure of heat stress on the human body which combines temperature, humidity, wind and sunlight. At last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where fans complained of searing temperatures, supporters were also barred from bringing water bottles into venues. FIFA has noted that misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents would be available in “the stadium footprint”. Bottled water inside the venue will be sold at prices which “remain consistent with other events held at each stadium,” FIFA says.

FIFA has banned fans from bringing refillable water bottles into World Cup venues in a last-minute policy change that will force thirsty supporters to pay for bottled water, The Athletic reported on Wednesday National football federations are spending millions in their pursuit of World Cup glory, with Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti emerging as the highest-paid coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to salary figures compiled ahead of the tournament, Ancelotti earns an annual salary of £8.28 million, placing him comfortably ahead of his counterparts at the competition. The former Real Madrid manager, who took charge of Brazil in a landmark appointment, is expected to lead the South American giants’ bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup title. England manager Thomas Tuchel is the second-highest earner on the list with an annual salary of £5.06 million. The German coach was appointed by the Football Association following England’s near misses under former manager Gareth Southgate and is tasked with ending the country’s long wait for major international success. United States coach Mauricio Pochettino ranks third, earning £4.53 million annually. The Argentine manager, who previously coached Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, is expected to spearhead the host nation’s campaign at the tournament. Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann occupies fourth place with a salary of £4.2 million per year, while Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and Uzbekistan’s Fabio Cannavaro are tied in fifth place on £3.5 million annually. Cannavaro’s inclusion among the highest earners has drawn attention, given Uzbekistan’s status as one of the tournament’s less established football nations. The former Italy captain was appointed after the Central Asian nation secured qualification for its first-ever World Cup. France manager Didier Deschamps, who guided his country to World Cup success in 2018, earns £3.31 million per year and sits seventh on the list. World Cup-winning Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa and Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman complete the top 10, with each earning £2.61 million annually. As reported by Planet Football, these are the highest-paid coaches at the 2026 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) – £8.28m Thomas Tuchel (England) – £5.06m Mauricio Pochettino (USA) – £4.53m Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) – £4.20m Roberto Martinez (Portugal) – £3.50m Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan) – £3.50m Didier Deschamps (France) – £3.31m Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) – £2.61m Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) – £2.61m Ronald Koeman (Netherlands) – £2.61m The rankings underscore the growing financial investment being made by football federations as they seek to secure elite managerial talent capable of delivering success on the world’s biggest football stage.

FIFA has banned fans from bringing refillable water bottles into World Cup venues in a last-minute policy change that will force thirsty supporters to pay for bottled water, The Athletic reported on Wednesday As recently as last month, FIFA’s official stadium code of conduct included a clause which read: “For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.” However, The Athletic reported on Wednesday that those guidelines had now been tweaked to explicitly ban refillable bottles. “For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium,” an updated stadium code of conduct reads. In a statement to AFP, a FIFA spokesperson said the rule change was taken on safety grounds, noting that several World Cup venues already barred the use of refillable water bottles. “FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff. FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees,” the statement read. “Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.” The statement added that misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents would be available in “the stadium footprint”. It added that bottled water inside the venue would be sold at prices which “remain consistent with other events held at each stadium.” The rule change comes despite experts warning fans could face health risks from extreme heat at open-air venues during the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. A report published by the World Weather Attribution research group last month estimated that 26 of 104 games at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees. WBGT is a measure of heat stress on the human body, which combines temperature, humidity, wind and sunlight. At last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where fans complained of searing temperatures, supporters were also barred from bringing water bottles into venues.

Introduction In Moscow on 11 July 2018, England led Croatia 1-0 at half-time in a World Cup semi-final and lost 2-1 in extra time. Ivan Perišić equalised in the second half; Mario Mandžukic scored the winner in the 109th minute. Croatia went to the final; England went home. Eight years later, the two countries meet again in Group L of the 2026 tournament. That 2018 result is the entirety of their World Cup head-to-head record. This piece walks through what to do with that fact when reading the market on the rematch. Table of Contents The 2018 semi-final and the wider rivalry Why World Cup H2H and Euros H2H are different things How the markets are likely to price 2026 Applying our five-step framework What actually matters going into the rematch Common misconceptions about this fixture Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Related Resources Conclusion The 2018 semi-final and the wider rivalry Croatia 2-1 England, after extra time, in the Luzhniki Stadium. Kieran Trippier put England ahead from a free kick in the fifth minute. Perišić equalised in the 68th; Mandžukic scored from a controlled finish in the 109th. England exited the tournament; Croatia went on to lose the final to France. That match is the only World Cup meeting between the two countries. England and Croatia have met multiple times in other competitions, including the European Championship final tournament, qualifiers, and the UEFA Nations League. The overall head-to-head record across all senior competitive fixtures favours England narrowly. But the relevant data for a World Cup matchup is World Cup data, and the World Cup data is one match. Why World Cup H2H and Euros H2H are different things Bettors sometimes lump all international meetings together, treating European Championship matches, World Cup qualifiers, friendlies, and Nations League fixtures as a single dataset. That conflation hides important differences. World Cup matches happen every four years with both teams at peak preparation. Nations League fixtures often feature rotated squads. Friendlies are not played to win at all costs. A 12-match international H2H record gives you a different picture if 11 of those matches were second-tier competitions. For this fixture, the relevant claim is “England and Croatia have met once at a World Cup, and Croatia won.” That's not a record. It's an anecdote. How the markets are likely to price 2026 England enter the 2026 tournament among the top four favourites with most operators. They reached the Euro 2024 final, the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, and the 2018 semi-finals. Their squad depth in attacking midfield and forward positions is exceptional. Croatia are in a more uncertain place. Luka Modrić, the spine of every Croatian success of the last decade, is 40 by the time of the 2026 tournament. Mateo Kovačić remains a key player but injuries have disrupted his recent club form. The post-2018 generation has had mixed results: a third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, a semi-final at Euro 2024, but also patchy qualifying campaigns. The opening price for England vs Croatia in 2026 is likely to favour England materially, in the region of 1.65 to 1.85 decimal (implied probability around 54% to 61%), with Croatia at 4.00 to 5.50 (around 18% to 25%) and the draw at around 3.40 to 3.80. Those numbers will move as team news emerges. Applying our five-step framework Step 1: Count the sample. One World Cup meeting. Zero meaningful signal. Step 2: Check the dates. The 2018 semi-final was eight years ago. That's two World Cup cycles and a full generation of player turnover. Step 3: Check the squads. Of England's 2018 starters, a handful may still be in the squad. Croatia's reliance on Modrić and Kovačić means more 2018 contributors are still around, but several core defenders and forwards have retired or been replaced. Step 4: Check the context. A World Cup semi-final between equal contenders is qualitatively different from a group-stage opener between a heavy favourite and a fading powerhouse. The motivational and tactical setup will be different. Step 5: Compare to current form. England's recent form has been strong but with occasional underperformance against well-organised mid-table European opposition. Croatia's form is variable, with quality in midfield but questions about defensive depth and forward output. The 2026 matchup will be decided by those current factors, not by what happened in 2018. What actually matters going into the rematch For England, the questions are settling on a midfield combination, balancing Jude Bellingham's role, finding consistent goalscoring from the centre-forward position, and managing the squad rotation through what will be a long group stage. England's biggest test will be the depth of their backline against opponents who can hold the ball in midfield, which is exactly what Croatia traditionally do. For Croatia, the question is generational handover. If Modrić is still starting in the United States, can he carry a 60-minute shift in a World Cup match? If not, who steps in? The progression of Petar Sučić, Luka Sučić, and the younger Croatian midfielders will be central. Defensively, the post-Lovren and post-Vida era is still settling. For the matchup itself, the tactical question is whether England's high possession share is converted into clear-cut chances, or whether Croatia force a low-scoring, midfield-heavy game that goes their way through experience and game management. The 2018 semi-final answered that question one way. The 2026 fixture will answer it independently. Common misconceptions about this fixture “England can't beat Croatia at major tournaments.” Their European Championship and Nations League records say otherwise. They've beaten Croatia repeatedly outside the World Cup since 2018. The 2018 semi-final is one match. “Croatia's experience always wins out.” Experience helps. It doesn't decide matches against deeper, younger squads. The 2022 World Cup semi-final between Croatia and Argentina (won 3-0 by Argentina) is a recent example. “The 2018 result tells you Croatia are value at 4.50.” It doesn't. The 4.50 price reflects current squad strength, current form, and current squad depth. The 2018 result is already in the public information set the operator priced against. betCompare Insight For casual football bettors who follow English football closely, this fixture carries an emotional weight that's worth recognising before placing a bet. The 2018 semi-final is a vivid memory and emotional involvement is one of the leading causes of poor staking decisions. A ₦5,000 punt that feels like “settling the score” is a ₦5,000 punt that's likely to be poorly considered. The framework above strips out the emotional weight and leaves the actual question: what do current squad strength and form suggest? For value-focused bettors looking for edge, this fixture is one where the headline result market is heavily covered by the market makers, but secondary markets like first-half goals, total corners, and individual player props may offer more interesting numbers. Our role at betCompare is to help you find the operator offering the fairest price across all those markets, not to tell you which one to back. The framework we used here applies to every fixture in the tournament with prior tournament history. Save it and reuse it. Frequently Asked Questions What is the only World Cup meeting between England and Croatia? The 2018 semi-final in Moscow, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time. Croatia went on to lose the final to France. Have England and Croatia met since 2018? Yes, multiple times in qualifying, Nations League, and at Euro 2020. England's record across those competitions has been generally positive. Is Luka Modrić expected to feature in Croatia's 2026 squad? At the time of writing, Modrić's involvement remains likely subject to fitness. Confirm with current team news before placing any bet that depends on individual player participation. Where does this fixture sit in Group L? The full Group L kickoff schedule was confirmed by FIFA in December 2025. Confirm match dates against the current FIFA tournament schedule before placing any time-dependent bet. Should I just bet on the draw given how often these teams produce close matches? Draw markets are often statistically interesting in European matchups but require a clear thesis. Don't bet the draw simply because it feels safe; doing so without analysis is the same mistake as the H2H reflex. Conclusion England vs Croatia 2026 is one of the most discussable group-stage fixtures the draw produced. It also offers a clean test case for the head-to-head framework: a single, vivid World Cup result that everyone remembers but that contains no useful information about a match eight years later between completely different squads. The story is real. The data isn't. If you decide to bet this fixture, build the bet on current form, current squad depth, and the tactical setup each manager is likely to choose. We'll publish further breakdowns on the rest of Group L, including England's matches with Panama and Ghana, in the run-up to the tournament. Sports betting carries the risk of financial loss. Only stake what you can afford to lose. 18+ only. For support, visit BeGambleAware.org or GamCare. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Brazil and Scotland have met four times at the World Cup, in 1974, 1982, 1990, and 1998. Brazil have won three and drawn one, scored seven goals, conceded two, and never lost. By any measure, it's the deepest World Cup head-to-head record between any two teams meeting in 2026. It also tells you almost nothing about the upcoming fixture in Group C. This piece walks through how to read that contradiction. Table of Contents The four prior meetings Why four matches across 24 years is still a small sample How the markets are likely to price 2026 Applying our five-step framework What actually matters going into the rematch Common misconceptions about this fixture Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Related Resources Conclusion The Four Prior Meetings 1974 (West Germany, group stage): Brazil 0-0 Scotland. The reigning World Champions held by a Scotland side making one of their better tournament showings. Neither team progressed from the second group stage of that tournament; Brazil finished fourth, Scotland exited after the first group phase. 1982 (Spain, group stage): Brazil 4-1 Scotland. The 1982 Brazil side, widely regarded as one of the great non-champion teams in World Cup history, demonstrated their attacking class. Zico scored from a free kick, Oscar headed home, Eder added a third, Falcão completed the win. David Narey opened the scoring for Scotland before the Brazilian response. 1990 (Italy, group stage): Brazil 1-0 Scotland. Müller scored late after a Jim Leighton spill. A grinding Brazilian win in a low-scoring group. 1998 (France, group stage): Brazil 2-1 Scotland. César Sampaio gave Brazil an early lead, John Collins equalised from a penalty, Tom Boyd put through his own net for the eventual winner. Brazil went on to reach the final and lose to France. Across four matches, Brazil have not lost. Across four matches, Scotland have not won. Why four matches across 24 years is still a small sample Four matches sounds like a meaningful dataset until you remember the conditions. The 1974 meeting was 52 years before the 2026 fixture. The 1998 meeting was 28 years before. Across that span, both football cultures have undergone multiple complete regenerations. Brazil have rebuilt their squad five times since 1998. Scotland have had multiple major-tournament absences since 1998. The 1974 side and the 2026 side have absolutely nothing in common except the flag. The framework principle applies even more strongly to a four-match sample spread across decades than it does to a one-match sample. Old data does not become more reliable simply because there's more of it. How the markets are likely to price 2026 Brazil will open as heavy favourites. They will arrive at the 2026 tournament with one of the deepest attacking groups in the competition: Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Endrick, Lucas Paquetá, Bruno Guimarães. Their head coach by tournament time will have had over a year to settle on a structure. Scotland reach the 2026 World Cup as their second consecutive major tournament after Euro 2024. The squad is experienced, with John McGinn, Andrew Robertson, Scott McTominay, and Billy Gilmour as the spine. Steve Clarke (or his successor by 2026) has built a structurally disciplined side, but the gap in individual quality between Scottish and Brazilian football is substantial. The opening price for the fixture is likely to put Brazil around 1.25 to 1.40 decimal (around 71% to 80% implied probability), Scotland at 8.00 to 12.00 (around 8% to 12%), and the draw at around 5.50 to 6.50. Those numbers will shift as squad news emerges, but the broad shape is unlikely to change. Applying our five-step framework Step 1: Sample. Four World Cup meetings. This is the largest sample of any 2026 fixture, but four matches is still tiny by statistical standards. Step 2: Dates. 1974, 1982, 1990, 1998. The most recent was 28 years ago. The football played in those eras bears almost no resemblance to the football played in 2026, in tactics, fitness levels, or playing style. Step 3: Squads. Zero players from any of the four prior meetings will be active in 2026. The matchup is between two completely different national footballing programmes. Step 4: Context. All four prior meetings were group-stage fixtures, which adds a small piece of consistency. But the competitive context of a 16-team second-round group in 1974 is wildly different from a 48-team expanded group stage in 2026. The structural meaning of “group stage” has changed. Step 5: Current form. Brazil's recent form has been good without being dominant. Scotland's recent form has been solid for a tier-two European nation but is not at a level that suggests a competitive match against Brazil. The current form picture supports the market's heavy Brazil favouritism. The four prior results add narrative colour but no additional information. What actually matters going into the rematch For Brazil, the questions are squad cohesion at the back, midfield balance behind the front three, and the manager's tactical approach to fixtures where heavy favouritism can produce flat performances. Brazil have lost group-stage matches as favourites before (Cameroon 2022, for instance), so the favourite-tag risk is real. For Scotland, the question is simply whether they can frustrate Brazil for 70 minutes and minimise damage. Realistic outcomes for Scotland in this fixture include a 0-2, 1-2, or 0-1 result; an actual win would be a generational achievement. The tactical question is whether Clarke's compact defensive shape holds for long enough to keep the match competitive into the second half. The broader tournament question for Scotland is whether they can finish second or third in Group C and qualify for the round of 32. With Morocco and Haiti also in the group, that path is more open than it might appear from a glance at Brazil's name in the group header. Common misconceptions about this fixture “Brazil have never lost to Scotland, so this is a safe banker bet.” Brazil have never lost to a lot of teams. They've also lost to teams they had never lost to before. The 2-1 loss to Belgium in 2018, ending Brazil's tournament, came against an opponent Brazil had not lost to at the World Cup. Past undefeated records become past once they don't. “Scotland will struggle at altitude / conditions / etc.” Brazil's group-stage venues for 2026 will affect both teams. Conditions are not asymmetrically against Scotland in any structural way. “The 4-1 in 1982 shows Brazil's attacking dominance against Scotland.” It showed the 1982 Brazil's attacking dominance against the 1982 Scotland. A 4-1 result on a different decade against a different squad in a different football era is not transferable evidence. “Scotland can shock Brazil because of the 1974 draw.” The 1974 Scotland had Kenny Dalglish, Billy Bremner, and a squad assembled from Liverpool, Leeds, and Celtic at the height of British football. The 2026 Scotland is a different proposition. So is the 2026 Brazil. betCompare Insight For value-focused bettors, Brazil vs Scotland is the kind of fixture where the headline result market is heavily covered and where the search for edge often shifts to peripheral markets: total goals, both teams to score, first-half result, individual scorer props. The framework applies to those markets as well: a 1982 Brazil scoreline of 4-1 is not evidence about how many goals a 2026 Brazil vs Scotland match will produce. The relevant inputs are current attacking output, defensive setup, and tactical approach. For the broader audience, our role at betCompare is to help you compare what operators are offering on this fixture and to find the best price on whichever market you choose. The deepest head-to-head record in the entire 2026 draw is still a sample of four. Treat it accordingly. The framework we used here applies to every fixture in the tournament; reuse it as you build slips through the group stage. Frequently Asked Questions Has Scotland ever beaten Brazil? Not at the World Cup. They have not won in four prior tournament meetings. What was the closest match between the two? The 1974 group-stage 0-0 draw, and the 1990 1-0 Brazil win. Both were tight, low-scoring fixtures. Will Vinícius Júnior play in this match? Subject to fitness and squad selection, he is expected to be a key Brazilian attacker in 2026. Confirm with current team news before placing any bet that depends on individual player participation. Why is Brazil priced so much shorter than the H2H record might suggest? Brazil are not priced shorter because of the H2H record. They are priced shorter because they have substantially higher individual quality across the squad in 2026, and the operator's pricing reflects that current strength. H2H is already part of the public information set. Should Scotland fans avoid betting on this match emotionally? Emotional involvement in any specific fixture is a leading cause of poor staking decisions. The framework above is designed to strip out that emotional weight. If you can't read the match dispassionately, consider a smaller stake or skipping the fixture entirely. Conclusion Brazil vs Scotland has the deepest World Cup head-to-head record of any 2026 fixture, and one of the cleanest cases for why depth alone doesn't make a record useful. Four matches across 24 years, with five complete generations of player turnover, isn't a pattern in any usable sense. It's a string of stories that share the same flags. If you bet this fixture, lean on current squad strength, current form, and the tactical match-up between Brazil's front three and Scotland's defensive structure. We'll publish further breakdowns on Group C, including Brazil vs Morocco and the broader cluster, in the run-up to the tournament. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming, and the fixtures are out. France will face Senegal in Group I. England will face Croatia in Group L. Mexico will open the tournament against South Africa for the second World Cup running. Every one of those matches has prior history. None of it tells you what most bettors think it does. This guide explains how to read head-to-head data the right way: what it can tell you, what it can't, and where bettors most often go wrong. It's written for anyone who looks at a “their last three meetings” stat before placing a bet, especially on accumulators built around tournament football. Table of Contents What head-to-head history actually means How sportsbooks use head-to-head data when setting odds A five-step framework for reading past fixtures Expected value and variance: why even good readings lose Common mistakes bettors make with head-to-head data Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight Frequently Asked Questions Related Resources Conclusion What Head-to-Head History Actually Means Head-to-head history is the record of past meetings between two teams. At the World Cup specifically, it's the record of past tournament meetings, which is a much smaller dataset than the overall H2H record. Brazil and Morocco have met once at a World Cup before 2026. France and Senegal have met once. England and Croatia have met at three major tournaments. Mexico and South Africa have met once, and it was the opening match of the 2010 tournament. That's not a lot of data. The first thing to internalise is that World Cup H2H samples are tiny, typically one to four meetings, across decades, with different squads, different coaches, different physical conditions, and different stakes. A single match between two teams in 1998 tells you almost nothing about a meeting between the same two countries in 2026. The teams of 1998 don't exist anymore. The competition format has changed twice. Half the players in either squad weren't born then. H2H data is interesting. It's culturally rich. It makes for good pre-match conversation. What it is not, with rare exceptions, is predictively useful in isolation. How sportsbooks use head-to-head data when setting odds This is the part most bettors miss: by the time you see the odds, the operator has already accounted for whatever information H2H history contains. Sportsbooks employ traders whose job is to price every market efficiently. Recent form, squad strength, fitness, injury news, tactical matchups, and yes, historical patterns are all baked into the opening line. The line then moves as money comes in. So if you're looking at a France vs Senegal market and thinking “France have won every previous meeting, so France are good value at 1.40”, the operator priced that fact in before you saw it. The odds reflect the consensus view of probability, adjusted for the operator's margin. To find value, you need information the market hasn't priced in, or a view on existing information that the market has weighted incorrectly. Repeating a fact the market already knows is not edge. The implied probability of decimal odds 1.40 (2/5 in fractional) is roughly 71% before the operator's margin. The market is telling you it thinks France win seven times out of ten. That figure already contains everything publicly known about both teams, including their 2002 meeting. A five-step framework for reading past fixtures Use this checklist before letting any H2H stat influence a bet. Step 1: Count the sample. How many times have these two teams actually met at a World Cup? Two? Three? Once? If the answer is “fewer than five”, the statistical signal is essentially zero. Treat the data as context, not evidence. Step 2: Check the dates. A meeting from 1998 and a meeting from 2018 are not the same data point as two meetings in the same decade. Players, coaches, and tactical eras change everything. The further back you go, the less the result tells you about today. Step 3: Check the squads. Of the players who took the field in the prior meeting, how many are still active? Usually none, if the gap is more than ten years. If the squads are completely different, and at international level they almost always are, the previous result is a historical curio, not a form line. Step 4: Check the context of the prior meeting. A group-stage match between two teams already through to the knockouts is not the same as a winner-takes-all final. A friendly is not a competitive fixture. Note what was at stake, who was rotated, and whether the match was meaningful for both sides. Step 5: Compare to current form. Once you've done steps one to four, set the H2H data aside and look at the current picture: form in the last 12 months, squad availability, injuries, and the manager's tactical approach. If your view on the upcoming match contradicts what H2H history suggests, trust the current picture every time. Expected value and variance: why even good readings lose This is the part betCompare writers will not skip: no framework for reading data, no matter how careful, eliminates the operator's margin or the variance of football. Even if you apply this five-step process perfectly and arrive at a view that genuinely outperforms the market consensus, you will lose individual bets. Football is a low-scoring, high-variance sport. Single matches turn on a deflected shot, a missed penalty, a refereeing call. Reading H2H data well shifts the odds you're willing to take. It does not produce winning bets. It produces a slightly better long-run process, and “long run” means hundreds of bets, not three accumulators across a group stage. If you find yourself thinking “the H2H is so strong I can't lose this”, stop. That sentence is the loudest warning signal in betting. Common mistakes bettors make with head-to-head data The recency illusion. Treating the last meeting between two teams as more important than older meetings, when in fact older meetings often tell you just as little. One match is one match. The form-line fallacy. Assuming that because Team A beat Team B at the last World Cup, they're “favourites” for the next meeting. International squads change too much for this to hold. Confirmation bias. Noticing the H2H stats that support a bet you already want to place, and ignoring the ones that don't. The gambler's fallacy in reverse. “These teams have drawn three times in a row, so this one is bound to be a draw.” Past results don't cause future results. Each match is an independent event with its own probability distribution. Stake inflation. Letting strong H2H history push you to stake more than you'd ordinarily stake on a bet. This is the most expensive of the five mistakes. Responsible Gambling Reminder Betting on the World Cup, especially during the group stage when fixtures come thick and fast, is a period of elevated harm risk. Set a budget for the tournament before it starts, stake only what you can afford to lose, and use the deposit-limit and time-out tools your operator offers. If betting stops feeling like entertainment, support is available at BeGambleAware.org and GamCare. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over. betCompare Insight For accumulator bettors, the temptation during a World Cup is to add a “historically dominant” team to a slip on the basis of H2H data alone, often at short odds. The cost of that habit shows up across the tournament: a ₦5,000 slip that looks safe because every leg is historically favoured turns into a 4-fold at combined odds of 6.00, where a single upset voids the entire bet. Reading H2H data the right way means recognising that “historically favoured” and “currently favoured” are different claims, and the second is the only one the market is actually pricing. For the broader betting audience, our role at betCompare is to help you compare what operators are offering before you bet, not to tell you which side will win. Our methodology weighs odds quality, market depth, and bonus value across Nigeria's licensed sportsbooks so that whatever your read on a fixture, you're placing the bet at the best available price. The framework above applies to every match in every tournament, not just the 2026 World Cup. Save it, return to it, and apply it before adding any H2H-based leg to your slip. Frequently Asked Questions Does head-to-head history matter at all in football betting? It matters as context, not as evidence. H2H data tells you cultural stories about fixtures, including rivalries, famous upsets, and decisive results, but the predictive value for individual matches is low because samples are small and squads change. Why do sportsbooks display head-to-head stats so prominently then? Because bettors find them engaging. Operator product teams know that H2H widgets drive bet placement, especially among casual bettors. Their presence in the bet-slip experience is a marketing decision, not a statement about predictive power. Should I ever bet against the head-to-head record? Yes, when current form, squad strength, or matchup-specific factors point against it. The 2002 World Cup opener, where France lost 1-0 to Senegal despite having beaten Senegal in every previous meeting, is a textbook example. How is World Cup H2H different from club football H2H? Club teams play each other multiple times a season with relatively stable squads, so club H2H carries slightly more signal. International H2H, especially at World Cups, is typically one match every four to eight years with completely different squads, so signal is much lower. What if there is no prior World Cup head-to-head between two countries? That's the most common case at a 48-team World Cup. Use overall international H2H if you must, but apply the same five-step framework: small sample, old dates, different squads. Default to current form. Does the venue or host country affect head-to-head? Marginally. Home or neutral venue, climate, altitude, and travel can affect performance, but the market prices these factors. The 2026 tournament being staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will produce specific climate and travel factors that affect every team, not just those with prior H2H history. Conclusion Head-to-head history is one of the most consistently misused inputs in football betting. The temptation to read a 2002 result as evidence about a 2026 match is strong, and the way operators surface H2H data in the betting interface makes that temptation harder to resist. The five-step framework above is a discipline, not a prediction tool: a way to ensure history serves your decision rather than replacing it. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, we'll apply this framework to specific group-stage fixtures with rich prior history. Each piece will use the same five steps, look at how the markets are currently pricing the match, and end where this one does: with current form and squad picture as the things that actually carry information. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Bet9ja Multi Bonus: Full Terms, Wagering and Worked Example (2026) Introduction Bet9ja's Multi Bonus is the longest-running accumulator promotion in the Nigerian market, and one of the reasons the operator built its early following. The headline is simple: add enough qualifying legs to a multi-bet and your potential return is uplifted by a percentage that grows with each additional selection. The mechanics underneath are less simple, and that is where most bettors get tripped up. This review walks through how the Multi Bonus actually works, what each leg has to look like to qualify, what gets quietly excluded, and how a realistic weekend slip plays out under the promotion. Table of Contents What the Bet9ja Multi Bonus Offers Full Qualifying Terms Worked Example: ₦5,000 on a Weekend Acca Restrictions and Excluded Markets How to Claim the Multi Bonus How It Compares to Other Nigerian Acca Bonuses Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Conclusion What the Bet9ja Multi Bonus Offers The Multi Bonus is a percentage uplift applied to your potential winnings on qualifying pre-match accumulators. The more qualifying legs on the slip, the higher the bonus percentage applied to your total return. Unlike a deposit bonus, the Multi Bonus has no separate wagering requirement. It is not paid as bonus funds you need to roll over. Instead, it is added to your winnings automatically when your accumulator settles as a winner, provided every leg met the qualifying conditions. The structure rewards leg count. A small five-leg multi gets a modest single-digit uplift, while a long multi of twenty legs or more attracts a meaningfully larger percentage. The exact percentages and the qualifying leg thresholds are set out on Bet9ja's promotions page and have been adjusted over time, so the live page is always the right reference before placing a slip. Full Qualifying Terms For the Multi Bonus to apply, the slip must meet several conditions at once. Missing any one of them disqualifies the entire slip from the uplift, even if the underlying bet still wins. The cap matters more than most bettors realise. On a very long multi with a large potential return, the headline percentage uplift can look generous on paper but be capped well below the implied figure once the slip actually settles. Bet type: Pre-match multi-bet only. Single bets, system bets, and live (in-play) multis do not qualify for the standard Multi Bonus. Minimum number of legs: A minimum leg count applies before any uplift kicks in. [FLAG: confirm current minimum leg threshold; historically this has sat around five legs.] Minimum odds per leg: Each individual selection must meet or exceed a minimum odds floor. [FLAG: confirm current per-leg minimum; historically Bet9ja has set this at 1.20 or 1.30.] Eligible markets: Most main markets on football, basketball, and other major sports qualify. Some specials, virtuals, and certain prop markets are excluded. Maximum bonus cap: The Multi Bonus uplift is capped at a maximum naira amount per slip. [FLAG: confirm current maximum bonus cap.] Stake source: The slip must be placed using cash balance. Slips placed wholly or partly with free-bet tokens or promotional funds are typically excluded from the Multi Bonus. Worked Example: ₦5,000 on a Weekend Acca Here is how the Multi Bonus actually behaves on a realistic weekend slip. Figures are illustrative and assume the qualifying conditions are met on every leg. Adeola, a Lagos-based bettor, builds a ten-leg accumulator across Premier League, La Liga, and Champions League fixtures on a Saturday. Each selection is priced at decimal odds between 1.40 and 2.10. She stakes ₦5,000. Combined odds across the ten legs: 35.00 Potential return without Multi Bonus: ₦5,000 x 35.00 = ₦175,000 Multi Bonus percentage on a ten-leg qualifying slip: [FLAG: confirm current percentage at the ten-leg tier; historically in the region of 25–35%.] Assuming a 30% uplift for illustration: ₦175,000 x 30% = ₦52,500 added Total return if the slip wins in full: ₦227,500 That is the headline. Now the realistic part. For Adeola's slip to actually clear, all ten selections must win. A single stoppage-time equaliser on any one of the ten matches voids the entire slip, including the bonus. Bet9ja does not pay partial returns on a Multi Bonus accumulator when one leg fails (unless an acca-insurance-style promotion is separately active and the slip qualifies under those specific terms). In long-run probability terms, even with each leg priced at a respectable 1.70 average, the combined implied probability of all ten legs winning is roughly 1 in 35, before the operator's margin is factored in. The Multi Bonus uplift improves the expected return on the slip but does not change the underlying probability that the slip wins at all. That distinction is worth holding onto. Restrictions and Excluded Markets A few categories of bet are routinely excluded from the Multi Bonus, even when the slip otherwise looks like a qualifying multi. Live (in-play) selections, regardless of how many qualifying pre-match legs sit alongside them Virtual sports markets Certain specials, futures, and outright tournament-winner markets Some bet-builder or same-game-multi constructions, depending on how the slip is built Slips placed using free-bet tokens or promotional balance Adding even one excluded selection to an otherwise qualifying multi typically disqualifies the entire slip from the uplift. The slip still settles normally if it wins, but no Multi Bonus is paid on top. How to Claim the Multi Bonus The Multi Bonus is applied automatically. There is no opt-in step, no promo code, and no need to contact customer support. The steps below describe a normal qualifying slip. Log in to your Bet9ja account on web or mobile. KYC must be complete, which for Nigerian accounts means a verified BVN or NIN where required. Navigate to the sports section and add at least the minimum number of qualifying selections to your betslip. Confirm each leg is at or above the minimum odds floor. Check that all selections are pre-match (not live) and that none sit in the excluded-market list. Stake using cash balance, not free-bet tokens. Place the bet. The potential return shown should already include the Multi Bonus uplift, subject to the maximum bonus cap. If every leg wins, the bonus is paid automatically alongside the normal winnings, capped at the maximum payout figure. If the potential return displayed on the betslip does not include an uplift you expected, one of the qualifying conditions has not been met. The most common cause is a single sub-minimum-odds leg dragging the slip below the qualifying threshold. How It Compares to Other Nigerian Acca Bonuses Most Nigerian sportsbooks now offer some form of accumulator uplift. The structures vary, and the headline percentage is rarely the most useful comparison metric. Operator Promotion type Per-leg minimum odds Notes Bet9ja Multi Bonus, percentage uplift on winnings ~1.20–1.30 Largest legacy bonus structure, capped maximum payout SportyBet Acca uplift / multi-bet bonus Varies by current terms Often paired with shorter-leg eligibility BetKing King's Bonus / accumulator boost Varies Tier structure broadly comparable to Bet9ja's 1xBet Multi-leg accumulator promotion Varies Frequently includes additional acca-insurance components The right comparison metric is not the headline percentage. It is the combination of the per-leg minimum odds, the maximum bonus cap, and the practical odds floor needed to actually trigger the higher tiers. A 100% uplift that requires twenty qualifying legs at 1.30+ each is, in expected-value terms, often worth less than a 30% uplift that triggers at a more realistic leg count. Considerations The Multi Bonus is a long-standing, automatically-applied promotion with no separate wagering requirement, which puts it in better shape than many deposit-bonus structures. The honest considerations are about the mathematics of long accumulators, not about the promotion itself. The bookmaker's margin compounds across every leg. On a ten-leg multi, the combined overround eats meaningfully into the long-run expected value of the slip, and the Multi Bonus uplift only partially offsets that effect. The maximum bonus cap can become the binding constraint on very long multis. A twenty-leg slip with combined odds of 5,000+ will hit the cap long before the headline percentage delivers in full. Pre-match-only qualification rules out the cash-out behaviour and live-leg combinations that many accumulator bettors build into their slips. A single failed leg voids the entire slip and the bonus. Acca-insurance-style fallback is not a built-in part of the Multi Bonus, though Bet9ja has run separate insurance promotions in parallel from time to time. None of these is unique to Bet9ja. They are inherent to accumulator promotions across the Nigerian market. Responsible Gambling Reminder Accumulator bonuses look generous on the slip but they do not change the underlying probability that the slip wins. Long multis are entertainment with a long tail of losing slips between winners, and the Multi Bonus does not alter that. Stake only what you can comfortably lose. Set a weekly accumulator budget before you start building slips, not after a loss. Bet9ja offers deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion tools in account settings. betCompare Insight For the male accumulator bettor in his twenties or early thirties, balancing weekend slips alongside Premier League and NPFL fixtures, the Multi Bonus only does meaningful work when the slip is genuinely qualifying and the leg count is high enough to clear the bonus tier you are aiming for. Our methodology consistently shows that comparing per-leg minimum odds and the maximum bonus cap matters more than chasing the largest headline percentage. A ten-leg multi at ₦5,000 with a sensibly priced selection on each leg is a meaningfully better-shaped slip than a fifteen-leg multi padded with two or three sub-1.30 favourites that drag your variance up without improving your edge. For the female accumulator bettor building shared weekend multis with friends in Lagos, the Multi Bonus rewards a clear pre-match build rather than mid-match additions or live-leg combinations. The cleanest way to use it is to set the weekend budget first, build the slip in one sitting from pre-match markets only, and treat the bonus uplift as a small enhancement to a fundamentally entertainment-led bet rather than as a reason to add legs. Our accumulator comparison tools let you sit Bet9ja's Multi Bonus alongside SportyBet, BetKing, and 1xBet's equivalent promotions on the criteria that actually move expected value, rather than the criteria the headlines emphasise. Frequently Asked Questions Is the Bet9ja Multi Bonus applied automatically? Yes. There is no opt-in, no promo code, and no claim step. If the slip meets every qualifying condition, the uplift is included in the potential return shown on the betslip and paid automatically if the slip wins. Does the Multi Bonus apply to live (in-play) bets? No. The standard Multi Bonus is for pre-match multi-bets only. Adding any live selection to a slip disqualifies the entire slip from the uplift. What happens if one leg of my multi loses? The entire slip loses, and the bonus is not paid. The Multi Bonus does not include acca-insurance-style fallback. Bet9ja has run separate insurance promotions at various points, but those operate under their own terms. Can I combine the Multi Bonus with a free bet? No. Slips placed using free-bet tokens or other promotional balance are typically excluded from the Multi Bonus. The slip must be staked from cash balance to qualify. Is there a maximum I can win from the Multi Bonus? Yes. The uplift is capped at a maximum naira amount per slip. On very long multis with large potential returns, the cap becomes the binding constraint well before the headline percentage delivers in full. Does the Multi Bonus replace Bet9ja's welcome bonus? No. They are separate promotions. New customers can claim Bet9ja's welcome bonus on registration and, in parallel, place qualifying multi-bets that attract the Multi Bonus. Each promotion runs under its own terms. Conclusion The Bet9ja Multi Bonus remains one of the cleaner promotional structures in the Nigerian market: no wagering requirement, no opt-in step, no separate bonus balance to clear. It pays automatically on a winning qualifying slip, and that simplicity counts in its favour against deposit-bonus structures that require rollover at minimum odds before any value is unlocked. The honest read is that the Multi Bonus enhances a slip you were going to place anyway, but it does not by itself make long-multi accumulator betting a profitable long-run strategy. The combined operator margin across ten or more legs, the maximum bonus cap, and the binary nature of a multi that loses on a single failed leg all sit alongside the promotion and shape its real value. For weekend entertainment within a set budget, the Multi Bonus is a fair piece of value on top of slips already worth placing. For anything beyond that, the underlying maths of long multis matters more than the headline percentage. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Bet9ja Welcome Bonus Review (2026) Introduction Bet9ja is the most familiar name in Nigerian online betting, and its welcome bonus is one of the most-searched promotions in the market. The mechanic is straightforward: deposit, receive a matching bonus, wager the bonus at qualifying odds before you can withdraw the proceeds. The headline figure only means something with the full wagering breakdown attached. This article sets out exactly what Bet9ja currently offers new customers, the qualifying terms, a worked wagering example using a conservative ₦5,000 deposit, and whether the rollover is realistic for the average bettor. Table of Contents What the Bet9ja Welcome Bonus Offers Full Qualifying Terms Worked Example: ₦5,000 Deposit Through the Bonus Restrictions and Excluded Markets How to Claim the Bet9ja Welcome Bonus How It Compares to Other Nigerian Welcome Bonuses Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict What the Bet9ja Welcome Bonus Offers The Bet9ja welcome bonus is a first-deposit match for new customers. Bet9ja matches the value of your first deposit, with the maximum bonus capped at ₦100,000. A first deposit of ₦5,000 earns a ₦5,000 bonus, ₦50,000 earns ₦50,000, and a deposit of ₦100,000 or more still tops out at the ₦100,000 ceiling. The bonus is credited to your bonus balance and must be wagered to qualifying terms before any proceeds move to the cash balance and become withdrawable. There is a separate casino welcome offer alongside the sports welcome, structured as a smaller percentage match on a first casino deposit. The casino path is distinct from the sports path and carries its own wagering terms; the rest of this article focuses on the sports welcome bonus, which is the more widely used offer. Bet9ja also runs alternative promo-code offers that sit alongside the deposit match. Codes including 2500PROMO have been advertised in May 2026 for a ₦2,500 free bet on a qualifying first bet of ₦1,000 or more. These are smaller, simpler offers and are mutually exclusive with the deposit match in practice. Compare the two paths before claiming. Full Qualifying Terms The terms below reflect the standard structure of the Bet9ja sports welcome bonus. Verify the live terms on bet9ja.com before depositing, since operators update bonus mechanics frequently. Eligibility: new customers only, one bonus per account, household, IP address, and method. Minimum qualifying deposit: ₦100. Match percentage: 100% of the first deposit. Maximum bonus: ₦100,000. Wagering requirement: 10x rollover of the bonus amount within 30 days, on bets at minimum odds of 3.00. Eligible bet types: sports bets meeting the minimum odds threshold. Singles and accumulators both count provided the cumulative odds requirement is met. Bonus expiry: 30 days from credit. Any bonus balance below the minimum bet amount at expiry is forfeited. Excluded payment methods: bonuses are credited only on first deposits made through Bet9ja's listed online deposit channels. Deposits routed through third-party accounts do not qualify. Worked Example: ₦5,000 Deposit Through the Bonus Take a new customer who registers with Bet9ja and deposits ₦5,000 as their first deposit. The 100% match credits ₦5,000 to the bonus balance. The wagering requirement is 10x the bonus amount at minimum odds of 3.00, so the customer must place qualifying bets totalling ₦5,000 × 10 = ₦50,000 in cumulative stake. Two practical points follow. First, this is ₦50,000 of cumulative turnover, not ₦50,000 in losses. A winning bet rolls back into the bonus balance and can be re-staked to keep working through the wagering. Second, the 3.00 minimum odds requirement means each qualifying bet must clear that floor, either as a single selection at 3.00 or higher, or as an accumulator whose combined odds reach 3.00. To picture how this plays out, assume the customer places a series of ₦2,000 accumulator bets at combined odds around 3.50. Across roughly 25 bets, the cumulative stake hits the ₦50,000 wagering threshold. If a meaningful share of those bets win, the bonus balance grows and clears the 10x rollover comfortably within the 30 days. If most lose, the bonus is exhausted before the wagering is met and any remaining bonus balance is forfeited at the 30-day mark. The real cost of the bonus is not ₦50,000 of stake. It is the variance of running ₦50,000 of stake at minimum odds of 3.00, which means most of those bets lose. Treat the welcome bonus as a discounted run at higher-odds selections rather than as free money. Restrictions and Excluded Markets Cashed-out bets typically do not count toward the wagering requirement. If you cash out a qualifying acca, that stake is removed from the rollover calculation. System bets, void bets, and bets settled at odds lower than the placed odds do not contribute to the wagering on standard terms. Bets placed on events scheduled to settle after the 30-day expiry window do not count toward the wagering, even if those bets are placed within the window. Bonus abuse, including multi-accounting and stake patterns designed to bypass the wagering, voids the bonus and any proceeds. Bonus funds cannot be withdrawn directly. Only proceeds from completed wagering can move to the cash balance. How to Claim the Bet9ja Welcome Bonus Go to bet9ja.com and click Join Now (or open the Bet9ja mobile app). Complete the registration form with your phone number, email, name, and a password. Enter a promo code only if you are claiming a promo-code offer rather than the standard deposit match; the two paths are not stackable. Verify your account through the link sent to your email or the OTP sent to your phone. Make a first deposit of at least ₦100 using one of Bet9ja's listed online deposit methods. The 100% bonus is credited to your bonus balance automatically once the deposit clears. Place qualifying bets at minimum odds of 3.00 until the 10x wagering is met. Track your progress through the My Account section. Once wagering is cleared, the qualifying proceeds move to your cash balance and become withdrawable through Bet9ja's standard withdrawal flow. How It Compares to Other Nigerian Welcome Bonuses The table below sketches how the Bet9ja sports welcome offer sits against other Tier 1 Nigerian sportsbooks. Live terms change frequently, especially headline percentages and caps, and every row should be checked against the operator's current promotions page before any reader acts on it. Operator Headline Min Deposit Wagering Snapshot Bet9ja 100% up to ₦100,000 ₦100 10x at min odds 3.00, 30 days 1xBet Up to ₦600,000 across first deposits (sports) ₦1,700 Verify on operator site Surebet247 Up to ₦150,000 ₦300 12x at min odds 3.00, 3+ selections, 1X2 only SportyBet Verify on operator site Verify on operator site Verify on operator site BetKing Verify on operator site Verify on operator site Verify on operator site Two patterns are worth noticing. The very high headline caps quoted by international entrants like 1xBet come with correspondingly demanding wagering terms; the real value after rollover is often closer to the Bet9ja or Surebet247 offers than the headline numbers suggest. And the Bet9ja minimum deposit of ₦100 is genuinely low, which makes the bonus accessible to bettors who want to test the platform without committing real money up front. Considerations The 10x wagering at minimum odds of 3.00 is the heart of the offer, and it is more demanding than it looks. At 3.00 odds, the implied probability of any single selection is 33%, so two-thirds of qualifying selections will lose on average. Running ₦50,000 of cumulative stake at that hit rate is a high-variance exercise. Most customers will not clear the full rollover. The 30-day window adds time pressure. Customers who deposit, place a few bets, and then go quiet for a fortnight typically find the bonus has expired before they get back to it. If you are not planning to bet actively for at least the first two to three weeks after sign-up, the welcome bonus is not the right offer to claim. The promo-code alternative (such as the ₦2,500 free bet path) is a smaller offer but a simpler one. A free bet returns winnings only, not the stake, but the qualifying conditions are typically lighter than the deposit-match wagering. For a cautious new customer who wants to try the platform without committing real money to a rollover, the promo-code path can be the more honest choice. Responsible Gambling Reminder A welcome bonus is not free money. The wagering requirement is the price you pay for the matched funds, and most of that cost is real risk on real bets. Set a deposit limit before you sign up, only stake what you can afford to lose, and use Bet9ja's responsible gambling tools, which include deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion through the account settings. If betting stops being enjoyable, support is available at BeGambleAware.org and GamCare. betCompare Insight For the new bettor signing up at Bet9ja for the first time: the ₦100 minimum deposit makes this welcome bonus one of the most accessible in Nigeria, but accessible does not mean easy. Clearing 10x wagering at 3.00 minimum odds inside 30 days is a real piece of work, and most casual bettors do not get there. If your plan is to deposit ₦2,000 and bet weekend Premier League fixtures one slip at a time, the smaller ₦2,500 free bet path through a promo code will usually leave you better off than chasing the rollover on a ₦2,000 bonus. For the bonus-driven bettor running multiple accounts: Bet9ja's offer is structurally honest by Nigerian Tier 1 standards. 10x at 3.00 is demanding, but it is clearer than the very-high-headline-low-real-value offers from some international entrants. Stack the welcome bonus with Bet9ja's separate accumulator Multiple Boost on qualifying acca slips, since the two products work independently. Run your acca odds through our comparison tools before each slip, since Bet9ja's odds on Premier League and Champions League fixtures are competitive but not always the best price in the market. Frequently Asked Questions Is there a Bet9ja promo code I need to use? No, the standard 100% deposit match is credited automatically on a qualifying first deposit and does not require a code. Promo codes apply to separate, alternative offers like the ₦2,500 free bet path, and the two are not stackable. Can I withdraw my Bet9ja welcome bonus immediately? No. The bonus is credited to your bonus balance and must be wagered 10x at minimum odds of 3.00 within 30 days. Only proceeds from completed wagering move to the withdrawable cash balance. What is the minimum deposit to qualify? ₦100. Any first deposit at or above that level activates the 100% match up to the ₦100,000 cap. Does the bonus apply to live betting and accumulators? Yes, as long as the bets meet the 3.00 minimum odds requirement. Accumulators with combined odds at or above 3.00 contribute toward the wagering, as do single selections priced at 3.00 or higher. What happens if I do not finish the wagering in 30 days? Any remaining bonus balance is forfeited at the 30-day expiry. Bets placed within the window but settling after it do not count toward the wagering. Can existing Bet9ja customers claim the welcome bonus? No. The welcome bonus is restricted to new customers, with one bonus per account, household, IP address, and payment method. Conclusion The Bet9ja welcome bonus is a structurally fair offer wrapped around a demanding wagering requirement. The ₦100 minimum deposit and the ₦100,000 ceiling on the match make it accessible at the bottom and meaningful at the top, and the 100% match itself is competitive against the rest of the Nigerian Tier 1 field. Where it gets harder is the 10x rollover at 3.00 minimum odds inside 30 days, which most casual bettors will not complete. For an active bettor who plans to place multiple qualifying acca slips a week and is comfortable with the variance of 3.00-odds selections, the welcome bonus is worth claiming. For a cautious new customer placing one or two slips a week, the smaller ₦2,500 free bet path through a promo code is often the more honest choice. Compare the two before depositing, and decide based on how you actually bet rather than on which headline figure is bigger. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Every new SportyBet customer in Nigeria sees a headline welcome offer the moment they land on the registration page. The percentage looks generous. What it does not show you is the rollover sitting behind it. This review breaks down exactly what the bonus is, what the qualifying terms require in plain ₦ amounts, and what a realistic clearing attempt looks like on a typical weekend of football. Table of Contents What the Bonus Offers Full Qualifying Terms Wagering Requirement Worked Example Restrictions and Excluded Markets How to Claim How It Compares to Alternatives Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict What the Bonus Offers SportyBet Nigeria's welcome bonus is a 150% match on your first deposit, up to a maximum bonus of ₦100,000. Make a ₦10,000 qualifying deposit and SportyBet credits ₦15,000 in bonus funds to your account. Deposit ₦66,667 and you hit the ceiling, receiving ₦100,000 in bonus funds. The bonus is a deposit bonus, not a free bet. That distinction matters: the bonus funds themselves are not withdrawable, but any winnings you generate from bets placed with those funds can be withdrawn once you have cleared the rollover requirement. No promo code is needed. The bonus is triggered automatically on your first deposit. Minimum deposit to qualify: ₦100 Maximum bonus: ₦100,000 Bonus type: Deposit match (bonus funds, not withdrawable until rollover is met) Promo code required: No Full Qualifying Terms Term Detail Bonus percentage 150% of first deposit Maximum bonus ₦100,000 Minimum qualifying deposit ₦100 Rollover (wagering) requirement 5x the bonus amount Minimum odds per qualifying bet 3.00 or higher (cumulative odds on accumulator) Bet type required Accumulator bets; single bets do not appear to count towards rollover Expiry 30 days from bonus credit Promo code None required Bonus nature Bonus funds (not withdrawable; winnings withdrawable after rollover met) The odds threshold is the term that catches most new bettors out. Bets placed at combined odds below 3.00 do not count towards your rollover. An accumulator containing mostly odds-on selections may not qualify, even if the individual selections look safe. Compare Betting Odds Wagering Requirement Worked Example Deposit: ₦5,000 SportyBet credits 150% of ₦5,000 = ₦7,500 in bonus funds. Your rollover requirement is 5x the bonus amount: 5 × ₦7,500 = ₦37,500 in qualifying bets. Those ₦37,500 must be placed on accumulator bets at combined odds of 3.00 or higher, within 30 days of the bonus being credited. At ₦2,500 per accumulator stake, you would need to place 15 qualifying accumulator bets to clear the rollover. Over a 30-day period, that is roughly one every two days. For a bettor who places a small weekend accumulator on Premier League or NPFL fixtures, this is achievable but requires consistent engagement across the full period. The honest read: A ₦5,000 deposit clears more comfortably than a ₦30,000 one. At larger deposit levels, the rollover in absolute ₦ terms becomes significantly harder to reach within the 14-day window that some third-party sources report for higher stakes. Verify the exact validity window for your deposit tier directly with SportyBet before committing a larger amount. Restrictions and Excluded Markets Several conditions limit which bets count towards the rollover: Single bets: Based on the available terms, single bets do not contribute to clearing the rollover. You need accumulators. Minimum odds: The combined odds on your accumulator must be 3.00 or higher. A two-leg accumulator at 1.80 and 1.60 (combined 2.88) would not qualify, for instance. Cashed-out bets: If you cash out a bet in full, it does not count towards the rollover. A partial cash-out means only the remaining active stake counts. Cancelled or postponed selections: If a selection is cancelled or a match is postponed, that selection's odds are typically reset to 1.00 for bonus-calculation purposes. Your accumulator may still stand, but that leg contributes nothing. Casino and virtual sports: This is a sports betting welcome bonus. Bets placed on virtual sports, casino games, or other non-sportsbook products do not count towards the rollover. How to Claim Visit sportybet.com/ng and tap Register. Enter your Nigerian mobile number and create a password. No username is required; SportyBet uses your phone number as your account identifier. Verify your account via the OTP sent to your registered number. Navigate to Deposit and choose your payment method (bank transfer, Opay, Palmpay, Verve/Mastercard debit card, or USSD via *5006*Your Customer ID#). Make your first deposit of at least ₦100. The bonus is credited automatically. Check your balance: the bonus funds appear separately from your cash balance. Access your gifts via the Gifts and Promotions section in your account profile. Place accumulator bets at odds of 3.00 or higher to work towards the rollover within 30 days. KYC note: SportyBet requires BVN and NIN verification before your first withdrawal. Complete this early, as the process can delay access to winnings if left until after you have cleared the bonus. How It Compares to Alternatives Operator Welcome Offer Rollover Min. Odds Expiry SportyBet 150% up to ₦100,000 5x bonus amount 3.00 (accumulators) 30 days Bet9ja 170% up to ₦100,000 5x bonus + deposit 1.50 (singles eligible) 30 days BetKing 100% up to ₦100,000 5x (accumulators) 1.40 per selection 30 days MSport 100% up to ₦50,000 10x 3.00 30 days Verify current terms with each operator before claiming. Bonus structures change frequently. SportyBet's 150% percentage is competitive. The 5x rollover is at the friendlier end of the Nigerian market. The key differentiator to watch is the minimum odds threshold: at 3.00 for accumulators, it is higher than BetKing's 1.40 per selection and Bet9ja's 1.50 single-bet eligibility. Bettors who prefer lower-risk accumulators made up of short-priced selections may find the rollover harder to clear here than on competing platforms. Considerations The odds requirement is stricter than it appears. A 3.00 combined odds threshold means a two-leg accumulator needs each leg to average 1.73 or higher. Many weekend Premier League accumulators combining heavy favourites will fall below this threshold and contribute nothing to your rollover. The 14-day window risk at larger deposits. Multiple sources suggest the effective clearing window tightens for higher-value bonuses. If the validity period for your deposit tier is 14 days rather than 30, clearing 5x on a ₦100,000 bonus (₦500,000 in qualifying bets) within that period would be challenging for the typical bettor. Verify the precise terms for your deposit amount on the operator's promotions page before depositing. No welcome bonus currently showing on the promotions page. At the time of writing (May 2026), SportyBet's own promotions page showed no active promotions listed. The welcome bonus terms referenced in this review are sourced from third-party testing and the operator's registration flow. Confirm the offer is active and that the terms match before depositing. If the offer has changed or paused, do not proceed on the assumption this review reflects the live state. The bonus is not free money. ₦15,000 in bonus funds on a ₦10,000 deposit requires ₦75,000 in qualifying accumulator turnover before a single naira of bonus winnings can be withdrawn. Factor that into your expectations. Responsible Gambling Reminder SportyBet's welcome bonus is designed to extend your first betting session, not to provide income. Set a deposit limit before you start and decide upfront what you are comfortable placing during the 30-day clearing period. SportyBet offers deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion through your account settings. Use them. If betting stops being enjoyable at any point, support is available at BeGambleAware.org and GamCare. 18+ only. betCompare Insight For a new bettor (NEWM/NEWF) exploring Nigerian sportsbooks for the first time, the SportyBet welcome offer is one of the more accessible entry points in the market. The ₦100 minimum deposit means you can test the platform and qualify for the bonus at very low cost, with a rollover that is genuinely achievable at small stakes. A ₦2,000 first deposit yields ₦3,000 in bonus funds and a ₦15,000 rollover requirement. On a busy Premier League weekend, that is manageable. The key habit to build from the start: always check the combined odds on your accumulator slip before confirming, and make sure it sits at 3.00 or above. For the bonus-driven bettor (BBM/BBF) comparing welcome offers across the market, SportyBet's 150% percentage is attractive, but the 3.00 accumulator odds threshold is the variable that will determine whether it delivers real value. If you build accumulators around competitive Premier League or Champions League fixtures, reaching 3.00 combined odds across two or three selections is straightforward. If you favour heavy-favourite multiples, you will find Bet9ja or BetKing's terms more forgiving. Use our comparison tools to weigh the full terms before committing your first deposit to any operator. Frequently Asked Questions Is a promo code needed to claim the SportyBet welcome bonus? No. The bonus is credited automatically to your account after your first deposit. No code is required at registration. Can I withdraw the bonus funds directly? No. The bonus itself is not withdrawable. You must meet the 5x rollover requirement on accumulator bets at minimum combined odds of 3.00 before any bonus winnings can be withdrawn. Your original deposited cash remains available to withdraw at any time, provided KYC verification is complete. Do single bets count towards the rollover? Based on the available terms, single bets do not qualify. Bets must be accumulators placed at combined odds of 3.00 or higher. Confirm this on the operator's terms page before you begin wagering. What happens if my bonus expires before I clear the rollover? Any uncleared bonus funds and winnings generated from those funds are forfeited. Your deposited cash balance is not affected. Can I cash out bets placed with bonus funds? A full cash-out on a bet placed with bonus funds means that bet does not count towards your rollover. A partial cash-out means only the remaining active stake portion counts. Cashing out to protect winnings will slow your rollover progress. What payment methods can I use to make the qualifying deposit? SportyBet Nigeria accepts bank transfer, Opay, Palmpay, Verve, Mastercard and Visa debit cards, and USSD (*5006*Your Customer ID#). Verify current availability on the cashier page, as card processing availability in Nigeria changes periodically. Conclusion SportyBet's welcome offer has a lot going for it structurally: no promo code required, a low ₦100 minimum qualifying deposit, a 5x rollover that sits at the friendlier end of the Nigerian market, and a 30-day clearing window. For new bettors experimenting with small stakes, it is one of the more approachable entry bonuses available. The limitation is the odds threshold. At 3.00 combined odds on accumulators, the qualifying bet requirement is harder to meet than it looks, particularly for bettors who prefer safer, lower-odds selections. Before depositing, check the operator's promotions page to confirm the offer is active and the terms match what is described here. If the rollover structure suits how you already bet, the bonus represents genuine added value. If it does not, our comparison tools can help you find an offer that fits your style better. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction SportyBet’s 1Up feature settles your football bet as a winner the moment your selected team takes a one-goal lead, regardless of the final score. It looks generous on the surface, and in some matches it is. The trade-off is that 1Up odds are shorter than the standard match-result odds on the same selection, which is the operator’s cost of carrying the early-settlement risk. This article breaks down exactly how 1Up works, what qualifies, and what you give up in return for that quicker payout. Table of Contents What 1Up Offers Full Qualifying Terms Worked Example: ₦5,000 on 1Up vs Standard 1X2 Restrictions and Excluded Markets How to Use 1Up on Your Bet Slip How 1Up Compares to Similar Features Considerations Responsible Gambling Reminder betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Verdict What 1Up Offers 1Up is an early-payout market on the Full Time Result (1X2) selection. You back the home team or the away team in the 1Up version of the market rather than the standard 1X2. If your selected team goes one goal ahead at any point during regulation play, your bet is settled as a winner immediately. From that point, the rest of the match does not matter for your slip. Even if the opposing team equalises and goes on to win 3-1, your 1Up selection stays paid. The feature works on singles and on multi-leg accumulators. On an acca, each 1Up leg is treated independently: a leg that meets the 1Up trigger is settled as won, while the other legs continue to run as normal. SportyBet also offers a 2Up variant, which works in the same way but requires a two-goal lead. Full Qualifying Terms The terms below reflect the standard structure of 1Up as currently offered. Verify the live terms on SportyBet’s promotions page before placing a slip, since the operator may update eligible competitions or odds adjustments. Eligible market: the dedicated 1Up version of Full Time Result (1X2). The standard 1X2 market is not eligible. Eligible competitions: selected football leagues and tournaments only. Coverage typically includes the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, and a number of international fixtures. Not every match in these competitions carries a 1Up market. Bet types: pre-match singles and pre-match accumulators. In-play bets do not qualify. Timing of the trigger: the team must go one goal ahead during the regulation 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shoot-out goals do not count. Cash-out: if you fully cash out a bet, 1Up no longer applies. If you partially cash out, 1Up applies to the remaining active stake only. Voided legs: a void leg on an acca is removed from the slip in the usual way, with the remaining legs recalculated. Worked Example: ₦5,000 on 1Up vs Standard 1X2 Imagine a Premier League fixture with Manchester City at home to Newcastle. Standard 1X2 odds on a Manchester City win sit at 1.50. The dedicated 1Up market on Manchester City for the same fixture is priced at 1.30. You stake ₦5,000. Scenario A: Manchester City go 1-0 up in the 38th minute and Newcastle equalise late to make it 1-1. On the standard 1X2 market, your ₦5,000 is gone. On the 1Up market, your bet settled the moment Manchester City scored. You receive ₦5,000 × 1.30 = ₦6,500, a profit of ₦1,500. Scenario B: Manchester City win 2-0. On standard 1X2, you collect ₦5,000 × 1.50 = ₦7,500, a profit of ₦2,500. On 1Up, you collect ₦6,500, a profit of ₦1,500. The match-winning outcome is the same, but you have given up ₦1,000 of profit for the protection 1Up offered. The trade is straightforward: 1Up converts a portion of your potential profit into insurance against a late comeback or equaliser. If you back a team you expect to score first but worry about closing out the game, 1Up shifts that risk off your slip. If you back a heavy favourite expected to win comfortably, you are giving up real value for protection you may not need. Restrictions and Excluded Markets 1Up is not universal. Common restrictions include: Only the 1Up version of the 1X2 market qualifies. Double Chance, Draw No Bet, Asian Handicap, Both Teams to Score, Over/Under and other markets do not. The Draw selection in 1Up is settled in the same way as a standard 1X2 draw and carries no early-payout mechanic, since there is no team to “go ahead”. Cup ties decided on extra time or penalties: 1Up applies only to regulation play. Matches that are abandoned before half-time are typically voided in line with SportyBet’s general bet settlement rules. Where the trigger has already occurred, settlement may stand; verify on the operator’s rules page if in doubt. The feature is unavailable in-play, which is the point: pre-match selection is what allows the operator to price the 1Up odds. How to Use 1Up on Your Bet Slip Open the SportyBet app or website and navigate to the football section. Filter by 1Up-eligible competitions or look for the 1Up label on individual fixtures. Open the fixture and find the Full Time Result (1X2) 1Up market on the event page. Select Home, Draw, or Away within the 1Up market. The 1Up odds will be shorter than the equivalent standard 1X2 odds. Add the selection to your bet slip. Confirm the 1Up label is visible on the slip alongside your selection. For an accumulator, repeat for each leg you want covered by 1Up. You can mix 1Up legs with standard selections on the same slip. Enter your stake and place the bet. Track your slip in Open Bets. If a 1Up leg triggers, it will move to a settled-as-won state while the remaining match plays out and any other legs continue. How 1Up Compares to Similar Features Several Nigerian operators now offer comparable early-payout markets. The mechanics are broadly similar, but availability and breadth differ. Feature SportyBet 1Up Bet9ja 1Up MSport 1Up Trigger Team 1 goal ahead in regulation Team 1 goal ahead in regulation Team 1 goal ahead in regulation Eligible market Dedicated 1Up 1X2 Dedicated 1Up 1X2 Standard 1X2 (in-app trigger) Available on singles Yes Yes Yes Available on accas Yes, leg-by-leg Yes, leg-by-leg Yes Includes 2Up variant Yes Yes No (1Up only at launch) Launched in Nigeria Live as of 2025 June 2025 December 2025 Cash-out interaction Voided on full cash-out Voided on full cash-out Confirm in-app The 2Up variant is worth noting. A 2Up market pays out only when your team goes two goals ahead, which is a tougher trigger but carries a smaller odds reduction relative to the standard 1X2 price. SportyBet offers both 1Up and 2Up; some competitors offer only one. Considerations 1Up is not free protection. The shaved odds are a real cost, and on heavy favourites that cost can outweigh the variance protection. A team priced at 1.30 on standard 1X2 might appear at around 1.15 to 1.20 on 1Up, which is a smaller margin of profit for a similar outcome. Three considerations to weigh before adding 1Up to a slip: The protection only triggers if your team goes ahead at all. If they lose 0-1 or draw 0-0 without ever leading, 1Up offers nothing your standard 1X2 selection would not. You have paid the lower price for the same result. The protection is most valuable on matches where you expect goals from your team but worry about defensive collapse. Open, end-to-end fixtures suit 1Up. Tight, low-scoring matches between defensively organised sides suit it less. The feature is competition-specific. Always confirm the 1Up market is listed on the fixture before selecting it. If you select the standard 1X2 by mistake, the early-payout mechanic does not apply. betCompare Insight For the accumulator builder, 1Up is most useful when one or two of your legs sit on heavy favourites you trust to score first but not necessarily close out. On a five-fold including Liverpool at home and Bayern at home, applying 1Up to those two legs alone preserves the slip if either lets in a late equaliser, while keeping the other three legs on standard odds. Our own slip tests on weekend fixtures suggest the odds reduction averages around 10% to 15% per 1Up leg, which is the price you should weigh against the late-equaliser risk on that specific match. For the casual weekend bettor placing a ₦2,000 to ₦5,000 single, the calculation is simpler. If you are backing a side with a top-six attack but a leaky defence, 1Up is worth the shaved odds. If you are backing a defensively dominant side that wins low-scoring matches, you are paying for protection you rarely need. Our comparison tools let you check 1Up odds against the standard 1X2 across operators side by side, so you can see exactly what each operator’s early-payout price is costing you. Frequently Asked Questions Is 1Up only available on football? Yes. 1Up is a football-specific early-payout market. SportyBet does not currently offer a 1Up equivalent on basketball, tennis or other sports. What happens if my team takes the lead and then the match is abandoned? SportyBet’s general rules for abandoned matches apply. Where the 1Up trigger has already occurred and the match is later abandoned, the settled status typically stands, but verify on the rules page for the specific competition. Can I combine 1Up legs and standard legs on the same accumulator? Yes. The 1Up status is set on a per-selection basis. Some legs on a slip can use 1Up while others remain on standard markets. Do 1Up odds change after I place my bet? No. The 1Up odds at the time of placement are locked in, the same as standard pre-match odds. Does cash-out work on 1Up bets? Partial cash-out is supported in most cases, with the 1Up mechanic remaining on the residual stake. A full cash-out closes the bet and removes the 1Up protection. Is 1Upthe same as acca insurance? No. Acca insurance refunds your stake (usually as a free bet) when one leg of an acca loses. 1Up settles an individual selection as won when an in-match condition is met. They are different products and can sit on the same slip. Conclusion 1Up is a useful, well-designed feature for bettors who want to reduce the sting of late equalisers on football slips. The mechanics are clean, the trigger is straightforward, and the per-leg flexibility on accumulators is genuinely valuable. The price is the odds compression, which is real and which scales with the standard price of the selection. On open fixtures where you back a team with attacking form but defensive question marks, 1Up is often worth the cost. Where 1Up disappoints is on heavily favoured selections in low-scoring leagues, where the odds reduction can swallow most of the potential profit for protection you may not need. Treat it as one tool among several rather than a default setting. Compare the 1Up price against the standard 1X2 price for every selection, decide whether the variance protection is worth the cost on that specific match, and never use it to talk yourself into a slip you would not have placed at standard odds. Compare Betting Odds Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Nigerian sportsbooks and casinos compete fiercely on bonuses. Walk into any operator's promotions page and you will see welcome offers, free bets, accumulator insurance, odds boosts, cashback, reload bonuses, VIP perks, and a long list of sport-specific promotions. The headline figures are eye-catching: "100% up to ₦100,000", "Get a ₦5,000 free bet", "10% acca boost", "Cashback every Monday". The problem is that each bonus carries its own mechanics, qualifying terms, and wagering conditions. The real value of any bonus is rarely the headline number. It sits in the small print: rollover requirements, minimum odds, eligible markets, expiry windows, and maximum stake caps. This guide catalogues every bonus type and promotional feature you are likely to encounter at a licensed Nigerian betting site in 2026. For each, we explain how the mechanic works, the terms to watch, and how to assess realistic value. The aim is to give you a working reference so you can read any promotion you come across, understand what is actually on offer, and decide whether it fits your style. We do not rank operators in this guide. Every bonus example uses conservative stakes and illustrative terms, because the point is to teach you to read bonuses, not to chase any specific one. Table of Contents What Betting Bonuses Are and Why They Exist How a Bonus Actually Works The Full Inventory: Every Bonus Type at a Glance Benefits and Common Mistakes Decision Framework: Which Bonus Suits You? Regulatory Framework Responsible Gambling Considerations betCompare Insight FAQs Related Resources Conclusion What Betting Bonuses Are and Why They Exist A betting bonus is a promotional incentive offered by an operator to encourage you to register, deposit, place a bet, return after a quiet period, or shift activity to a specific product such as accas, virtuals, or casino. Bonuses are not gifts. They are marketing spend designed to acquire new customers, increase deposit frequency, and retain active ones. For the operator, the maths is straightforward. The cost of issuing the bonus is set against expected customer lifetime value. Wagering requirements exist to ensure that bonus funds are recycled through the sportsbook, so the operator recovers margin before any bonus winnings can be withdrawn. For you, the question is not "is this bonus free money?" because no bonus is free. The question is "does the value I get from this bonus exceed the cost I incur to claim it, in time, in risk, and in stake commitment?" How a Bonus Actually Works Almost every Nigerian betting bonus follows a similar lifecycle: Qualification. You meet the eligibility condition. This is usually registering a new account, making a qualifying deposit, placing a qualifying bet, or being an active customer in a defined period. Issuance. The operator credits the bonus to your account. It may sit in a separate bonus wallet or be applied as a bet credit. Wagering or qualifying use. Most bonuses come with a wagering requirement (rollover) or a single-use qualifying-bet condition. Wagering means turning over the bonus amount (or deposit plus bonus) a set number of times at minimum odds. Conversion. Once wagering is complete, the bonus funds (or winnings derived from them) become withdrawable real money. Expiry. Bonuses have a deadline. If you do not complete the conditions by then, the bonus and any winnings tied to it are forfeited. The two terms that determine real value are the wagering multiple (5x, 10x, 20x) and the minimum odds required for qualifying bets. Higher multiples and higher minimum odds mean more turnover, more variance, and a lower probability of converting the bonus to cash. The Full Inventory: Every Bonus Type at a Glance The table below compares the main bonus categories on the dimensions that matter most: how value is delivered, whether the stake counts in winnings, the typical wagering shape, and the bettor profile most likely to benefit. Specific values vary by operator and change frequently, so always verify current terms on the operator's promotions page before claiming. Bonus type Typical headline Stake returned with winnings? Typical wagering Best suited to Welcome (deposit match) 100% up to ₦100,000 Yes (cash stake) 3x-10x at min odds 2.00-3.00 New account holders depositing modest amounts No-deposit bonus ₦500-₦2,000 on sign-up Bonus-only mechanics 30x+, low withdrawable cap Bettors trying the product, not chasing cash Free bet (qualifying-bet type) Bet ₦5,000, get ₦2,000 free bet No (winnings only) Often single-use, min odds typically 1.50-2.00 Bettors who would place the qualifying bet anyway Risk-free bet ₦5,000 risk-free first bet Refund as free bet if lost One-time qualifying condition Cautious first-time depositors Acca insurance One-leg refund as free bet No (free bet mechanic) 5+ legs, combined odds 4.00+ Regular multi-leg accumulator bettors Acca boost Up to 50% on returns Yes None separate; built into the slip Bettors already building large accas Odds boost Enhanced price on a selection Yes Stake cap (₦5,000-₦10,000 common) Value-conscious bettors who line-shop Cashback 5%-10% of net losses Credited as bonus funds 1x-5x rollover on cashback Higher-frequency bettors with defined budgets Cash-out Settle early at current value Operator margin applies None In-play bettors managing exposure Reload bonus 10%-50% deposit match Yes 3x-8x at min odds 2.00-3.00 Returning customers, post-quiet period Loyalty / VIP Points, perks, or tier benefits Varies by reward Varies High-frequency or high-stake regulars Free spins 10-100 spins at fixed value Winnings as bonus funds 30x-50x on winnings Slot players exploring new titles Casino welcome 100%-200% match Yes 30x-50x Casino-first customers Early payout Two goals ahead = paid out Yes (settled at original odds) None Football bettors backing favourites Boosted markets Pre-set combo at inflated price Yes Often stake cap Event-led bettors on marquee fixtures Acquisition Bonuses Acquisition bonuses target new customers who have not previously registered. They are typically the largest headline figures an operator offers, because the operator is bidding for your first deposit and the customer lifetime that follows. Welcome Bonus (Deposit Match) The most common acquisition bonus. The operator matches your first deposit by a percentage, up to a stated cap. Common structures in Nigeria include "100% up to ₦100,000" and "200% up to ₦50,000". Key terms to verify: Minimum qualifying deposit (often ₦1,000-₦2,000) Wagering multiple (commonly 3x to 10x of deposit plus bonus, or bonus alone) Minimum odds per qualifying bet (typically 2.00 to 3.00) Eligible markets (some exclude system bets, void selections, or specific sports) Expiry window (often 7 to 30 days) If wagering applies to deposit plus bonus: Required turnover = (Deposit + Bonus) × Wagering multiple If wagering applies to bonus only: Required turnover = Bonus × Wagering multiple 3x-5x rollover at 2.00-2.50 minimum odds is generally realistic for a recreational bettor. 6x-10x rollover at 3.00+ minimum odds is challenging; expect to lose the bonus more often than convert it. 15x+ rollover at any odds should be treated as entertainment, not a value opportunity. A "100% up to ₦100,000" headline does not mean you receive ₦100,000 unless you deposit ₦100,000. A casual bettor depositing ₦5,000 would receive a ₦5,000 bonus, paired with a wagering requirement on the combined ₦10,000. No-Deposit Bonus Less common in Nigeria but still seen, particularly on casino and virtuals products. The operator credits a small bonus (often ₦500-₦2,000) for registration alone, without requiring a deposit. These bonuses almost always carry the highest wagering multiples (often 30x or more) and the lowest withdrawable caps. Treat them as a chance to test the product rather than a path to cash. Deposit Method Bonus A percentage top-up applied when you fund your account with a specific channel. Operators use these to push lower-cost payment methods. Common in Nigeria on USSD deposits, bank transfers, and Opay or Palmpay funding. Verify whether the method bonus is in addition to the welcome bonus or replaces it. Some operators stack; many do not. Free Bet Structures Free bets are bonus stakes you can place on selected markets. Their critical feature is what happens to the stake itself. Free Bet (Qualifying-Bet Type) The operator awards a free bet, typically after you place a qualifying real-money wager (e.g., "Bet ₦5,000, get a ₦2,000 free bet"). Stake is not returned with winnings. If you place a ₦2,000 free bet at odds of 3.00 and it wins, your account is credited with ₦4,000, which is the ₦6,000 return minus the ₦2,000 stake portion. This is the single biggest misunderstanding in bonus reading. A ₦5,000 free bet at 2.50 odds does not pay ₦12,500 if it wins. It pays ₦7,500 (₦12,500 minus ₦5,000 stake). Risk-Free Bet The operator promises to refund your stake (usually as a free bet, occasionally as real cash) if your first qualifying wager loses. "Bet ₦5,000 risk-free" typically means: if your bet loses, you receive a ₦5,000 free bet; if it wins, your stake stays in play. Read carefully. The refund is almost always a free bet, not cash. Combined with the free-bet mechanic above, the actual cash value is materially lower than the headline. Money-Back Special A promotion attached to a specific fixture or market. Common examples: "Money back if your first goal scorer is sent off", "Money back if Arsenal win 1-0", "Stake refunded as free bet if the match ends 0-0". These are tactical promotions with narrow conditions. They work for fans of the specific fixture and rarely justify reshaping your normal staking pattern. Odds Enhancements Odds-based promotions increase the payout on a winning bet without altering the stake mechanic. Odds Boost / Price Boost The operator offers enhanced odds on a selected market. A team priced at 1.80 in the regular market might appear at 2.20 in a daily boost. Boosts often carry a maximum stake (commonly ₦5,000 or ₦10,000) and apply to one selection per customer per day. Genuine boosts are valuable; some operators boost selections that were already mispriced low to make the headline figure look generous. Compare the boosted price against two or three other operators' regular prices before committing. Accumulator Boost A percentage uplift on the final returns of a winning accumulator. Structures escalate with leg count. A common pattern: 5% boost for a 4-leg acca, rising to 50% or more for an 8+ leg acca. The boost is calculated on returns, not stake. A 10% boost on an ₦10,000 stake at combined odds of 20.00 lifts the return from ₦200,000 to ₦220,000. The marginal value is real, but the underlying acca still needs every leg to win. BetBuilder / Same-Game Multi Boost Some operators apply boosts to BetBuilder or Same-Game Multi slips (selections combined from a single fixture). Check whether the boost is automatic or requires opt-in. Risk-Mitigation Features These promotions are designed to soften the experience of losing, which is part of why they convert so well as marketing. The maths still favours the operator. Accumulator Insurance If your accumulator misses by exactly one leg, the operator refunds your stake, typically as a free bet, occasionally as cash. Standard structures require a minimum of 5 legs and minimum combined odds (often 4.00 or higher). Acca insurance is most useful for bettors who already place qualifying multi-leg slips. It does not turn an unprofitable strategy into a profitable one, because the refund is usually a free bet, and free-bet maths is materially less generous than cash. Cashback / Lossback A percentage of net losses over a defined period (a day, a week, a month) refunded to your account. Common Nigerian structures: 10% cashback up to ₦5,000 weekly on slots, or 5% on net sports losses. Read the calculation method. Some operators define loss as gross losses minus winning returns; others use net deposits. Cashback is almost always credited as bonus funds with their own wagering requirement. Cash-Out (Partial, Full, Auto) Strictly speaking, cash-out is a product feature rather than a bonus, but operators promote it as one. Cash-out allows you to settle an open bet before the event finishes, accepting a value calculated from current market odds. Operators apply a margin to cash-out values, so the offered amount is below the mathematical fair value of your remaining position. Partial cash-out lets you settle part of the stake and leave the rest running. Auto cash-out lets you set a trigger price in advance. Cash-out is useful for managing in-play exposure; it is not free money. Retention and Loyalty Bonuses Retention bonuses are aimed at active customers and reward repeat behaviour rather than first deposits. Reload Bonus A deposit match for existing customers, typically smaller than a welcome bonus (10%-50% rather than 100%) and capped lower. Often offered weekly or on specific days ("Tuesday Reload", "Weekend Boost"). Treat reload bonuses as ongoing terms and conditions to learn, not as a reason to deposit more than you planned. Loyalty Programme You earn points by placing bets. Points can be converted to free bets, bonus funds, casino chips, or non-cash rewards. Conversion rates vary widely; verify the rate before assuming a points balance is meaningful. VIP Programme Tiered loyalty programme with escalating perks: dedicated account manager, faster withdrawals, higher bet limits, custom bonuses, and event invitations. Genuine VIP programmes provide real service value at high stakes. They are not designed for casual bettors and should not be a target. For the high-stakes audience, ask about withdrawal limits, response times, and the transparency of any VIP-only restrictions before committing to a single operator's VIP path. Birthday Bonus A small token bonus (often ₦500-₦2,000 free bet) credited on or around your registered date of birth. Genuine but minor. Refer-a-Friend You receive a bonus when someone you refer registers and meets a qualifying activity threshold (usually a first deposit and a qualifying bet). The friend often receives a separate sign-up bonus. Verify the friend's qualifying terms before referring; you do not want them stranded with conditions they cannot meet. Casino Crossover Bonuses Most Nigerian sportsbooks now operate a casino product. Bonuses cross over but rarely transfer between products: a sports bonus usually cannot be wagered on slots, and vice versa. Free Spins A set number of spins on specified slot games, at a fixed stake per spin (commonly ₦20-₦100 per spin). Winnings are credited as bonus funds with wagering requirements. Verify which game or games the spins apply to and the spin value. Free spins on a high-volatility ₦100,000-jackpot slot at ₦20 per spin produce small expected returns in most sessions. Casino Welcome Bonus Deposit-match bonus dedicated to casino play. Wagering multiples on casino bonuses are typically higher than sportsbook bonuses (30x to 50x is common) because the operator's house edge per round is small and turnover accumulates faster. Casino Cashback Percentage rebate on net casino losses, credited as bonus funds. Same reading rules as sportsbook cashback apply. Sport and Event-Specific Promotions These are fixture-driven promotions that appear and expire around specific events. Early Payout If your selected team leads by a defined margin during the match, the bet is paid out immediately even if the team subsequently draws or loses. The classic version: bet on a team to win, they go two goals up, you are paid out at original odds whatever happens next. Genuine and useful, but check whether the offer applies pre-match only or also in-play. Boosted Markets Pre-set parlay-style selections combined and priced up by the operator for a specific event. Often promoted for Super Eagles matches, NPFL fixtures, and marquee Premier League and Champions League games. Compare the boosted price against the sum of the individual selections in the regular markets. Boosts are sometimes inflated headline figures masking a real margin. Tournament Leaderboards Time-bound competitions where customers accumulate points (often based on stake volume or specific slot play) and prizes are distributed by ranking. Common during major tournaments such as AFCON, the World Cup, the Champions League, and around large international slot promotions. Leaderboards reward volume. They are not a route to value for low-stakes bettors. Cost and Returns Breakdown: Reading the Wagering Maths The most important number on any bonus is not the headline figure. It is the effective turnover required to convert bonus to cash. Formula for sportsbook bonuses: Then apply the minimum-odds constraint. A 5x rollover at minimum odds 3.00 is materially harder than a 5x rollover at minimum odds 1.50, because at higher odds a smaller proportion of qualifying bets will win, and you may exhaust the bankroll before completing turnover. Rough rule of thumb for sportsbook bonuses: Casino bonuses use the same logic, but the turnover accumulates per spin or hand. A 30x wagering requirement on a ₦5,000 bonus is ₦150,000 in slot turnover, which at ₦100 per spin is 1,500 spins. The house edge on each spin is typically 2%-10% depending on RTP, so expected losses on that turnover average ₦3,000-₦15,000 before any bonus is converted. How to Evaluate Any Bonus in Five Steps Find the headline. Note the percentage, cap, and any qualifying activity (deposit, bet placed, registration). Find the wagering requirement. Locate the multiple (e.g., 5x) and the minimum odds. Note whether wagering applies to bonus alone or deposit plus bonus. Find the expiry. Note the window in days. Find the exclusions. System bets, certain markets, cashed-out bets, and void selections frequently do not count toward turnover. Some operators exclude specific sports entirely. Match against your real betting pattern. Calculate required turnover. If it would force you to bet more often, at higher stakes, or at higher odds than you usually do, the bonus has lower value to you than to a different bettor. Pro tip: if you cannot find any of items 2-4 in the published terms, do not claim the bonus. Operators must publish these conditions clearly under ARCON standards. Benefits and Common Mistakes Benefits Genuine value can exist in bonuses, particularly when they match your existing pattern of play: Welcome bonuses with realistic rollover can extend the entertainment value of a first deposit. Acca insurance, for committed accumulator bettors, materially reduces variance. Early payout offers convert a successful position to cash before risk re-enters the match. Loyalty points, for high-frequency bettors at a single operator, accumulate to meaningful free bets over time. Genuine odds boosts (verified against alternative operator prices) provide measurable price improvement. Common Mistakes Common bonus mistakes cost more than the bonuses are worth: Treating a free bet as if it were a deposit match. Free bet returns exclude the stake. Always. Depositing more than your usual stake to claim a bigger headline figure. The wagering scales with the deposit. Pursuing wagering by placing bets at higher odds than usual to meet a minimum-odds threshold. Variance increases sharply. Switching operators repeatedly to claim welcome bonuses while ignoring the cumulative time and KYC friction. Ignoring the expiry window. A 7-day expiry on a ₦100,000 turnover requirement is impossible for a weekend bettor. Chasing losses with cashback. Cashback exists to encourage continued play after a loss; the operator's expected return on that recycled stake exceeds the cashback paid. Decision Framework: Which Bonus Suits You? If you... Look for Bet casually on weekends, ₦2,000-₦5,000 per slip Welcome bonus with 3x-5x rollover at modest odds; early payout offers Build 4+ leg accas every weekend Acca insurance, acca boost, BetBuilder promotions Take live in-play bets reactively Cash-out controls, in-play money-back specials Compare odds across operators Verified odds boosts; lower-margin operators rather than headline bonus chasers Are new to betting in Nigeria Modest welcome bonus you can fully understand before claiming; avoid no-deposit bonuses with 30x+ rollover Stake at higher levels regularly Genuine VIP programme structure, withdrawal limits, dedicated support Play slots primarily Free spins on familiar games; casino welcome bonus with manageable wagering (under 35x where possible) Find yourself drawn to "biggest" bonus headlines Step back. The biggest headline figure almost always has the toughest wagering. Regulatory Framework Betting bonuses in Nigeria are governed at the state level following the Supreme Court ruling of 22 November 2024, which placed lottery and gaming under residual state legislative competence. In practice, operators licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), and the equivalent bodies in Oyo, Rivers, Anambra, the FCT, and other states, are subject to that authority's promotional conduct rules. Federal oversight remains relevant in three areas: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) addresses unfair commercial practices and misleading promotions. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) sets standards for promotional creative, including the 18+ visibility requirement and prohibitions on targeting minors or implying that betting solves financial problems. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), following the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (effective January 2026), governs the tax treatment of gambling activity. The exact treatment of winnings should be confirmed against current FIRS guidance; where the position is unclear, consult a qualified Nigerian tax adviser. Always verify that the operator promoting a bonus currently holds a valid state licence on the day you intend to deposit. Federal NLRC licensing alone, where still cited by some operators, is not sufficient under the post-November 2024 regime. Responsible Gambling Considerations Bonuses are the single most effective tool operators have to increase deposit frequency and play volume. That makes them the area of betting most worth approaching with deliberate awareness. Wagering requirements work by recycling your deposit and bonus through the sportsbook or casino. Even an apparently generous bonus shifts your behaviour: more bets, often at higher odds, often on markets you would not normally touch. For some bettors, this is a manageable trade for entertainment. For others, it becomes a pathway to depositing more than planned. A few practical safeguards: Set a deposit limit at the operator level before claiming any bonus. Every Nigerian licensed operator must offer deposit, loss, and session limits. Decide your turnover in advance. If a bonus requires more turnover than you would naturally place in the expiry window, let it lapse rather than chase it. Avoid claiming reload bonuses immediately after a losing session. The combination of recent loss and a fresh bonus is a known harm-risk pattern. Use the operator's reality check or session-limit tools. If betting is no longer enjoyable, self-exclusion is available with every licensed Nigerian operator. Support is available at BeGambleAware.org, GamCare, and the Gordon Moody Association. Pejorative descriptions of people experiencing gambling-related harm have no place in betting culture. If you or someone you know is struggling, the language we use is "experiencing gambling-related harm", and the response is practical, not moral. betCompare Insight For the bonus-driven bettor, the discipline is not finding the biggest headline but identifying the bonus whose terms align with how you already bet. If you place six ₦2,000 weekend accas at combined odds around 8.00, an acca insurance promotion is genuinely worth pursuing on operators where you would bet anyway. If you place two ₦5,000 singles at odds around 1.80 on a typical Saturday, a welcome bonus with 8x rollover at minimum odds 3.00 is structurally not worth your time, however large the headline. Our promotion comparisons unpack the maths so you can read terms quickly and walk away from offers that look generous but punish your real pattern of play. For the casual football bettor, the most useful bonus is rarely the one with the largest cap. Welcome offers with modest rollover (3x-5x at minimum odds around 2.00) are usually the most realistic to convert on a ₦5,000-₦10,000 deposit. Early payout offers (a team going two goals up) add genuine value to a Premier League or NPFL fixture you were watching anyway. Set a deposit limit before you claim any bonus; the operator's tools are there for you to use, and the bonuses themselves are designed to test exactly that discipline. Frequently Asked Questions Are betting bonuses in Nigeria really worth claiming? Sometimes. A bonus is worth claiming when its wagering requirement matches a pattern of betting you would do anyway, and when the expiry window is realistic for your usual frequency. A bonus with 5x rollover at 2.00 minimum odds in 30 days is realistic for many weekend bettors. A bonus with 15x rollover at 3.00 minimum odds in 7 days is realistic for almost no one. What does "wagering requirement" actually mean? The wagering requirement is the total turnover you must place on qualifying bets before the bonus (or winnings tied to it) can be withdrawn. A 5x wagering requirement on a ₦5,000 bonus means ₦25,000 of qualifying bets. The qualifying bets must usually meet a minimum-odds threshold, and certain markets may be excluded. Why are free bet winnings smaller than I expected? Free bet returns exclude the stake. A ₦2,000 free bet at odds of 3.00 returns ₦4,000 in cash if it wins, not ₦6,000. The stake of a free bet is not real money you deposited, so it is not returned with winnings. Can I claim multiple welcome bonuses across different operators? You can claim one welcome bonus per operator, and there is no rule preventing you from registering at multiple licensed operators. Note that each operator requires its own KYC (BVN, NIN, ID upload), and managing multiple accounts comes with its own time and admin cost. Operators prohibit having multiple accounts at the same operator; do not attempt to circumvent this. Are no-deposit bonuses really free? No-deposit bonuses are real in the sense that you do not pay to receive them. They are not free in the sense that the wagering requirements are typically high (30x or more) and the maximum withdrawable amount is typically capped low (often ₦5,000-₦10,000). Treat them as a chance to try the product, not a route to cash. What is the difference between a free bet and a risk-free bet? A free bet is a bonus stake you place; winnings exclude the stake. A risk-free bet is a real-money stake you place, with the operator refunding the stake (usually as a free bet) if the bet loses. The refund is rarely cash. Is cash-out a bonus? No. Cash-out is a product feature that lets you settle a bet before the event ends. Operators apply a margin to cash-out values, so the offered amount is below the mathematical fair value. It is often promoted alongside bonuses but is different in nature. Are casino bonuses different from sports bonuses? Yes. Casino bonuses typically carry higher wagering multiples (30x-50x rather than 3x-10x) because casino turnover accumulates faster per round. Sports bonuses and casino bonuses are usually held in separate wallets and cannot be wagered interchangeably. How do I know an operator is licensed to offer bonuses in Nigeria? Check the footer of the operator's website for a state licence (LSLGA for Lagos, or another state authority). Verify the licence is current on the day you deposit. After the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling, state licensing is the binding standard. What happens if my bonus expires before I complete wagering? The bonus and any pending winnings tied to it are forfeited. Your original deposit, if it has not been fully wagered, generally remains in your account as cash. Always verify this point in the specific operator's terms. Do bonuses count toward withdrawal limits? Once a bonus has been fully wagered and converted to real money, it is treated as cash and subject to the operator's standard withdrawal rules, limits, and KYC checks. First withdrawals often trigger additional verification (BVN, NIN, ID upload). Should I take a bonus on my first deposit at a new operator? Only if you have read and understood the terms in full. New customers frequently regret claiming a welcome bonus, because the wagering requirement restricts their ability to withdraw the original deposit. If you are testing a new operator, depositing without claiming the bonus often gives you faster access to your funds. Conclusion Betting bonuses are not free money, and they are not all worth claiming. They are marketing offers with terms attached, and the value any specific bonus delivers to you depends entirely on whether its conditions align with the way you already bet. The bonus inventory at a modern Nigerian sportsbook is wide, from welcome matches and free bets through to acca insurance, odds boosts, cashback, loyalty points, VIP programmes, and a steady churn of event-specific promotions. The mechanic in each case is the same in shape: qualify, receive, wager, convert or expire. All bonuses are subject to terms and conditions including wagering requirements, minimum odds, and expiry. Verify current terms with the operator before claiming. Compare Betting Odds Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Crypto betting is growing fast in Nigeria, driven by USDT's stability against naira fluctuations and the speed advantage over traditional bank transfers. With the Investments and Securities Act 2025 now formally recognising digital assets under SEC oversight, the regulatory picture is clearer than it has been in years. Some platforms are locally licensed and accept crypto alongside naira; others are crypto-native and operate under offshore licences. This guide covers the best options available to Nigerian bettors in 2026, what each platform does well, and exactly how to get started if you are new to betting with cryptocurrency. Top 3 Highlight Block BC.Game: The most established crypto-native sportsbook available to Nigerian bettors, supporting over 100 cryptocurrencies including USDT, BTC, and ETH. 1xBet: A locally recognised platform with NLRC licensing that accepts crypto deposits alongside naira bank transfers, offering the widest sports market range of any platform on this list. Bet9ja: Nigeria's most trusted local bookmaker, now accepting USDT deposits with a minimum of just 1 USDT, combining local trust with crypto convenience. Master Comparison Table Platform Licence Crypto Accepted Best For Naira Also Accepted BC.Game Anjouan, Comoros BTC, ETH, USDT, 100+ Crypto-first bettors No 1xBet NLRC + Curaçao BTC, ETH, USDT, others Market variety + crypto Yes Bet9ja LSLGA USDT Local trust + crypto Yes 22Bet NLRC + Curaçao USDT, BTC, ETH, others Balanced crypto/naira Yes 888Starz Curaçao BTC, USDT, ETH, others Competitive odds, crypto No BetWinner NLRC + Oyo State BTC, ETH, USDT, others Wide local payment mix Yes Our Methodology We evaluated each platform across six criteria: range of cryptocurrencies accepted, deposit and withdrawal speed, sports market depth, licence and safety credentials, whether naira deposits are also available as a fallback, and the overall mobile experience. Platforms that accept crypto but have no meaningful sports coverage were excluded. Where a platform holds a Nigerian licence (NLRC or LSLGA), this is noted, as it provides additional regulatory protection for Nigerian users. Individual Breakdowns BC.Game BC.Game is the leading crypto-native sports betting and casino platform available to Nigerian bettors. Founded in 2017 and licensed under Anjouan, Comoros (licence ALSI-202410011-FI1), it supports over 100 cryptocurrencies including USDT, BTC, ETH, BNB, LTC, TRX, Solana, and its own native tokens. For Nigerian users, the most practical deposit route is USDT via the Tron (TRC20) network, which keeps transaction fees under ₦200 per transfer. Sports coverage includes football, basketball, tennis, cricket, and esports, with live betting available across major leagues. The platform uses a provably fair system on its casino products, which gives technically minded users independent verification of game outcomes. There is no naira deposit option, so you will need to acquire USDT first via a P2P exchange such as Bybit or Paxful before funding your account. What Could Be Better: BC.Game does not hold a Nigerian NLRC or LSLGA licence. Nigerian users should understand they are using an offshore-licensed platform. Market depth on NPFL football is also limited compared to locally focused platforms. Pros: Widest cryptocurrency selection of any platform on this list (100+) USDT on Tron is fast and cheap for Nigerian users Provably fair casino games for transparency No withdrawal limits on crypto Cons: No naira deposit option Does not hold a Nigerian licence NPFL coverage is limited Requires crypto wallet setup before you can start Best For: Bettors who are already comfortable with crypto and want the broadest coin support and a combined sportsbook and casino experience. 1xBet 1xBet is one of the few platforms on this list that holds an NLRC licence while also accepting a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Nigerian bettors can deposit using BTC, ETH, USDT, and several other coins, then withdraw via the same methods or switch to bank transfer. The dual option means you are not locked into crypto: if you want to move funds to your naira account, you can. This flexibility is a practical advantage for bettors who move between both systems. Market depth is 1xBet's strongest point. It consistently offers some of the most extensive market ranges of any platform operating in Nigeria, covering everything from NPFL fixtures to global leagues, plus niche sports, esports, and virtual games. Crypto deposits on 1xBet are processed near-instantly, and withdrawals via cryptocurrency are typically completed within minutes to a few hours. What Could Be Better: The platform's size and the volume of markets can feel overwhelming for new bettors. Customer support quality is inconsistent, and response times on complex account queries can be slow. Pros: NLRC licensed: regulated protection for Nigerian users Accepts both crypto and naira bank transfers Near-instant crypto deposits Deepest market range of any crypto-accepting platform on this list BTC, ETH, USDT and more accepted Cons: Interface can be overwhelming for beginners Customer support quality is variable Crypto withdrawal speed varies by method (minutes to hours) Best For: Experienced bettors who want the widest betting market range alongside the flexibility to use both crypto and naira. Bet9ja Bet9ja is Nigeria's most widely used bookmaker, and its addition of USDT deposits makes it the most accessible crypto entry point for bettors who are already familiar with the platform. You can fund your Bet9ja account with a minimum of 1 USDT, deposited directly to a wallet address generated by the platform. All other features remain the same as the standard naira experience: same sports markets, same promotions, same withdrawal process. The practical use case here is straightforward. If naira bank transfers are experiencing delays or you prefer to hold funds in USDT for currency stability, depositing via USDT is a fast alternative. Withdrawals from Bet9ja still process via bank transfer only within 24 hours, so USDT is a deposit-only option at this stage. For bettors who want the depth of Bet9ja's market range and local brand trust alongside the convenience of a crypto deposit, this is the simplest combination available. What Could Be Better: USDT is currently the only crypto accepted. Withdrawals cannot be made in crypto. The platform's app and website design remain dated compared to newer competitors. Pros: LSLGA licensed: strongest local regulatory protection on this list Minimum 1 USDT deposit makes crypto entry accessible Full access to Bet9ja's deep market range including NPFL Existing users can add crypto deposits without creating a new account Naira withdrawals available as a fallback Cons: USDT is the only accepted cryptocurrency No crypto withdrawal option: all payouts are naira bank transfer Bank transfer withdrawals still take up to 24 hours Not a crypto-native experience Best For: Existing Bet9ja users who want to fund via USDT while keeping access to a locally licensed platform with deep NPFL and football coverage. 22Bet 22Bet accepts USDT, BTC, ETH, and several other cryptocurrencies alongside standard naira bank transfers and OPay. The platform holds an NLRC licence alongside its Curaçao registration, making it one of the more formally recognised international platforms for Nigerian bettors. Crypto deposits are processed instantly and crypto withdrawals on 22Bet are typically fast, with OPay transfers also available in minutes for bettors who prefer to withdraw in naira. Sports market coverage is broad, with strong coverage of European football leagues, tennis, basketball, and cricket. NPFL markets are available. The mobile experience is functional but the interface is not as clean as BC.Game or SportyBet. For bettors who want a balance of naira and crypto options on a platform that holds local licensing, 22Bet provides solid middle ground. What Could Be Better: The platform's design is considered dated by some users, and the volume of markets can make navigation less intuitive for newer bettors. Pros: NLRC licensed plus Curaçao registration Accepts USDT, BTC, ETH, and more Both naira and crypto deposits available OPay withdrawals available in minutes for naira cashouts Solid European and NPFL football coverage Cons: Interface is functional but not the most modern Less popular in Nigeria than Bet9ja or 1xBet, so retail support is limited Market depth does not match 1xBet at the top end Best For: Bettors who want an NLRC-licensed platform that accepts crypto alongside naira, with fast OPay cashout as an alternative to crypto withdrawal. 888Starz 888Starz is a crypto-focused international sportsbook that accepts BTC, USDT, ETH, and other major coins. It covers over 40 sports with competitive odds across football, basketball, tennis, and cricket, and its payout rate on selected markets is among the higher figures available on offshore platforms. Like BC.Game, it operates under a Curaçao licence and does not hold a Nigerian NLRC or LSLGA licence. It does not accept naira bank transfers, so a crypto wallet and USDT or BTC holdings are required before you can use it. The platform's mobile experience is considered solid, with a clean interface and fast odds updates during live betting. For bettors who have crypto ready and want an alternative to BC.Game, 888Starz offers competitive odds and a wide sports selection without the casino-heavy environment of some crypto-native platforms. What Could Be Better: No Nigerian licence means Nigerian users have fewer regulatory protections than on locally licensed platforms. No naira deposit option. NPFL coverage is limited. Pros: Competitive odds across major sports markets BTC, USDT, ETH and other crypto accepted 40+ sports covered with live betting Clean mobile interface Cons: No Nigerian NLRC or LSLGA licence No naira deposit option Limited NPFL and local football market depth Requires crypto wallet before getting started Best For: Bettors already holding crypto who want a dedicated sportsbook with competitive odds and a clean mobile experience, without a large casino element. BetWinner BetWinner is an NLRC and Oyo State Gaming Board-licensed platform that entered the Nigerian market in 2025 following Parimatch's exit. It accepts BTC, ETH, USDT, and several other cryptocurrencies alongside a wide range of local naira payment options including bank transfer, OPay, and mobile money. This makes it one of the more flexible platforms on this list for bettors who mix naira and crypto use depending on what is most convenient. Sports coverage is broad, with strong European football, NPFL, basketball, and tennis markets. Crypto deposits process within minutes and withdrawals via cryptocurrency or e-wallet are typically completed within a few hours. BetWinner's combination of Nigerian licensing, crypto acceptance, and local payment flexibility puts it in strong position for bettors who want regulated protection without giving up crypto options. What Could Be Better: BetWinner is a newer presence in the Nigerian market compared to Bet9ja or 1xBet, and brand recognition is still building. Some users report that bonus terms require careful reading. Pros: NLRC + Oyo State Gaming Board licensed Accepts BTC, ETH, USDT, and more Full range of naira payment options also available Wide sports coverage including NPFL Crypto and e-wallet withdrawals within hours Cons: Newer to Nigeria: less established trust than Bet9ja or 1xBet Bonus wagering terms can be complex Customer support still building its Nigerian-specific capacity Best For: Bettors who want an NLRC-licensed platform with both crypto and naira flexibility and a broad sports market range. How to Get Crypto for Betting in Nigeria Because Binance suspended naira deposits and its domain is blocked in Nigeria, buying USDT or BTC requires a peer-to-peer exchange. The most reliable P2P options for Nigerian users in 2026 are Bybit P2P, Paxful, and locally based platforms like Quidax and Busha, which hold SEC licences and allow naira bank transfers. Once you have purchased USDT, you can fund any of the platforms listed above directly from your wallet. USDT on the Tron (TRC20) network is the most practical choice for Nigerian bettors: transaction fees are typically under ₦200 per transfer, compared to much higher fees on the Ethereum network. One important note: under the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025, which took full effect on 1 January 2026, crypto profits are subject to capital gains tax. Keep records of your transactions. How to Choose Choose a locally licensed platform (Bet9ja, 1xBet, 22Bet, BetWinner) if you want Nigerian regulatory protection and the flexibility to use naira bank transfers alongside crypto. Choose BC.Game or 888Starz if you are already comfortable holding and managing crypto, you want the widest coin support, and you prioritise a crypto-native experience over local licensing. For bettors new to crypto: Bet9ja's USDT deposit option is the lowest-friction entry point. You get a familiar, locally trusted platform with the option to top up via USDT when naira bank transfers are inconvenient, without needing to learn a new interface or navigate an offshore-only platform. betCompare Insight For beginners: If you are curious about crypto betting but not ready to go fully crypto-native, start with Bet9ja or 22Bet. Both accept USDT alongside naira, which means you can test a crypto deposit without leaving the safety of a locally licensed platform. Acquire a small amount of USDT on Bybit P2P or Quidax, fund your account, and get familiar with how it works before committing larger amounts. For experienced bettors: The practical advantage of crypto betting in Nigeria in 2026 is speed, not anonymity. USDT on Tron takes seconds and costs next to nothing compared to naira bank transfers. If you are placing larger wagers or using multiple platforms, holding a USDT float and using betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) to compare odds across crypto-accepting platforms before each bet is an efficient way to consistently take the best available price. Frequently Asked Questions Is crypto betting legal in Nigeria? Crypto ownership and use is legal in Nigeria under the Investments and Securities Act 2025. Betting itself is also legal on licensed platforms. However, crypto is not legal tender in Nigeria and betting platforms that operate offshore without a Nigerian licence are not regulated by local authorities. Nigerian-licensed platforms that accept crypto (Bet9ja, 1xBet, 22Bet, BetWinner) offer the strongest regulatory protection. Which cryptocurrency is best for betting in Nigeria? USDT (Tether) on the Tron (TRC20) network is the most practical choice for most Nigerian bettors. Transaction fees are typically under ₦200, transfers confirm within seconds, and its value is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, so there is no volatility risk between deposit and withdrawal. Bitcoin and Ethereum work but carry higher fees and slower confirmation times. How do I buy USDT in Nigeria to fund a betting account? Use a peer-to-peer exchange such as Bybit P2P, Paxful, or a locally SEC-licensed exchange like Quidax or Busha. These platforms allow you to purchase USDT using a naira bank transfer. Once purchased, send the USDT from your wallet to the deposit address provided by your betting platform. Can I withdraw my winnings in crypto? It depends on the platform. BC.Game, 1xBet, 22Bet, 888Starz, and BetWinner all support crypto withdrawals. Bet9ja currently accepts USDT deposits but withdrawals are processed in naira via bank transfer only. Are crypto betting sites safe in Nigeria? Platforms holding Nigerian NLRC or LSLGA licences (Bet9ja, 1xBet, 22Bet, BetWinner) offer regulated protection under Nigerian law. Offshore-licensed platforms (BC.Game, 888Starz) operate under international licences, which offer a level of oversight but without the same local regulatory recourse. Always verify a platform's licence before depositing significant funds. What is crypto peer-to-peer betting? Peer-to-peer betting refers to betting directly against other users rather than against a bookmaker's odds. A small number of specialist platforms globally offer this model, though it is not widely available in Nigeria. The platforms listed in this guide are traditional bookmakers that accept crypto as a payment method, which is a distinct concept. Conclusion Before your next bet, use betCompare to compare real-time odds from multiple platforms, including those that accept crypto, all in one place. Free to use, no registration required. Compare Odds on betCompare 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has initially agreed to increase the value of prize money and participation bonuses for the 2026 World Cup, following pressures and concerns expressed by several national associations regarding the high costs of participating in the upcoming tournament The participating federations had warned that the high expenses related to travel, accommodation, and taxes, especially in the United States, might cause some teams to incur financial losses even if they achieve good results and advance in the tournament. FIFA had previously announced a record prize fund of $727 million, but this figure will see a further increase. The decision also includes increasing the developmental support allocated to 211 member associations of FIFA, which was initially set to reach $2.7 billion during the current cycle. These allocations will be increased along with raising the fixed payments to national and continental associations. The final approval of the details is expected during the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver this week, at a time when the federation asserts that it is in the strongest financial position in its history, with expected revenues of up to $13 billion during the current World Cup cycle, allowing for increased returns for the game globally.

The FIFA World Cup has long been football’s grandest stage, a tournament where heroes are made, nations unite, and moments become immortal. Yet alongside the unforgettable goals and historic victories lies another side of football history: the mistakes, controversies, and heartbreaking errors that stunned millions around the globe Some of these moments lasted only seconds, but their impact endured for decades. According to a post obtained from MSN’s website on Friday, these are some of the greatest heartbreaks in FIFA World Cup history. Andrés Escobar — Colombia One of football’s darkest chapters came during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when Colombian defender Andrés Escobar accidentally scored an own goal against the host nation during a group-stage clash at the Rose Bowl. Colombia lost 2–1 and crashed out of the tournament earlier than expected. Days later, Escobar was murdered outside a nightclub in Medellín. The tragedy shocked the football world and highlighted the dangerous intersection of sport, crime, and national pressure in Colombia during that era. Roberto Baggio — Italy (Penalty Miss) That same tournament produced another unforgettable scene of heartbreak. In the final between Brazil and Italy, Italian superstar Roberto Baggio stepped forward to take a decisive penalty in the shootout. With Italy trailing, Baggio’s effort sailed over the crossbar, handing Brazil their fourth World Cup title. The image of the exhausted forward standing motionless on the pitch became one of football’s most iconic photographs of despair. Diego Maradona — Argentina (“Hand of God”) Few controversies have matched the global debate sparked by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England. Rising above goalkeeper Peter Shilton, Maradona punched the ball into the net with his hand while the referees failed to spot the infringement. The goal stood, and Maradona later famously described it as scoring “a little with the hand of God.” Frank Lampard — England (Disallowed Goal) England suffered another painful officiating controversy at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Midfielder Frank Lampard appeared to score against Germany when his shot bounced well over the goal line before spinning out. Match officials waved play on despite television replays clearly showing the ball had crossed the line. The incident intensified worldwide calls for goal-line technology, which FIFA later introduced. René Higuita — Colombia (Goalkeeper Error) Goalkeepers, too, have endured unforgettable moments under football’s brightest spotlight. Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita became synonymous with risk-taking after attempting to dribble past Cameroon striker Roger Milla during the 1990 World Cup. Milla stole the ball and scored, knocking Colombia out of the tournament. Higuita later defended his attacking style, but the mistake became one of the tournament’s defining images. Robert Green — England (Howler) Robert Green experienced his own nightmare when a harmless shot from American forward Clint Dempsey slipped through his hands and rolled into the net during a group-stage match. The costly error drew intense criticism in the British media and overshadowed England’s campaign. Asamoah Gyan — Ghana (Penalty Miss) Some moments combined controversy and heartbreak in equal measure. During the 2010 World Cup quarter-final between Ghana and Uruguay, striker Luis Suárez deliberately handled the ball on the goal line in the dying seconds of extra time to stop a certain goal. Although Suárez was sent off, Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan struck the resulting penalty against the crossbar. Uruguay survived and eventually won the penalty shootout, ending Ghana’s hopes of becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. Graham Poll — Referee (Three Yellow Cards) Even referees themselves have become part of World Cup folklore. During the 2006 tournament, English referee Graham Poll mistakenly showed Croatian defender Josip Šimunić three yellow cards before finally sending him off. Poll later admitted he became confused during the chaotic encounter.

World Cup-bound South Africa has delayed its departure for the global showpiece after visa problems disrupted the team’s travel plans, the national football association said on Sunday The squad was scheduled to leave Johannesburg Sunday for a training camp in Mexico aboard a chartered flight, but “has experienced challenges regarding visas for some players and officials,” the South African Football Association (SAFA) said in a statement. It was not immediately clear how many members of the travelling party had yet to receive their visas. “SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible,” the association said, adding that an emergency meeting would be held on Sunday evening. According to state broadcaster SABC, visas for at least 20 members of the squad were still being processed at the United States embassy in Johannesburg. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said he had demanded an explanation and vowed action against those responsible for “this mess”. The “travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff,” he posted on X, adding: “We are being made to look like fools”. Popularly known as Bafana Bafana (The Boys), South Africa has been pooled in Group A with co-hosts Mexico, Czech Republic and South Korea. Back at the global showpiece after a 16-year absence, they face Mexico on June 11 in the tournament opener, then the Czech Republic and South Korea in their remaining group-stage matches. The team was held to a goalless draw by Nicaragua in a warm-up match in Soweto on Friday and is scheduled to play Jamaica in another friendly on June 5.

Iran’s football team still lacks US visas and is not competing in World Cup on “equal terms” because of its difficulty in training ahead of the tournament, its ambassador to Mexico Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh visited the northwestern Mexican border city of Tijuana, where Iranians have relocated their training camp. They were originally planned to be based in Tucson in the US state of Arizona. The ambassador told a news conference that “the country to the north” — meaning the US — had not followed through on its responsibility of hosting the Iranian team. “We don’t know whether or not they’re going to give the players their visas,” he added. Iran will play their three World Cup group games in two west coast US cities: Los Angeles and Seattle. The head of the Iranian Football Federation has said they were hoping players would be granted multiple entry visas. “We aren’t participating in the World Cup on equal terms. We haven’t been able to train our team like they should,” he said, because of the war in the Middle East that began February 28,” Pasandideh said. Iranian diplomats visited the stadium where the team is training, a source from Club Tijuana that plays there told AFP. The diplomats also met with local security officials, the source said. Iran are due to play in Los Angeles on June 15 against New Zealand and on June 21 against Belgium, then in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that he will not drop Neymar from his 26-man World Cup squad, despite the forward suffering a recent grade 2 calf muscle injury Ancelotti expects Neymar to be available for Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Morocco, but he’s willing to wait for him until the second game if needed. “To be clear, Neymar is going to be with us. We think he can recover for the first match (against Morocco) and, if not, for the second (against Haiti). No doubt that these 26 players are going to play in the World Cup.” Ancelotti also admitted that Brazil don’t have the same star power they used to ahead of this summer’s World Cup. “The more experienced player has to have more responsibility, the younger player has to have less pressure. We all have a lot of responsibility and pressure,” Ancelotti told reporters during a press conference. “And what should we do? Share it. It can’t be individual; we have to share the pressure so that it decreases a little. Sometimes, we talk a lot about how Brazil doesn’t have a star. It might be true, we don’t have Pele, Romario and Ronaldo, but we can have a shared responsibility.” “We’ve worked a lot on defense. We’re going to work a lot on that. I don’t want to take away the creativity of the attacking players. They have a lot of quality, I don’t want to create confusion. Defensively, it’s a daily piece of information until the last game of the World Cup. Our work is focused on that. The defenders, full-backs, midfielders, they all have a very important role.”

Players at the 2026 World Cup will be stopped from going to the technical area to talk to coaches when goalkeepers are injured, FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has revealed The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has also approved a request to change video assistant referee (VAR) protocol to allow reviews of attacking fouls that happen before the ball is in play. The 'goalkeeper tactical timeout' has become a hot topic in recent years. It is used by a manager to get new instructions to his players, or to impact the momentum of the opposition. In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" and break up play. The goalkeeper sits on the turf and signals for the physio, the other players rush to the technical area for a team talk, then as soon as the coach has delivered his instructions, the keeper simply gets up to play on. The IFAB has been looking at the issue, but no law change has been agreed. Leagues have been invited to hold a series of trials throughout the 2026-27 season to find a solution. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) - the women's professional league in the United States - introduced its own temporary measure earlier this year. If a goalkeeper is injured, the players of both teams must stay where they are or gather in the centre circle.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has disclosed that he is fit and ready for the 2026 World Cup Yamal is expected to be fit for the tournament that begins on June 11 in North America. He injured his left hamstring while converting a penalty kick with Barcelona in a Spanish league match on April 22 The 18-year-old Yamal went down after converting a first-half penalty kick in the game against Celta Vigo. He scored and immediately looked to the bench to signal he was hurt. He dropped to the ground as his teammates arrived to celebrate, then appeared to grab the back of his left leg. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said last week after including Yamal in his World Cup squad that the forward was expected to be ready to play either the first or second Spain match. La Roja will debut against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. In a chat with RFEF, Yamal stated that he can;t wait to play at the 2026 World Cup. “Finally, the moment has come. I think ever since the Euros ended, we were all thinking about this day and we’re all really excited. We’re coming in as the team we are, as European champions, and we’re going all out.” I remember the sequence when I got injured. I was praying inside that it was nothing, that it was just a cramp or something minor, because I felt the World Cup was so close and I knew it was a hamstring injury, which I’d never had before, but I knew it wouldn’t be a short recovery. So I was afraid it would be serious, and above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could relapse and miss the World Cup. “It’s also true that it helps knowing you’re going to play in a World Cup, so your mind feels as if you haven’t played a single match all season, and I’m really eager to make my debut. “In my mind, it feels like I’ve been playing football for 10 years, but in reality it’s been three years, and four years ago I was playing with them at the local sports centre. So, a kid who was playing with you three years ago is now going to play in a World Cup. It has to be something crazy, really crazy.”

Lionel Messi will play in a sixth World Cup as he captains holders Argentina at the 2026 tournament The forward, who will turn 39 during the tournament, was named in Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad on Thursday after leading his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar four years ago with a penalty shootout victory over France. With 26 appearances, Messi holds the current record for the most World Cup matches by any player - and will join Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to appear in a sixth edition of football's biggest event this summer. Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, who was named the goalkeeper of the tournament in 2022, has been selected, as have Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez and Tottenham's Cristian Romero, who missed the end of the Premier League season with a knee injury. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez are also among the five British-based players in the squad for the finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Inter's Lautaro Martinez are among 17 players who lifted the trophy in 2022 returning to bid to retain it. Argentina are in Group J and begin their campaign in Kansas City against Algeria (Wednesday, 17 June, 02:00 BST), before they play two games in Dallas, against Austria (Monday, 22 June, 18:00 BST) and Jordan (Sunday, 28 June, 02:00 BST). Messi had been substituted during Inter Miami's latest Major League Soccer match on Monday, but his club said he had not sustained an injury and was suffering from "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring. He has made 198 appearances for Argentina and will reach the 200-mark if he plays in both of his country's friendly matches - against Honduras in Texas (Sunday, 7 June, 01:00 BST) and then against Iceland in Alabama (Tuesday, 9 June). Notable absentees include in-form Aston Villa attacker Emi Buendia, whose Europa League final stunner was named goal of the tournament, forward Paolo Dybala, whose season at Roma has been disrupted by injury, and 18-year-old Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono. With one cap, Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni also misses out, after Fifa said he would sit out the first two games of the tournament for abusing Vinicius Jr. Argentina World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa). Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid). Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea). Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).

Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid's new head coach He will not be officially unveiled until after the club's presidential election, which is due to take place on 7 June. However, the 63-year-old's contract will only be valid if current president Florentino Perez remains in his role. Perez announced the election during an extraordinary news conference earlier this month in which he criticised journalists and La Liga and spoke of an "organised campaign" against him. The 79-year-old has been in office since 2009 - and was previously president between 2000 and 2006 - but has overseen two successive trophyless seasons. Renewables tycoon Enrique Riquelme is standing against Perez in the first presidential election in 20 years featuring a challenger, although Perez is expected to still win. Mourinho is leaving his role as manager of Benfica, where he took charge in September and led them to third place in the Primeira Liga this season. In his previous spell in charge of Real between 2010 and 2013, the Portuguese won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Mourinho will replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who only took charge in January following Xabi Alonso's departure as boss. Real ended their 2025-26 campaign trophyless, with rivals Barcelona sealing the La Liga title with a 2-0 El Clasico victory. Los Blancos' Champions League run also ended with a 6-4 aggregate defeat by German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. After leaving Real in 2013, Mourinho returned to England for a second stint at Chelsea, winning the third of his three Premier League titles, plus the EFL Cup, in the 2014-15 season. Following his departure from the Blues by mutual consent in 2015, Mourinho joined Manchester United on a three-year deal in 2016. He won the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield during his first season at Old Trafford, but was sacked in December 2018 after a poor run of results. Mourinho also had spells at Tottenham, Serie A side Roma, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2022, and Turkish club Fenerbahce, before taking over at Benfica.

Iran’s sports minister said FIFA has promised the country’s men’s football team will receive visas to play in the United States at the World Cup this summer despite the ongoing Middle East war, local media reported on Monday As the world prepares for the expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, some countries have been recognised for having the highest number of appearances in the tournament’s history. Brazil stands alone as the only nation to have qualified for every edition since 1930. FIFA highlighted the milestone on Tuesday, noting that 2026 will mark Brazil’s record-extending 23rd appearance. Here is the top 10 ranking of nations by total World Cup participations as released by FIFA on Tuesday: Brazil – 23 appearances Undisputed kings of consistency, the five-time champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) is the only team never to miss the World Cup. Germany – 21 appearances A powerhouse with four titles. Germany (including the West Germany era) has missed only a few early tournaments and remains one of the most successful national teams in history. Argentina – 19 appearances Three-time champions, including the 2022 triumph. Consistent qualifiers with a strong recent record under Lionel Messi’s influence heading into what could be his final tournament. Italy – 18 appearances Four-time winners (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). The Azzurri have endured qualification struggles in recent cycles but boast one of the strongest historical pedigrees. Mexico – 18 appearances The most frequent CONCACAF participant. Hosts in 1970 and 1986, Mexico has reached the quarter-finals twice on home soil and is a regular presence at the global tournament. England – 17 appearances 1970 champions and perennial European contenders. Known for passionate support and high expectations, with consistent qualification in recent decades. France – 17 appearances Two-time winners (1998, 2018) and runners-up in 2022. A modern footballing superpower with deep squads and strong recent performances. Spain – 17 appearances 2010 champions and recent UEFA Nations League standouts. Spain brings tiki-taka style and a strong generation of talent. Uruguay – 15 appearances Two-time winners (1930, 1950) and South American giants. Often punch above their weight with a proud footballing tradition. Belgium – 15 appearances A rising force in recent tournaments, reaching the semi-finals in 2018.

Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as the club’s new head coach on a deal running until June 2029 Maresca replaces Pep Guardiola and begins a new era at the Etihad Stadium after reaching a full agreement with the club. The Italian coach is expected to take immediate control of first-team preparations and will also play a key role in Manchester City’s transfer strategy ahead of the new season. The 45-year-old returns to City after previously working under Guardiola as part of the club’s coaching staff during their treble-winning campaign. His appointment signals City’s desire for continuity in style and philosophy following Guardiola’s successful spell in Manchester. Maresca has earned widespread praise for his tactical approach and possession-based football, with City’s hierarchy believing he is the ideal candidate to lead the club into its next chapter. As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X, “Enzo Maresca has already signed a three-year deal as Manchester City’s new manager. Agreement until June 2029 and a new chapter to start soon at #MCFC, with Maresca fully involved in the transfer strategy. Here we go, 100% confirmed. An official unveiling and further details on his backroom staff are expected in the coming days.

The New York Knicks reached the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years with a commanding 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers The Knicks continued their fine form as they swept the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals 4-0 and extended their franchise record play-off win streak to 11 games. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks' scoring with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while the series' Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson added 15. The Knicks, whose only NBA titles came in 1970 and 1973, last reached the NBA Finals in 1999 when they lost 4-1 against the San Antonio Spurs. Brunson, 29, was just two years old at the time, but his father Rick - who is now an assistant coach at the franchise - was a guard on the team. "It means a lot, but I wouldn't be here without my team-mates, the belief they had in me. They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It's an honour to play with them," said Brunson. The Knicks will face either defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder or the Spurs in next month's showpiece, with the teams tied at 2-2 in the Western Conference finals. Landry Shamet, who scored 16 points and netted all four of his three-pointer attempts, said his side are remaining focused on the "larger goal" rather than dwelling on their victory over the Cavaliers. "We've got four more wins to try and go get and we know it's going to be even harder. Being in this position with this team, it's pretty special," he said. If the Knicks continue their unbeaten run and sweep the finals, they will equal the NBA's record play-off win streak of 15 set by the Golden State Warriors in 2017. The Knicks ended the first quarter with an 8-0 run and began the second with 12 unanswered points to lead 50-26. Shamet's third three-pointer later put the Knicks 61-32 up and they never looked back, overwhelming the Cavs after half-time with 22 turnovers. Donovan Mitchell top-scored for the Cavs with 31 points.

Lionel Messi was substituted during Inter Miami's latest Major League Soccer match because of "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring, his club said Paris Saint-Germain fans have received some good news as top stars, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi are both back in full training in a tonic for the French side ahead of their Champions League final against Arsenal. Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, returned after injuring his right calf in Ligue 1 action against Paris FC on May 17. Hakimi sustained a right thigh injury in the thrilling semi-final win over Bayern Munich, but the duo was back, according to social media posts by the Parisian club. Defending champions PSG take on Arsenal in Budapest on Saturday in the final of the Champions League.

Iran’s sports minister said FIFA has promised the country’s men’s football team will receive visas to play in the United States at the World Cup this summer despite the ongoing Middle East war, local media reported on Monday Iran’s participation at the global spectacle has been in question for months because it is being co-hosted by the US, which along with Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, sparking a wider regional war. “The FIFA president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas. I hope that all the conditions will be met so that the national team can participate in the tournament in a calm and orderly manner,” said minister Ahmad Donyamali, quoted by local news agency ISNA. The Iranian squad will now be based in Tijuana on the Mexican border with the United States during the tournament, according to the Islamic republic’s football federation. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said the country will allow Iran to be based there to avoid US visa restrictions. Sports minister Donyamali said the World Cup hosts had an obligation to provide visas to all participating countries, including for players and backroom staff. “In Mexico, the Iranian national team is expected to obtain multiple-entry visas issued by the United States,” he said. At the global football body’s congress in Vancouver last month, president Gianni Infantino said Iran would play their World Cup games in the US as scheduled. The Iran team are currently preparing in Antalya, southern Turkey, and some of the squad went to the US embassy in Ankara on Thursday to submit visa applications for the World Cup. The tournament, jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, kicks off on June 11. Iran have been drawn in Group G and will play their first two matches in Los Angeles. They open their campaign against New Zealand on June 15 and will then face Belgium on June 21 before rounding off their group games against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has agreed to allow Iran to be based in the country during the World Cup, claiming the US was unwilling to host them Sheinbaum said her government had been approached by Fifa after the US made it clear it did not want Iran's squad to stay in the country during the tournament. "We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico. The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there," Sheinbaum said. "So they asked us: 'Can they stay overnight in Mexico?' And we said: 'Yes, no problem.' We have no problem." Later on Monday, Fifa confirmed Iran's training base will be at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico. Iran were originally given Tucson, Arizona as their World Cup base with all three of their matches scheduled to take place in the US. However, the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns had led to uncertainty around their participation. The World Cup is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, with Iran scheduled to play New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June - both in Los Angeles - and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. Iran are currently preparing for the tournament in Antalya, southern Turkey. Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali also confirmed world football's governing body has said the Iran squad will be given visas to play in the US this summer. "The Fifa president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas," he said. The Iranian FA (FFIRI) had presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation at the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to receive visas. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran's players will be welcome at the tournament but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions. Taj was one of a number of FFIRI officials turned away at the Canadian border before April's Fifa annual congress in Vancouver with Canada's immigration minister telling parliament his visa was cancelled because of links to the IRGC. Some members of the squad went to the US embassy in Ankara on Thursday to submit visa applications for the tournament.

Lionel Messi was substituted during Inter Miami's latest Major League Soccer match because of "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring, his club said There had been fears that the 2022 World Cup winner had suffered an injury during Inter Miami's 6-4 win over Philadelphia Union. However, the MLS club announced that medical tests showed that it was nothing more than "an overload associated with muscle fatigue". "The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress," Inter Miami said. Having set up two of Miami's four first-half goals on Sunday, Messi clutched his leg in the 73rd minute after taking a free-kick and was immediately withdrawn in the team's final game before the World Cup break. The 38-year-old went straight down the tunnel but appeared to be walking normally. "He really was fatigued," Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said after the game when asked about Messi's condition. "He was tired; the pitch was heavy and when in doubt, the standard approach is always to ensure you don't take any risks." Messi has not formally confirmed he plans to play for defending champions Argentina in the World Cup, which begins on 11 June. However, he is widely expected to make a record-equalling sixth appearance at a World Cup, with the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Argentina's squad is due to be named next week, with their opening game against Algeria on 16 June. Since moving to Miami in 2023, the Barcelona legend and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has carefully managed his workload but has still spent spells out of action with hamstring issues. He has 12 goals and eight assists in 14 MLS games this season, only one behind the leader in each category, having scored a league-leading 29 goals and assisted 19 times in 28 games during the 2025 regular season.

Introduction Live betting, also called in-play betting, is now one of the most popular ways to bet on football in Nigeria. Instead of placing your bet before kickoff and waiting, you can wager on matches as the action unfolds, with odds updating in real time based on what is happening on the pitch. In 2026, live football betting accounts for roughly 35 to 40% of all bets placed on Nigerian platforms, up from around 20% just two years ago. This guide explains how live betting works, which markets are most popular, how to read live betting odds, and the strategies Nigerian bettors use to bet smarter in real time. In This Guide What is live betting and how does it work? How to play live bet: a step-by-step walkthrough Understanding live betting odds The best live football betting markets Live betting strategy for football Live betting apps in Nigeria: what to look for Other sports you can bet on live in Nigeria Common mistakes to avoid 1. What Is Live Betting and How Does It Work? Live betting, also referred to as in-play betting, allows you to place bets on a match after it has already started. Markets are available from kickoff through to the final whistle, and often into extra time. The odds change continuously based on the score, time elapsed, possession, red cards, and momentum shifts. A team going 1-0 down will see their odds for a comeback lengthen; a match that is still goalless after 60 minutes will see Over 2.5 goals odds drift significantly. On any major Nigerian betting platform, you will find a dedicated live section accessible from the homepage or app. This shows all currently active matches with available markets and real-time odds. You can follow the action through a live score feed, basic match statistics, or, on platforms that offer it, live streaming directly within the app. 2. How to Play Live Bet: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough Getting started with live bet online follows the same process as standard betting, with one key difference: speed matters. Odds during a match can shift within seconds. Fund your account first. Deposit funds on your chosen platform before a match starts, so you are ready to act when an opportunity appears. Many Nigerian bettors load their accounts before a big Premier League or Champions League weekend so they can move quickly during matches. Open the live section. On most Nigerian betting apps, this is labelled "Live", "In-Play", or "Live Betting" in the navigation. You will see a list of all live matches with their current score and available markets. Select your market and stake. Browse the available live markets for your chosen match, select the outcome you want to back, enter your stake, and confirm. Your bet is placed at the odds displayed at that exact moment. Use live scores to stay informed. Tracking the live score and match stats helps you assess whether the odds are offering value. Most apps include basic live score data: score, match time, and sometimes possession or shots on target. For more detailed match data, many Nigerian bettors use a separate live score app while betting. Cash out when the opportunity arises. Most major platforms offer a cash-out feature on live bets, allowing you to lock in a return before the bet settles. If your selection is winning and time is running short, cashing out a portion of your return can secure profit even if the final result goes against you. 3. Understanding Live Betting Odds Live football betting odds work the same way as pre-match odds in terms of how returns are calculated, but they change much faster. Here is what drives those changes: Goals: The most obvious driver. A goal immediately shifts the odds landscape. If Arsenal were priced at 1.50 to win and they concede, their odds will jump sharply. If they score first, their odds will shorten further. Time: As a match progresses with no goals, Under markets shorten and Over markets lengthen. A 0-0 scoreline at 75 minutes makes Over 2.5 goals increasingly unlikely, so those odds become much higher. Red cards: A sending-off dramatically changes the dynamics of a match and causes immediate odds movement across almost every market. Momentum: On more sophisticated platforms, odds also shift based on possession patterns, dangerous attacks, and shots on target, not just events that appear on the scoreboard. Because live betting odds move quickly, Nigerian bettors working on slower data connections occasionally experience a brief delay between the odds they see and the odds that are confirmed when their bet is placed. This is called odds movement, and most platforms will either confirm the new price automatically or ask whether you want to accept the changed odds. 4. The Best Live Football Betting Markets Not every market available pre-match is available in-play, and some markets are more suitable for live betting than others. These are the most popular live football betting markets among Nigerian bettors in 2026. Next goal: Back which team will score next, or whether there will be no next goal before a defined period. This is a fast-moving market that resets with every goal and offers attractive odds during matches where a team is pressing hard. Over/Under goals: Predicting whether the total goals in a match will exceed or fall below a set number (typically 0.5, 1.5, or 2.5) remains the most popular live football betting market in Nigeria. As a match progresses goallessly, the odds for Under markets shorten and the odds for late Over markets lengthen, creating potential value opportunities for bettors who are watching the match closely. Match result (1X2): The full-time result market stays available throughout most matches. Backing a strong team at improved odds after they concede early is one of the most common live betting approaches used in Nigeria. Both teams to score (BTTS): Whether both teams will score at any point in the match. The odds on BTTS Yes become much more attractive if one team has yet to score with time running short. Half-time/Full-time: Backing a scoreline category at half-time that already has a strong probability of being maintained or reversed. This market offers good odds in certain scenarios. Asian Handicap live: Available on larger platforms like 1xBet and Betway. This gives one team a virtual goal advantage and offers smoother odds than straight 1X2 markets. 5. Live Betting Strategy for Football Live betting strategy requires different thinking from pre-match betting. The pace is faster, odds shift constantly, and emotional pressure is higher because you are watching the match as you bet. These principles apply to live football betting in Nigeria. Watch the match where possible. Live betting odds are most useful when you can see what is happening on the pitch. A team dominating possession but trailing 0-1 represents a different reality to a team that is genuinely outclassed. The odds may not reflect this distinction immediately, creating short windows of value for bettors who are watching. Identify value in early goal scenarios. When a match favourite concedes an early goal, their odds often lengthen more than the actual change in probability warrants. A strong team that goes 0-1 down at home in the 10th minute is still very likely to recover, but their odds may move from 1.50 to 2.50 or higher. This is one of the most widely used live betting opportunities in Nigerian football betting. Use the Under market in slow starts. If a match with a high pre-match Over 2.5 expectation reaches the 60-minute mark still goalless, the Under 2.5 market will be very short. But if it is still 0-0 with 30 minutes remaining and both defences look comfortable, the Under 0.5 or Under 1.5 market may offer value at odds that reflect the remaining possibility of a late goal more than the actual statistical likelihood. Manage your stake during live betting. The fast pace of in-play betting can encourage impulsive decisions and higher-than-intended stakes. Set a clear live betting budget before each session, separate from your pre-match allocation, and stick to it. How to win live bet consistently is less about finding a system and more about discipline: taking high-probability opportunities rather than chasing every odds swing. Use cash out selectively. Cash out can be a useful tool during live betting, but do not treat it as a default move. If your bet is winning by a significant margin early in the second half, holding it can yield a better return than cashing out immediately. Use it when a result is genuinely at risk, not simply because you are anxious about the outcome. Compare live odds across platforms. Just as with pre-match betting, different bookmakers offer different odds on the same live markets. Check betCompare for the best pre-match prices before a match. Having accounts on two or three major Nigerian platforms allows you to take the best live price when you see value. 6. Live Betting Apps in Nigeria: What to Look For Not all Nigerian betting apps handle live betting equally well. These are the features that matter most for a quality live bet experience. Speed: The app needs to load and update odds fast enough to be useful on a standard Nigerian mobile data connection. SportyBet and Betway are consistently rated well for live betting speed. 1xBet offers the widest live market range of any platform available in Nigeria but requires a more stable connection for the full experience. Live streaming: Watching a match within the same app you are betting on is a significant advantage. Bet9ja offers live streaming for selected football matches each week. 1xBet has the broadest live streaming catalogue across over 60 sports. Betway streams selected Premier League and Champions League fixtures. Live score and stats: Even without streaming, live score data and basic match statistics (possession, shots, corners) help you make better decisions. Most major Nigerian platforms now include this. Market depth: The number of live markets available per match varies significantly. Platforms like 1xBet and 22Bet tend to offer more live markets per game than some local operators, which can be valuable if you prefer niche markets like exact booking counts, Asian corners, or player-specific bets. Cash out availability: Confirm that the platform offers cash out on live bets before you commit, particularly for larger stakes. 7. Other Sports You Can Bet on Live in Nigeria Football is the dominant sport for live betting in Nigeria by a significant margin, but other sports are increasingly available. Basketball: NBA live betting has a growing following in Nigeria, with markets on point spreads, totals, and in-quarter results. The fast pace of basketball makes live odds movements even sharper than in football. Platforms including 1xBet and 22Bet cover the NBA extensively with live markets. Tennis: Live tennis betting is available on ATP and WTA tour matches, with markets covering set results, game totals, and who will win the next game. 1xBet and Betway both carry solid live tennis coverage. Cricket: Live cricket betting is available for major international fixtures including Test matches, ODIs, and the IPL. Markets typically cover the next wicket, runs in the next over, and match result. 1xBet and 22Bet are the leading platforms for live cricket markets in Nigeria. Football remains the primary focus for virtually all Nigerian live bettors, and most local platforms prioritise it accordingly. For other sports, the platforms with the broadest live coverage tend to be the international operators. Common Mistakes to Avoid Betting without watching the match. Live betting odds are far more useful when you have real-time context. Placing live bets based on a score update alone without watching the match removes your biggest informational advantage. Chasing losses in-play. The pace and emotion of live betting makes loss-chasing more tempting than in pre-match betting. Set a budget before the session and do not exceed it, regardless of results. Accepting odds without checking movement. If a platform asks whether you want to accept changed odds, always check whether the movement is significant before confirming. A large odds drop in your direction can meaningfully reduce your expected return. Betting on every match in the live section. Selectivity is as important in live betting as in pre-match. Focus on matches you understand, where you have a clear reason to bet. Ignoring the cash-out option when a bet is genuinely at risk. Cash out is not always the right call, but ignoring it entirely on a high-stakes bet that is under threat late in a match is also a mistake. Quick Summary Table Feature What to Know What is live betting? Betting placed on a match after it has started, with real-time odds Most popular live market Over/Under goals, followed by next goal and match result Best live streaming platform 1xBet (widest coverage), Bet9ja (top football matches) When is live value strongest? After an early goal in a match with a clear favourite Key strategy principle Watch the match, be selective, use cash out wisely Other sports for live betting Basketball (NBA), tennis, cricket 24/7 live betting availability Yes, via simulated reality leagues when real football is off betCompare Insight For beginners: Live betting can feel overwhelming at first because odds are always moving. The simplest way to start is to find a match you are already watching, pick one market you understand (the match result or Over/Under goals), and place a single small stake. Get comfortable with how the odds move before expanding into multiple markets or larger stakes. For experienced bettors: The strongest live betting edge available to most Nigerian bettors is speed and attention, not a secret system. Watching a match closely enough to spot a market that has not adjusted quickly to a momentum shift gives you a genuine informational advantage over the algorithm. Pair this with a disciplined staking plan and a habit of always checking pre-match odds on betCompare before every game, so you have a baseline price to compare against what the live market offers as the match progresses. Frequently Asked Questions What is live betting in football? Live betting is the practice of placing bets on a football match after it has kicked off. Odds change continuously based on the score, match time, and in-game events. You can bet on markets like the next goal, full-time result, or total goals while the match is in progress. How do I play live bet on a Nigerian platform? Log into your betting account, navigate to the Live or In-Play section, select a match in progress, choose your market, enter your stake, and confirm. The odds at the point of confirmation are the odds your bet settles at. Ensure your account is funded before the match starts so you can act quickly. Which Nigerian betting apps are best for live football betting? 1xBet offers the widest live market range and live streaming for a large number of matches. Bet9ja provides live streaming for selected top football fixtures. SportyBet and Betway are consistently fast and reliable for in-play betting. BetKing has strong live coverage of Nigerian league matches. Can I win consistently with live betting? Consistent winning at live betting, like any form of sports betting, is difficult. The bookmaker's margin still applies to every live market. The bettors with the best results tend to be selective, well-informed about the matches they are watching, and disciplined about their staking. What is cash out in live betting? Cash out allows you to settle your live bet before the match ends, at a return offered by the bookmaker based on the current odds and match situation. If your bet is winning and time is running short, cash out locks in a partial return without waiting for the final whistle. Are live betting odds higher or lower than pre-match odds? Neither consistently. Live odds reflect the current match state and what the bookmaker calculates is the updated probability of each outcome. In some scenarios, a live market may offer better value than the pre-match price; in others, the bookmaker adjusts quickly enough that value is limited. Checking betCompare for the pre-match price gives you a reference point. Conclusion Before the next match, check where the best odds are available. betCompare compares live and pre-match prices from all major Nigerian bookmakers in one place, completely free. Compare Odds on betCompare 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction If you are betting on a licensed platform in Lagos and your withdrawal looks smaller than expected, you are not imagining it. In February 2026, the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) announced the immediate enforcement of a 5% Withholding Tax on gaming winnings, deducted automatically before any payout reaches your account. This guide explains exactly how the tax works, who it applies to, what it means for your returns, and what you need to know about the new NIN requirement tied to the same directive. Table of Contents What is the Lagos 5% betting tax? How is it deducted and where does it go? Who does it apply to? How does it affect your actual payouts? What is the NIN requirement? Does the tax credit mean you can claim anything back? What does this mean going forward? 1. What Is the Lagos 5% Betting Tax? The tax is formally called a Withholding Tax (WHT), a type of tax deducted at source before income is paid out, rather than collected later. On 20 February 2026, LSLGA CEO Are Bashir issued a public notice directing all licensed gaming operators in Lagos State to immediately begin deducting 5% from players' net gaming winnings and remitting the funds to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). The Lagos government framed the move as part of a broader drive to strengthen tax compliance in a sector that has grown into a multi-billion naira industry. Previously, individual betting winnings in Lagos largely went untaxed because there was no structured mechanism to collect from players directly. The new directive puts the collection responsibility on operators, removing any option for players on licensed platforms to avoid the deduction. This is a Lagos State measure. It was announced and enforced by the LSLGA under the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Law 2021, reflecting the state's regulatory authority over gambling following the November 2024 Supreme Court ruling that limited the federal NLRC's jurisdiction to the FCT. 2. How Is It Deducted and Where Does It Go? The deduction is automatic. You do not need to calculate or pay anything separately. When your winnings are processed for payout, the licensed platform deducts 5% of your net winnings before the funds reach your account or wallet. The operator then remits that amount directly to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service as the statutory tax authority. Players receive their winnings net of the deduction. There is no invoice, no separate payment, and no action required from you. Operators are required to maintain proper documentation of all deductions and remittances for transparency and regulatory compliance. 3. Who Does It Apply To? The 5% WHT applies to: Players betting on LSLGA-licensed platforms operating in Lagos State Winnings from sports betting, online gaming, and regulated gaming activities on those platforms Net winnings, meaning your profit on a bet, not your original stake It does not apply to: Your original stake (if you deposit ₦5,000 and lose, there is no tax; if you win and withdraw, only the net win is taxed) Players using unlicensed or offshore platforms that are not regulated by the LSLGA, though using those platforms carries significant risks of its own including withdrawal refusals and no regulatory protection Platforms operating outside Lagos State jurisdiction If you are betting with Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betway, BetKing, or any other LSLGA-licensed operator from Lagos, this tax applies to you. 4. How Does It Affect Your Actual Payouts? The impact is straightforward. Here are some practical examples: Net Winning 5% Deducted Amount You Receive ₦10,000 ₦500 ₦9,500 ₦50,000 ₦2,500 ₦47,500 ₦100,000 ₦5,000 ₦95,000 ₦500,000 ₦25,000 ₦475,000 For casual bettors placing small stakes on everyday matches, the deduction is modest. For bettors who land larger accumulator wins or regularly withdraw significant sums, the reduction is more noticeable over time. On a ₦100,000 win, you lose ₦5,000 to the tax. On a ₦1,000,000 win, you lose ₦50,000. The tax also makes it more important than ever to ensure you are getting the best available odds on every bet. A 5% deduction from your winnings means the difference between odds of 2.00 and 1.95 becomes even more meaningful in practice. Compare odds across all major Nigerian bookmakers before placing every bet at https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds. 5. What Is the NIN Requirement? Alongside the WHT enforcement, the LSLGA directive also mandates stricter identity verification for players. All bettors on licensed platforms are now required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) as part of Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements before winnings can be processed. If your NIN is not already linked to your betting account, your platform may request it before processing a withdrawal. This is not unique to betting: NIN verification has been required across Nigerian financial and telecoms services for several years. For most bettors with a registered SIM and a bank account, the NIN should already be on record. However, if you have not yet linked your NIN to your betting account, do so proactively to avoid withdrawal delays. 6. Does the Tax Credit Mean You Can Claim Anything Back? Yes, technically. The LSLGA directive confirmed that the 5% WHT deducted from your winnings counts as a tax credit, meaning it can be offset against your total personal income tax obligations if you file a tax return. In practice, the majority of casual Nigerian bettors do not file individual income tax returns, so this credit goes unclaimed. If you are a higher-income earner who does file returns, you can present documentation of the WHT deducted from your betting winnings as a credit against your income tax liability. Speak to a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation, as the application of this credit depends on your overall tax position. 7. What Does This Mean Going Forward? Lagos has become the first Nigerian state to enforce a structured withholding tax directly on player winnings, and it is unlikely to be the last. The 2024 Supreme Court ruling gave states full regulatory autonomy over gambling within their borders. Other commercially significant states such as Abuja (FCT), Rivers, and Kano may introduce similar mechanisms in the coming years. At the federal level, the Nigerian Tax Act 2025, which came into effect on 1 January 2026, also introduced broader provisions for taxing gaming income. For now, bettors in Lagos face the clearest and most immediately enforced obligation. Industry observers have warned that the tax, if perceived as too burdensome, may push some players toward unregulated offshore platforms, which carry their own risks including no regulatory protection, account freezes, and unresolved withdrawal disputes. Common Mistakes to Avoid Assuming the tax applies to your stake. It does not. The 5% is applied only to your net winnings, not the amount you deposit or wager. Ignoring the NIN requirement. If your NIN is not linked to your account, your withdrawal may be delayed. Verify it proactively. Assuming offshore platforms are a safe workaround. Unregulated operators offer no player protections. Frozen accounts and withdrawal disputes are significantly more common on unlicensed platforms. Overlooking odds comparison. A 5% tax on winnings makes the margin between good and poor odds more consequential. Always check betCompare before betting. Confusing this with a tax on losses. You only pay when you win. There is no deduction on losing bets, refunds, or original stakes returned. Quick Summary Table Question Answer What is it? 5% Withholding Tax on net betting winnings Who announced it? Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) When did it take effect? February 2026, with immediate effect Where does it apply? Lagos State, licensed platforms only Is my stake taxed? No. Only net winnings are taxed How is it collected? Automatically deducted by the operator at payout Where does it go? Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) Can I claim it back? Yes, as a tax credit, if you file income tax returns Is NIN required? Yes, for KYC/withdrawal compliance betCompare Insight For beginners: The 5% deduction happens automatically, so you do not need to do anything except make sure your NIN is linked to your account. Just factor in that every win pays out 5% less than the stated odds imply. If you are new to betting, this makes it even more important to start with realistic expectations about returns. For experienced bettors: The tax makes odds comparison more valuable, not less. A 5% deduction on winnings means a platform offering 2.10 versus 2.00 on the same market is now an even bigger difference in net returns than it was before. Use betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) before every bet to ensure you are starting from the best possible price. Over a full season, consistently getting the best odds will outweigh the tax burden compared to always betting with a single platform. Frequently Asked Questions Does the 5% Lagos betting tax apply to my stake? No. The tax is applied only to your net winnings, meaning your profit. Your original stake is not affected. If you bet ₦2,000 and win ₦10,000, the 5% is calculated on the ₦8,000 net profit, not the full ₦10,000 payout. Which platforms are affected by the Lagos betting tax? All platforms licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) and operating within Lagos State are required to implement the deduction. This includes major operators such as Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betway, and BetKing. Unlicensed or offshore platforms fall outside LSLGA jurisdiction, though using them carries significant risk. Do I need to do anything to comply with the new tax? No separate action is required to pay the tax as it is deducted automatically. However, you should ensure your National Identification Number (NIN) is linked to your betting account to comply with the new KYC requirements and avoid withdrawal delays. What happens to the 5% that is deducted from my winnings? The deducted amount is remitted directly by the licensed operator to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). It is recorded as a tax credit in your name, which can be offset against your income tax liability if you file a personal tax return. Does this tax apply to bettors outside Lagos? Not currently. This is a Lagos State directive enforced by the LSLGA. Other Nigerian states have not yet introduced equivalent withholding taxes on player winnings, though the regulatory environment is evolving. What if I do not want my winnings taxed? Can I use an offshore platform instead? Technically, offshore and unlicensed platforms are not bound by the LSLGA directive. However, using them means you have no regulatory protection in Nigeria: if a withdrawal is refused or your account is frozen, there is no authority to complain to. The 5% reduction on licensed platforms is a known and transparent cost. The risks of unlicensed platforms are less predictable and often more severe. Conclusion A 5% tax on winnings makes getting the best available odds more important than ever. Before every bet, check which platform is offering the highest price on your selection. Compare Odds on betCompare 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Arsenal already won the Premier League after 22 years, while another London side got relegated, Bruno sets new EPL assist record, as Hull City wins Championship playoff, and Lewis Hamilton with another podium finish this formula one season, and many more sporting moments over the weekend Arsenal lifts the Premier League title Arsenal went 22 years with lifting the English Premier League title, but the Gunners jinx ended when the lifted their coveted trophy on Sunday at Selhurst Park, but the North London giants will now switch attention to the Champions League final this coming weekend, where they will take on PSG. Bruno the assist king Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne had the record for most assists in the Premier League (20), but Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes has now set his own standard, after hitting his 21st assist of the season, making him the player with the most assist in the league. Hull City are back Hull City are back to the Premier League, thanks to a 94th minute winner from Oli McBurnie, to hand them a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final. Hull are now back in English top flight football after nine years in the lower tier. West Ham United have gone down West Ham United’s 14-year stay in the Premier League ended on final matchday, and despite defeating Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium, it was not enough, as Tottenham Hotspur also recorded victory at home against Everton. Ronaldo is now an SPL champion Five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo has now helped his side win the Saudi Pro League for the first time in almost a decade, following their 4-1 win over Damac, with the Portuguese star scoring two of the goals. Hamilton with another podium finish Lewis Hamilton seem to be enjoying life with Ferrari, as he finished on the podium for the second time this season, following an impressive Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in the Canadian Grand Prix. He finish behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. Kane, Mbappe, Haaland the goal kings The top three strikers in world football today did not disappoint their fans, as all three win the top goalscorer award in their respective leagues. Harry Kane scored 36 goals to win the top scorer award in the German Bundesliga, while Erling Haaland scored 27 goals in the Premier League, and Kylian Mbappe hit the back of the net on 25 occasions in the La Liga.

Introduction Data costs are a real factor for Nigerian bettors. Whether you are managing a monthly bundle, betting from a location with weak signal, or using a lower-end Android device, the app you choose can make a significant difference to how smoothly you bet. Not all platforms are built the same: some apps are bloated and slow, while others are specifically designed to load fast and consume as little data as possible. This guide covers the best betting apps for low data usage in Nigeria in 2026, based on app size, load speed, lite version availability, and data-saving features. Top 3 Picks Betway: The only Nigerian betting app with a dedicated Data Free mode BetKing: Lightest full-featured app with a confirmed lite version for slow connections SportyBet: Sub-30MB app that loads quickly even on poor network conditions Comparison Table App Lite Version Data Free Mode Android iOS Betway No Yes (350MB/week) Yes Yes BetKing Yes (mlite.betking.com) No Yes No SportyBet No No Yes Yes Bet9ja Yes (old mobile) No Yes No BetPawa No No Yes Yes Nairabet No No Yes No Our Methodology Every app was assessed on download file size, page load speed on a standard Nigerian mobile data connection, availability of a lite or simplified version, any dedicated data-saving features, and overall performance on mid-range Android devices such as Tecno and Infinix handsets common in the Nigerian market. Individual Breakdowns Betway Betway is in a category of its own for low data betting in Nigeria because it is the only major platform that offers a confirmed Data Free mode. Once activated through the Betway app, Nigerian users can access pre-match and live sports betting without consuming any mobile data at all. The weekly allowance is 350MB, resetting every Friday, and covers the full sports section. Note that online payments and casino features are not available in Data Free mode, so you will need to deposit in advance before switching. Pros: Only Nigerian betting app with a dedicated Data Free feature Data Free mode covers full pre-match and live sports betting 350MB weekly allowance resets every Friday App is clean, well-designed, and works smoothly on mid-range devices Available on both Android and iOS Cons: Casino, virtual sports, and payment options are not available in Data Free mode Funds must be pre-loaded before switching to Data Free Some payment methods unavailable while on the Data Free site Best For: Bettors who frequently run low on data and want to continue placing bets without touching their bundle. BetKing BetKing offers the most thorough low-data solution after Betway. Its lite version, accessible at mlite.betking.com, is a stripped-back interface designed specifically for bettors on slow connections or lower-end devices. It carries all the core features: match selection, bet placement, booking codes, and account management, with none of the heavier design elements of the main site. The BetKing app itself has also been optimised and reduced in size following a January 2026 update, making it one of the smallest full-featured betting apps available in Nigeria. Pros: Dedicated lite version at mlite.betking.com for low data and slow networks Main app reduced in size following a 2026 update Booking code feature works on the lite version Consistent experience across full site, mobile site, and lite version Performs well on entry-level Android devices Cons: No iOS app; iPhone users must access via mobile browser No data-free mode; lite version still uses data, just less of it Best For: Bettors on Tecno or Infinix devices with limited storage or weak connections who want a reliable lite option. SportyBet SportyBet's app is under 30MB to download, making it one of the smallest full betting app installations in Nigeria. Pages load quickly even on 3G connections, and the clean interface means there are no unnecessary elements consuming bandwidth in the background. For bettors who do not need a dedicated data-free mode but simply want a fast, light app that behaves well on Nigerian mobile networks, SportyBet is the most consistent performer. Pros: App download under 30MB, one of the smallest in the market Pages load quickly on 3G and slow 4G connections Clean interface with no unnecessary background data use Available on both Android and iOS Full account management, live betting, and withdrawals all in-app Cons: No dedicated lite version or data-free mode Live streaming, where available, will consume more data Best For: Bettors who want a fast, compact app without needing a separate lite version or data-free feature. Bet9ja Bet9ja has long been popular with low-data users because of its old mobile site, accessible at mobile.bet9ja.com. This simplified interface strips back the full site to its core functions and has been used by Nigerian bettors on limited data for years. It loads quickly, supports all major markets, and is familiar to a large segment of the Bet9ja user base. The platform also recently updated its app UI in early 2026, improving load performance. Pros: Old mobile site is a proven lightweight option for low-data betting Updated app interface following a January 2026 redesign Covers full NPFL and local football markets even on the lite interface No iOS requirement; both mobile site versions are browser-based Cons: No dedicated data-free mode Main app is heavier than SportyBet or BetKing's lite version No iOS app; iPhone users use the browser site Best For: Bet9ja regulars who want a lightweight way to access local Nigerian football markets on limited data. BetPawa BetPawa's platform is deliberately simple. Its focus on football and a clean, minimal interface means the app and mobile site consume very little data by default. There are no heavy media elements, no live streaming, and no cluttered casino lobbies running in the background. For bettors who just want to select matches, place a bet, and check results without their data taking a hit, BetPawa's stripped-back design works well. Pros: Lightweight app that loads quickly on slow connections Simple interface with minimal background data use Supports deposits and withdrawals via USSD, Airtel, and MTN mobile money Available on Android and iOS Cons: No dedicated lite version or data-free mode Narrow market range focused almost entirely on football Fewer features than larger platforms Best For: Low-stakes bettors who want a simple, data-light football betting experience. Nairabet Nairabet's no-frills interface is one of the reasons its older user base has stuck with it. The mobile site is lightweight by design, loads consistently on weak connections, and does not carry the heavier features of newer platforms. While the experience is dated, bettors whose priority is a fast-loading, low-data platform will find it functional. Pros: Lightweight mobile site that loads well on slow networks Simple interface with minimal data-heavy elements Android app available for download from the official site Cons: No dedicated lite version or data-free feature Most dated interface on this list No iOS app Best For: Long-standing Nairabet users who value a familiar, data-light interface over modern features. Tips for Reducing Data Usage on Any Betting App Whichever app you use, there are a few habits that will help you bet more efficiently on limited data. Download your app rather than using a mobile browser where possible, as installed apps are generally more data-efficient than browser sessions. Turn off auto-refresh for live odds if the feature is available in your settings. Avoid live streaming unless you are on Wi-Fi. Place your bets during off-peak times when network speeds are stronger, which reduces the data consumed by repeated page reloads on slow connections. betCompare Insight For beginners: If you are consistently betting on limited data, start with BetKing's lite version or SportyBet's app. Both are easy to use and designed to work on the type of devices and connections most common in Nigeria. Once your bet is placed, you can close the app and save your remaining data for other uses. For experienced bettors: Betway's Data Free mode is genuinely useful if you are a regular Betway user. Load your account with funds while on Wi-Fi, then switch to Data Free mode to browse markets and place bets on the go without touching your bundle. Pair this with betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) checked on Wi-Fi before you head out, so you already know the best odds before you go data-free. Frequently Asked Questions Which betting app uses the least data in Nigeria? Betway's Data Free mode is the most data-efficient option because it allows you to bet without using any mobile data at all, up to a 350MB weekly cap. For apps without a data-free feature, SportyBet and BetKing's lite version are the lightest options. Does Betway Nigeria have a data-free feature? Yes. Betway Nigeria offers a confirmed Data Free mode accessible through its app. It covers pre-match and live sports betting and is capped at 350MB per week, resetting every Friday. Casino and payment features are not available in Data Free mode. What is BetKing lite? BetKing lite is a simplified, lightweight version of the BetKing platform accessible at mlite.betking.com. It is designed for bettors on slow data connections or lower-end Android devices and carries all core betting functions without the heavier elements of the main site. Can I bet on Bet9ja with low data? Yes. The Bet9ja old mobile site at mobile.bet9ja.com is a lightweight interface that loads quickly on slow connections and covers all the main football markets. It has been used by Nigerian bettors on limited data for several years. Conclusion Before your data runs out, check which platform is offering the best odds on your next bet. betCompare shows you real-time prices from all major Nigerian bookmakers in one place, completely free. Compare Odds on betCompare 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction SportyBet and Bet9ja are the two most-used betting platforms in Nigeria. Both are LSLGA-licensed, both cover the Premier League and NPFL, and both have millions of active users placing bets every weekend. But they are built for different types of bettors. Bet9ja is the older, deeper platform with an enormous retail presence and the widest market range in the country. SportyBet is the faster, leaner, mobile-first alternative with quicker payouts and a cleaner app experience. This comparison breaks down every major category so you can decide which one deserves your next bet. Quick Comparison Table Category SportyBet Bet9ja Licence NLRC + LSLGA LSLGA Odds quality Slightly better on major football Competitive across all markets Betting markets 85-95 per Premier League match 120+ per Premier League match App experience Fast, clean, mobile-first Functional but dated Withdrawal speed Under 5 mins via OPay/Palmpay Within 24 hours (bank transfer) Withdrawal methods Bank transfer, OPay, Palmpay Bank transfer only Live streaming Yes Yes (selected matches) Retail shops No 20,000+ across Nigeria NPFL coverage Yes Yes (deeper coverage) Jackpot Sporty Jackpot Super9ja (up to ₦1 billion) Category Breakdown Odds Quality Both platforms are competitive on major football leagues, but the difference is measurable. Independent testing across Premier League and La Liga markets consistently shows SportyBet edging Bet9ja by a small margin on top-flight football, typically 0.5 to 1% better odds per selection. On NPFL matches, SportyBet averages 1.5 to 2% better odds compared to Bet9ja. Over a full season of regular betting, that margin adds up to a meaningful difference in returns. Bet9ja counters with its betBOOM feature, which randomly boosts odds on selected events and can deliver significantly enhanced prices in the moment. For standard markets on standard matchdays, however, SportyBet holds a consistent, modest edge on the leagues most Nigerian bettors focus on. Winner: SportyBet Betting Markets This is where Bet9ja pulls clear. With 120 or more markets available per Premier League match, Bet9ja offers one of the deepest market ranges of any platform operating in Nigeria. Niche selections like correct score, half-time goalscorer, and exact booking counts are available consistently on major fixtures. Less common sports including American football, rugby, and ice hockey are covered with more depth than most local competitors. SportyBet offers 85 to 95 markets per top-flight match, which is solid for everyday bettors but noticeably less than Bet9ja's coverage. Its strength is in the markets most Nigerian bettors actually use: match result, over/under goals, both teams to score, and accumulators. For bettors who want niche markets and wide sports variety beyond football and basketball, Bet9ja is the stronger option. Winner: Bet9ja Welcome Bonus and Promotions Both platforms offer first-deposit welcome bonuses, though the structures differ. Bet9ja's bonus has a rollover requirement attached, while SportyBet's terms focus on accumulator selections at minimum odds. On an ongoing basis, Bet9ja offers more regular promotional activity including its betBOOM feature, FireBets combo recommendations, Super9ja jackpot, and a 1UP feature that pays out a match-winner bet if your chosen team goes one goal ahead at any point in the match. SportyBet's standout ongoing promotion is its accumulator boost, which offers percentage increases on multi-selection bets depending on the number of legs added. It also offers One-Cut insurance, which provides a consolation payout if a single game ruins an otherwise winning accumulator, and Bore Draw insurance on 0-0 results. As a general principle, avoid chasing bonus amounts as the key decision factor: terms and wagering requirements matter more than headline figures. Winner: Draw (depends on betting style: Bet9ja for jackpot and special features; SportyBet for acca protection) App Experience SportyBet wins this category clearly. Its Android and iOS app is among the smallest available from any major Nigerian bookmaker at under 30MB, loads quickly on 3G connections, and presents a clean, uncluttered interface that works well on mid-range Tecno and Infinix handsets. For bettors who place most of their wagers on mobile, the experience is noticeably smoother. Bet9ja's app is functional and reliable but its design is considered dated compared to newer platforms. The platform offers a mobile lite version and the old mobile site as lightweight alternatives for bettors on slow connections or lower-end devices, which partly makes up for the main app's limitations. A January 2026 update redesigned the registration flow and improved load times, but the overall interface still trails SportyBet for speed and visual clarity. Winner: SportyBet Payout Speed This is the clearest difference between the two platforms. SportyBet processes withdrawals via OPay and Palmpay in under five minutes in most cases, making it the fastest payout option among major licensed Nigerian bookmakers. The withdrawal process is automated, with minimal manual handling, which keeps times consistently short. Bet9ja processes withdrawals via bank transfer only, with funds typically arriving within 24 hours. There are no withdrawal fees and the process is reliable, but the absence of mobile money withdrawal options means it cannot compete on raw speed. Bettors who prioritise immediate access to their winnings will find SportyBet the stronger choice. Winner: SportyBet Customer Support SportyBet offers 24/7 live chat, email, and social media support with a reputation for fast WhatsApp response times. Bet9ja provides live chat, email, telephone, and Telegram support. In practice, both platforms receive mixed user feedback on resolution speed for complex account issues, which is a common challenge across Nigerian betting platforms generally. Bet9ja's advantage here is its retail network. With over 20,000 shops across Nigeria, bettors who prefer resolving issues face-to-face or who bet on physical tickets have a clear reason to choose Bet9ja. No other Nigerian platform comes close to that physical footprint. For bettors who handle everything online, the support quality between the two is broadly comparable. Winner: Bet9ja (for retail access); Draw for online support Pros and Cons SportyBet Pros: Fastest withdrawal speed of any major licensed platform in Nigeria OPay and Palmpay withdrawals available Slightly better odds on top-flight football markets Clean, fast, data-friendly mobile app ACCA boost and One-Cut insurance for regular multi-bettors Licensed by both NLRC and LSLGA Cons: Fewer betting markets per match than Bet9ja No retail shop network for in-person betting Welcome bonus terms require careful reading on accumulator conditions Market depth on non-football sports is limited Bet9ja Pros: Deepest betting market range in Nigeria (120+ markets per top match) Over 20,000 retail shops across the country Unique features: betBOOM, 1UP, Super9ja jackpot Mobile lite and old mobile versions for low-data users Live streaming for selected football matches Strong local trust built over more than a decade Cons: Bank transfer only for withdrawals, no OPay or Palmpay Withdrawals take up to 24 hours compared to minutes on SportyBet App design is dated compared to newer platforms Account name must match bank account name exactly or withdrawals are delayed Which Should You Choose? Choose SportyBet if you are a mobile-first bettor who wants the fastest possible withdrawals, slightly better football odds, and a clean app experience on a mid-range Android device. SportyBet suits bettors who focus primarily on top European leagues and accumulators, and who want their winnings paid out within minutes via OPay or Palmpay. Choose Bet9ja if you want the deepest market range in Nigeria, access to physical shops, unique payout features like 1UP and betBOOM, or if you bet on less common sports and niche markets. Bet9ja is also the stronger choice for bettors who prefer settling complex issues in person or who regularly participate in the Super9ja jackpot. betCompare Insight For beginners: If you are just starting out, SportyBet's simpler interface and faster payouts make it easier to manage as you learn. The core markets you will use most as a new bettor: match result, over/under goals, and accumulators, are all well covered. Register, deposit a small amount, and get comfortable with the platform before worrying about niche markets or bonus structures. For experienced bettors: There is no reason to limit yourself to one platform. The odds difference between SportyBet and Bet9ja on the same match can vary by more than 1% depending on the fixture. Using betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) before every bet lets you see both platforms' prices in real time and consistently take the better price, whichever platform is offering it on that day. Over a season, this habit makes a measurable difference to your returns. Frequently Asked Questions Which is better, SportyBet or Bet9ja? It depends on your priorities. SportyBet is better for faster withdrawals, a cleaner mobile experience, and slightly better odds on major football. Bet9ja is better for market depth, retail shop access, and unique features like betBOOM and the Super9ja jackpot. Does SportyBet or Bet9ja pay out faster? SportyBet is significantly faster. OPay and Palmpay withdrawals on SportyBet are processed in under five minutes. Bet9ja withdrawals via bank transfer typically arrive within 24 hours. Which platform has better odds, SportyBet or Bet9ja? On major football leagues like the Premier League and La Liga, SportyBet generally offers slightly better odds. On NPFL and local markets, the difference is also in SportyBet's favour on average. Bet9ja competes through features like betBOOM, which can deliver boosted prices on selected markets. Can I use both SportyBet and Bet9ja? Yes, and many experienced Nigerian bettors do. Having accounts on both allows you to compare odds before each bet and take the better price, whichever platform is offering it. Use betCompare to check both in real time: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds Is SportyBet licensed in Nigeria? Yes. SportyBet is licensed by both the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA). Does Bet9ja have a mobile app? Yes. Bet9ja has an Android and iOS app, as well as a mobile lite version and an old mobile site for bettors on low data or older devices. Conclusion Before your next bet, find out which platform is offering the better odds on your selection. betCompare shows real-time prices from SportyBet, Bet9ja, and all major Nigerian bookmakers in one place, completely free. Compare Odds on betCompare 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction 1xBet is one of the largest online betting platforms in the world and one of the most widely used in Nigeria. It is owned by 1X Corp NV and operates under a Curaçao gaming licence, with a significant and active user base across Nigeria accessed via 1xbet.ng. The platform is known above all for the sheer scale of its sportsbook: thousands of daily markets across football, tennis, basketball, esports, and dozens of other sports. This review covers everything Nigerian bettors need to know about 1xBet, including the app, login, registration, deposits, withdrawals, cash out, bonuses, promo codes, bet builder, chain bets, and maximum payouts. Our verdict: the most powerful platform available to Nigerian bettors for market range and odds depth, but one that requires some patience to navigate. Quick Stats Our Rating 4.4/5 Minimum Deposit N100 Payout Speed Within 24 hours (standard) Top Markets Football, Tennis, Basketball, Esports, 40+ sports App Rating 4.2/5 Key Features The 1xBet App and Mobile Site The 1xBet mobile experience is one of the most fully featured available in Nigeria. The 1xBet mobile app is available for Android as an APK download directly from the 1xbet.ng website, and for iOS via the App Store. The Android APK download is straightforward: visit www.1xbet.com, go to the app section, download the 1xBet APK, and install it with the standard APK permissions enabled on your device. The app covers the full sportsbook, live betting, casino, and account management. For bettors who prefer a browser experience, the 1xBet com mobile site at m.1xbet.com delivers the same content in a responsive format. Both the app and mobile site are regularly updated and perform well on mid-range Android devices common in the Nigerian market. 1xBet Registration and Login Signing up on 1xBet Nigeria is quick. Visit www.1xbet.com or the 1xbet.ng website, click Register, and choose your preferred sign-up method: phone number, email, social media, or one-click registration. Select Nigerian Naira as your currency during registration. Once your account is active, the 1xBet login process is the same whether you are using the website, mobile site, or app: enter your registered phone number or email and your password at the 1xbet com login page. Nigerian bettors can access the platform directly at www.1xbet.com.ng. If you experience login issues, the password reset option is on the login page. Deposits and How to Withdraw from 1xBet Depositing on 1xBet Nigeria is handled through bank transfer, USSD, Opay, Palmpay, and several other local payment options. Minimum deposits are low, making the platform accessible for casual bettors. For withdrawals, log in to your account, go to the Withdrawal section, select your preferred method, enter the amount, and confirm. It is important to note that 1xBet requires your withdrawal method to match your deposit method in most cases. Withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours, though verification may be required for first-time withdrawals. 1xBet's maximum payout in Nigeria is among the highest of any platform in the market, which makes it attractive for high-stakes bettors placing large accumulators. How to Cash Out on 1xBet The 1xBet cash out feature is available on a wide range of live and pre-match markets. To cash out on 1xBet, go to My Bets in your account, find the relevant bet, and tap the Cash Out button if the option is available for that event. Both full and partial cash out are supported, allowing you to secure a portion of your winnings while leaving the rest of your bet running. The feature is particularly useful for accumulator bets where most selections have already won and you want to lock in returns before the final leg. Bonuses, Promo Codes, and How to Use Your Bonus 1xBet offers a welcome bonus for new users on their first deposit. A 1xBet free promo code can be entered during registration to activate or enhance the offer. To get your 1xBet promo code, check the current promotions page on 1xbet.ng or refer to trusted comparison sources. Once your bonus is credited, go to the Bonuses section of your account to see the terms and how to activate it. To use your bonus on 1xBet, switch to your bonus balance in the bet slip before confirming your selection. Bonus funds are typically subject to wagering requirements before they can be withdrawn, so always read the current terms before opting in. Bet Builder, Chain Bets, and Advanced Features 1xBet includes several betting features that go beyond standard single and accumulator bets. The 1xBet bet builder allows you to combine multiple markets from the same match into a single bet, for example pairing a match result with an over/under and a both-teams-to-score selection on the same fixture. Chain bets on 1xBet are a sequential betting format where your stake and winnings from one bet automatically roll into the next, creating a series of connected bets from a single initial stake. These are more advanced features suited to experienced bettors who want greater flexibility in how they structure their wagers. Pros and Cons Pros: Largest sportsbook available to Nigerian bettors, covering 40-plus sports Consistently competitive odds, especially on international and niche markets Full-featured app for Android and iOS High maximum payouts compared to most Nigerian competitors Cash out available on a wide range of markets Advanced betting features including bet builder and chain bets Cons: Interface is cluttered and overwhelming for beginners Operates under an international licence rather than a local NLRC licence Customer support response times can be slow Withdrawal verification requirements can delay first-time payouts How It Compares On market range and odds depth, 1xBet is in a category of its own among platforms available to Nigerian bettors. It covers far more markets per day than Bet9ja, SportyBet, or BetKing, and its prices on international football and non-football sports are frequently the sharpest available. 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Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need "new energy" as he brought an end to his 10-year reign as manager The club confirmed the 55-year-old's final game in charge will be against Aston Villa on Sunday at Etihad Stadium. Guardiola has led City to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory, since he arrived a decade ago. In honour of his impact, City's newly developed north stand will be named after him and fully open for the first time in the club's final game of the season against Europa League winners Villa. A statue will also be built for Guardiola and positioned on the approach to the stand. It was reported on Monday how City were preparing for Guardiola's departure a year before the end of his contract. "Ten years is a lot of time and I think the club needs a new manager, new energy, these incredible players we have right now and start to write another chapter," he said on Friday during his final pre-match press conference. I feel I would not have the energy [in the future] required to daily, every three days, to fight for the title, being in front of the players. "After 10 years, it is good to shake, to move, different faces - it's really good for everyone. If I did not believe that, if they don't sack me, I would stay here. But I think it is the perfect moment, perfect time." Guardiola shared his decision with his squad on Friday morning, but added his speech "was a disaster". "I was so nervous, more than ever," he admitted. During the video announcement of his departure published earlier on Friday, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said: "Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City." Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who worked under Guardiola at City, is the frontrunner to replace him. The confirmation of Guardiola's exit comes three days after the club were beaten to the 2025-26 Premier League title by Arsenal. A 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday meant the Gunners were crowned champions for the first time since 2004. Guardiola will leave having led City to the FA Cup and League Cup in his final campaign. He confirmed he will take a break from coaching, but that he will begin a global ambassadorial role with the City Football Group (CFG) and offer technical advice to its member clubs.

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard has been named captain of Norway national football team’s 26-man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup The midfielder, who recently guided Arsenal F.C. to the Premier League title, will lead a Norway squad packed with attacking talent including Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Jørgen Strand Larsen. Norway’s squad announcement drew attention after Harald V revealed the final list through a pre-recorded video shared on social media. Uncapped goalkeeper Sander Tangvik earned a surprise call-up following an injury to Mathias Dyngeland. Tangvik is the only uncapped player included in the squad after former Russia Under-21 goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was unable to complete a nationality switch in time for the tournament. Sondre Langås admitted the unusual announcement left players uncertain until the very end. “I didn’t trust it until the video was finished. I didn’t trust the King for a second,” the Derby County defender told NRK. Norway will begin their World Cup campaign against Iraq national football team in Boston on June 16 before taking on Senegal national football team and France national football team in the group stage. The expanded 48-team tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19. Norway World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Orjan Haskjold Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (Hamburger SV). Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Moller Wolfe (Wolverhampton), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), Sondre Langas (Derby County), Henrik Falchener (Viking). Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica), Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers). Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt).

Austrian defender David Alaba will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season when his contract expires, Los Blancos said on Friday The 33-year-old has been in the Spanish capital for five years after joining from Bayern Munich, but serious injury problems have stopped him from playing consistently. Alaba won 11 trophies including two Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles, playing 131 times for the club. “Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude and all its affection to a player who has been part of a team that has marked one of the most successful periods in our history,” said Madrid in a statement. Alaba, like right-back Dani Carvajal and departing coach Alvaro Arbeloa, can say goodbye to the club’s supporters on Saturday in Madrid’s final league match of the season, at home against Athletic Bilbao. The centre-back, who has not yet announced his next destination, will captain Austria at the World Cup this summer.

Arsenal Football Club were crowned English Premier League champions on Tuesday for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium Pep Guardiola’s men needed to win on England’s south coast to keep the title race alive but fell short. Following three runners-up finishes, the Gunners have sealed top spot after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth on Tuesday night. The trophy lift is set to take place at Selhurst Park on Sunday when the North London club play the final game of the season on May 24. The draw left the North London side mathematically unreachable at the top of the table and triggered historic celebrations among Arsenal supporters, who had not experienced a league triumph since the “Invincibles” season of 2003-04 under legendary manager Arsène Wenger. Arsenal have topped the table for much of the season, but their title bid looked to have hit shaky ground in April as Man City started to breathe down their necks. A 2-1 defeat at the Etihad seemed to hand the title advantage to City but the Gunners rallied and have held off Pep Guardiola’s side to win the league for the first time since the Invincibles in the 2003/04 season. It ends a six-year period without a trophy and is Arteta’s second major honour as manager at the Emirates Stadium. Meanwhile, the Arsenal football website has also celebrated the new feat. A Tuesday night release titled, “Arsenal crowned 2025/26 Premier League champions,” disclosed this. “We have been crowned 2025/26 Premier League champions with a game to spare, after an incredible campaign in N5 has ended with us claiming our 14th top-flight championship. “Following our 1-0 success against Burnley last night, our nearest challengers Manchester City had to beat Bournemouth to force us into a final-day showdown for the title. However, a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium saw us crowned champions. “The silverware sees Mikel Arteta become the first Gunners boss to land English football’s top prize in 22 years, following in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles who were our last side to win the Premier League after going unbeaten during the 2003/04 campaign,” it read. Arsenal won 25 of our 37 league games so far, drawing seven and losing just five times to top the pile, having finished runners-up in each of the previous three seasons. “But a solid defensive platform, which has seen us keep 19 clean sheets and David Raya claim the Golden Glove for the third successive season, has led us to the best defensive record this term, while only City can better our tally of 69 goals scored to this point,” the release further read.

Portugal national football team have confirmed their squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to make a record sixth appearance at the tournament The 41-year-old forward continues to defy time at the international level, leading a squad packed with talent and experience. His inclusion was widely expected, but it still marks a historic moment in football, as no male player has ever appeared in six World Cups. The Head coach Roberto Martinez spoke about the emotional weight behind his selection process, particularly the tribute to former international Diogo Jota. “He is our strength, our joy. Losing Diogo was an unforgettable and very difficult moment, but the very next day it was up to all of us to fight for Diogo’s dream and for the example he always set in our national team. He added: “Diogo Jota’s spirit, strength and example are the plus one and will always be the plus one.” Ronaldo’s presence remains central to Portugal’s ambitions, with Martínez expected to manage his minutes carefully across a squad that blends youth and experience. The team also includes Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, João Félix, Rafael Leão, and Gonçalo Ramos. The selection sets up another major tournament chapter for Ronaldo, who already holds the men’s records for international appearances and goals. Portugal will be aiming to convert their golden generation of talent into World Cup success, with expectations high for a deep run in the competition. Portugal’s World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi). Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica). Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City). Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (Paris St-Germain).

Victor Wembanyama delivered a 40-20 performance as the San Antonio Spurs opened the NBA's Conference finals with a double-overtime win at the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder The match-up between the first and second seed in the Western Conference features Wembanyama, this season's defensive player of the year, go up against Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight year. And the best-of-seven series got off to a thrilling start on Monday as San Antonio had the chance to win it at the end of regulation time, and then Oklahoma City in overtime, before the Spurs prevailed 122-115. Wembanyama's alley-oop dunk with 22 seconds left in the second period of overtime put the Spurs up by six and meant the France forward finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds. At 22 years and 134 days old, he is the youngest player in NBA history to reach 40 points and 20 rebounds in a play-off game, and joins Wilt Chamberlain (1960) as the only players to do so on their Conference finals debut. "He has a rare desire to step into every moment that's in front of him. I think he has showed in his three years in a lot of different situations with a lot of different circumstances that he's going to attack those moments. He has some rare God-given ability," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of the 2023 first overall draft pick. San Antonio's rookie guard Dylan Harper claimed 24 points and 11 rebounds as Thunder suffered their first loss of the play-offs having swept the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the previous two rounds. Alex Caruso led the top seeds with 31 points off the bench, while Jalen Williams added 26 and Gilgeous-Alexander claimed 24 points and 12 assists. "We knew it was going to be a dog fight," said Gilgeous-Alexander, who received his MVP award before the game. "We've just got to be better, me in particular." Game two is also in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, while the New York Knicks open the Eastern finals at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola is set to bring his trophy-laden decade in charge of Manchester City to an end this weekend, according to multiple reports on Monday Guardiola, 55, has won six Premier League titles and City’s first Champions League title among 20 trophies since arriving in England in 2016. He could add one more to his tally if City win their final two matches of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa and Arsenal fail to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday’s final round of Premier League fixtures. The Daily Mail and The Athletic reported that Guardiola will step down after the visit of Villa to the Etihad. However, the club have arranged a parade through Manchester on Monday to celebrate their League Cup and FA Cup triumphs this season, which could act as a farewell to Guardiola. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who previously worked on Guardiola’s staff at City, is reportedly in line to take over next season.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele needs treatment for a right calf issue, the French club said Monday, ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal later this month The Ballon d’Or winner was substituted after half an hour during Sunday’s 2-1 Ligue 1 defeat against Paris FC “as a precaution after experiencing some discomfort in his right calf. Dembele will be having treatment over the next few days,” PSG said in a statement. The 29-year-old did not appear to be struggling when he left the field and boarded the team bus after the match without limping. “I think it is just due to fatigue. It has been a tricky end to the season but now we have two weeks to prepare for the biggest match in our history,” coach Luis Enrique told the press on Sunday. The former Barcelona player has suffered numerous physical setbacks this season, particularly thigh and calf issues. Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi resumed individual training on Saturday after a thigh problem, as did Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, and Lucas Chevalier. All three were unavailable for Sunday’s match against Paris FC. PSG clinched a fifth straight French title, and a record-extending 14th overall, with a 2-0 win over nearest challengers Lens last Wednesday. Luis Enrique’s side face Arsenal in Budapest on May 30, when they will attempt to retain the European crown they won for the first time in the club’s history last season.

Brazil forward Neymar has been included in head coach Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man squad for this summer's World Cup The 34-year-old, who now plays for Brazilian side Santos, is the country's all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances but has not played for the Selecao since 2023 amid his struggles with injuries. Making the squad means he will feature at a fourth World Cup having also played for Brazil at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Italian Ancelotti revealed his squad at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro and fans cheered when Neymar's name was announced. Ancelotti, 66, who was appointed by Brazil last year, said: "We spent the entire year analysing Neymar. "We realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition". Alisson Becker, who has missed Liverpool's last 10 games through injury, has been selected, along with Manchester United pair Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal defender Gabriel, Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth forward Rayan. However, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro misses out despite being the Blues' top scorer in the Premier League this season with 15 goals and five assists. Other players who have made the cut include La Liga stars Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Raphinha as well as 19-year-old striker Endrick, on loan at Lyon from Real. Five-time winners Brazil take on Morocco on 13 June, Haiti on 20 June and Scotland in their final Group C game four days later. The expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starts on 11 June. Brazil World Cup squad Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio). Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg). Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo). Forwards: Endrick (Real Madrid), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier have been left out of the France squad for the 2026 World Cup France is looking for a third World Cup title and is among the favorites for the event taking place from June 11-July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Camavinga was part of the France squad that finished runner-up in the last World Cup and came on as a substitute in the final loss to Argentina but was left out by coach Didier Deschamps in his squad announced Thursday. “He had a difficult season for him where he played less. He also had injuries,” Deschamps said. “It’s true that he’s a player who came very early with us. He is still a young player. Because I have choices to make the squad structure also has to be even among the defenders, the midfielders and the forwards. But I understand and I imagine his enormous disappointment this evening.” Chevalier was another notable absentee after losing his starting spot to Matvei Safonov at PSG and has not played since the end of January. “The main criteria is sporting performance,” Deschamps said. “I understand that Lucas Chevalier may be disappointed, but he hasn’t played for several months anymore. At the time when he could have had some playing time, he didn’t get any.” Deschamps rewarded goalkeeper Robin Risser with a call-up for the showpiece tournament following his breakthrough season. Risser, who plays for Lens, has been one of the revelations of the French league season and won the award for the best goalkeeper earlier this week. He played a big role in making Lens the second-best defense in Ligue 1 and was selected by Deschamps in a No. 3 role behind Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.

Chelsea Football Club has appointed former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as manager of its men’s team The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 national teams competing across North America from June 11 to July 19. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the month-long event will culminate in the final at the New York/New Jersey venue, with matches staged in major cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City and Monterrey and others. 11 major US cities, two Canadian cities and three Mexican cities will host football fans Spanning an entire continent, the tournament is expected to draw massive global crowds, from packed stadiums in the United States to key fixtures across Canada and Mexico. US says international fans planning to attend will need to complete all necessary travel and visa requirements to be part of what is billed as a record-breaking global spectacle. Nigeria will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after losing out to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in qualification, and a check by our correspondent on Thursday on the U.S. Department of State website further shows that Nigerians—alongside nationals of some other countries—are subject to limited entry into the United States under Presidential Proclamation 10998, a restriction in effect since January 1, 2026. In February, the Federal Government stated that it was engaging the United States through diplomatic channels to seek Nigeria’s removal from the list of countries affected by Washington’s recent immigrant visa restrictions. Three months later, there has been no visible change in the status of the policy as the tournament is scheduled to begin on June 11, our correspondent reports. This means sports writers and football fans may face constraints but can still apply for visas under specified conditions, although eligibility for issuance or admission is not guaranteed, while checks on countries such as Ghana returned different, more detailed travel guidance. “This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America. And we can’t wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe,” President of the United States, Donald Trump, was quoted to have said. As obtained from the website, here are all you need to know: Step-by-Step Visa and Travel Requirements for World Cup Fans If you need a U.S. visa and don’t have one yet, NOW is the time to apply! The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens — as well as all of the teams and fans participating in FIFA World Cup 2026 events — by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. If you’re not sure what travel documents you need to visit the United States, click on the country-specific information below. Please click on your country here: FIFA World Cup 2026™ Visas – United States Department of State Foreign travelers planning to visit the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ should ensure they have the correct travel documents: All visitors traveling to the United States are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the United States, unless they are a citizen of an exempt country. For more details, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. Canadian and Bermudan passport holders do not require any additional authorisation to seek entry into the United States as tourists. Foreign visitors from any of the 42 countries who participate in the Visa Waiver Programme can apply using the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). Fans from all other countries are required to have a valid U.S. visitor visa (B1/B2) to travel to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) gives those who purchase FIFA World Cup 2026™ tickets directly from FIFA and who opt in to FIFA PASS the chance to interview for a B1/B2 visitor visa before the tournament begins. Additional information on FIFA PASS and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here. The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (PASS) gives those who purchase FIFA World Cup 2026™ tickets directly from FIFA and who opt in to FIFA PASS the chance to interview for a B1/B2 visitor visa before the tournament begins. Here’s how FIFA PASS works: Step 1: Log into your FIFA.com* account and submit the FIFA PASS opt in form. Step 2: Complete the visa application process (you can get started here): Select your country of nationality or residence where you’ll be applying; Fill out the online DS-160 visa application form, upload a current photo and pay the visa fee. Step 3: Schedule your visa interview appointment. If asked if you’re a FIFA ticket holder, be sure to answer “Yes.” If the information you entered in the FIFA PASS opt in form matches your visa application information, you’ll get access to a FIFA PASS Appointment! If you received your ticket via FIFA’s Ticket Transfer feature, you must create a FIFA ticketing account (if you do not already have one), agree to all applicable terms and conditions, and accept the transfer before you can submit the FIFA PASS opt in form. Scheduling an interview appointment via FIFA PASS does not guarantee the visa will be issued. Like all visa applicants, ticket holders must undergo thorough screening and must demonstrate they qualify for a visa.

Chelsea Football Club has appointed former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as manager of its men’s team The Spaniard will take charge at Stamford Bridge on July 1, 2026, on a four-year contract. Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in the German club’s history, arrives at Chelsea as one of the most decorated coaches in European football. The club, in a statement released on Sunday said his appointment reflected its confidence in his coaching quality, game model, leadership attributes and integrity. Speaking on his appointment, Alonso said Chelsea’s ambition aligned with his own. “Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club. From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies,” Alonso said. He said he was eager to begin work at the club. “There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies,” he said. The club said it regarded Alonso not only as an outstanding football coach but also as a proven leader across areas essential to driving the team forward. Chelsea said it looked forward to the next phase of the club’s journey with Alonso, describing success at Stamford Bridge as a hallmark of the club’s history and future.

It was another weekend of victory and heartbreak, as Celtic broke the heart of Hearts FC fans, while Barcelona set a stand alone record in La Liga, Bruno Fernandes joins an elite group of three and many more key moments over the past weekend Barcelona sets Spanish record La Liga champions, Barcelona have set a record in the league, becoming the first ever team to win all 19 home matches in the Spanish league, after their 3-1 victory over Real Betis on Saturday evening. Celtic breaks the heart of Hearts FC in Scotland The Scottish league took a dramatic end, after Celtic won the title on final day. Hearts FC were hoping to end their 60-year wait for the title, and needed to avoid a defeat against Celtic, but despite conceding first, Celtic still came back to win the game, securing another league title. Chelsea appoint Alonso Chelsea Football Club has appointed former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as manager of its men’s team. The Spaniard will take charge at Stamford Bridge on July 1, 2026, on a four-year contract. Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in the German club’s history, arrives at Chelsea as one of the most decorated coaches in European football. The club, in a statement released on Sunday said his appointment reflected its confidence in his coaching quality, game model, leadership attributes and integrity. Bruno joins de Bruyne and Henry Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a season as Manchester United secured third place with a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. Fernandes, who was recently crowned the football writers’ player of the season, moved alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne when his cross was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third goal. NBA Playoffs Conference final battle is ready One more hurdle for teams remaining in the NBA playoffs, as the conference final stage is set. Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Detroit Pistons 4-3, to set up a Eastern Conference final against New Yordk Knicks, while San Antonio Spurs, who beat Minnesota Timberwolves, will face Oklahoma City Thunder. Sinners and Svitolina win the Italian Open Jannik Sinner defeated Casper Ruud in straight sets, as the game ended 6-4 6-4 in favour of the home boys. In the women’s event, Elina Svitolina won against third seed Coco Gauff 6-4 6-7 6-2 to list the Italian Open. Rai ends England's jinx to win US PGA title England's Aaron Rai has racked up a whole host of firsts after emerging from a bunched pack to win the US PGA Championship at a testing Aronimink. A first major title of his career. The first Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy in over a century. The first non-American to triumph in a decade. And surely the first major champion who wears two gloves while he is playing - a continuation of how he learned the game as a child. Female survivor given 1% chance to live wins golf title Leonie Harm was given less than a 1% chance of survival when she was hit by a car in 2013. Thirteen years later and the German has won her maiden Ladies European Tour title with a one-shot victory at the German Masters. It caps a remarkable back story for the 28-year-old. Harm had been out jogging when she was hit by a car travelling 70km/h (44mph). It was the paramedics at the scene who gave given her a very slim chance of surviving. She was put in a coma but despite severe brain injuries and multiple bone fractures she returned to the golf course just seven weeks later. A year later and she won the National Women's Amateur title, going on to win several amateur titles before she moved to the US to study biochemical and biophysical Sciences at the University of Houston.

Michael Carrick has been confirmed as the permanent manager of Man United after agreeing terms on a new long-term contract with the club The decision, which had reportedly been in development for weeks, has now been finalised and approved by key stakeholders, including minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and senior club executives. Carrick is expected to sign a new deal, with the agreement understood to run for an initial two years, including an option for extension or a potential three-year structure depending on performance. The former Manchester United midfielder had been in interim charge before being entrusted with the role on a full-time basis following a strong run of results and growing internal support. As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, “Michael Carrick will stay at Manchester United as permanent manager, confirmed. Direction clear for weeks, plan also approved by Sir Jim Ratfliffe and new deal set to be signed soon. New deal for 2 years plus option to extend or directly 3 years, but no doubts: Carrick says yes and will sign the contract.” Carrick, who confirmed 34-year-old Brazil midfielder Casemiro will be available for his Old Trafford farewell, said he intends to follow the tradition started by his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, and address supporters after the Forest game. “That’s important anyway. The supporters are a massive part of this club. We thank them for the season; the last four months for me personally. Regardless of that, for what we’ve gone through and that connection, which the players have felt, it’s important for me to thank the fans for that,” Carrick said.

Kylian Mbappe says he is the fourth-choice striker at Real Madrid after he was left out of the starting line-up for their 2-0 win over Real Oviedo The Frenchman was whistled by his own fans as he came off the bench and entered the Bernabeu pitch in the 69th minute on Thursday. Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono started ahead of the 27-year-old in attack. Mbappe had missed Real's past two matches with a thigh injury, including Sunday's defeat by Barcelona which handed their rivals the La Liga title. The World Cup winner has faced scrutiny over his commitment to the club in recent weeks while an online petition calling for 'Mbappe Out' attracted tens of millions of signatures. "I'm 100% fine. I haven't played because for the coach I've been the fourth striker in the squad behind Mastantuono, Vini and Gonzalo," said the 27-year-old, who is Real's top scorer this season with 41 goals in 41 games. "I was ready to start, it's his decision (manager Alvaro Arbeloa) and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all with Arbeloa. You have to accept the coach's philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono." Kylian Mbappe reacts to a missed chance during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Oviedo at the Bernabeu Arbeloa denied Mbappe's claim and said he could not have started the match after missing the Barcelona game. "I had a conversation with him before the game and I don't know what he could have interpreted," the Spaniard said. "For me it is very clear that a player who four days ago could not be on the bench, today should not start. Especially because it's not a final, it's not a game of life or death." Real have endured another year without silverware, leading to rumblings of discontent which only grew louder as they lost to Barcelona. Earlier this week club president Florentino Perez gave a rare and explosive news conference in which he went on the attack against those he said were trying to undermine the club. The criticism aimed at Mbappe intensified when pictures showing him on a yacht in Sardinia - the player had been given time off to recover from injury - emerged as Real Madrid were playing a match against Espanyol. The fans' reaction to Mbappe was not the only show of unhappiness at Thursday's game - stewards removed a banner which read "Florentino go now". Mbappe appeared to laugh off the jeers and when asked about it after the game told reporters: "The whistles... that's life, you can't change the opinion of the people when they are angry. It's the life of a Real Madrid player and a famous player like me. "Footballers don't always have to understand, they have to accept and look forward and change the situation." But there were cheers on the night too - when Gonzalo Garcia put Madrid in front shortly before half-time and when Jude Bellingham added a late second against the already relegated visitors.

Belgium have included striker Romelu Lukaku in their World Cup squad despite concerns over his fitness, with head coach Rudi Garcia admitting the forward is not yet in peak condition following a lengthy injury layoff The Napoli striker, who recently turned 33, has managed just seven substitute appearances totalling 69 minutes in the 2025–26 season after spending two months recovering from a hamstring injury. As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Garcia said Lukaku remains a key figure for the national team but acknowledged that he is still working his way back to full sharpness. “Romelu has recovered, but he’s out of shape, and I’m not sure he’ll be able to start the matches. But he’s our best striker, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer,” Garcia said. He added that the coaching staff will carefully manage the striker’s recovery in the build-up to the tournament. “We have five weeks to get him back to full fitness so that little by little he can help the team,” he said. Lukaku, Belgium’s record goalscorer with 89 goals in 124 international appearances, is set to feature at his fourth consecutive World Cup alongside senior players including Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Axel Witsel. Belgium also included Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who recently committed his international future to the country, replacing Lois Openda, who has struggled for regular club minutes. Sporting defender Zeno Debast has also been named in the squad despite a recent training injury. Belgium will compete in Group G against Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, with matches scheduled to be played in the United States and Canada.

Introduction With so many options available, finding the best betting app in Nigeria comes down to what matters most to you: speed on mobile data, market depth, local football coverage, or low minimum stakes. We tested the top online betting apps available to Nigerian bettors in 2026, covering football betting apps, sports betting apps, and platforms with built-in tips and predictions. Whether you are new to mobile betting or looking to switch platforms, this guide covers everything you need to know. Top 3 Picks at a Glance SportyBet: Best overall betting app in Nigeria for mobile speed and usability Bet9ja: Best football betting app for NPFL and local market coverage 1xBet: Best sports betting app for market range and advanced features Master Comparison Table App Standout Feature Android iOS SportyBet Fastest, cleanest mobile experience Yes Yes Bet9ja Best NPFL and local football coverage Yes No 1xBet Widest market range of any app Yes Yes 22Bet Strong international football odds Yes Yes Betway Best live betting app experience Yes Yes BetWinner Great accumulator options Yes Yes BetKing Most beginner-friendly app Yes No BetPawa Ultra-low minimum stake Yes Yes Bangbet Regular promotions and bonus offers Yes Yes Nairabet Trusted Nigerian-owned platform Yes No Our Methodology Every app was assessed on load speed on Nigerian mobile data, ease of navigation, football and sports market depth, Android and iOS performance, and reliability of local deposits and withdrawals. Apps were tested on mid-range Android devices, which represent the majority of the Nigerian market. Individual Breakdowns SportyBet Pros: Fastest and cleanest app experience of any betting platform in Nigeria Loads reliably on standard and slower mobile data connections Competitive odds across Premier League, NPFL, and Champions League Full account management, live betting, and withdrawals all in-app Available on both Android and iOs Cons: Sports range outside football is narrower than 1xBet or 22Bet No live video streaming Customer support response times can be inconsistent Best For: Mobile-first bettors who want a fast, intuitive experience above all else. Bet9ja Pros: Unmatched NPFL and local Nigerian football coverage Virtuals section runs 24 hours a day Booking code feature allows in-store redemption at any Bet9ja shop Long-established platform with over a decade of operation in Nigeria Cons: App design is dated compared to SportyBet and BetKing No iOS app available Enugu State shops temporarily closed in early 2026 following a regulatory dispute; online operations nationwide are unaffected Best For: Bettors focused on Nigerian football who also want access to a retail shop network. 1xBet Pros: Largest sportsbook of any app available to Nigerian bettors, covering 40-plus sports Consistently competitive odds, especially on international and niche markets Advanced features including bet builder, chain bets, and a fully developed cash out function High maximum payouts compared to most Nigerian competitors Available on both Android and iOS Cons: Interface is cluttered and overwhelming for beginners Operates under an international licence rather than a local NLRC licence Customer support can be slow to respond Best For: Experienced bettors who want the widest possible market range and are comfortable with a complex platform. View Nigeria's Best Betting Sites 22Bet Pros: Consistently competitive odds on international football leagues Wide sports coverage beyond football Cash out available on a broad range of markets Available on both Android and iOS Cons: NPFL and local Nigerian football coverage is limited Interface can feel busy for first-time users Operates under an international licence Best For: Value hunters who want strong odds on European and international football markets. Betway Pros: Best live betting experience of any app available in Nigeria Clean, well-designed interface on both Android and iOS Consistently competitive odds on European football Strong customer support reputation relative to Nigerian competitors Cons: Local Nigerian football coverage is thinner than Bet9ja Welcome offer is competitive but not the largest available Best For: Bettors who prioritise live betting and European football odds. BetWinner Pros: Licensed by the NLRC and Oyo State Gaming Board Wide market coverage with strong accumulator odds across multiple leagues Available on both Android and iOS Multiple local Nigerian payment methods supported Cons: Brand recognition still growing compared to longer-established platforms App performance on lower-end Android devices could be improved Best For: Accumulator bettors who want competitive multi-leg odds across a range of leagues. BetKing Pros: Cleanest, most beginner-friendly app interface on this list Lite version available for bettors on slow data or lower-end devices Booking code feature supports in-store bet redemption Licensed by the NLRC Cons: Odds not always the most competitive on high-profile matches Market depth is narrower than 1xBet and 22Bet No iOS app Best For: First-time app users who want a simple, accessible entry point to mobile betting. BetPawa Pros: Among the lowest minimum stakes of any betting app in Nigeria Lightweight app that loads well on slow data connections Deposits and withdrawals via bank transfer, USSD, Airtel, and MTN Available on both Android and iOS Cons: Narrow market range focused almost entirely on football Limited sports coverage beyond football Fewer advanced features than larger platforms Best For: Budget-conscious bettors who want to place small stakes on football. Bangbet Pros: Licensed by both the NLRC and LSLGA Available on Android and iOS Regular promotional calendar including enhanced odds and reload offers Covers all major European leagues plus the NPFL Cons: Less established than the top platforms on this list Odds on flagship matches do not always match the market leaders Promo terms can lack clarity Best For: Promotion-seekers who want regular bonus offers alongside standard football betting. Nairabet Pros: Nigeria's first licensed betting platform, founded in 2009 100% Nigerian-owned and regulated by the NLRC Covers all major football markets Reliable withdrawals via bank transfer Cons: App experience is the most dated on this list No iOS app available Market range and odds have not kept pace with newer competitors Best For: Long-standing users who value a familiar, trusted Nigerian-owned platform. How to Choose Choose SportyBet for the best all-round mobile experience. Choose Bet9ja if local Nigerian football is central to your betting. Choose 1xBet for the widest market range. Choose Betway for live betting. Choose 22Bet or BetWinner for value on international markets. Choose BetKing or BetPawa if you are new to betting apps and want an accessible starting point. For free daily football predictions to inform your selections, visit betCompare: https://betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football. And whichever app you use, always compare odds before placing a bet at https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds. betCompare Insight For beginners: Start with SportyBet or BetKing for their clean interfaces and build a habit of checking betCompare before every bet. Even the best betting apps do not always offer the best price on the same match. For experienced bettors: Hold accounts on at least three apps simultaneously. Use Bet9ja for NPFL and local markets, Betway or SportyBet for live betting, and 1xBet or 22Bet for value on deeper international markets. Run every selection through betCompare first to confirm which app offers the best return before you commit. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best betting app in Nigeria in 2026? SportyBet is our top pick for mobile experience, Bet9ja leads on local football, and 1xBet offers the widest market range. The best app depends on how you bet. Which betting apps work best on Android in Nigeria? All ten apps on this list are available for Android. SportyBet, BetKing, and BetPawa perform particularly well on mid-range devices with limited storage or slower data. Which app has the best prediction tools? For free daily football tips covering the Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, and more, use betCompare: https://betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football Are these apps safe to use? All apps on this list are operated by licensed bookmakers regulated by the NLRC, LSLGA, or equivalent bodies. Always download apps from official websites or the App Store. Conclusion No single betting app always has the best odds. betCompare shows you real-time prices from all Nigeria's top betting apps side by side, completely free. Compare Betting Odds Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has initially agreed to increase the value of prize money and participation bonuses for the 2026 World Cup, following pressures and concerns expressed by several national associations regarding the high costs of participating in the upcoming tournament The participating federations had warned that the high expenses related to travel, accommodation, and taxes, especially in the United States, might cause some teams to incur financial losses even if they achieve good results and advance in the tournament. FIFA had previously announced a record prize fund of $727 million, but this figure will see a further increase. The decision also includes increasing the developmental support allocated to 211 member associations of FIFA, which was initially set to reach $2.7 billion during the current cycle. These allocations will be increased along with raising the fixed payments to national and continental associations. The final approval of the details is expected during the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver this week, at a time when the federation asserts that it is in the strongest financial position in its history, with expected revenues of up to $13 billion during the current World Cup cycle, allowing for increased returns for the game globally.

Michael Carrick is expected to be recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the permanent boss of Manchester United by the club's senior executives Former United midfielder Carrick, 44, has been viewed as favourite for the job since securing qualification for next season's Champions League during a successful period as caretaker head coach. United intended to delay making a decision on appointing a successor to Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January, until the end of the season. However, as first reported by The Athletic,, external chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are thought to have concluded Carrick is the right man for the job and will tell Ratcliffe of their choice this week. Providing minority shareholder Ratcliffe agrees, United will begin formal talks with Carrick before his future is confirmed. Carrick has won 10 of his 15 matches in charge, losing just twice, to guide United from seventh to third in the Premier League table and secure a return to the Champions League. No Premier League club has won more points than the 33 Manchester United have collected since Carrick's appointment on 13 January. Carrick oversaw victories over title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal as he won each of his first four matches in charge in a superb start to his role as caretaker. A seven-game unbeaten run was eventually ended in March, but subsequent key victories over Champions League rivals Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool helped to ensure a return to Europe's elite club competition. But Carrick, who also had a three-game stint as United's temporary boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021, has steadied the club and impressed with his work on and off the pitch. Carrick has made a positive impression behind the scenes and been praised internally for his commitment to United's youth development programme. He has repeatedly stressed his belief in taking a long-term view with his decisions – he has been involved in discussions about recruitment - and a succession of United players have called for Carrick to be given the job full-time. United have been assessing other options, but some, such as England boss Thomas Tuchel, have decided to stay where they are, while Luis Enrique remains committed to PSG. Carrick's side conclude their 2025-26 campaign with fixtures against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 May and a final-day trip to Brighton on 24 May.

Introduction Betting with cryptocurrency in Nigeria is now more practical than ever. USDT deposits process in seconds, carry near-zero fees, and sidestep the bank transfer delays that Nigerian bettors have dealt with for years. With the Investments and Securities Act 2025 formally recognising digital assets under SEC oversight, the legal framework is also clearer than it has been. This guide walks you through every step: from buying your first USDT to placing your first crypto bet, with the specific platforms, wallets, and networks that work best for Nigerian users in 2026. In This Guide Understanding crypto betting and why Nigerians use it Choosing the right cryptocurrency Setting up a crypto wallet Buying USDT in Nigeria Choosing a crypto-friendly betting site Making your first deposit Placing bets and withdrawing your winnings Step 1: Understand What Crypto Betting Is, and Why It Matters in Nigeria Crypto betting works exactly like standard sports betting, with one difference: instead of depositing naira via bank transfer, you fund your account using a digital currency such as USDT, Bitcoin, or Ethereum. Once your balance is loaded, everything else works the same. You browse markets, build your bet slip, and place wagers just as you would on any other platform. The reason Nigerian bettors are increasingly choosing crypto deposits comes down to three things. Speed: USDT on the Tron network confirms within seconds, versus bank transfers that can take hours or fail entirely during peak periods. Cost: Tron network fees are typically under ₦200 per transaction. Stability: USDT is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, which means your balance does not fluctuate while it sits in your betting account. This is a practical advantage when the naira is under pressure. One important clarification: peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto betting, where users wager directly against each other without a bookmaker, is a separate concept that is not widely available in Nigeria. The platforms covered in this guide are standard bookmakers that accept crypto as a payment method. Step 2: Choose the Right Cryptocurrency For Nigerian bettors, USDT on the Tron (TRC20) network is the practical first choice. It is accepted on every major crypto-friendly platform covered on betCompare, transaction fees stay under ₦200, and transfers confirm in seconds. Its value is stable because it is pegged to the US dollar, so there is no risk of your deposit being worth less by the time you want to place a bet. Bitcoin is accepted on more platforms globally but comes with higher fees and slower confirmation times, typically 10 to 30 minutes. Ethereum is faster than Bitcoin but fees on the Ethereum network can run into thousands of naira per transaction, making it impractical for small to mid-range deposits. Litecoin and Tron's native TRX token offer low fees but are accepted on fewer platforms. If you are getting started, buy USDT and use the TRC20 (Tron) network for every transfer. When selecting a network on your wallet or exchange, always confirm you are choosing TRC20, not ERC20 (Ethereum), which is significantly more expensive. Step 3: Set Up a Crypto Wallet A crypto wallet is where you store your USDT before and after sending it to a betting platform. You do not need a hardware wallet to get started. A mobile software wallet is sufficient for betting purposes. Trust Wallet is the most widely used option among Nigerian crypto users. It is free, supports USDT on Tron, and is available on Android and iOS. Download it from the official app store, create a new wallet, and write down your 12-word recovery phrase on paper and store it somewhere safe. This phrase is the only way to recover your funds if you lose access to your phone. Never share it with anyone. Once your wallet is set up, navigate to the USDT token and select the TRC20 network. This generates your wallet address, which is a long string of letters and numbers. This is the address you will send USDT to from your exchange when you buy, and the address you will use to withdraw winnings from your betting account. Step 4: Buy USDT in Nigeria Because Binance suspended naira deposits and its domain is currently blocked in Nigeria, buying USDT requires a peer-to-peer exchange or a locally licensed platform. The most reliable options for Nigerian users in 2026 are: Bybit P2P: Accessible via the Bybit app or website. Allows you to buy USDT directly from other users using naira bank transfer. Select a merchant with a high completion rate and good reviews before initiating a trade. Quidax: A Nigeria-based exchange that holds an SEC licence. Allows direct naira bank transfer to buy USDT. Easier to use than Bybit P2P for first-time buyers but may offer slightly less competitive rates. Paxful: A global P2P platform with many active Nigerian sellers. Accepts GTBank, Zenith, Access Bank transfers and other local payment methods. When buying on P2P platforms, only trade with merchants who have a high volume of completed trades and strong positive feedback. Transfer money only through the channels specified in the trade, and do not release crypto to the seller until the naira has cleared in your account. Keep records of all transactions, as crypto profits are now taxable under the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025. Once your USDT is in your wallet, you are ready to fund your betting account. Step 5: Choose a Crypto-Friendly Betting Site Not all Nigerian betting platforms accept crypto, and those that do vary in which coins they support. Here is a quick overview of the most relevant options: BC.Game accepts over 100 cryptocurrencies including USDT, BTC, ETH, and BNB. It is crypto-native and operates under an Anjouan, Comoros licence. No naira deposit option. 1xBet accepts USDT, BTC, ETH, and others, alongside naira bank transfers. Licensed by the NLRC. Widest sports market range of any crypto-accepting platform available in Nigeria. Bet9ja accepts USDT deposits from a minimum of 1 USDT. LSLGA licensed. Withdrawals are processed in naira via bank transfer. Best option for bettors who want local trust and market depth with a simple USDT deposit route. 22Bet accepts USDT, BTC, ETH, and others alongside naira. NLRC licensed. OPay withdrawal available for naira cashouts. BetWinner accepts BTC, ETH, USDT, and others. Licensed by the NLRC and Oyo State Gaming Board. View Nigeria's Best Betting Sites Step 6: Make Your First Crypto Deposit Once you have chosen a platform, the deposit process is the same across all of them. Log in to your betting account and navigate to the deposit or cashier section. Select USDT as your deposit currency and choose the TRC20 network. The platform will generate a wallet address, which is usually a long string beginning with "T" for Tron addresses. Open your Trust Wallet or whichever wallet you are using. Tap send, select USDT (TRC20), paste in the betting platform's wallet address, and enter the amount you want to deposit. Double-check the address before confirming. Crypto transactions cannot be reversed once sent, and sending to the wrong address or using the wrong network will result in a permanent loss of funds. Confirm the transaction. On the TRC20 network, your deposit will typically appear in your betting account within 30 to 60 seconds. If it does not appear after five minutes, check the transaction hash in your wallet to confirm it has been broadcast to the network, then contact the platform's support if needed. Step 7: Place Bets and Withdraw Your Winnings Once your balance is credited, betting works exactly as it does on any other platform. Browse markets, select your outcomes, add them to your bet slip, enter your stake, and confirm. When it is time to withdraw, navigate to the cashier or withdrawal section. If the platform supports crypto withdrawals (BC.Game, 1xBet, 22Bet, BetWinner all do), select USDT and enter your Trust Wallet address. Choose TRC20 as the network. Confirm the withdrawal. Most platforms process crypto withdrawals within minutes to a few hours. If you are using Bet9ja, withdrawals are processed as naira bank transfers only, regardless of how you deposited. For ongoing betting, consider keeping a small USDT float in your wallet so you can top up quickly without going through the P2P purchase process every time. Conclusion Whether you bet with naira or USDT, the platform offering the best odds changes from match to match. Use betCompare to compare prices in real time across all major Nigerian bookmakers before every bet. Compare Betting Odds Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Nigerian bettors now have a genuine choice in how they fund their accounts. Traditional betting using naira bank transfers, OPay, and Palmpay is familiar and accessible. Crypto betting using USDT, Bitcoin, and other digital currencies is faster in some respects, cheaper on transaction fees, and increasingly practical following the Investments and Securities Act 2025. But each method comes with trade-offs that depend heavily on how you bet, how much you move, and how quickly you need your winnings. This comparison breaks down both methods across every category that matters. Quick Comparison Table Category Crypto Betting Traditional Betting Deposit speed Seconds (USDT/TRC20) Instant to minutes (OPay/Palmpay); hours (bank transfer) Withdrawal speed Minutes to hours Seconds (SportyBet via OPay); up to 24 hrs (Bet9ja) Transaction fees Under ₦200 per transfer (TRC20) Free on most Nigerian platforms Setup required Wallet + P2P purchase Bank account or mobile wallet Currency stability USDT is stable; BTC/ETH fluctuate Naira is subject to inflation Platform variety Growing but still limited All major Nigerian platforms Regulatory protection Strong if NLRC-licensed; weaker offshore Strong on all licensed Nigerian platforms Minimum deposit From $5 to $10 equivalent From ₦100 on most platforms Bonus availability Crypto-specific bonuses on some platforms Full bonus range on all platforms NPFL coverage Limited on crypto-native platforms Deep on all major local platforms Category Breakdown Deposit Speed For deposits, crypto has a clear technical advantage on paper. USDT sent via the Tron (TRC20) network confirms in under 60 seconds in most cases. In practice, the time to acquire USDT from a P2P exchange and send it to your betting account is longer than simply depositing via OPay or Palmpay, which process in seconds on platforms like SportyBet and 22Bet. The crypto deposit advantage is most relevant for bettors who already hold USDT in a personal wallet and need to top up quickly, not for bettors starting from zero naira each time. For traditional deposits via bank transfer, speed varies significantly. Transfers to Bet9ja via GTBank or Zenith can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on bank traffic. OPay and Palmpay deposits on most platforms are near-instant. For bettors on those mobile wallets, traditional deposits are already fast enough that crypto offers no meaningful advantage. Winner: Draw. Crypto wins if you already hold USDT. Traditional wins for new deposits via OPay or Palmpay. Withdrawal Speed This is where the comparison gets more nuanced. SportyBet processes naira withdrawals via OPay and Palmpay in under five minutes, making it the fastest withdrawal experience of any mainstream platform in Nigeria and faster than most crypto withdrawal processes that involve selling USDT back to naira. Betano averages around 15 minutes. Betway typically pays out the same day. Crypto withdrawals on platforms like 1xBet, BC.Game, and 22Bet land in your wallet within minutes to a few hours. But unless you hold USDT long-term, you will still need to sell it back to naira via a P2P exchange, which adds time and a small additional spread cost. Bet9ja, despite now accepting USDT deposits, still pays out winnings via naira bank transfer only, within 24 hours. For the fastest possible access to winnings in naira, SportyBet's OPay withdrawal remains the benchmark. For bettors who prefer to hold and accumulate in USDT rather than converting to naira after every withdrawal, crypto wins clearly. Winner: Traditional (for naira access speed). Crypto (for bettors who hold in USDT). Transaction Fees This is crypto's clearest advantage over traditional banking, though the picture in Nigeria is less dramatic than it appears globally. Most mainstream Nigerian betting platforms, including Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betway, 1xBet, and 22Bet, charge zero fees on both deposits and withdrawals. In a market where naira payment fees are already largely eliminated by the bookmakers themselves, crypto's fee advantage is mainly relevant when comparing to the cost of acquiring USDT in the first place. Buying USDT via Bybit P2P or Paxful involves an exchange spread of roughly 0.5 to 2% depending on the merchant and timing, plus a Tron network fee of under ₦200 per transfer. For bettors moving large amounts regularly, this is still cheaper than international wire transfer fees or card processing charges on offshore platforms. For everyday domestic naira betting using OPay or Palmpay, there is no fee to beat. Winner: Draw. Crypto wins on international transfers; traditional wins for domestic naira transactions where bookmaker fees are already zero. Currency Stability This is where the Nigerian context matters most. The naira has lost significant value against the dollar over the past three years. For bettors who earn in naira but compare their bankroll against dollar-denominated odds or who save betting funds over time, holding USDT eliminates naira inflation risk. One USDT is always worth approximately one US dollar, regardless of what the naira exchange rate does. Bitcoin and Ethereum do not offer this protection. Both can fluctuate by 3 to 8% in a single day, meaning a Bitcoin balance deposited at one value could be worth materially less by the time you want to withdraw, or more, depending on market movement. For betting purposes, USDT is the only cryptocurrency that functions like a stable currency. Traditional naira betting carries inflation risk on long-held balances but avoids the volatility of non-stable cryptocurrencies entirely. For most everyday bettors who deposit and withdraw within short windows, neither inflation nor crypto volatility is a significant practical concern. Winner: USDT (for stability over time). Traditional naira (for short-term betting with no conversion overhead). Safety and Regulatory Protection This is the most important category for Nigerian bettors to understand. A platform's safety is determined primarily by its licence, not its payment method. Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betway, 1xBet, 22Bet, and BetWinner all hold NLRC and/or LSLGA licences. Whether you deposit in naira or USDT on those platforms, you have the same regulatory protection. The risk with crypto betting specifically comes from platforms that are crypto-native and offshore-only. BC.Game and 888Starz, for example, operate under Anjouan or Curaçao licences without Nigerian regulatory oversight. If a dispute arises, Nigerian bettors have fewer formal channels for recourse than they would on an NLRC-licensed platform. This does not make those platforms scams, but it does mean the protection is weaker. Traditional betting on an NLRC or LSLGA-licensed platform in naira provides the strongest combination of regulatory protection and familiarity. Crypto betting on a locally licensed platform (Bet9ja, 1xBet, 22Bet, BetWinner) provides the same level of protection. Crypto betting on an offshore-only platform is where regulatory risk increases. Winner: Traditional naira on licensed platforms. Crypto on locally licensed platforms is equivalent; crypto on offshore-only platforms carries higher regulatory risk. Setup and Accessibility Traditional betting requires a bank account or OPay/Palmpay wallet, a Nigerian phone number for registration, and a NIN for KYC on withdrawals. Most Nigerian adults already have these. The barrier to entry is minimal. Crypto betting requires additional steps: setting up a Trust Wallet or similar, acquiring USDT from a P2P exchange, and understanding network selection (TRC20 vs ERC20) before making a first deposit. For bettors new to cryptocurrency, this setup process takes 30 to 60 minutes on a first attempt and requires care to avoid sending funds to the wrong address or on the wrong network. Once the setup is complete, subsequent deposits are fast and simple. Winner: Traditional betting. The lower barrier to entry and zero learning curve give it a clear advantage for accessibility. Platform and Market Variety Every major Nigerian licensed bookmaker accepts naira via bank transfer or mobile wallet. The full range of platforms, markets, promotions, and features is available through traditional payment methods. NPFL coverage, Super Eagles odds, virtual leagues, the Super9ja jackpot, and all local promotions are fully accessible without touching crypto. Crypto payment acceptance is improving but remains selective. Among locally licensed platforms, Bet9ja, 1xBet, 22Bet, and BetWinner accept crypto alongside naira. Fully crypto-native platforms like BC.Game offer a broader coin selection but with more limited NPFL and local market coverage. SportyBet and BetKing, two of the most popular platforms in Nigeria, do not currently accept crypto deposits. Winner: Traditional betting. Wider platform availability and deeper local market coverage. Pros and Cons Crypto Betting Pros: USDT deposits confirm in under 60 seconds on TRC20 network Fees under ₦200 per transfer on Tron network USDT holds value against naira inflation over time Crypto withdrawals to personal wallet within minutes on most platforms Access to crypto-native platforms like BC.Game with 100+ coin options Crypto-specific bonuses on selected platforms Cons: Requires wallet setup and USDT acquisition before first deposit Offshore-only platforms carry weaker regulatory protection Bitcoin and Ethereum are volatile: values can drop between deposit and withdrawal Binance naira deposits suspended in Nigeria; P2P adds friction and a small spread cost Limited on SportyBet and BetKing, two of Nigeria's most popular platforms Crypto profits are taxable under the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025 Traditional Betting Pros: Zero setup beyond a standard bank account or OPay/Palmpay Available on every licensed Nigerian platform without exception SportyBet OPay/Palmpay withdrawals under five minutes: fastest naira cashout in market Full access to NPFL markets, local promotions, and jackpots Strongest regulatory protection on NLRC and LSLGA-licensed platforms No conversion costs or network fee considerations Cons: Bank transfer deposits can take hours during peak periods Bet9ja withdrawals up to 24 hours via bank transfer only Naira value erodes over time due to inflation, which affects long-held balances No currency stability benefit for bettors thinking in dollar terms Which Should You Choose? Choose crypto betting if you already hold USDT, you regularly bet across multiple platforms including offshore options, you want to accumulate winnings in a stable dollar-pegged currency rather than naira, or you are depositing larger amounts where even small exchange rate moves matter. Choose traditional betting if you are new to online betting or crypto, you primarily use SportyBet or BetKing, you want the fastest possible naira withdrawal (OPay/Palmpay on SportyBet), or you value maximum regulatory protection and the simplest possible payment experience. For most Nigerian bettors, especially casual and recreational punters, traditional naira betting via OPay or Palmpay on a licensed platform is still the most practical default. The most efficient approach for serious bettors is to use both: hold a small USDT float for platforms where it offers a deposit convenience advantage, and use OPay or Palmpay for naira withdrawals where speed matters most. betCompare Insight For beginners: Do not let the crypto conversation distract you from the basics. The payment method you use has far less impact on your long-term results than the odds you accept. Getting into the habit of comparing prices before every bet, using betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds), will add more value than any decision about whether to use USDT or OPay. For experienced bettors: The practical case for USDT is strongest for bettors who maintain accounts on multiple platforms and regularly move funds between them. Holding a USDT balance means you can top up whichever platform is offering the best odds on a given match without waiting for a bank transfer to clear or losing a narrow window on a live betting market. Used this way, crypto is a tool for flexibility rather than a replacement for naira. Frequently Asked Questions Is crypto betting legal in Nigeria? Yes, provided the platform holds a valid licence. Cryptocurrency is legally recognised under the Investments and Securities Act 2025. Betting is legal on NLRC and LSLGA-licensed platforms. Betting with crypto on a locally licensed platform is fully lawful. Which is faster for withdrawals, crypto or traditional? It depends on the platform and method. SportyBet via OPay or Palmpay pays out naira in under five minutes, which is faster than most crypto withdrawal processes once the conversion to naira is factored in. Crypto withdrawals to a personal USDT wallet are faster than bank transfer withdrawals on platforms like Bet9ja, which can take up to 24 hours. Are there fees on crypto betting deposits in Nigeria? The Tron (TRC20) network fee for sending USDT is typically under ₦200 per transfer. However, acquiring USDT via a P2P exchange costs an additional 0.5 to 2% spread depending on the merchant and timing. Most Nigerian naira betting platforms charge no deposit or withdrawal fees at all, which narrows crypto's fee advantage in the local market specifically. Is USDT safer than naira for betting? USDT is more stable in value terms because it is pegged to the US dollar. This means your balance holds its value while it sits in your account or wallet, regardless of naira exchange rate movements. It does not make the betting platform itself safer: that is determined by the platform's licence. What is peer-to-peer crypto betting? Peer-to-peer (P2P) betting refers to a model where users bet directly against each other rather than against a bookmaker. It is a separate concept from P2P crypto exchanges used to buy USDT. P2P betting platforms are not widely available in Nigeria and are not covered by the platforms listed in this guide. Can I use crypto on Bet9ja or SportyBet? Bet9ja now accepts USDT deposits from a minimum of 1 USDT, with withdrawals processed as naira bank transfer. SportyBet does not currently accept crypto deposits. For crypto payments on locally licensed platforms, 1xBet, 22Bet, and BetWinner accept a wider range of cryptocurrencies alongside naira. Conclusion Whether you bet with naira or USDT, the platform offering the best odds changes from match to match. Use betCompare to compare prices in real time across all major Nigerian bookmakers before every bet. View Nigeria's Best Betting Sites Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Transport costs for matches at the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 have been reduced after strong backlash from fans over what were described as excessive fares for services to venues in the United States Prices for train and shuttle bus travel to MetLife Stadium, which will be referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, were initially set at levels supporters criticised as far above normal rates. Following the criticism, rail ticket prices have been reduced from 98, while shuttle bus fares have been cut from 20. The venue will host eight World Cup matches, including one of England’s group-stage fixtures and a semi-final. The Football Supporters’ Association’s England fan representative, Thomas Concannon, had earlier condemned the pricing as “astronomical,” arguing it was “completely out of the norm” compared with standard transport fares. For comparison, a return rail journey from Penn Station in Manhattan to the stadium typically costs around $`12.90 (£9.50), highlighting the scale of the initial pricing. New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill said the revised fares were made possible through commercial sponsorship and would not rely on taxpayer funding. She said the changes were aimed at making travel more affordable for fans attending matches. “Good news: Ahead of NJ Transit World Cup train tickets going on sale, NJ Transit is lowering ticket prices to `$98 without New Jersey taxpayer money. Thank you to our partners for helping make this possible,” Sherrill said. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also welcomed the reductions, saying access to the tournament should be as affordable as possible. She announced a 75% cut in round-trip bus fares and said a portion of tickets would be reserved for New York residents. Despite the reductions in New Jersey, concerns remain over transport pricing in other host cities, with fans travelling to Foxborough in Boston facing significantly higher fares compared with usual rates. England and Scotland supporters are expected to be among those affected, with fixtures scheduled across multiple US venues during the tournament. The pricing adjustments come amid continued scrutiny of logistics and affordability as preparations intensify for the expanded 2026 World Cup across North America.

José Mourinho’s potential return to Real Madrid is reportedly moving into its final stages, with discussions said to be progressing positively ahead of a key decision expected from club president Florentino Pérez According to Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, negotiations between Mourinho’s camp and senior figures at the Spanish club have advanced significantly, although final approval from Pérez is still required before any deal can be formally completed. That decision may also be influenced by upcoming club election timelines. “José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid now advancing to the final stages. Talks are progressing well. Final approval from Florentino Pérez still needed, likely to wait until the elections… …but Mourinho is ready, and talks have been productive.” Reports indicate that talks have been productive in recent weeks, with both sides increasingly aligned on the structure of a possible return for the Portuguese manager. Mourinho, who previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, is understood to be open to a comeback and fully prepared should the club move forward with the appointment. During his earlier spell at the Santiago Bernabéu, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, while also restoring competitiveness in Europe during a period dominated by domestic rivals. While no official agreement has been announced, momentum is said to be building, with insiders describing the situation as “advanced” but still awaiting formal ratification at the highest level of the club. For now, Mourinho’s return remains a possibility rather than a confirmation, but the latest developments suggest the situation is edging closer to a decisive conclusion.

The United States said Wednesday it would ease its system of demanding bond payments of visa applicants for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup Under one of President Donald Trump’s many initiatives to crack down on migration, the United States has begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, refundable once they return home. The State Department said it would waive the bonds for team members competing in World Cup matches in the United States as well as for fans from competing countries who already have tickets and signed up for a priority system set up for visas. “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. She said the Trump administration wanted to organize the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.” “Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. Five countries that qualified for the World Cup are among those whose nationals are required to pay visa bonds: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia. At least two other countries that have qualified for the soccer showcase have seen nearly total bans on entry into the United States under Trump: Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and Iran, which the United States and Israel attacked on February 28. The Trump administration has also sharply expanded scrutiny for visitors from friendly Western countries, requiring them to provide access for the US government to look through their social media postings. A study by the Mendoza Law Firm found that Haiti could play its matches with virtually no fans traveling from the country due to the restrictions. It said that in the five qualifying countries affected by the visa bonds, $15,000 is equivalent to an average of three years of income. The World Cup, which kicks off June 11, is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Former Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos has become the new owner of Spanish La Liga club, Sevilla This is according to European transfer expert and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano (via Daily Sports) on his X handle on Tuesday. The final details of the deal will be disclosed later, but it is already known that Ramos’ brother, René, oversaw the entire process. At this stage, the deal is practically done, with both parties ironing out the last minor details before the official announcement. Sevilla is Ramos’ boyhood club, where he began his journey in top-flight football back in 2002, rising through their academy ranks. In 2005, Ramos left Sevilla for Real Madrid, but in 2024, he returned for a single season before departing again as a free agent.

Michael Olise has been voted best French player playing abroad after an impressive season for Bayern Munich Olise was rewarded ahead of prestigious competition made up of Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and William Saliba (Arsenal). After a full season in Germany, Olise quickly established himself as one of the most decisive players in the Bavarian squad by being voted best passer in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, with a total of 22 goals and 28 assists. A deserved trophy for the French international, who quickly established himself with the Blues. Speaking after receiving the award Olise said (via French Football Weekly):”I am very grateful, I wanted to thank everyone at Bayern Munich, I can’t wait to give my all at the World Cup this summer, with the France team.” Olise helped France reach the final of the football event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they lost to Spain. He is expected to be part of the French squad that will feature at this year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was on Monday named the Ligue 1 player of the year for the second year running, after leading the club to the brink of a 14th French title and the Champions League final The 28-year-old becomes just the fifth player to win back-to-back awards, the last being Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2014. Dembele last year succeeded Kylian Mbappe who won the prize five times in a row before departing for Real Madrid. “It’s an individual trophy but all the individual trophies I’ve won are thanks to this team,” Dembele said. The forward retained the honour despite having had an injury-plagued season. He has started just nine matches in Ligue 1, notching up 960 minutes of gametime, compared to 20 starts and 1,736 minutes last season. Despite the reduced time on the pitch, Demebele has scored 10 goals and six assists — still down on the 21 and eight he achieved last year. Paris Saint-Germain effectively wrapped up another Ligue 1 title on Sunday as a 1-0 win over Brest left them six points clear of nearest rivals Lens. With just two games remaining, Luis Enrique’s side also boast a superior goal difference. PSG will be officially crowned French champions for the fifth season running, and the 12th time in the last 14 years, if they avoid defeat away to second-placed Lens on Wednesday. PSG are also preparing for the Champions League final against Arsenal later this month after edging Bayern 6-5 on aggregate in their semi-final. The award for best young player went to Dembele’s teammate Desire Doue, while Pierre Sage picked up the honours for best coach after establishing Lens as a direct challenger to PSG.

Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of the Brazil national team, announced the official preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to kick off next June, and Neymar Junior is included The squad includes Neymar alongside Vinicius Junior as part of the Brazilian national team's preparations for the tournament that will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, while striker Gabriel Jesus is absent. The initial list for the Brazil national team is as follows: Goalkeepers: Alisson - Ederson - Pinto - Hugo Souza - John - Carlos Miguel. Defense: "Marquinhos - Thiago Silva - Gabriel Magalhães - Bremer - Leo Pereira - Ibañez - Alex Sandro - Fabrício Bruno - Beraldo - Vitor Reis - Murillo - Wesley - Danilo - Paulo Henrique - Vitinho - Alex Sandro - Douglas Santos - Luciano Juba - Caio Henrique - Kaiky - Carlos Augusto. Midfield: Casemiro - Bruno Guimarães - Fabinho - André Santos - Danilo - Lucas Paquetá - Gabriel Sara - João Gomes - Andreas Pereira - Joelinton - Gerson - Matheus Pereira. Attack: Vinicius Junior - Neymar - Endrick - Raphinha - Matheus Cunha - Luiz Henrique - Gabriel Martinelli - Joao Pedro - Estevao - Ryan - Antony - Igor Thiago - Pedro - Richarlison - Igor Jesus - Kaio Jorge.

Manchester City are preparing to make their presence felt in the race for Vinicius Junior, and according to TEAMtalk able to reveal club are closely monitoring his situation at Real Madrid and with an explosive exit from the Bernabeu now a genuine possibility this summer The 25-year-old Brazil international has just over 12 months remaining on his current deal, and talks over an extension stalled last year. Both parties agreed to revisit discussions this summer, but sources indicate there are still several key issues to resolve before any agreement is reached over a new deal at Real Madrid. That has raised the possibility that an exit at the Bernabeu – once considered highly improbable – now looks to have a real chance ahead of the summer window. From the player’s side, Vinicius is keen to ensure that Madrid’s long-term project aligns with his own ambitions. The club, meanwhile, believe their financial proposal is broadly in the right place, but acknowledges that the situation is not solely about money. Crucially, TEAMtalk understands Real made it clear to Vinicius last year that failure to sign a new deal this summer would lead to a sale, and sources insist that stance remains firm rather than a negotiating tactic. While sources are keen to stress that staying at the Bernabeu is still viewed as the most likely outcome this summer, groundwork is being carried out on potential alternatives in the event that two parties decide to go their separate ways. Understandably, only a select group of clubs are considered viable destinations for the 127-goal Real Madrid attacker – and several are in England.

Xabi Alonso is emerging as one of the leading contenders to become Chelsea’s new manager The Blues have held talks with the ex-Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss about taking charge at Stamford Bridge next season. Sources with knowledge of the process have indicated that those discussions have been relatively positive and that Alonso is keen on managing in the Premier League. Officially, Chelsea are mid-way through appointing a successor to Liam Rosenior and would ideally like to have their new man in place before the 2026 World Cup starts on June 11. Fulham’s Marco Silva and outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola are both on the list, as previously reported by talkSPORT. Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and ex-Flamengo chief and former Chelsea player Filipe Luis are also under consideration. Luis, also on Palace’s shortlist of possible Glasner replacements, was another name Chelsea discussed before appointing Rosenior. However, talks centred more around Luis going to Strasbourg. The 40-year-old Brazilian is also still in the process of getting his A-license, following his shock sacking at the start of March. Cesc Fabregas is another name known to be admired by Chelsea. The one-time Blues midfielder has said he’s intent on staying at Como. Francesco Fariola also has admirers. Sources close to the Porto boss claim he’s set to remain in Portugal. If Alonso does end up at Stamford Bridge, that would give Palace encouragement that they can convince Iraola to take over from Glasner at Selhurst Park.

Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is set to join an exclusive list of players aged 40 or over to play at a World Cup after being picked in Bosnia-Herzegovina's squad for this summer's tournament Cameroon forward Roger Milla is the only outfield player to have played at a World Cup after his 40th birthday, having appeared at and scored at the 1994 tournament. There have also been six goalkeepers - Egypt's Essam el Hadary, who was 45 at the 2018 World Cup, Colombia's Faryd Mondragon, Northern Ireland's Pat Jennings, England's Peter Shilton, Italy's Dino Zoff and Tunisia's Ali Boumnijel. Luka Modric, 40, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, are also expected to feature for Croatia and Portugal respectively this summer. Dzeko, who has 148 caps, played in seven of his country's eight matches in Group H of qualifying and also in the semi-final and final of their progression through the play-offs. He scored his 73rd international goal in the semi-final win against Wales. Bosnia are the first team to name their 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Bosnia, playing at a World Cup for only the second time, are in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland. Bosnia in full: Goalkeepers: Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo) Defenders: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens) Midfielders: Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Edin Dzeko (Schalke 04)

Global football governing body, FIFA have announced an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, with former players and coaches set to analyse matches and decide the winners of major individual awards during the tournament The panel was unveiled on Monday during a virtual media briefing monitored by The Nation ahead of the competition, which begins next month at Estadio Azteca. The group will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva. Others on the panel are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter. FIFA said the group will also decide the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards during the tournament. The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, with 104 matches scheduled across the competition. “The TSG captures the heartbeat of global football. “By blending expert observation with cutting-edge data, this team will provide the official record of how football is played at the highest level in 2026,” a FIFA spokesperson said.

Arsenal are preparing to offer manager Mikel Arteta a new contract this summer as the club looks to secure his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium The decision, according to Fabrizio Romano’s post on X on Wednesday, was already made back in March and is not dependent on how the current season ends. The post read, “Arsenal are planning to offer Mikel Arteta a new contract in the summer. Plan already decided in March regardless of end of the season results. Arteta wants to focus on titles now but is in love with the Arsenal project and looking forward to talks. Deal on soon The hierarchy at Arsenal are said to remain fully convinced by Arteta’s leadership and the direction of the project he has built since taking charge in 2019.” Talks over a new deal are expected to begin in the coming months, with both sides open to continuing the partnership. While formal negotiations have not yet started, there is a shared understanding that stability remains a key priority for the club. Arteta himself is reportedly focused on finishing the season strongly and competing for major honours, but remains committed to Arsenal’s long-term vision and is said to be “in love with the project” he is overseeing. Although the exact terms of the proposed extension are yet to be revealed, the expected offer would further underline Arsenal’s confidence in their manager at a time when the team continues to push for silverware under his guidance.

Premier League side, Bournemouth have dropped defender Alex Jimenez from their squad while they investigate posts on social media It was an exciting weekend of sports across board from football, to tennis, to boxing, where Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley served us an epic fight, and drama was also seen in the NBA playoffs. Below are the key moments in sports over the weekend, as Osimhen’s brace helps Galatasaray win the Turkish league, and Barcelona classico win hands them another trophy. Barcelona beat Real Madrid in el classico to win 29th La Liga title Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish league title after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clásico on Sunday. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres struck in the first half to help Hansi Flick’s side clinch La Liga in consecutive years, while consigning Madrid to a trophyless season. Arsenal close to first EPL crown in 22 years after dramatic derby win Arsenal are within touching distance of their first Premier League crown for 22 years after a VAR “earthquake” rocked the title race in their contentious 1-0 win at West Ham on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s side were embroiled in a controversial stoppage-time incident that looked set to derail their title bid before a VAR intervention tilted the balance of power back to north London. Raya wins EPL golden glove award for the third straight year Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya assured himself the Premier League Golden Glove award for the third year in succession on Sunday with his 18 clean sheets no longer able to be surpassed. His nearest competition, Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, has 14 league clean sheets to his name and can no longer catch up with City only having three league games remaining. Wembanyama ejected as Spurs lose to Timberwolves Victor Wembanyama was ejected for the first time in his NBA career - for elbowing an opponent - as his San Antonio Spurs side were beaten 114-109 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in game four of the Western Conference semi-finals. France international Wembanyama, 22, had grabbed the rebound of a missed Spurs three-pointer early in the second quarter and was protecting the ball when he turned around and appeared to elbow Timberwolves' Naz Reid in the jaw. The incident was initially called as a offensive foul, as fans in Minneapolis chanted "kick him out, kick him out". Swiatek drops just one game to set up Osaka clash Iga Swiatek dropped just one game as she raced past Elisabetta Cocciaretto to set up an intriguing Italian Open fourth-round meeting with Naomi Osaka. Poland's Swiatek is the best clay-court player of this generation, with four of her six Grand Slam titles coming at the French Open. However, the world number three has not claimed a title on clay since her last Roland Garros triumph in 2024. Dubois beats Wardley to become WBO heavyweight champion in 11-round epic Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley in the eleventh round of an incredible heavyweight battle and became a two-time world champion. Daniel Dubois beat Fabio Wardley by stoppage to become WBO world heavyweight champion in an incredible 11-round epic at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. Defending champion Wardley started the fight at pace with two knockdowns in the first three rounds - including his first in the opening 10 seconds of the bout - but Dubois' power was too much for Wardley as his dangerous right hook caused serious damage to his blood-covered opponent. Osimhen’s brace helps Galatasaray win fourth consecutive Turkish league title Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray were crowned Turkish League champions with a 4-2 comeback victory over Antalyaspor on Saturday. The energetic forward scored the equaliser before putting the Lions ahead with two minutes left on the clock. Mario Lemina had started the comeback, while Kaan Ayhan added gloss to the scoreline to get the title party into full swing on 90 minutes. This is Galatasaray’s 26th Turkish Lig crown in the club’s history, fending off Fenerbahce, their fierce rivals who will finish the season in second place.

🏆 4× World Cup Champions I Manager: Julian Nagelsmann Germany: Die Mannschaft — The Machine Germany’s four World Cup titles reflect consistency rather than flair. They are the definition of a tournament team built to win, not entertaining. Unlike Brazil, Germany’s success comes from structure, discipline, and execution under pressure. Over the past decades, different generations have delivered the same result: deep tournament runs and silverware. Germany World Cup History Germany's World Cup story is one of relentless reinvention. From the post-war "Miracle of Bern" in 1954, through the Total Football era of 1974, the ruthless reunified team of 1990, to the technically supreme squad of 2014, each generation has found a way to reach the very top of world football. What sets Germany apart from every other nation is its record in World Cup knockout rounds. Between 1954 and 2014, they never failed to reach at least the semi-finals — a run of consistency no other country has come close to matching. Their philosophy has evolved from pragmatic efficiency to technically sophisticated football, but the core values of discipline, collective spirit and tournament mentality have never wavered. Under Julian Nagelsmann, the current Germany squad is rebuilding after disappointing early exits in 2018 and 2022, but a young core of Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané gives cause for significant optimism heading into 2026. Germany's four World Cup titles: the full story The Golden Eras 1954 · Switzerland The Miracle of Bern Final: W. Germany 3–2 Hungary One of sport's greatest upsets. Hungary, the Mighty Magyars led by Ferenc Puskás, were unbeaten in four years and had hammered West Germany 8-3 in the group stage. But Sepp Herberger's side, led by the quiet genius of Fritz Walter, produced a stunning comeback in the final, overturning a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. The victory held profound significance for a nation still emerging from post-war devastation — it was, for many West Germans, the moment the country began to believe in itself again. 1974 · West Germany Beckenbauer's masterclass Final: W. Germany 2–1 Netherlands Hosting their own tournament, West Germany overcame Johan Cruyff's legendary Total Football Netherlands side in the final. Franz Beckenbauer — the Kaiser — marshalled the defence with imperious authority while Gerd Müller, the greatest poacher of his era, scored the decisive second goal. The tournament was defined by the contrast between the Dutch brilliance and German efficiency and efficiency prevailed, as it so often does at World Cups. 1990 · Italy Reunified glory Final: Germany 1–0 Argentina The last West Germany team — the Berlin Wall had fallen months earlier — won football's greatest prize in Rome with a solitary Andreas Brehme penalty. This was a tournament defined by pragmatism and resilience rather than beauty. Lothar Matthäus was at the peak of his powers, conducting the team with the authority of a general. The final against Argentina was a dour affair: two players sent off, one penalty, but the result gave a unifying Germany a moment of shared joy at a historic juncture. 2014 · Brazil Götze's golden touch Final: Germany 1–0 Argentina (AET) Joachim Löw's Germany was the tournament's finest team by some distance, culminating in the extraordinary 7-1 semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil, a result that sent shockwaves through world football. The final against Argentina was decided by one of the great World Cup goals, scored by substitute Mario Götze, brought on specifically for the moment, controlling a Schürrle cross on his chest and volleying home in the 113th minute. Miroslav Klose became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer during the tournament with his 16th goal. Records & Statistics Germany's World Cup records vs. other nations Germany's record of eight World Cup final appearances is the highest of any nation. Their combination of titles won and consistent deep runs makes them the most reliable tournament performers in history. # Nation Titles Finals Wins Goals Appearances 1 🇧🇷 Brazil 5 7 73 237 22 2 🇩🇪 Germany 4 8 67 226 20 3 🇮🇹 Italy 4 6 45 128 18 4 🇦🇷 Argentina 3 6 47 145 18 5 🇫🇷 France 2 3 41 120 16 Football Culture & Identity The German football philosophy German football is built on what the nation calls Tugenden — virtues: hard work, collective discipline, tactical intelligence, and the ability to raise performance in the critical moments. The Bundesliga serves as the primary talent development engine, with clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig running academies that are among the most sophisticated in world football. "Germany never loses — sometimes they just run out of time." — Common football saying, attributed to various sources The great German players — Beckenbauer, Müller, Matthäus, Klose, Lahm, Schweinsteiger — share a common quality: they raise their game for the biggest matches. The 2014 team, built around positional play influenced by Guardiola's Barcelona, represented a philosophical evolution — still organised and disciplined, but now technically complete and capable of spectacular attacking football. The German Football Association (DFB) rebuilt its entire talent identification system after a poor Euro 2000, establishing 390 regional talent centres across the country. The result was the golden generation of 2014, and the current crop of Musiala and Wirtz suggests the pipeline is flowing again. Brazil 2026 Outlook: The Nagelsmann revival Qualification & History: Germany qualified with a strong 6-0 win over Slovakia, finishing the qualifying cycle with five straight wins, according to FIFA's official report. They are the only nation to reach the podium at four consecutive World Cups (2002–2014). Squad & Management: Julian Nagelsmann is tasked with restoring glory after taking over following the EURO 2024 performance. Key Players: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) has emerged as one of Europe's finest creative midfielders, while Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) offers pace, vision and directness. Leroy Sané and Kai Havertz provide experience in the final third, and Antonio Rüdiger anchors an improving defence. Notable Absences: Goalkeeper legend Manuel Neuer will not return to the national team for the 2026 tournament, according to reports in this Instagram post. Performance Trends: The team aims to move past early exits in 2018 and 2022, focusing on tightening defensive play after a 4th-place finish in the 2025 Nations League. Team Identity: The squad is focusing on becoming a "likeable, approachable, and successful" unit to reconnect with fans Tournament pedigree: Perhaps Germany's greatest asset is institutional tournament knowledge. They have been at least semi-finalists in six of the last ten World Cups — a record that, even accounting for recent dips, gives them a structural advantage over most rivals. Bettor's Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the goalkeeper battle. With Marc-André ter Stegen returning from injury and Oliver Baumann in stellar form, the "No. 1" spot is still a toss-up. Defensive stability and your “Clean Sheet” bets will depend on who Nagelsmann trusts in the opener. Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds subject to change FAQ - Germany World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has Germany won? Germany has won the FIFA World Cup four times — in 1954 (Switzerland), 1974 (West Germany), 1990 (Italy), and 2014 (Brazil). They have also appeared in eight finals in total, more than any other nation. When did Germany last win the World Cup? Germany last won the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time. Substitute Mario Götze scored the only goal in the 113th minute with a superb chest-and-volley finish. Who is Germany's greatest World Cup player? Miroslav Klose is Germany's all-time World Cup top scorer with 16 goals — the world record. Franz Beckenbauer (twice world champion, as player and manager), Gerd Müller, and Lothar Matthäus are also contenders for the greatest honour. Is Germany a good bet for the 2026 World Cup? At 10/1 to 12/1, Germany offers potential value. Their squad contains outstanding young talent in Wirtz and Musiala, their tournament record historically outperforms their odds, and Nagelsmann has restored stability. They are a credible each-way selection.

Real Madrid have imposed fines of €500,000 each on Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni following their explosive bust-up at the training ground on Thursday The two got into a fight at the end of a training session and the alteraction led to Valverde being taken to the hospital with a cut on his forehead. He was subsequently diagnosed with a "cranioencephalic trauma" and has been ruled out of this weekend's Clásico against Barcelona. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. He said he hit a table during the encounter, sustaining a small cut that required a visit to the hospital. The fight came just a day after another incident on the previous day, and Madrid had announced disciplinary proceedings had been begun into the two players. "During the appearance, the players expressed their deep regret for what happened and apologized to each other. They have also apologized to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate," the LaLiga club and the 15-time European champions said in a statement on Friday. "Given these circumstances, Real Madrid has decided to impose a financial penalty of five hundred thousand euros on each player, thus concluding the corresponding internal procedures." Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday. Madrid have to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion. Valverde was not at practice as he recovers from the head knock.

Canada’s men’s football team could be without its biggest star and captain, Alphonse Davies for the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto, after the Bayern Munich defender picked up an injury Alphonso Davies sustained a left hamstring injury while playing for Bayern Munich in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final game against Paris Saint-Germain. The German club posted on social media Friday that Davies will miss “several week,” putting a cloud over his availability for Canada’s opening World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12. Davies scored Canada’s lone goal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar during a 4-1 loss to Croatia. It remains the only goal Canada has scored at the men’s World Cup. The latest setback marks the third injury Davies has dealt with since returning from a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee last December. He missed time from Feb. 22 to March 9 with a muscle fibre tear, then again from March 11 to April 2 with a right hamstring injury. Depending on the severity of this latest issue, the recovery timeline could be similar. The 25-year-old has not appeared for the Canadian national team in 570 days. He last played during an international friendly against Panama on Oct. 15, 2024. Canada released a statement following the injury news, saying the organization is in close contact with Davies and Bayern’s medical staff. “We’re behind you, Captain. Our focus is on supporting his recovery and providing every available resource, including specialized soft tissue expertise, to give him the best possible pathway back to full fitness ahead of the FIFA World Cup,” the statement reads. Canada’s opening game is now just five weeks away, and Davies isn’t the only player who could be on the sidelines for that match. Striker Promise David is recovering from hip surgery and is scheduled to undergo an MRI at the end of May that could determine his World Cup fate, per TSN’s Matthew Scianitti. Meanwhile, centre-back Moïse Bombito is also questionable for the opener as he continues to recover from a fractured left tibia suffered while playing for OGC Nice last October. The deadline for Canada to submit its 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the end of May — a date many football fans will now be eagerly awaiting.

Premier League side, Bournemouth have dropped defender Alex Jimenez from their squad while they investigate posts on social media The 21-year-old Spaniard, who arrived from AC Milan last summer, will not feature in Saturday's Premier League fixture against Fulham. The club said: "AFC Bournemouth are aware of posts circulating on social media involving right-back, Alex Jimenez. "The club understand the seriousness of the matter and it is currently being investigated. As a result, Alex will not be included in the squad for tomorrow's Premier League game against Fulham and the club will be making no further comment at this time." Jimenez initially joined on loan before signing permanently, external for the south coast side in February on a deal running until 2031. He has made 32 appearances for Bournemouth this season and scored once, in the 3-2 home win against Liverpool.

Real Madrid have confirmed that midfielder, Fede Valverde has been ruled out of Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona due to a head injury Reports on Thursday claimed that Valverde was injured in an altercation with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni. Madrid have confirmed disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the two stars and a further update has revealed Valverde will be out for upto two weeks. Here’s the club’s official statement: “After the tests carried out today on our player Fede Valverde by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma. Valverde is at home in good condition and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by medical protocols for this diagnosis.” Striker Kylian Mbappe is also a doubt due to injury but has returned to training and may be available. Barcelona need just a point from the game at Camp Nou to be crowned champions of La Liga once more.

🏆 3× World Cup Champions I Defending champions I Manager: Lionel Scaloni Argentina: La Albiceleste — Home of Legends Argentina's three World Cup titles are each defined by an individual genius of once-in-a-generation magnitude. Kempes in 1978. Maradona in 1986. And, finally, Messi in 2022. No nation's World Cup story is more entwined with individual brilliance or with the tortured, passionate soul of a football-obsessed culture. Argentina World Cup History Argentina's footballing culture is one of the most intense and emotionally charged in the world. The game arrived in the River Plate region at the turn of the 20th century and took root with extraordinary speed — within decades, Argentina had developed a distinct style built on individual skill, improvisation and the street-football tradition of the potrero. Their World Cup journey included silver-medal finishes in 1930 and 1990, and the heartbreak of 2014 — a Schürrle goal in extra time denying them — before Lionel Messi's 2022 triumph in Qatar provided the crowning achievement of the sport's greatest individual career. Qatar 2022 is widely regarded as the greatest World Cup tournament in history, and Argentina's victory — their first in 36 years — was its emotional centre. Argentina's three World Cup titles The Golden Eras 1978 · Argentina Kempes crowns the hosts Final: Argentina 3–1 Netherlands (AET) Hosting their first World Cup under the military junta government, Argentina won the trophy in front of a frenzied home crowd. Mario Kempes was the tournament's defining player — his six goals, including two in the final, are among the great World Cup individual performances. The 3-1 extra-time victory over Johan Cruyff's Netherlands (who controversially boycotted the tournament) remains one of South America's most celebrated footballing moments, despite the political shadow cast by the host regime. 1986 · Mexico Maradona's solo masterpiece Final: Argentina 3–2 West Germany The most celebrated individual World Cup performance in history. Diego Maradona was, for six weeks in Mexico, the greatest footballer who had ever lived. Against England in the quarter-final, he scored two of the tournament's most extraordinary goals within minutes of each other — the "Hand of God" (a deliberate handball that went unpunished) and a solo run from his own half past five English defenders that was voted the Goal of the Century. In the final, Argentina overcame a late German fight-back to win 3-2. Maradona's tournament encapsulates everything beautiful and controversial about Argentine football. 2022 · Qatar Rossi's extraordinary redemption Final: Italy 3–1 W. Germany Perhaps the greatest World Cup final ever played. Argentina led 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining before Kylian Mbappé scored twice in 90 seconds to force extra time — then scored a third in the additional period. Messi replied to make it 3-3. In the penalty shootout, Gonzalo Montiel's winning spot-kick triggered scenes of national celebration that rivalled any in South American sporting history. At 35, Lionel Messi had finally won the one trophy his career required. Records & Statistics Germany's World Cup records vs. other nations Germany's record of eight World Cup final appearances is the highest of any nation. Their combination of titles won and consistent deep runs makes them the most reliable tournament performers in history. # Nation Titles Finals Wins Goals Appearances 1 🇧🇷 Brazil 5 7 73 237 22 2 🇩🇪 Germany 4 8 67 226 20 3 🇮🇹 Italy 4 6 45 128 18 4 🇦🇷 Argentina 3 6 47 145 18 5 🇫🇷 France 2 3 41 120 16 Football Culture & Identity The Argentine footballing soul Argentine football is defined by the concept of the pibe — the street kid whose natural ability overwhelms tactical systems. From the potrero (the improvised dirt pitches of Buenos Aires suburbs) come dribblers, tricksters, players who have absorbed the game through their skin rather than through coaching manuals. "When the people say 'Diego gave us so much joy', I think about what football means. It is everything here. It is life."— Jorge Valdano, 1986 World Cup winner The Argentine first division, particularly the River Plate–Boca Juniors rivalry, the most intense club derby in world football, provides the emotional furnace from which Argentina's greatest players emerge. Messi, Maradona, Di Stéfano (who played for Spain), Kempes, Batistuta — each carried a city's worth of expectation on their shoulders from childhood. Argentina 2026 Outlook: defending champions As reigning World Cup holders, Argentina arrive in 2026 as strong favourites. Lionel Scaloni's side has remarkable continuity — many of the core 2022 squad remain available, and Messi, now at Inter Miami but still performing at the highest level, has confirmed his participation as the tournament approaches. Key players: Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) is one of the world's elite strikers. Rodrigo De Paul provides engine and creativity in midfield. Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) has developed into a world-class central midfielder. Emiliano Martínez ("Dibu") remains among the best goalkeepers in the world and a decisive figure in penalty shootouts. The Messi question: At 38–39 during the tournament, Messi will almost certainly be playing his final World Cup. The emotional weight of that narrative, combined with the squad's collective desire to win for him again, could be a powerful motivating force. Squad Status: Argentina became the first South American team to qualify, securing their spot in March 2025. They are considered a "dynasty," with very few losses since late 2021. Preparation: As of early 2026, the team has been dominating South American qualifiers, though they faced criticism for a lack of matches against European opposition before the tournament. Friendly Matches: The team scheduled a March 2026 friendly against Mauritania at La Bombonera as part of their final preparations. Tournament History: This will be Argentina's 19th World Cup campaign. Bettor's Pro Tip: Argentina remain one of the strongest outright picks at 5/1–6/1, with their settled squad, elite goalkeeper, and defending champion pedigree making them arguably the tournament’s most complete side. Lautaro Martínez at 10/1–14/1 for top scorer offers good value due to his clinical finishing and central role in Argentina’s attack, while Argentina to win their group at 4/5–Evens looks highly reliable given their overall squad quality in the expanded tournament format. Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds subject to change FAQ - Argentina World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has Argentina won? Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup three times — in 1978 (hosted in Argentina), 1986 (Mexico), and 2022 (Qatar). The 2022 triumph gave Lionel Messi the only major international title missing from his collection. When did Argentina last win the World Cup? Argentina last won the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, defeating France on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw. It was Lionel Messi's fifth World Cup appearance and was widely regarded as his greatest performance on the tournament stage. Is Argentina a favourite for the 2026 World Cup? Yes — as reigning champions with a settled squad under Lionel Scaloni, Argentina are priced at 5/1 to 6/1 and are among the top three favourites alongside France and Brazil. Who is Argentina's greatest World Cup player? Diego Maradona's 1986 tournament performance is the most celebrated individual showing in World Cup history. Lionel Messi's 2022 campaign — capped by one of football's great finals — is considered by many to have rivalled or surpassed it.

🏆 4× World Cup Champions I Manager: Luciano Spalletti Italy: Gli Azzurri — Masters of Defence Italy's four World Cup titles, spanning 72 years from 1934 to 2006, were built on a footballing philosophy of defensive excellence, tactical discipline and clinical finishing. The birthplace of Catenaccio, Italy, proved that organised defence allied to individual brilliance is a formula that wins tournaments across any era. Italy World Cup History Italy's relationship with the World Cup is a story of defensive genius, golden generations and painful near-misses. Their first two titles, in 1934 and 1938, came under Vittorio Pozzo — the only manager ever to win the World Cup twice. Both victories were built on tactical rigidity, physical intensity and the emerging Catenaccio system that would define Italian football for decades. The 44-year gap between 1938 and 1982 included three runner-up finishes, before Paolo Rossi's extraordinary tournament in Spain provided one of football's greatest redemption stories. Italy's fourth title in 2006 arrived under Marcello Lippi with a squad many considered past its best — but Italy invariably exceeds expectations at major tournaments, even when conventional wisdom suggests otherwise. Italy notably failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — their first absence in 60 years — and were eliminated in the group stage in 2022, meaning their current cycle is one of rebuild. Under Luciano Spalletti, a young squad is developing, though the 2026 qualification was achieved via the play-offs. Italy's four World Cup titles: the full story The Golden Eras 1934 · Italy Pozzo's first masterpiece Final: Italy 2–1 Czechoslovakia (AET) Hosting the second-ever World Cup, Italy under Vittorio Pozzo combined physical power with tactical innovation to claim the trophy. Pozzo's use of the mezzo-terzino (half-back) system was revolutionary for its era. Giuseppe Meazza was the outstanding individual — a player of exceptional close control and goalscoring instinct. The final required extra time to subdue a resilient Czechoslovakia side, but Italy's superior fitness and organisation ultimately prevailed. The triumph carried political significance in Mussolini's Italy, but the quality of the football was genuine. 1938 · France Back-to-back glory Final: Italy 4–2 Hungary Hosting their own tournament, West Germany overcame Johan Cruyff's legendary Total Football Netherlands side in the final. Franz Beckenbauer — the Kaiser — marshalled the defence with imperious authority while Gerd Müller, the greatest poacher of his era, scored the decisive second goal. The tournament was defined by the contrast between the Dutch brilliance and German efficiency, and efficiency prevailed, as it so often does at World Cups. 1982 · Spain Rossi's extraordinary redemption Final: Italy 3–1 W. Germany Perhaps the most dramatic Italian title. Paolo Rossi returned from a two-year ban for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal to produce one of the most extraordinary individual World Cup performances in history, six goals in three matches, including a hat-trick against Brazil in the greatest match of the tournament. Dino Zoff, captaining the side at 40, was unbeatable in goal. The final against West Germany was a masterclass in Italian football, disciplined, clinical and psychologically unbreakable. Enzo Bearzot's team carried the entire footballing philosophy of a nation. 2006 · Germany Cannavaro's Iron Curtain Final: Italy 1–1 France (5–3 pens) Italy arrived in Germany with their football establishment embroiled in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal that would relegate Juventus and dock points from other clubs. The squad channelled the adversity into motivation. Fabio Cannavaro was imperious throughout — he would go on to win the Ballon d'Or — while Gianluigi Buffon conceded just two goals in the tournament. The final against France is best remembered for Zinedine Zidane's extraordinary headbutt on Marco Materazzi, his last act in professional football. Fabio Grosso converted the winning penalty to claim Italy's fourth World Cup title. Records & Statistics Germany's World Cup records vs. other nations Germany's record of eight World Cup final appearances is the highest of any nation. Their combination of titles won and consistent deep runs makes them the most reliable tournament performers in history. # Nation Titles Finals Wins Goals Appearances 1 🇧🇷 Brazil 5 7 73 237 22 2 🇩🇪 Germany 4 8 67 226 20 3 🇮🇹 Italy 4 6 45 128 18 4 🇦🇷 Argentina 3 6 47 145 18 5 🇫🇷 France 2 3 41 120 16 Football Culture & Identity Catenaccio and the Italian football soul No footballing nation has contributed more to tactical thinking than Italy. Catenaccio, the door bolt, was the defensive system that defined Italian football from the 1940s through the 1980s: a deep, compact defensive line anchored by a libero (sweeper) who sat behind the line to cover any breakthroughs. It was cautious, conservative, occasionally cynical — and devastatingly effective. "The goal you concede is always more important than the goal you score. If you don't concede, you cannot lose." — Attributed to multiple Italian managers across the defensive era The Serie A of the 1980s and 90s was the richest, most tactically sophisticated league in the world, and the national team absorbed that DNA — producing defenders of the calibre of Baresi, Maldini, Cannavaro and Chiellini, and goalkeepers from Zoff to Buffon. Italy's footballing culture prizes organisation, intelligence and the mental strength to win in tight situations — qualities that translate with particular force to knockout tournament football. Italy 2026 Outlook: Can the Azzurri recapture glory? After the humiliation of missing 2018 and a poor 2022, Italy qualified for 2026 via the play-offs and arrived as outside contenders rather than genuine favourites. Luciano Spalletti's squad has an interesting blend of experienced players and emerging young talent from Serie A and the top European leagues. Key players: Federico Chiesa (when fit) offers the directness and dribbling that Italy have often lacked. Sandro Tonali has rebuilt his career after a betting ban. Gianluigi Donnarumma remains one of the world's elite goalkeepers and provides a genuine last line of defence. The defensive tradition continues through Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini. Reality check: Italy's squad depth has declined relative to their golden generations. The Serie A's reduced standing in European club football means fewer Italian players are competing at the absolute highest club level. A quarter-final exit would be considered a reasonable return by most analysts, with any deeper run representing a significant overachievement. Bettor's Pro Tip: Italy to reach quarter-finals each-way at around 5/2. Their defensive organisation and tournament mentality consistently take them further than outright odds suggest. Italy, the outright winner at 20/1, is not the value it might appear — the squad lacks the depth of their 2006 or 1982 generations. The each-way semi-final or quarter-final markets are safer plays. Looking to bet on Italy? Click on the button below: Compare World Cup Tips Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds subject to change FAQ - Italy World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has Italy won? Italy has won the FIFA World Cup four times: in 1934 (hosted in Italy), 1938 (France), 1982 (Spain), and 2006 (Germany). They are joint second in the all-time list alongside Germany, behind Brazil's five. When did Italy last win the World Cup? Italy last won the World Cup in 2006 in Germany, defeating France on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final. Fabio Grosso converted the winning spot-kick, and Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or for his performances. What happened to Italy at the 2018 World Cup? Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — their first absence from the tournament in 60 years — after losing a two-legged play-off to Sweden. It was a seismic shock for Italian football and triggered a significant period of national soul-searching and structural reform. Is Italy a good bet for the 2026 World Cup? Italy, at 16/1 to 20/1, has some historical appeal given its pattern of over-performing at tournaments. However, the squad lacks depth compared to the great Italian teams of the past. The safest Italy bets are in the quarter-final or semi-final markets rather than the outright winner market.

🏆 2× World Cup Champions France: Les Bleus — The Modern Powerhouse France's two World Cup titles, bookending two decades of extraordinary international dominance, reflect a nation that reinvented itself through multicultural squad depth, tactical intelligence and a production line of world-class talent that rivals any country on the planet. In 1998, they gave the world Zidane. In 2018, they gave the world Mbappé. France's World Cup history France won their first World Cup in 1998 on home soil under Aimé Jacquet, with Zinedine Zidane scoring twice in a 3-0 demolition of Brazil in the final. Twenty years later, a young squad orchestrated by Didier Deschamps defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow, with 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé becoming only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. France then reached the 2022 final in Qatar, only to lose to Argentina in one of the greatest matches ever played. The consistency of French qualification for the latter stages of major tournaments since 1998 is remarkable. Under Deschamps, France have been at least quarter-finalists in every major tournament for over a decade — a record of sustained excellence matched only by Germany at their historical peak. France's two World Cup titles The Golden Eras 1998 · France Zidane's header: hosting glory Final: France 3–0 Brazil Hosting their first World Cup, France produced a tournament of mounting confidence and intensity that culminated in a sensational final performance. Zinedine Zidane — the Marseille-born son of Algerian immigrants who had become France's footballing conscience — headed home twice from Emmanuel Petit corners to put the match beyond a Brazilian side that seemed to have been derailed before a ball was kicked (Ronaldo's mysterious pre-match episode). Emmanuel Petit added a third in injury time. The Stade de France erupted; the Champs-Élysées was overrun. France, a melting pot of ethnicities united under the flag, had produced a team that its most optimistic supporters could scarcely have imagined. 2018 · Russia Mbappé announces himself Final: France 4–2 Croatia The most celebrated individual World Cup performance in history. Diego Maradona was, for six weeks in Mexico, the greatest footballer who had ever lived. Against England in the quarter-final, he scored two of the tournament's most extraordinary goals within minutes of each other — the "Hand of God" (a deliberate handball that went unpunished) and a solo run from his own half past five English defenders that was voted the Goal of the Century. In the final, Argentina overcame a late German fight-back to win 3-2. Maradona's tournament encapsulates everything beautiful and controversial about Argentine football. 2022 · Qatar Rossi's extraordinary redemption Final: Italy 3–1 W. Germany Perhaps the greatest World Cup final ever played. Argentina led 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining before Kylian Mbappé scored twice in 90 seconds to force extra time — then scored a third in the additional period. Messi replied to make it 3-3. In the penalty shootout, Gonzalo Montiel's winning spot-kick triggered scenes of national celebration that rivalled any in South American sporting history. At 35, Lionel Messi had finally won the one trophy his career required. Records & Statistics France's World Cup records vs. other nations The 1998 victory, led by Zidane, marked France’s arrival as a football powerhouse. By 2018, they had evolved into a modern, athletic, and tactically flexible team. # Nation Titles Finals Wins Goals Appearances 1 🇧🇷 Brazil 5 7 73 237 22 2 🇩🇪 Germany 4 8 67 226 20 3 🇮🇹 Italy 4 6 45 128 18 4 🇦🇷 Argentina 3 6 47 145 18 5 🇫🇷 France 2 3 41 120 16 Football Culture & Identity Les Bleus: talent factory of Europe France's success rests on the most sophisticated youth development infrastructure in world football. The Clairefontaine national football academy has produced Zidane, Henry, Mbappé, Pogba, Kanté and dozens of other elite players. Combined with the sheer size of the talent pool generated by France's multicultural urban football culture, particularly in the suburban housing estates of Paris, Lyon and Marseille, where street football thrives, France has an almost embarrassing depth of talent at every position. "We are not just French. We are a reflection of the whole world. And when we win, the whole world wins with us."— Lilian Thuram, 1998 World Cup winner Ligue 1 serves as both a talent breeding ground and a finishing school, but France's players overwhelmingly ply their trade at the elite European clubs — PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea — meaning the national squad is perpetually exposed to the highest levels of club football. France 2026 Outlook: Mbappé's moment Tournament Status: France has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, continuing their consistent, top-tier performance on the global stage. Key Players: Kylian Mbappé is once again the centrepiece, supported by a new generation of talent. Michael Olise has emerged as a critical playmaker following his impressive 2024 Olympic run, with Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku providing crucial attacking depth. Tactical Style: Under Didier Deschamps, Les Bleus are known for being pragmatic rather than possession-obsessed, focusing on clinical efficiency and punishing teams on the counter. Recent History: France was the runner-up at the 2022 World Cup, losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. They won the tournament in 1998 and 2018. Tournament Outlook: Regarded by many, including former players, as a favourite alongside Spain, France is widely expected to contend for a third title. Didier Deschamps Era: This tournament marks the end of an era, as a new coach will take over after 14 years under Deschamps. Didier Deschamps won the World Cup as captain (1998) and as coach (2018). Deep squad with elite young talent. Bettor's Pro Tip: France outright winner at 5/1–6/1. Their combination of squad depth, tactical inteMbappé top scorer at 8/1–10/1. A motivated Mbappé at the peak of his career, in a system built around him, is the most logical Golden Boot winner. Intelligence and world-class individuals make them arguably the most complete team in the tournament. Looking to bet on France? Click on the button below: Compare France Odds & Predictions Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds subject to change FAQ - France World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has France won? France have won the FIFA World Cup twice — in 1998 (on home soil, defeating Brazil 3-0) and in 2018 in Russia, defeating Croatia 4-2. Who scored for France in the 2018 World Cup final? Mario Mandžukić scored an own goal, Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty, and Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé scored in France's 4-2 win over Croatia. Mbappé's goal made him only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after Pelé. Is France a favourite for the 2026 World Cup? Yes — France are priced at 5/1 to 6/1 by most bookmakers, making them co-favourites alongside Argentina. Their combination of Mbappé at peak age, defensive solidity, and squad depth makes them many analysts' primary pick. Who is France’s best World Cup player? Zinedine Zidane and Kylian Mbappé are among France’s greatest World Cup players.

🏆 1× World Cup Champion I Reigning European champions I Manager: Luis de la Fuente Spain: La Roja — Masters of Tiki-Taka Spain's 2010 World Cup triumph in South Africa represented the pinnacle of a footballing revolution. The generation of Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Villa and Piqué, the core of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona dynasty, translated their club dominance onto the international stage to produce the most tactically innovative World Cup-winning team of the modern era. Spain World Cup history For most of the 20th century, Spain was football's great underachievers at World Cup level — a nation with outstanding club football (Real Madrid, Barcelona) but a national team that consistently failed to convert talent into tournament success. That all changed between 2008 and 2012, when Spain won back-to-back European Championships either side of a World Cup, completing the first and only major international treble in football history. Under Luis Aragonés (Euro 2008) and Vicente del Bosque (World Cup 2010, Euro 2012), Spain played a style of football that was entirely new to the international game and essentially unplayable. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the high point of an extraordinary era. Spain's World Cup title The Golden Era 2010 · South Africa Iniesta's golden moment Final: Spain 1–0 Netherlands (AET) The 2010 World Cup final was the most physically combative in modern history. The Netherlands played a deliberately aggressive, cynical game designed to disrupt Spain's passing patterns, resulting in 14 yellow cards and a red. Spain absorbed it all with remarkable composure. With the score goalless entering the final minutes of extra time, substitute Andrés Iniesta controlled a pass from Cesc Fàbregas and struck it first-time past Maarten Stekelenburg. His shirt-off celebration, with the message "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros" for a former teammate who had died, became one of football's defining images. Spain had won their first World Cup. Football Culture & Identity Tiki-Taka: Spain's footballing revolution Tiki-Taka — named after the rapid short-pass rhythm of the style- was fundamentally different from any approach the World Cup had seen. Spain kept the ball for extraordinary lengths of time, not to be defensive but to create fatigue and space in the opposition, waiting patiently for the opening. Games against Spain during this era were exercises in possession frustration; they completed more passes per game than any team in World Cup history. "We don't just play football. We think football, we live football. And when you think like that as a collective, the ball goes where it should go."— Xavi Hernández, 2010 World Cup winner The Barcelona academy La Masia is the spiritual home of the Tiki-Taka philosophy: it produced Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Piqué, Pedro and dozens of others. Under Xavi as manager, Barcelona and by extension the Spanish football philosophy, continue to evolve into new tactical forms. Today's Spain national team, under Luis de la Fuente, following Spain's Euro 2024 victory, has moved beyond pure Tiki-Taka into a more dynamic, vertically attacking style built around the extraordinary young talent of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Nico Williams. Spain 2026: Yamal's tournament Spain will arrive at the 2026 Championship as European champions and one of the most exciting squads in the tournament. The emergence of 17/18-year-old Lamine Yamal as a generational talent, who was already the best player at Euro 2024 as a teenager, gives Spain an attacking weapon of extraordinary potential. Combined with Pedri, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, Spain possesses the most exciting forward line in European football. Key players: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) has redefined expectations for teenage footballers. Pedri provides the midfield intelligence and link play. Unai Simón is a dependable goalkeeper. Rodri (if fit after injury recovery) is arguably the world's best defensive midfielder. Genuine contenders: Most analysts consider Spain to be in the top four or five genuinely credible tournament winners for 2026, with odds that potentially underestimate their chances given the quality of their squad and their status as reigning European champions. Recent Form: Spain won Euro 2024 and dominated their qualification group, following a period of high possession-based play. Manager & Tactics: Luis de la Fuente has led the team to success, maintaining a strong, competitive squad, though some injury concerns to key players exist. Preparations: The team will hold final preparations in Mexico, with matches scheduled in June 2026. Bettor's Pro Tip: Spain offers strong each-way value at 8/1–9/1, with their talented young squad and recent tournament pedigree making them serious contenders. Lamine Yamal at 8/1–12/1 to top-score for Spain is also appealing due to his advanced attacking role and creative influence. However, Spain can struggle against organised, physical counter-attacking teams, so their knockout-stage draw should be assessed carefully before backing them at shorter prices later in the tournament. Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds subject to change FAQ - Spain World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them When did Spain win the World Cup? Spain won the FIFA World Cup once, in 2010 in South Africa, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time. Andrés Iniesta scored the winning goal in the 116th minute. It was the centrepiece of Spain's historic 2008–2012 treble of major international titles. Who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final? Andrés Iniesta scored the only goal of the 2010 final, striking a first-time volley past Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg in extra time. His post-goal shirt-removal celebration, revealing a tribute to deceased former teammate Dani Jarque, is one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. What is Tiki-Taka? Tiki-Taka is the short-passing, high-possession style of football pioneered by Barcelona under Pep Guardiola and adopted by the Spanish national team. It is characterised by rapid one-touch passes, high pressing when the ball is lost, and maintaining territorial control for long periods to wear down opponents. Is Spain a good bet for the 2026 World Cup? Spain at 8/1–9/1 is considered an excellent each-way value by many analysts. As reigning European champions with Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams in the squad, they possess the attacking quality to beat any team in the tournament. Their main risk is against physical, counter-attacking opponents in knockout rounds.

🏆 2× World Cup Champions I Manager: Marcelo Bielsa Uruguay: La Celeste — The Founding Champions Uruguay did not just win the first World Cup; they invented it. The tiny South American nation of four million people hosted and won the inaugural 1930 tournament, then produced one of football's most celebrated upsets twenty years later: the Maracanazo. No nation has achieved more per capita in World Cup history. Uruguay World Cup history Uruguay's place in football history is unique. As the host and winner of the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, they set the tournament in motion. Their second title in 1950, achieved by defeating Brazil in front of nearly 200,000 people in the Maracanã, remains one of the most dramatic results in sporting history. A nation of four million people had humbled the footballing giant next door on home soil. In modern times, Uruguay remain a consistent World Cup presence, regularly qualifying and reaching the knockout stages through a combination of defensive organisation, set-piece threat and the individual quality of players like Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani. They reached the semi-finals in 2010 and quarter-finals in 2018. Uruguay's two World Cup titles The Golden Eras 1930 · Uruguay The founding championship Final: Uruguay 4–2 Argentina Hosting the first World Cup at the newly constructed Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, built specifically for the tournament, Uruguay overcame neighbours and rivals Argentina in a thrilling final. Already Olympic champions in 1924 and 1928, Uruguay were the world's dominant football nation. José Nasazzi captained the side with authority; Pedro Cea and Héctor Castro scored in the second half to complete a comeback from 2-1 down. The tournament was boycotted by many European nations due to the cost and distance of travel, but the quality of football was undeniable. 1950 · Brazil The Maracanazo — football's greatest upset Final group match: Brazil 1–2 Uruguay The 1950 World Cup was decided by a final group stage round rather than a traditional knockout final. Brazil needed only a draw against Uruguay to be crowned champions; Uruguay needed to win. In front of an estimated 199,954 spectators in the Maracanã, the largest crowd ever to watch a football match, Friaça gave Brazil the lead. Uruguay equalised through Schiaffino before Ghiggia scored the winner in the 79th minute. The stadium fell silent. In Brazil, the defeat — the Maracanazo — remains the most traumatic event in the nation's football history. For Uruguay, it is the defining moment of national sporting pride. Football Culture & Identity Garra Charrúa: the fighting spirit Uruguay's footballing identity is encapsulated by the concept of Garra Charrúa — the Charrúan claw, named after the indigenous Charrúa people, a warrior tribe conquered by Spanish colonisers. It represents the fierce competitive spirit, refusal to accept defeat, and physical and psychological resilience that have defined Uruguayan football across a century. "We are a small country with a big heart. We have always punched above our weight because we play with everything we have — technically, tactically, and here."— Óscar Tabárez, Uruguay manager 2006–2021 Óscar Tabárez's extraordinary 15-year reign as national team manager (2006–2021) transformed Uruguay into a modern tournament force built on tactical organisation, physical intensity and collective spirit. Under him, they reached the semi-finals in 2010 and the round of 16/quarter-finals in every subsequent tournament until his departure. Current manager Marcelo Bielsa brings his own demanding philosophy. Uruguay 2026: Bielsa's new generation Tournament Appearance: This is Uruguay's 15th appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Qualification: Secured their spot in September 2025, qualifying directly after a strong performance in the CONMEBOL group stage, finishing high in the standings under Marcelo Bielsa. Team Performance & Style: Known as "La Celeste," the team operates under a "Bielsa-ball" philosophy focused on high pressure, quick attacks, and intense fighting spirit. Key Players: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) provides stability in midfield, while forward Darwin Núñez has been a primary source of goals in qualifiers. Defensively, Atletico Madrid’s José María Giménez and Barcelona’s Ronald Araújo are key components. Historical Context: Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950. Squad Development: The team is transitioning into a new era, blending experienced players with young talent to improve on recent tournament performances. Transition toward younger attackers. Historically dangerous underdogs. Bettor's Pro Tip: Uruguay to reach the quarter-finals at 4/1–5/1 looks like a smart value play, especially with Marcelo Bielsa building a disciplined and competitive side capable of navigating favourable knockout ties in the expanded 48-team tournament. Darwin Núñez, anytime scorer at 5/2–3/1 per game, is also appealing given his physical presence and ability to trouble most defences. However, Uruguay at 25/1–33/1 to win the tournament outright offers less value, as the squad quality is strong but lacks the overall depth of the leading contenders. Knockout-stage markets appear the safer angle Looking to bet on Uruguay? Click on the button below: Compare World Cup Tips Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds are subject to change FAQ - Uruguay World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has Uruguay won? Uruguay has won the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1930 (hosted in Uruguay) and 1950 (in Brazil). The 1950 victory, known as the Maracanazo, is one of the greatest upsets in sporting history. What is the Maracanazo? The Maracanazo refers to Uruguay's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the final match of the 1950 World Cup, played in front of approximately 200,000 fans at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil needed only a draw to be crowned champions; Uruguay won. It remains the most traumatic event in Brazilian football history. Who are Uruguay's greatest World Cup players? Historically, Juan Schiaffino (1950) and Alcides Ghiggia (1950) are the legendary names. In modern times, Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani form one of international football's great striking partnerships, having led Uruguay to the semi-finals in 2010. Can Uruguay compete in modern World Cups? Yes, Uruguay remains competitive and often performs well as an underdog.

🏆 5× World Cup Champions I Manager: Carlo Ancelotti I Team name: A Seleção Brazil: “The Jogo Bonito” Standard Brazil stands alone as the most successful nation in FIFA World Cup history, with five titles ( 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 ). What makes Brazil unique is not just the number of trophies, but how those victories were achieved, often through attacking brilliance rather than tactical rigidity. From Pelé’s teenage emergence in 1958 to Ronaldo’s redemption arc in 2002, Brazil’s wins span eras, styles, and generations. Unlike many nations that rely on a single golden generation, Brazil’s success has been continuous, built on a deep football culture and talent pipeline. Brazil World Cup History Brazil's World Cup journey began with heartbreak before it became dominant. After losing the 1950 final at home, a defeat still referred to as the Maracanazo, Brazil rebuilt its identity around creativity and attacking freedom. The late 1950s and 60s saw the rise of Pelé, Garrincha, and a team that transformed global football. By 1970, Brazil had perfected its style, producing what many still consider the greatest World Cup team ever. The 1994 victory marked a shift — a more pragmatic Brazil that could win ugly when needed. By 2002, they blended flair with efficiency, producing one of the most balanced squads in tournament history. Brazil Football Legacy The Brazilian philosophy is built on Joga Bonito. The term Jogo Bonito — "the beautiful game" captures an entire footballing philosophy: football not as a means to an end, but as an art form, an expression of joy, identity, and culture. Brazilian footballers are coached from childhood on futsal courts and peladas (informal street matches) in São Paulo and Rio, where tight spaces develop the close control, creativity and improvisation that define the national style. Under the current management of Carlo Ancelotti, the A Seleção, which is the name of the Brazilian team, is blending its traditional flair with a more pragmatic, European tactical discipline. Ancelotti’s Brazil has shifted toward a balanced 4-3-3. While they still utilise "hyper-offensive" wingers like Vinícius Júnior, there is a newfound focus on midfield stability to prevent the counter-attacking heartbreaks of previous tournaments. Brazil’s depth is unrivalled. They possess the unique ability to produce world-class dribblers who can break down the "Low Block" defences that often frustrate other elite nations. Key figures who have defined the national identity include Pelé (widely considered the greatest player in history), Garrincha (the incomparable dribbler), Zico (the "White Pelé" of the 1980s), Romário, Ronaldinho, and Neymar, who carries the generation's torch into 2026. The Golden Eras 1958 Sweden — The emergence of Pelé Final: Brazil 5–2 Sweden Brazil arrived in Sweden as gifted outsiders and left as world champions, announcing themselves with one of the most extraordinary tournaments in history. A 17-year-old Edson Arantes do Nascimento — known to the world only as Pelé — scored six goals in four matches, including a hat-trick in the semi-final against France and two in the final against the host nation. Garrincha, Didi, and Vavá completed a squad of extraordinary talent. The 5-2 demolition of Sweden in Stockholm was the moment football found its most expressive voice. 1962 Chile — Garrincha takes the mantle Final: Brazil 3–1 Czechoslovakia With Pelé injured after the group stage, the tournament became Garrincha's. The bow-legged winger from Pau Grande was arguably the greatest dribbler who ever lived, and in Chile, he performed his career, tearing apart defences with supernatural footwork and winning the player of the tournament award. Brazil retained their title without their talisman, a testament to the depth of that squad. The 3-1 win over Czechoslovakia in the final confirmed Brazil as the dominant force in world football. 1970 Mexico — The greatest team ever assembled Final: Brazil 4–1 Italy The 1970 Brazil squad is almost universally regarded as the greatest international football team in history. Pelé at his most complete, Jairzinho (who scored in every single match), Rivelino, Tostão, Carlos Alberto: a team that combined defensive solidity with attacking football so beautiful it felt like improvised jazz. Their 4-1 demolition of Italy in the final in Mexico City remains the most celebrated performance in World Cup history. Carlos Alberto's fourth goal — a sweeping team move finished with thunderous authority — is considered the greatest team goal ever scored. By winning their third title, Brazil earned permanent custody of the Jules Rimet Trophy. 1994 USA — Ending 24 years of hurt Final: Brazil 0–0 Italy (3–2 on pens) After a 24-year drought that felt like an eternity to Brazilian fans, the Seleção returned to the summit — though in the most nervy fashion imaginable. The 1994 squad was built on pragmatism rather than poetry: Romário and Bebeto formed one of international football's great striking partnerships (their famous cradle celebration after Bebeto's goal against the Netherlands became iconic), but it was organisation and resilience that ultimately carried them through. The final against Italy finished goalless after extra time, with Roberto Baggio's penalty sailing over the bar to hand Brazil the trophy. 2002 South Korea/Japan — Ronaldo's redemption Final: Brazil 2–0 Germany Perhaps the most emotionally charged of all five titles. Ronaldo Nazário, who had suffered a mysterious convulsive episode in the hours before the 1998 final and was a shadow of himself that day, arrived in Asia four years later as the most complete striker on the planet. He scored eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final against Germany, and collected the Golden Boot. It was sporting redemption on the grandest stage. The image of a beaming Ronaldo, complete with his infamous crescent haircut, lifting the trophy is one of football's defining photographs. "Football is not just a sport in Brazil. It is a religion, a culture, a way of seeing the world — and when we play at our best, we show the world what pure joy looks like."— Pelé, 1970 Records & Statistics Brazil's World Cup records vs. other nations Brazil are the only nation to have qualified for every single World Cup since 1930 — 22 consecutive appearances unmatched by any other country. Here is how their record compares to the other great nations. # Nation Titles Played Won Goals Appearances 1 🇧🇷 Brazil 5 114 73 237 22 2 🇩🇪 Germany 4 109 67 226 20 3 🇮🇹 Italy 4 83 45 128 18 4 🇦🇷 Argentina 3 87 47 145 18 5 🇫🇷 France 2 73 41 120 16 Brazil 2026 Outlook: The Ancelotti Era Manager & Form: Carlo Ancelotti has been praised for bringing stability and a winning mentality, described as a "serial winner". The team is emphasising intense commitment and a high-pressure, attacking style. Squad Changes: The squad is experiencing an evolution, with newcomers like Igor Thiago and Rayan making an impact. High-profile young talents such as Endrick are competing for spots in one of the most competitive lineups in recent years. The "Neymar Question": As of March 2026, Neymar was left out of preliminary squads due to fitness issues, forcing Ancelotti to look at other attacking options to lead the front line, potentially featuring Raphinha or Joao Pedro. Rising Stars: Raphinha has been a standout performer, having matched a Champions League record with 22 goal contributions in the 2024–25 season. Defensive Depth: Despite injuries to key defenders like Eder Militao, competition is fierce with Marquinhos, Gabriel, and the return of a fully fit Bremer. Historic Record: Brazil remains the only nation to have appeared in every FIFA World Cup, with 76 victories out of 114 matches, according to. Attack: Ancelotti has used multiple attackers across squads, focusing on versatility and top form. Selection Headache: The abundance of talent in European top leagues has provided options for both attack and defence, making the final 2026 selection difficult. Bettor's Pro Tip: Ancelotti has moved away from Neymar for his final roster, focusing on youth and work rates. This makes Brazil less predictable for opponents but more stable for bettors looking for tactical consistency. The opener against Morocco (June 13) in New Jersey is a "Trap Game." Morocco has proven they can beat Brazil; the BTTS (Odds: 1.91) is the sharpest play here. Please note: 18+ only · Gamble responsibly · BeGambleAware.org · T&Cs apply · Odds are subject to change FAQ - Brazil World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them How many World Cups has Brazil won? Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup five times - more than any other country in history. When did Brazil last win the World Cup? Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, defeating Germany 2–0 in the final. Why is Brazil so successful in World Cups? Brazil combines technical skill, attacking football, and a strong talent pipeline across generations. Is Brazil a favourite for the 2026 World Cup? Brazil is considered a strong contender, though not always the outright favourite in modern tournaments.

🏆 1× World Cup Champion I Manager: Thomas Tuchel England: The Three Lions — 1966 and the Eternal Wait As the nation that codified and exported association football to the world, England's single World Cup triumph — at Wembley in 1966 — carries a weight of national mythology that no other sporting achievement quite matches. For 60 years, generations of fans have lived and suffered through near-misses, penalties, heartbreak and tournament exits. The question of when England will win again defines a sporting culture. England's World Cup history England's World Cup record is one of the most discussed and analysed in global football — largely because the gap between their single title in 1966 and the level of expectation that surrounds the Three Lions at every subsequent tournament represents one of sport's great ongoing dramas. They have reached the semi-finals three times (1966, 1990, 2018) and the final once. They have lost three penalty shootouts at major tournaments. The modern England team under Gareth Southgate, and now his successor, has undergone a genuine renaissance. Reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and the final of Euro 2020/21 (lost on penalties to Italy) suggested the groundwork for a first title in 60 years may be in place. The 2026 tournament, co-hosted in North America, provides perhaps the best opportunity of a generation. England's World Cup title The Golden Eras 1966 · England Hurst's hat-trick, Moore's glory Final: England 4–2 W. Germany (AET) The only occasion England has hosted a World Cup, and they made it count most dramatically. Alf Ramsey's side, built on the "Wingless Wonders" system with Nobby Stiles providing defensive cover and Martin Peters and Alan Ball providing energy, reached the final against West Germany. After going 2-1 up, England conceded in the final minute to force extra time. Geoff Hurst then scored two more, including the infamous "ball crossed the line" third goal that remains contested to this day, to claim a 4-2 victory. Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy on the Wembley steps remains the most iconic image in English football history. The Near Misses Close but not close enough: England's semi-final record Three times England have reached the World Cup semi-finals. In 1990, they lost to West Germany on penalties — Gazza's tears defined a generation. In 2018, they lost to Croatia in extra time in a game they had led. Each exit has added another layer to the mythology of English football suffering. The 2022 exit at the quarter-final stage to France, losing to a Mbappé-inspired performance, maintained the pattern of tantalisingly close but ultimately unfulfilled potential. Football Culture & Identity Set-Piece Specialists Under Tuchel, England has moved away from the "free-styling" fluidity of previous years toward a high-intensity, structured system. The Tuchel Blueprint: Expect a team built on defensive compactness and structured pressing. Tuchel favours tactical flexibility, often shifting between a back-three and a back-four to nullify specific opposition threats. Physical First: The current squad emphasises "engines" and "defensive-first" profiles. Players who stick to specific tactical tasks (like Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi) are the bedrock, providing the platform for stars like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to exploit transitions. England 2026: ending 60 years of hurt? As of May 2026, the pressure on England is at an all-time high. The 2026 World Cup marks exactly 60 years since their 1966 win. Group L Schedule: England opens against Croatia (June 17, Arlington), followed by Ghana (June 23, Foxborough), and Panama (June 27, East Rutherford). The Kane Golden Boot Quest: Harry Kane remains the focal point. He is currently +900 to win the Golden Boot. With Tuchel’s structured delivery and Kane’s penalty duties, he is a primary target for "Tournament Top Scorer" futures. Squad Selection Drama: Tuchel’s preference for "tactical soldiers" has led to high-profile snubs (like Trent Alexander-Arnold). This makes England more predictable but stable, a dream for bettors who prefer reliability over flair. Key Squad Members: The squad features core players including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden. Manager: Thomas Tuchel, who took over in early 2025, now leads the team. Qualification: England was the first European nation to qualify, finishing with eight wins from eight matches, scoring 22 goals, and not conceding any. Draw & Route: Due to their high ranking, England avoids facing France until the final, and avoids Spain/Argentina until the semifinals. Versus Opponents: England is undefeated against African teams at the World Cup (W5 D3). Recent History: Strong attacking options and depth. Aim to convert talent into trophies. Bettor's Pro Tip: England remain a strong each-way outright option at 8/1–9/1 thanks to their attacking quality and depth, though knockout-stage pressure remains the key concern. Jude Bellingham at 14/1–18/1 for top scorer offers solid value given his advanced attacking role, while England to reach the semi-finals at 3/1 is backed by their favourable draws and recent tournament consistency. However, bettors should remain cautious about England in penalty shootouts due to their historically unreliable record in those situations. Looking to bet on England? Click on the button below: Compare World Cup Tips FAQ - England World Cup We answered some questions, so you don't have to ask them When did England win the World Cup? England won the World Cup once, in 1966, hosted at Wembley Stadium in London. They defeated West Germany 4-2 after extra time. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick — the only one in a World Cup final. Bobby Moore was the captain. Has England ever been to a World Cup final since 1966? No. England's best performances since 1966 have been semi-final appearances in 1990 (lost to West Germany on penalties) and 2018 (lost to Croatia in extra time). They have never returned to a World Cup final. Is England a good bet for the 2026 World Cup? England at 8/1–9/1 offers reasonable each-way value. Their squad contains multiple genuinely elite players in Bellingham, Kane, and Foden. The historical caveat around penalty shootouts and knockout-round psychology is worth noting, but the squad is objectively strong enough to go deep in the tournament. Who are England’s key players for the next World Cup? Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka are among the most important players in the current squad.

Introduction Winning a bet is only half the experience. Getting your money quickly is the other half. In Nigeria, payout speeds vary significantly across licensed platforms: some process withdrawals in minutes, others take up to 24 hours. This guide ranks the fastest payout betting sites in Nigeria in 2026, based on verified withdrawal times, available payment methods, and overall reliability of the process. Whether you are cashing out via OPay, Palmpay, or direct bank transfer, this is where to start. Top 3 Picks SportyBet: The fastest payout of any major Nigerian betting site, with OPay and Palmpay withdrawals processed in under five minutes Betano: Consistent 15-minute average payout across multiple payment methods Betway: Reliable same-day withdrawals, trusted by Nigerian bettors across all experience levels Master Comparison Table Bookmaker Withdrawal Speed Payment Methods Withdrawal Fees SportyBet Under 5 mins (OPay/Palmpay) Bank transfer, OPay, Palmpay Free Betano ~15 minutes Bank transfer, e-wallets Free Betway Same day Bank transfer, OPay, Flutterwave Free 1xBet Minutes to hours Bank transfer, e-wallets, crypto Free 22Bet Minutes (OPay) Bank transfer, OPay Free BetKing Within hours Bank transfer Free BetWinner Within hours Bank transfer, e-wallets Free Bet9ja Within 24 hours Bank transfer only Free Our Methodology Every platform was assessed on confirmed withdrawal processing times, the range of payment methods available, whether withdrawals are free of charge, and the consistency of payouts across real user reports in 2025 and early 2026. Speed alone does not define the ranking: reliability and trustworthiness of the payout process carry equal weight. Paripesa was removed from consideration following its exit from the Nigerian market in early 2025. Individual Breakdowns SportyBet SportyBet is the clear leader for payout speed among major Nigerian betting platforms. Linking your OPay or Palmpay account to your SportyBet profile delivers withdrawals in under five minutes, making it the closest thing to instant cash-out available from a licensed Nigerian bookmaker. Bank transfer is the only withdrawal channel, but through mobile money services that channel becomes extremely fast. The process is automated with minimal manual handling, which is what keeps withdrawal times so consistently short. Pros: Fastest confirmed withdrawal speed in the Nigerian market via OPay and Palmpay Automated withdrawal system with minimal processing delays Free withdrawals with no deduction fees Available on Android and iOS Cons: Bank transfer is the only withdrawal channel; no crypto or international e-wallet options Weekend or late-night withdrawals may occasionally take longer due to bank processing times Best For: Bettors who prioritise the fastest possible access to their winnings and use OPay or Palmpay as their primary mobile wallet. Betano Betano has built a strong reputation for payout reliability in Nigeria. Independent testing recorded an average withdrawal time of around 15 minutes across payment methods, which is among the fastest for any platform operating in the Nigerian market. Betano also offers partial cash out and early payout features on qualifying football bets, meaning you do not always have to wait for a match to finish to access a return. The platform's clean interface and fast app performance add to the overall experience. Pros: ~15-minute average withdrawal time confirmed across multiple payment methods Early payout feature available on qualifying football bets Clean interface with fast app performance Competitive football odds alongside fast payouts Cons: Less established in Nigeria than local operators like Bet9ja or SportyBet Narrower market range for non-football sports compared to 1xBet Best For: Bettors who want reliably fast payouts alongside competitive football odds and a modern platform experience. Betway Betway's withdrawal process is among the most consistent of any platform in Nigeria. Payouts via bank transfer and OPay are processed same-day in the majority of cases, with funds typically arriving within a few hours of requesting. Betway also offers a Data Free mode for account access without consuming mobile data, which means even checking your withdrawal status does not require a bundle. The platform is backed by both NLRC and LSLGA licences, offering a high degree of regulatory protection. Pros: Consistent same-day withdrawals via bank transfer and OPay Supports PalmPay, OPay, Paystack, Flutterwave, and Quickteller Strong regulatory standing with both NLRC and LSLGA licensing Free withdrawals with no deduction Cons: Not quite as fast as SportyBet for OPay withdrawals Some payment methods unavailable in Data Free mode Best For: Bettors who want dependable same-day payouts from a globally recognised and well-regulated platform. 1xBet 1xBet offers the widest range of withdrawal methods of any platform in the Nigerian market, including bank transfer, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency options. For bettors who use crypto, withdrawals can be near-instant. Standard e-wallet and bank transfer withdrawals are generally processed within a few hours. The breadth of withdrawal options makes 1xBet particularly useful for bettors who want flexibility rather than a single-method withdrawal. Pros: Widest withdrawal method range in the Nigerian market Crypto withdrawals offer near-instant processing E-wallet and bank transfer withdrawals typically processed within hours Works alongside a very large sports betting market Cons: Curaçao-licensed; does not hold an NLRC or LSLGA licence Interface can be overwhelming for new users Crypto withdrawals require some technical familiarity Best For: Experienced bettors who want the most payment flexibility, including crypto withdrawal options. 22Bet 22Bet handles OPay transfers quickly and has developed a reliable reputation for payout processing among Nigerian users. Withdrawals via bank transfer and OPay are generally completed within minutes to a few hours. The platform also supports a broad range of sports markets, which means bettors who withdraw frequently across different events will find the combination of variety and speed useful. Pros: Fast OPay transfer processing Wide sports market range alongside quick payouts Supports multiple Nigerian-friendly payment methods No withdrawal fees Cons: Curaçao-licensed; not regulated by NLRC or LSLGA Customer support response times can vary Best For: Bettors who want a broad range of betting markets combined with fast OPay withdrawals. BetKing BetKing consistently processes bank transfer withdrawals within a few hours, placing it comfortably ahead of Bet9ja on overall payout speed. Its strong retail network and local infrastructure mean the platform handles high withdrawal volumes without significant delays. BetKing also added biometric login support in January 2026, improving account security around the withdrawal process. Pros: Bank transfer withdrawals processed within hours, consistently Reliable payout track record across a large user base NLRC-licensed with strong local infrastructure No withdrawal fees Cons: Bank transfer is the primary withdrawal channel; fewer options than international platforms No iOS app; Android and browser only Best For: Bettors who prefer a reliable, locally-rooted platform with consistent payout times. Bet9ja Bet9ja processes withdrawals via bank transfer within 24 hours in the majority of cases, and all withdrawals are free of charge. For a platform with millions of active users, that consistency is notable. Bank transfer is the only withdrawal option, which means bettors who want faster mobile money access will not find it here. However, for the large proportion of Nigerian bettors who are comfortable with next-day bank payments, Bet9ja's payout track record is solid. Pros: Withdrawals processed within 24 hours in most cases All withdrawals free of charge Highly reliable payout track record for a platform with Nigeria's largest user base LSLGA-licensed with strong local regulatory standing Cons: Bank transfer is the only withdrawal method; no OPay, Palmpay, or crypto Slower than most other platforms on this list Withdrawal requires account names to match bank account details exactly Best For: Established Bet9ja users who are comfortable with same-day or next-day bank transfers and value reliability over raw speed. How to Choose Choose SportyBet if speed is your primary requirement and you use OPay or Palmpay. No other licensed platform in Nigeria consistently matches sub-five-minute withdrawal times. Choose Betano or Betway if you want fast payouts from a platform with broader features, competitive odds, and reliable customer support. Choose 1xBet or 22Bet if you want maximum withdrawal flexibility including crypto, and are comfortable with internationally-licensed platforms. Choose BetKing or Bet9ja if you prefer a well-established Nigerian-licensed platform with proven reliability, and are comfortable with bank transfer as the primary withdrawal channel. Tips for Faster Withdrawals on Any Nigerian Platform Verify your account fully before placing your first bet. Unverified accounts are the single most common cause of withdrawal delays across all Nigerian betting platforms. Submit your ID and confirm your bank details match your registration name before you need to withdraw. Use OPay or Palmpay where supported. Mobile money withdrawals consistently process faster than standard bank transfers on every platform that supports them. Withdraw during business hours. Requests submitted between Monday and Friday during Nigerian banking hours are processed faster on platforms that have any manual review step. Check your withdrawal limits. Most platforms apply daily or weekly limits. Large withdrawals that exceed automatic processing thresholds may require additional review, which adds time. betCompare Insight For beginners: Payout speed matters less if you are new and betting small amounts, but it is still worth opening your account on a platform with a reliable payout track record from the start. SportyBet and Betway are both good choices for beginners who want to know their withdrawals will arrive predictably. For experienced bettors: Fast payouts become more important as your stakes grow. If you regularly withdraw significant amounts, check the platform's withdrawal limits alongside its speed. A platform that processes instantly but caps daily withdrawals at ₦50,000 may be less useful than one that takes a few hours but handles larger amounts without manual review. Always compare odds at betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) before every bet, because the best payout speed means little if you are consistently taking worse odds than the market offers. Frequently Asked Questions Which Nigerian betting site has the fastest payout? SportyBet consistently delivers the fastest withdrawals of any major licensed platform in Nigeria, with OPay and Palmpay withdrawals processed in under five minutes in most cases. How long does a Bet9ja withdrawal take? Bet9ja withdrawals are processed via bank transfer and typically arrive within 24 hours. All Bet9ja withdrawals are free of charge, and the account name must match the registered bank account name exactly. Why is my withdrawal taking so long? The most common cause of delays is an unverified account. Other causes include withdrawals submitted outside banking hours, requests that exceed automatic processing limits, or a mismatch between your registered account name and your bank account name. Are withdrawals free on Nigerian betting sites? All the platforms listed in this guide process withdrawals without charging the player a fee. Betway, SportyBet, Bet9ja, BetKing, Betano, 1xBet, 22Bet, and BetWinner all offer free withdrawals in naira. Is OPay the fastest withdrawal method in Nigeria? For platforms that support it, OPay and Palmpay are the fastest withdrawal methods available to Nigerian bettors. SportyBet processes OPay and Palmpay withdrawals in under five minutes. Standard bank transfers are significantly slower regardless of which platform you use. Do I need to verify my account before withdrawing? Yes. All licensed Nigerian betting platforms require KYC verification before processing withdrawals. Submit your valid ID and ensure your registered details match your bank account to avoid delays when you need to cash out. Conclusion Fast payouts start with finding the best odds before you bet. Use betCompare to compare prices across all major Nigerian bookmakers in seconds, completely free. 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction 22Bet is an international sports betting platform that has built a strong following in Nigeria since entering the market. It is owned and operated by TechSolutions (CY) Group Ltd, a company registered in Cyprus, and holds a licence from the Curaçao Gaming Authority. For Nigerian bettors, 22Bet Nigeria offers one of the broadest market selections available, covering football, basketball, tennis, esports, and dozens of other sports. This review covers everything you need to know: the app, bonuses, registration, odds, cash out, and whether 22Bet is legit and worth your time. Our verdict: a strong platform for bettors who want variety and competitive odds on international markets, with a few areas that could be tightened up. Quick Stats Our Rating 4.3/5 Minimum Deposit N100 Payout Speed Within 24 hours (standard) Top Markets Football, Basketball, Tennis, Esports App Rating 4.1/5 Key Features Odds and Markets 22Bet Nigeria consistently offers some of the most competitive odds on international football available from any platform in the Nigerian market. Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Champions League fixtures are all covered with deep market options per match. For Nigerian bettors who also follow leagues outside Africa, this is one of the standout strengths. The platform covers over 30 sports in total, which is significantly broader than most Nigeria-focused competitors. Odds are displayed in decimal format and are frequently comparable to or better than Bet9ja and SportyBet on non-local markets. The 22Bet App The 22Bet app is available for both Android and iOS. Android users can download the 22Bet app directly from the official 22Bet website as an APK file, since the app is not listed on the Google Play Store. iOS users can find it on the App Store. The app covers the full range of features available on the desktop site, including live betting, account management, deposits, and withdrawals. It loads quickly and is well-suited to moderate data connections, which is important for Nigerian users. If you have already used the desktop site and want a 22Bet app download for your phone, the process takes under two minutes. Bonuses and Promo Code 22Bet offers a welcome bonus for new users who register and make a qualifying deposit. A 22Bet promo code can be entered during registration to activate the offer. Beyond the welcome bonus, 22Bet runs a regular promotional calendar that includes accumulator boosts, cashback offers, and event-specific promotions. As with all bookmakers, bonus terms and conditions change regularly, so always check the current offer on the 22Bet Nigeria promotions page before opting in. We do not list specific bonus amounts in this review as these are updated frequently. Cash Out Does 22Bet have cash out? Yes. The cash out feature is available on a wide range of pre-match and live betting markets. You can access it through your open bets in the bet slip or the My Bets section of your account. The feature allows you to settle a bet early, either to lock in a profit or reduce a potential loss before the event has finished. Partial cash out is also available on selected markets, giving you greater control over how much of your stake you secure. This is one of the more fully developed cash out features among platforms operating in Nigeria. Registration and Login How to register on 22Bet is straightforward. Visit the 22Bet Nigeria website, click on Register, and fill in your details including your phone number, email address, and preferred currency (Nigerian Naira). Once your account is verified, you can log in via the website or app using your registered email or phone number. The 22Bet login process is quick and supports biometric login on supported mobile devices. If you experience any issues accessing your account, the customer support team is available via live chat and email. Pros and Cons Pros: One of the broadest sports and market selections available in Nigeria Competitive odds on international football leagues Cash out available on a wide range of markets App available for both Android and iOS Regular bonus promotions beyond the welcome offer Cons: NPFL and local Nigerian football coverage is limited compared to Bet9ja International licence rather than a local NLRC licence The interface can feel busy for first-time bettors Customer support response times can vary How It Compares Among international bookmakers operating in Nigeria, 22Bet sits alongside 1xBet as one of the strongest options for market range and odds quality. Against local heavyweights like Bet9ja and SportyBet, 22Bet wins on international odds and market depth but loses on NPFL and local football coverage. It is best used as a second account alongside a locally focused platform. Use betCompare to check which of these sites is offering the best price on your specific match: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds Who Should Use 22Bet? 22Bet Nigeria is the right choice for you if you regularly bet on European football leagues and want more competitive odds than local platforms tend to offer on those markets. It suits experienced bettors who already hold a primary account with Bet9ja or SportyBet and are looking for a platform to value-hunt on international fixtures. It is also a good fit for bettors who want a wide choice of sports beyond football. It is less ideal for bettors whose focus is almost entirely on NPFL or Super Eagles matches. betCompare Insight For beginners: If you are new to 22Bet, start with football markets you already know well. The platform's wide selection can feel overwhelming at first, so narrow your focus to one or two leagues until you are comfortable with how the site works. Before placing any bet, check betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) to confirm that 22Bet is actually offering the best available price for that fixture. It often is on European markets, but not always. For experienced bettors: 22Bet earns its place as a value-hunting account for international markets. The odds on Champions League and Premier League fixtures are frequently sharper than what Bet9ja and SportyBet post. Combine this with regular use of the cash out feature to manage risk on accumulators, and 22Bet becomes a useful addition to any multi-account setup. Run your intended bets through betCompare first to confirm you are getting the best available return. Frequently Asked Questions Is 22Bet legit? Yes, 22Bet is a legitimate platform. It is owned by TechSolutions (CY) Group Ltd and operates under a Curaçao Gaming Authority licence. It has been active in the Nigerian market for several years and has a large global user base. As with any international bookmaker, ensure you understand the platform's terms before depositing. Who owns 22Bet? 22Bet is owned by TechSolutions (CY) Group Ltd, a company registered in Cyprus. The platform operates internationally across numerous markets, including Nigeria. How do I download the 22Bet app? Android users can download the 22Bet app by visiting the official 22Bet Nigeria website and clicking the App Download link. The APK file installs directly to your phone. iOS users can search for 22Bet in the App Store and install it from there. Does 22Bet have cash out? Yes. Cash out is available on a wide range of pre-match and in-play markets. You can find it under My Bets in your account. Both full and partial cash out options are available on eligible events. How do I register on 22Bet? Go to the 22Bet Nigeria website, click Register, and enter your details including your name, phone number, email, and preferred currency. Verify your account and you can begin depositing and placing bets immediately. How do I log in to 22Bet? Visit the 22Bet website or open the app and click Login. Enter your registered email address or phone number along with your password. The app also supports biometric login on compatible devices. Does 22Bet offer predictions? 22Bet provides betting statistics and data tools to help inform your selections. For independent football predictions and tips on Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and more, use betCompare. Conclusion Ready to compare 22Bet odds against every other major bookmaker in Nigeria? betCompare shows you real-time prices across all platforms side by side, for free. 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

A new fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni forces an unprecedented crisis cabinet in the dressing room Tension in the Real Madrid dressing room has not only failed to ease after yesterday's fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni, but the atmosphere has worsened even further in the last few hours. According to what MARCA has learned, there has been a new incident inside the dressing room described as "very serious", which has forced an emergency meeting and led the club to consider taking action. The new episode, also starring Valverde and Tchouameni, has been described internally as “very serious” by several members of the dressing room's inner circle. A heated fight from the very first moment that even forced several team members to intervene and ended with the Uruguayan having to go to the hospital. Far from being an isolated incident, the confrontation confirms the evident deterioration of internal coexistence at a particularly sensitive moment for the team. Sources say that the new conflict has been "much worse" than the one that took place yesterday in Valdebebas. The magnitude of what happened has caused an emergency meeting inside the dressing room just minutes after the altercation. Not a single player left the training ground in an unprecedented crisis meeting. The aim is to put an end to all these problems and try to halt an escalation of tension that is causing serious concern at the highest levels of the club. As of today, the atmosphere at Madrid is one of maximum tension, with nerves, internal division, and a growing sense that the situation is far from being resolved.

Introduction Can you make money sports betting in Nigeria? The short answer is yes, some people do. The longer answer is that it requires discipline, realistic expectations, and a structured approach. This guide is for Nigerian bettors who want to learn sports betting properly: how to bet, how to read odds, how to manage your money, and what separates bettors who profit over time from those who consistently lose. Whether you are completely new or looking to improve, this is where to start. Table of Contents How betting works and how betting sites make money How to learn sports betting as a beginner How to bet and win more consistently Bankroll management: the foundation of making money through betting The best way to make money on sports betting: value and odds comparison How to make money betting on football in Nigeria How to stop betting from becoming a problem How Betting Works and How Betting Sites Make Money Before you can make money betting online, you need to understand how the system works. Every betting site builds a margin into its odds, known as the overround or vig. This means the odds on any market are set slightly below the true probability of each outcome, ensuring the bookmaker profits over time regardless of results. For example, if a coin flip should pay out at 2.00 (evens), a bookmaker might price both outcomes at 1.90. Over thousands of bets, that 5% margin accumulates into profit for the platform. Understanding this is the first step to betting smarter: the bookmaker is not your opponent on any individual bet, but the margin works against you if you bet without strategy. Your goal as a bettor is to find markets where the odds offered are higher than the true probability of the outcome, a concept known as value. How to Learn Sports Betting as a Beginner The best way to learn sports betting is to start with markets you already understand. If you follow the Premier League every weekend, start there. If you know Nigerian football well, NPFL markets may offer opportunities that casual bettors overlook. How to play bet as a beginner: focus on single bets first. Single bets, where you back one outcome in one match, are the clearest way to understand odds and returns without the complexity of accumulators. Learn what the odds mean in decimal format, which is the standard in Nigeria. An odds of 2.50 means a N1,000 stake returns N2,500 (N1,500 profit). Once you are comfortable reading odds and tracking results, you can begin exploring more complex markets. Use betCompare's free tips section to see how expert selections are made: https://betcompare.ng/prediction-tips/football How to Bet and Win More Consistently Winning consistently at sports betting comes down to making better decisions than the market prices imply. Here are the core principles: Specialise rather than spread thin. Bettors who focus on one or two leagues consistently outperform those who bet on everything. Deep knowledge of a competition gives you an edge. Track every bet. Keep a simple record of each selection, the odds, the stake, and the result. This shows you which markets you perform well in and which you consistently lose on. Avoid chasing losses. The most common mistake Nigerian bettors make is increasing stakes after a losing run to try to recover quickly. This accelerates losses. Stick to your plan regardless of recent results. How to book a bet properly: always confirm your selections, odds, and stake before confirming. A rushed bet slip with an error on a market or stake is money thrown away. Bankroll Management: The Foundation of Making Money Through Betting Bankroll management is what separates recreational bettors from those who make money betting on football over time. Your bankroll is the total amount you have set aside for betting, separate from money you need for living expenses. A standard approach is to stake between 1% and 5% of your total bankroll per bet. On a N10,000 bankroll, that means staking N100 to N500 per selection. This approach keeps you in the game during losing runs, which every bettor experiences, and protects you from a single bad weekend wiping out your funds. How to make money in betting without losing everything comes down to this discipline. No system guarantees profit on every bet. The goal is to profit over a large enough sample of bets, and that requires consistent staking and patience. The Best Way to Make Money on Sports Betting: Value and Odds Comparison The single most effective tool for making money through betting is comparing odds before every bet. Different bookmakers price the same market differently. Over a season, a bettor who consistently takes the best available odds on each selection will significantly outperform one who always bets with the same platform. For example, if Bet9ja prices a Super Eagles win at 1.85 and SportyBet prices the same market at 2.05, the difference is not trivial. At N1,000 stake, that is N200 extra return per bet. Across hundreds of bets a year, this adds up to a meaningful difference in returns. betCompare shows you real-time odds from all major Nigerian bookmakers side by side, completely free: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds. Checking betCompare before every bet is the simplest and most reliable way to improve your returns without changing anything else about how you bet. How to Make Money Betting on Football in Nigeria Football is the most betted sport in Nigeria and offers the widest range of markets. Here is how to approach it more profitably. Focus on leagues you follow closely. The NPFL, Premier League, La Liga, and Champions League are all well-covered by Nigerian bookmakers. Deep knowledge of form, injuries, and head-to-head records gives you an edge on markets that casual bettors price poorly. Explore markets beyond the match result. Over/under goals, both teams to score, and Asian handicap markets are often priced with less bookmaker attention than the headline 1X2 market, which can create value opportunities. How to bet online and make money from football also means being selective. High-volume bettors who place ten or more bets per day are giving the bookmaker's margin more chances to work against them. Quality over quantity is consistently the better approach. How to Stop Betting from Becoming a Problem Making money through betting requires treating it as a disciplined activity, not an emotional one. But it is important to recognise when betting is causing harm rather than entertainment. Signs that betting may be becoming a problem include chasing losses consistently, betting with money set aside for other things, hiding betting activity from family, or feeling anxious or distressed about results. If any of these apply, the answer is not a new strategy: it is to take a break. Most major Nigerian betting platforms including Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betway, and BetKing offer self-exclusion options that allow you to temporarily restrict your own account. If you need support, help is available through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) at www.nlrc.gov.ng. Knowing how to stop betting when needed is as important a skill as knowing how to bet. Common Mistakes to Avoid Betting on too many matches at once. Accumulating many selections on a single slip dramatically reduces your chance of winning, even when individual selections look strong. Ignoring odds comparison. Always check betCompare before placing any bet. Consistently taking the best available odds is the easiest free improvement available to any Nigerian bettor. Staking inconsistently. Raising stakes on a "sure" bet and lowering them after a loss is how bankrolls are destroyed quickly. Betting on sports or leagues you do not follow. Unfamiliar markets are where the bookmaker's edge is highest. Treating a short winning run as proof of a system. Variance is part of sports betting. A few wins in a row do not validate a strategy; results over hundreds of bets do. Quick Summary Table Principle What to Do Learn first Start with single bets on leagues you know Manage your bankroll Stake 1-5% of your total budget per bet Find value Compare odds at betcompare.ng before every bet Stay selective Fewer, better-researched bets outperform high volume Keep records Track every bet to identify what works Know your limits Use self-exclusion tools if betting causes stress betCompare Insight For beginners: Is sports betting a good way to make money? It can supplement income for disciplined bettors who approach it seriously, but it should never replace a primary income or be funded with money you cannot afford to lose. Start small, learn from every result, and focus on improving your process before worrying about profits. For experienced bettors: The best way to make money on sports betting long-term is through consistent odds comparison, selective staking, and specialisation. Use betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) before every bet to confirm you are getting the best available price. Over a full season, this single habit makes a measurable difference to your overall returns. Frequently Asked Questions Can you make money sports betting in Nigeria? Yes, some bettors do profit over time, but it requires discipline, a structured approach, and realistic expectations. Most casual bettors lose more than they win due to the bookmaker's built-in margin. Consistent profit requires knowledge, bankroll management, and odds comparison. What is the best way to make money on sports betting? The most reliable approach is to specialise in leagues you know well, stake consistently, and always compare odds across bookmakers before placing a bet. Use betCompare to find the best available price on every selection: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds How do betting sites make money? Betting sites build a margin into their odds, meaning the prices offered are slightly below the true probability of each outcome. Over a large volume of bets, this margin generates profit for the platform regardless of individual results. How to make money betting on football in Nigeria? Focus on leagues you follow closely, explore markets beyond the match result, keep your bet volume selective, and always compare odds before betting. How to make money in betting without losing everything? Bankroll management is the key. Set aside a fixed betting budget, stake a consistent small percentage per bet (1-5%), and never bet with money needed for other expenses. Never chase losses. Is it possible to win bet everyday? Winning every day is not a realistic or achievable goal. Even the most disciplined bettors have losing days and losing weeks. The goal is to profit over time across a large sample of bets, not to win every session. Conclusion The simplest way to improve your betting returns today costs nothing. Compare odds across all major Nigerian bookmakers before every bet and make sure you are always getting the best available price. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction SportyBet is Nigeria's most popular online betting platform, and a top choice for mobile-first bettors across the country. The platform is operated by Sportech PLC and has grown rapidly since launching in Nigeria, building a strong reputation for its clean interface and fast performance on mobile data. SportyBet Nigeria is licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC). This review covers how to open a SportyBet account, how to log in, how the app works on Android and iPhone, withdrawals, booking codes, casino, Virtuals, and key betting markets. Our verdict: the best mobile betting experience currently available in Nigeria, with competitive odds and a smooth all-round product. Quick Stats Our Rating 4.6/5 Minimum Deposit N100 Payout Speed Within 24 hours (standard) Top Markets Premier League, NPFL, Champions League, La Liga App Rating 4.5/5 Key Features SportyBet Mobile, App, and Website The SportyBet website at www.sportybet.com is fast, cleanly designed, and works well on both desktop and mobile browsers. Most Nigerian bettors access it as mobile SportyBet through their smartphones, and the mobile version of the site is one of the smoothest in the market. For a dedicated app experience, the SportyBet app is available for both Android and iPhone. Android users can download the SportyBet app directly from the SportyBet website as an APK file. For iPhone users, the SportyBet app download for iOS is available through the App Store. Both versions deliver the same experience: quick loading times, easy navigation, and full access to live betting, account management, and withdrawals. Some users search for old SportyBet interfaces, but the current version is a significant improvement on earlier designs and there is no need to seek out older versions. SportyBet Registration and Login Opening a SportyBet account takes under two minutes. Go to www.sportybet.com, click Register, and enter your phone number, name, and a password. An OTP will be sent to your phone to verify your number. Once confirmed, your SportyBet account is ready. To access your account, use the SportyBet login page on the website or app. You can log in via sportybet.ng login or directly through www.sportybet.com login using your registered phone number and password. If you cannot access your account, use the password reset option on the SportyBet log in page. My SportyBet account settings allow you to update your details, manage your deposit and withdrawal preferences, and track your betting history. How to Bet on SportyBet and Booking Codes Betting on SportyBet is straightforward. Browse the sports menu, select your matches and markets, and add them to your bet slip. You can place the bet directly online or generate a SportyBet booking code to redeem at a physical agent location. To use a booking code for SportyBet, go to the booking code section on the homepage, enter the code, and the pre-built bet slip will load automatically. This is a popular feature for bettors who want to share tips with friends via WhatsApp or Telegram, as the booking code loads the exact same selections for anyone who enters it. How to Watch Live Matches on SportyBet SportyBet offers live match tracking with real-time statistics and match visualisations through its live betting section. To watch a live match on SportyBet, navigate to the Live section of the site or app. While full video streaming is not available on all events, live score updates and in-play data are provided for most major fixtures, allowing you to follow the action and place bets as events unfold. SportyBet Withdrawal To withdraw from SportyBet, log in to your account and go to the Withdrawal section. Enter your bank details and the amount you want to withdraw. Withdrawals are processed via bank transfer and are typically completed within 24 hours. Your account must be verified before a withdrawal can be processed, and your bank account name must match the name registered on your SportyBet account. If you experience any issues, SportyBet customer support is available via live chat on the website. Pros and Cons Pros: Best mobile app experience of any betting platform in Nigeria Clean, fast interface that works well on low data connections Competitive odds on Premier League, NPFL, and Champions League Booking code feature makes sharing and redeeming bets easy Casino and Virtuals available alongside sports betting Cons: Sports range outside football is narrower than 1xBet or 22Bet Customer support response times can be inconsistent No live video streaming for most events How It Compares SportyBet's main advantage over Bet9ja is the mobile experience. The SportyBet app is faster, cleaner, and more modern. Against international platforms like 1xBet and 22Bet, SportyBet is more accessible but offers a smaller range of markets and sports. For NPFL coverage, Bet9ja still leads. For the best odds on any given fixture across all platforms, check betCompare before placing your bet: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds Who Should Use SportyBet SportyBet Nigeria is the right platform if mobile betting is your primary activity and you want the fastest, cleanest experience available. It suits both casual bettors and serious punters who value simplicity and speed. It is ideal for anyone who places bets regularly on the go and does not want to deal with a cluttered interface. If your focus is on a very wide range of sports beyond football, 1xBet or 22Bet may be worth holding as a second account. betCompare Insight For beginners: SportyBet is one of the easiest platforms to start with in Nigeria. The interface is intuitive, registration is quick, and the booking code feature means you can learn how bet slips work without any pressure. Once you have placed a few bets, get into the habit of checking betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) before each selection to make sure you are getting the best available price. For experienced bettors: SportyBet earns its place in any multi-account setup as the go-to platform for mobile betting speed and convenience. The odds on Premier League and Champions League fixtures are competitive, though 22Bet and 1xBet will sometimes edge ahead on specific markets. Run your selections through betCompare first, and use SportyBet when it is offering the best or equal price. The booking code feature also makes it easy to log and share your bet history across multiple devices. Frequently Asked Questions Who owns SportyBet? SportyBet is operated by Sportech PLC, a global betting and gaming technology company. It is licensed in Nigeria by the NLRC and LSLGA, and also operates across several other African markets. How do I open a SportyBet account? Go to www.sportybet.com, click Register, and enter your phone number, name, and password. Verify your number with the OTP sent via SMS and your account is immediately active. How do I log in to SportyBet Nigeria? Visit www.sportybet.com or open the SportyBet app and click Login. Enter your registered phone number and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the reset option on the SportyBet log in page. What does 2up mean on SportyBet? 2up is a feature where your bet is settled as a winner if your selected team goes two goals ahead at any point during the match, regardless of the final result. For example, if you back a team and they go 2-0 up, your bet is paid out immediately even if the score later changes. What does over 0.5 mean on SportyBet? Over 0.5 goals means that at least one goal must be scored in the match for your bet to win. It is the lowest over/under goals market available and is often used by bettors looking for a low-risk selection on matches where scoring is considered very likely. Does SportyBet have a casino? Yes. SportyBet casino is accessible from the main navigation menu and offers a range of slot games, crash games including Aviator, and other casino titles from leading providers. Does SportyBet have a Virtuals section? Yes. SportyBet virtual allows you to bet on simulated football, horse racing, and other virtual sports around the clock. It is useful for bettors who want action on days with few live fixtures. What is the SportyBet jackpot and how do I get predictions? SportyBet runs regular jackpot competitions where you predict the results of a set number of matches for a chance to win a large prize pool. For free football predictions and tips to inform your SportyBet selections, use betCompare. Conclusion SportyBet is one of Nigeria's best platforms, but the best odds are not always on one site. Use betCompare to check SportyBet prices against every other major Nigerian bookmaker before you place your next bet. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction BetKing is one of Nigeria's fastest-growing sports betting platforms and has carved out a strong position as the most beginner-friendly bookmaker in the market. Operated by BetKing Nigeria Limited, the platform is licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and has built significant brand recognition through sports sponsorships, including a long-running partnership with the Nigerian Professional Football League. BetKing covers all the key markets Nigerian bettors care about, runs a network of physical shops across the country, and offers a range of mobile access options. This review covers the BetKing app, mobile site, lite version, shop and booking system, login, and everything else you need to know before signing up. Our verdict: a strong choice for beginners and casual bettors who want a clean, straightforward platform with reliable local coverage. Quick Stats Our Rating 4.1/5 Minimum Deposit N100 Payout Speed Within 24 hours (standard) Top Markets Premier League, NPFL, Champions League, La Liga App Rating 4.0/5 Key Features BetKing Mobile, Website, and Lite Version BetKing runs several versions of its platform to suit different devices and data conditions. The main site at www.betking.com is clean, well-organised, and easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile browsers. The BetKing mobile site at m.betking.com is the most popular access point for Nigerian bettors and loads reliably on standard data connections. For bettors on limited data or lower-end devices, BetKing offers a lite version accessible at mlite.betking.com, also referred to as BetKing mobile lite or BetKing lite mobile. This stripped-back interface is fast, lightweight, and carries all the core betting functions without the heavier elements of the main site. Some users still search for the BetKing old mobile or old mobile lite interfaces; the current lite version serves the same purpose and is actively maintained. The BetKing App The BetKing app is available for Android and can be downloaded directly from the BetKing website as an APK file. It mirrors the mobile site experience with quick loading times, full access to sports markets, live betting, and account management. The BetKing com mobile experience is consistently rated well by Nigerian users, particularly for its clear layout and minimal learning curve. Whether you access BetKing through the app, mobile site, or lite version, the interface remains consistent and easy to use. BetKing Login and Registration To access your account, go to www.betking.com or open the app and use the BetKing login page. Enter your registered phone number and password to log in. The BetKing Nigeria login process is the same whether you are using the main site or the mobile version. For first-time users, registration takes under two minutes: visit betking.com, click Register, enter your phone number, name, and password, and verify your number via the OTP sent to your phone. If you have previously used an older version of the platform, the BetKing old mobile login credentials carry over to the current site and app without needing a new account. BetKing Shop, Booking, and Retail Network BetKing operates a network of physical betting shops across Nigeria, making it accessible to bettors who prefer to place bets in person or with cash. The BetKing shop website at www.betking.com allows you to generate a booking code online and redeem it at any shop location. BetKing shop booking works the same way as similar features on Bet9ja and SportyBet: select your matches and markets online, generate a code, and take it to any BetKing shop mobile agent or retail outlet to place the bet with cash. This makes BetKing a practical option for bettors who are not comfortable depositing funds online but still want to use the platform's digital odds tools. Sports Coverage and Odds BetKing covers all the major football leagues available to Nigerian bettors, including the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Champions League, and the NPFL. Markets per match are solid for a platform of this size, covering match result, over/under, both teams to score, correct score, and Asian handicap on most major fixtures. Odds are competitive on mainstream markets but do not always match the prices available on 1xBet or 22Bet for international leagues. For value-hunting on European football, it is worth checking betCompare before placing: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds Pros and Cons Pros: Cleanest, most beginner-friendly interface of any major Nigerian bookmaker Multiple access options: full site, mobile site, lite version, and app Physical shop network with booking code support Good NPFL and local football coverage Reliable withdrawals and payment processing Cons: Odds not always the most competitive, particularly on high-profile European matches Market depth narrower than 1xBet and 22Bet No live video streaming App currently Android-only via APK; no iOS app How It Compares BetKing sits between Bet9ja and newer platforms like BetWinner in terms of overall offering. It is more polished and modern than Bet9ja on mobile but does not match Bet9ja's NPFL depth or physical shop footprint. Against international platforms like 1xBet and 22Bet, BetKing is simpler and more accessible but offers fewer markets and slightly lower odds on international fixtures. It is well suited as a primary account for bettors who are new to the market or want simplicity, and as a shop-based option for retail bettors. Who Should Use BetKing BetKing is the right platform if you are new to sports betting in Nigeria and want a platform that does not overwhelm you from day one. It is also a strong choice for bettors who regularly use physical shops and want a booking system that works smoothly between online and retail. If your focus is on getting the best possible odds across a wide range of international markets, you will get more from pairing BetKing with a second account on 1xBet or 22Bet. betCompare Insight For beginners: BetKing is one of the best starting points for first-time bettors in Nigeria. The interface is clear, the mobile and lite versions make it accessible regardless of your device or data plan, and the shop booking feature means you can participate without depositing online if you are not ready to. Once you are comfortable, start using betCompare before each bet to confirm you are getting the best available price. For experienced bettors: BetKing earns a place in a multi-account setup primarily for its shop access and reliable local football coverage. For international markets, 1xBet and 22Bet will generally offer sharper prices. Use betCompare to identify which platform to use for each individual selection, and keep BetKing as your retail option and a backup for NPFL markets. Frequently Asked Questions How do I log in to BetKing Nigeria? Go to www.betking.com or open the BetKing app and click Login. Enter your registered phone number and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the reset option on the BetKing login page. Your login details work across the main site, mobile site, and lite version. What is the BetKing lite or mobile lite version? BetKing lite, accessible at mlite.betking.com, is a lightweight version of the platform designed for bettors on slow data connections or lower-end devices. It carries all the core features of the main site in a faster, simpler interface. It is the recommended option if the main mobile site loads slowly on your device. Does BetKing have a physical shop? Yes. BetKing operates a network of retail shops across Nigeria. You can also use the online booking feature to generate a code and redeem it at any BetKing shop location, allowing you to place online-built bets with cash in-store. How does BetKing shop booking work? Select your matches and markets on the BetKing website or mobile site. Instead of depositing and placing the bet online, generate a booking code from your bet slip. Take that code to any BetKing shop and the cashier will load your exact selections for you to place with cash. Is BetKing legit and licensed in Nigeria? Yes. BetKing is licensed by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and is a registered Nigerian operator. It has been active in the market for several years and has a strong reputation for reliable withdrawals and fair betting practices. How do I download the BetKing app? Visit www.betking.com on your Android device and look for the app download link. The BetKing APK installs directly to your phone. There is currently no iOS app; iPhone users should access BetKing through the mobile browser site or the lite version. Conclusion BetKing is one of Nigeria's most accessible platforms, but the best odds on any given match may be elsewhere. Use betCompare to check BetKing prices against every other major Nigerian bookmaker before placing your next bet. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Bet9ja is one of Nigeria's biggest and most recognisable sports betting platforms. It was founded in 2013 by KC Gaming Networks Limited and is owned by Kunle Soname, a Nigerian entrepreneur. Over the past decade, Bet9ja has grown from a single-brand launch to a network of over 20,000 retail shops across the country, alongside one of Nigeria's most visited betting websites. It is licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA). This review covers everything Nigerian bettors need to know: how to open a Bet9ja account, how the mobile site and shop work, how to book bets, how to withdraw, and how to use your free bet. Our verdict: the best overall platform for local Nigerian football, and still the market leader for a reason. Quick Stats Our Rating 4.8/5 Minimum Deposit N100 Payout Speed Within 24 hours (standard) Top Markets NPFL, Premier League, Champions League, La Liga App Rating 4.2/5 Key Features Bet9ja Mobile and Web The Bet9ja mobile site, accessible at mobile.bet9ja.com, is the most widely used version of the platform in Nigeria. It is lightweight, loads quickly on slower connections, and carries the full range of markets available on the desktop Bet9ja web version. For users who prefer a simpler layout, the Bet9ja old mobile site remains accessible and is popular with bettors who have used Bet9ja for several years and prefer the stripped-back interface. Both versions support the full suite of features including live betting, Virtuals, and account management. There is also a dedicated Bet9ja app available for Android. Bet9ja Shop and Retail Network Bet9ja operates one of the largest retail betting networks in Africa. The Bet9ja shop network spans thousands of locations across Nigeria, making it accessible even to bettors without reliable mobile data. You can place bets in-store using a booking code generated online, which brings us to one of the platform's most used features. How to Book Bet9ja Booking a bet on Bet9ja means generating a booking code online and redeeming it at any Bet9ja shop. To book a bet, select your matches and markets on the Bet9ja website or mobile site, then click "Book a Bet" instead of placing it directly. This generates a code you can take to any Bet9ja shop to place the same bet with cash. It is a popular feature for bettors who prefer paying in-store rather than using online deposits. How to Open a Bet9ja Account and Log In To open a Bet9ja account, visit bet9ja.com, click Register, and fill in your phone number, name, and preferred password. Verify your number with the OTP sent via SMS and your account is active. The Bet9ja login process is quick: enter your username or phone number and password on the website or app. If you forget your password, the reset option is available on the login page. New accounts are eligible for a welcome offer, which is outlined in the Promotions section of the site. How to Withdraw from Bet9ja Withdrawals on Bet9ja are processed via bank transfer to a verified Nigerian bank account. To withdraw, log in to your account, go to the Withdrawal section, enter the amount and your bank details, and confirm the request. Withdrawals are typically processed within 24 hours, though peak periods can extend this. Your account must be verified before a withdrawal can be completed. Always ensure your registered name matches your bank account name to avoid delays. Pros and Cons Pros: Unmatched NPFL and local Nigerian football coverage Largest retail shop network in Nigeria Bet booking feature is unique and very convenient Strong Virtuals section running 24 hours a day Well-established platform with over a decade of operation Cons: App interface is dated compared to SportyBet and BetKing Withdrawals can be slow during peak periods Bet9ja shops in Enugu State were temporarily shut in February 2026 following a regulatory dispute with the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission over GGR remittances. Bet9ja contests the closure and is pursuing it through the courts. Online operations and shops in all other states are unaffected. How It Compares Bet9ja leads the Nigerian market on local football coverage and retail access, and no competitor comes close on NPFL depth. On international odds and market range, platforms like 1xBet and 22Bet can offer better value. For the sharpest odds on any given match, use betCompare to check all platforms in real time before placing your bet: https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds Who Should Use Bet9ja Bet9ja is the right platform if local Nigerian football is a core part of your betting activity, or if you prefer the option of placing bets in a physical shop. It is also ideal for bettors who want a platform with a long and established track record in Nigeria. If you bet primarily on European leagues and want the most competitive international odds, you will get more value pairing Bet9ja with a second account on 22Bet or 1xBet. betCompare Insight For beginners: Bet9ja is a strong starting point for anyone new to sports betting in Nigeria. The platform is familiar, widely trusted, and covers all the football you are likely to care about. Use the booking feature if you are not comfortable depositing online yet. It lets you build your bet slip on your phone and pay with cash in-store. Before settling on any odds, check betCompare (https://betcompare.ng/football-betting-odds) to confirm Bet9ja is offering the best available price for your selection. For experienced bettors: Bet9ja earns its place in any multi-account setup for NPFL and Super Eagles markets, where it is unmatched. For Premier League or Champions League bets, run the fixture through betCompare first. On high-profile European matches, 1xBet or 22Bet will sometimes offer a meaningfully better price. Using Bet9ja for local markets and a second account for international value is the smartest approach. Frequently Asked Questions Who is the owner of Bet9ja? Bet9ja is owned by Kunle Soname and operated by KC Gaming Networks Limited, a Nigerian company. It was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Lagos. It is one of the most prominent privately owned sports betting businesses in Africa. How do I open a Bet9ja account? Visit bet9ja.com, click Register, and enter your phone number, name, and a password. You will receive an OTP via SMS to verify your number. Once confirmed, your account is active and ready to use. How do I log in to Bet9ja? Go to bet9ja.com or open the Bet9ja app and click Login. Enter your registered phone number or username and your password. If you have forgotten your password, use the reset option on the login page. How do I book a bet on Bet9ja? Select your matches and markets on the Bet9ja website or mobile site. Instead of placing the bet online, click "Book a Bet." You will receive a booking code that you can take to any Bet9ja shop and use to place the same bet with cash. How do I withdraw from Bet9ja? Log in to your Bet9ja account, go to the Withdrawal section, enter the amount and your bank details, and confirm. Withdrawals are paid via bank transfer and are usually processed within 24 hours. Your account must be verified and your bank name must match your registered name. How do I use a free bet on Bet9ja? If you have a free bet credit on your account, it will appear in your balance as a separate bonus balance. When placing a bet, select the free bet option from your bet slip before confirming. Free bet winnings are credited as withdrawable cash after the event settles, subject to standard terms. What is the Bet9ja old mobile site? The Bet9ja old mobile site is a simplified version of the Bet9ja mobile site that some long-standing users prefer for its straightforward layout. It can be accessed via mobile.bet9ja.com. It supports the core betting functions including match selection, bet placement, and account management. Conclusion Bet9ja is one of Nigeria's leading platforms, but it is not always the best odds for every match. Use betCompare to check Bet9ja prices against every other major bookmaker before you place your next bet. Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

Introduction Finding the best betting site in Nigeria is not as simple as picking the most advertised one. The right platform depends on what matters to you: better odds, faster withdrawals, local payment options, or the widest range of markets. We ranked the top 10 best online betting sites for Nigerian bettors in 2026, scoring each on odds quality, market depth, app experience, payment options, and customer support. Top 3 Picks at a Glance Bet9ja: Nigeria's most trusted platform, best for local football and NPFL coverage SportyBet: Best for mobile bettors who want a clean, fast experience Betway: Best for live betting and consistently competitive odds Master Comparison Table Betting Site Our Rating Standout Feature Review Bet9ja 4.8/5 Best NPFL and local football coverage Full review SportyBet 4.6/5 Fastest mobile app in Nigeria Full review Betway 4.5/5 Best live betting experience Full review 1xBet 4.4/5 Widest market range available Full review 22Bet 4.3/5 Great odds on international football Full review BetWinner 4.2/5 Strong accumulator options Full review BetKing 4.1/5 Easy to use for beginners Full review BetPawa 4.0/5 Ultra-low minimum stake Full review Bangbet 3.9/5 Regular promotions and bonus offers Full review Nairabet 3.7/5 Nigeria's original betting site Full review Our Methodology Every site was scored on five criteria: odds quality (prices compared across the same markets), market depth (number of betting options per match), app and site experience (speed, usability, reliability), payment options (bank transfer, USSD, mobile money), and customer support (response time and availability). Only licensed, regulated operators made the cut. Individual Breakdowns 1. Bet9ja | 4.8/5 Founded in 2013, Bet9ja is Nigeria's dominant betting brand, licensed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA). Its NPFL coverage is unmatched, and it remains the go-to platform for Super Eagles fixtures and local competitions alongside the Premier League and Champions League. The Virtuals section runs 24 hours a day, which is popular on low-fixture days. What Could Be Better: The app feels dated, withdrawals can stretch to 24 hours at peak times, and Bet9ja's physical shops in Enugu State were temporarily shut in early 2026 following a regulatory dispute over GGR remittances. The company is contesting the closure through the courts; online operations nationwide are unaffected. Best For: Bettors who prioritise local football and want a platform with a proven track record. 2. SportyBet | 4.6/5 SportyBet is the top choice for mobile-first bettors. Its app is among the fastest and most intuitive in Nigeria, loading quickly even on slower connections. Odds are competitive across the Premier League, NPFL, and Champions League, and both deposits and withdrawals via bank transfer and USSD are smooth. What Could Be Better: Sports range outside football is narrower than 1xBet or 22Bet. Customer support can be slow to respond. Best For: Mobile-first bettors who want a fast, no-fuss experience. 3. Betway | 4.5/5 Betway's Nigerian product is particularly strong on live betting, with an in-play section covering dozens of real-time markets per match. Odds are consistently competitive on European football, the platform is licensed, and customer support is more responsive than most local competitors. What Could Be Better: NPFL coverage is thinner than Bet9ja. Best For: Bettors who prioritise live betting and European football odds. 4. 1xBet | 4.4/5 For sheer market range, 1xBet is hard to beat. It covers thousands of daily markets across football, tennis, basketball, esports, and dozens of other sports, with prices that are frequently among the best available. It is unmatched for Nigerian bettors who want to go beyond football. What Could Be Better: The interface is cluttered and overwhelming for beginners. Best For: Experienced bettors who want the widest possible market range. 5. 22Bet | 4.3/5 22Bet consistently offers competitive prices on international football leagues, making it a strong second-account option for bettors who use Bet9ja or SportyBet as their primary platform. It supports local Nigerian payment methods and processes withdrawals reliably. What Could Be Better: NPFL coverage is limited and live betting is less polished than Betway. Best For: Value hunters on European and international football markets. 6. BetWinner | 4.2/5 BetWinner entered Nigeria following Parimatch's exit in early 2025 and has established itself quickly. It is licensed by the NLRC and the Oyo State Gaming Board, offers wide market coverage, and is particularly popular with accumulator bettors building multi-leg bets across different leagues. What Could Be Better: Brand recognition is still building and the app could be better optimised for lower-end Android devices. Best For: Accumulator bettors who want competitive odds across multiple leagues. 7. BetKing | 4.1/5 BetKing is the most beginner-friendly platform on this list. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, registration is quick, and it covers all the markets Nigerian bettors care about most. Sports sponsorships have made it particularly popular with younger bettors. What Could Be Better: Odds are not always the most competitive and market range is narrower than 1xBet or 22Bet. Best For: First-time bettors who want a simple, approachable starting point. 8. BetPawa | 4.0/5 BetPawa is one of the most accessible platforms in Nigeria for low-stake bettors. It is fast, mobile-optimised, and football-focused, with deposits and withdrawals available via bank transfer, USSD, and mobile money including Airtel and MTN. What Could Be Better: Market range is narrow and sports coverage outside football is limited. Best For: Budget-conscious bettors who want to place small stakes on football. 9. Bangbet | 3.9/5 Bangbet is a growing platform licensed by the NLRC and LSLGA, offering a clean mobile experience on both Android and iOS. It attracts bettors with a regular promotional calendar including enhanced odds and reload offers. Football coverage spans all the major European leagues plus the NPFL. What Could Be Better: Less established than the top five and odds on flagship matches do not always match the market leaders. Best For: Promotion-seekers who enjoy regular bonus offers alongside standard betting. 10. Nairabet | 3.7/5 Nigeria's first online betting site, launched in 2009, Nairabet is 100% Nigerian-owned, regulated by the NLRC, and a member of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers. It retains a loyal base of long-standing users, covers all major football markets, and processes withdrawals via bank transfer. An Android app is available; there is currently no iOS app. What Could Be Better: The interface is outdated and the mobile experience lags behind every other platform on this list. Best For: Long-standing users who value familiarity and a trusted Nigerian-owned platform. How to Choose the Right Betting Site for You Choose Bet9ja if you want the best local football coverage or access to physical shops. Choose SportyBet if you bet primarily on mobile. Choose Betway if live betting is a priority. Choose 1xBet if you want the widest market range. Choose 22Bet or BetWinner if you want a reliable second account for better odds on international markets. Choose BetKing or BetPawa if you are new to betting and want an accessible entry point. Whatever you decide, always compare odds before placing a bet. betCompare Insight For beginners: The biggest mistake new bettors make is sticking to one platform. Different bookmakers consistently price the same match differently. Checking betCompare before each bet takes under a minute and improves your returns over time. For experienced bettors: Hold accounts on at least three platforms simultaneously. Use Bet9ja or SportyBet for local markets, Betway or 1xBet for live and international betting, and 22Bet or BetWinner for value-hunting on European fixtures. betCompare's real-time tool tells you which account to use for each bet. Frequently Asked Questions Which is the best betting site in Nigeria in 2026? Bet9ja is our overall top pick for NPFL coverage and reliability, but SportyBet is better for mobile bettors and Betway leads on live betting. The best site depends on your priorities. Which betting site has the best odds? No single site wins consistently across all markets. Use betCompare to check real-time prices before every bet. What is the best football betting site in Nigeria? Bet9ja for local Nigerian football. Betway and 1xBet for international markets. What is the best prediction site in Nigeria? betCompare offers free daily tips across the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and more. Are these betting sites safe? All sites on this list are licensed by Nigerian regulatory bodies including the NLRC and LSLGA. betCompare only features trusted, licensed operators. Conclusion Stop guessing which site has the best odds. betCompare shows you real-time prices from Nigeria's top bookmakers, completely free. Compare odds now: Responsible Gambling Notice 18+ only. Never wager more than you can afford to lose. If betting is affecting your finances or wellbeing, help is available through the NLRC at www.nlrc.gov.ng. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment and may change as platforms evolve. All betting involves risk. betCompare is a free odds comparison platform.

The Oklahoma City Thunder proved too strong for the Los Angeles Lakers to take a 1-0 lead in the NBA's Conference semi-finals The defending champions are the Western Conference's top seed and made a strong start to the best-of-seven series with a 108-90 win at home on Tuesday. The Thunder produced a balanced offensive performance while their defence restricted the Lakers to their lowest score in a play-off game since 2021. LeBron James claimed a game-high 27 points for the Lakers while Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell added 18 points apiece for the hosts. "You're playing the world champs, your margin for error in terms of mistakes is not that high," said Lakers head coach JJ Redick. [There were] just too many tonight. We've got to clean that up." LA guard Luka Doncic remained out with a hamstring injury and could also miss game two on Thursday. The Detroit Pistons drew first blood in their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, holding off a late rally to claim a 111-101 home win. Cade Cunningham scored 23 points for the Eastern Conference's top seed Detroit, with Tobias Harris adding 20. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 23 points while James Harden added 22 but had seven turnovers.

Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star, Wesley Sneijder has said Mikel Arteta deserves a statue at Arsenal, after guiding the Gunners to a first UEFA Champions League final appearance since 2006, following a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in Tuesday’s semifinal second leg Bukayo Saka was the hero for the Gunners on Tuesday as his tap-in from close range proved to be the difference. The Gunners skipper was quickest to react after Leandro Trossard’s powerful strike from inside the box was kept out by Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak. But Sneijder reserved special praise for Arteta, who masterminded a gritty win on the night to help the Gunners reach the Champions League final. “I looked at the players again, and Arteta already deserves a statue. He simply doesn’t have any top players, and with the current squad, he manages to push Atletico back, which is impressive,” Sneijder said via talkSPORT. Arsenal remain unbeaten in this season’s Champions League as they eye a first ever Champions League title. Up next for Arteta and his players is a trip to West Ham as they continue to fight for the Premier League title. The Gunners are five points clear of Manchester City WBO have a game in hand.

Brazil midfielder Casemiro has confirmed he will not renew his contract with Manchester United, signalling the end of his time at the club Speaking about his future during an interview with ESPN Brasil on Tuesday, Casemiro made it clear that he intends to leave at the end of the season. “I don’t think so. It’s clear that I’ll make my decision at the end of the season. There are no chances,” he said. The former Real Madrid star expressed gratitude to the club and its supporters, describing his time at Old Trafford as memorable. “They were four beautiful, wonderful years, and I’m eternally grateful, not just to the club, but to the fans,” he said. “If there’s one thing I’ll take with affection from these four years, it’s the affection from the fans toward me.” Casemiro said he hopes to leave on good terms and at a high point in his career. “I want to leave through the front door. The cycle at Manchester United has ended. I’m heading into a new cycle in my career,” he added. While he has yet to decide his next destination, the midfielder reiterated his appreciation for the club. “I’ll be an eternal Manchester United fan here in England. I can only thank everyone for all the affection,” he said.

It was another weekend of excitement across the world of sports, as Inter Milan won their 21st Scudetto, F1 returned, Madrid Open served us beauty, and Conference semifinals fixtures are set in the 2026 NBA playoffs Below are some of the major talking points across various sports over the weekened. Inter Milan are Serie A champions Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title with a convincing 2-0 win over Parma. Needing only a point to claim the Scudetto with three games to spare, Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan struck the decisive goals in the success at San Siro. Inter, who last won the title in 2024, moved 12 points clear of defending champions Napoli, which is enough to secure their third title in six years. Formula One resumes as Antonelli wins in Miami Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli held off McLaren's Lando Norris in a race-long battle to win the Miami Grand Prix and take a commanding championship lead. The 19-year-old Italian's third win in a row moves him 20 points - not far from a clear win - ahead of team-mate George Russell, who finished fourth on Sunday, behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri. He prevailed in a gripping race, initially staging a three-car fight also including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc before the race distilled down to a tussle between the Mercedes and Norris. Another final for Barcelona and Lyon in UWCL Barcelona Femeni and OL Lyonnes will battle each other for the fourth time in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after both teams booked their tickets for the final. The last met in the UWCL in 2024, where Barcelona won 2-0, after losing their previous two in 2019 and 2022. The final will be played in later this month on the 23rd of May. NBA Conference semifinals set The western conference and eastern conference semifinals fixtures are set, as Detroit Pistons will face Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks will battle Philadelphia 76ers in the East, while Oklahoma City Thunder will tackle LA Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves will take on San Antonio Spurs. Schalke 04 are back Seven-time champions, Schalke 04 will play in the German top flight next season after beating Fortuna Duesseldorf 1-0 on Saturday to secure promotion. Kenan Karaman’s 15th minute goal — his 15th in the league this season — put the seven-time German champions Schalke on track to return after three seasons in the Bundesliga 2. Metz go down in France FC Metz have been officially relegated from Ligue 1 to Ligue 2 after a 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco on May 2, 2026. The loss confirmed their drop with two matches remaining, leaving them bottom of the table and unable to escape the relegation zone. This marks their 12th time being relegated to the French second tier.

Paris St‑Germain have confirmed that full-back, Achraf Hakimi has been ruled out for the "next few weeks" after suffering an injury during his team's dramatic win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League Hakimi played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the reigning champions posted a 5-4 win against the Bundesliga side in the first leg of their semi-final tie in Paris on Tuesday. "Having suffered a right thigh injury during the match against Bayern, Hakimi will remain in treatment for the next few weeks," PSG said in a statement. The Morocco international will now miss the semi‑final second‑leg against the German side in Munich on 6 May. Hakimi was replaced at half-time in PSG's 3-0 win at Angers in Ligue 1 last weekend but returned to the starting line-up against Bayern. The right-back pulled up clutching his hamstring in the closing stages of the first leg but stayed on after receiving treatment as PSG had exhausted all their substitutions. The injury also raises questions over Hakimi's availability for the upcoming World Cup, which is set to begin in the United States, Canada and Mexico in six weeks. Hakimi has been ever‑present for Luis Enrique's PSG and scored the opener as the Parisians defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final to become European champions for the first time. He also started every game for Morocco during their historic run to the semi‑finals at the 2022 World Cup.

Real Madrid are reportedly assessing their managerial future as speculation grows over a possible return for former Manchester United and Chelsea gaffer, José Mourinho, who is said to be open to a second spell at the club As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Tuesday, Mourinho has indicated to people close to him that he would welcome the opportunity to return to Madrid, viewing it as a chance for a “second chapter” at the Santiago Bernabéu. “Real Madrid are now informed about José Mourinho’s desire to return. Mourinho has made it clear to people close to him that he would like to return and have a second chance at the club. Real Madrid will decide on the new manager soon,” Romano posted on X. The Portuguese coach previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, during which he won La Liga and the Copa del Rey while restoring the club’s competitiveness in European competition. Real Madrid are understood to be reviewing their long-term coaching plans, with a decision on the club’s next managerial direction expected soon. While no official announcement has been made, internal discussions are believed to be ongoing. Romano had reported that the Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, will be personally deciding on the Real Madrid manager, adding that he is going to take control of the process. Mourinho’s name has re-emerged due to his continued presence among Europe’s most experienced managers. The Spanish giants are expected to clarify their managerial situation in the near future as planning continues for the upcoming seasons. For now, Mourinho remains one of the names linked with the role as speculation around the Bernabéu continues.

England defender John Stones has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, bringing an end to a decade-long spell at the club The 31-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, joined City from Everton in 2016 for £47.5 million and went on to become a key figure during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Stones helped City secure multiple major honours, including six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, two FA Cups, and five League Cups. Stones said he had achieved everything he set out to accomplish at the club. “It has been my home for the past 10 years, and it will be my home for the rest of my life. “I lived all my dreams out and lifted all the things that I came here to achieve,” he said. Stones was one of the early signings under manager Pep Guardiola and credited him for playing a major role in his development. He evolved into a versatile defender under Guardiola, even stepping into midfield roles during key matches, including City’s 2023 Champions League triumph. Despite his success, Stones’ later years at City were affected by injuries, limiting his appearances in recent seasons. He featured sparingly in the current campaign but remained an experienced presence within the squad. Stones’ departure marks another significant change in the City squad as the club continues to evolve. He leaves as one of the most decorated defenders in the club’s history, having played a crucial role in their domestic and European dominance. With his exit confirmed, attention will now turn to his next destination as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.

FIFA is poised to change the rules around suspensions for accumulated yellow cards at this summer's World Cup World football's governing body is planning to add a second amnesty stage, wiping all yellow cards at the end of the group stage as well as after the quarter-finals. Under current rules a team would play five matches to reach the quarter-finals, and any two bookings in those games would lead to a suspension. The revamped World Cup, with 48 teams instead of 32, includes an extra round and it is felt the jeopardy for a ban is too high. Without a change to the regulations, Fifa fears that many more players would be walking a suspension tightrope by playing six fixtures through to the last eight - and potentially miss a semi-final. It is felt that two cut-offs are fairer - and less likely to result in suspensions for key games - than increasing the number of cards required for a ban to three. The topic is on the agenda for discussion when the Fifa Council meets in Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday. Two bookings will remain the suspension threshold, but the rule change will mean there are only two small pockets of games for players to pick up a ban. It would require cautions in two of the three group games, or in two of the last 32, last 16 and the quarter-finals, to miss a match.

Former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring on July 25 for a warm-up fight ahead of a long-overdue matchup with Tyson Fury Saudi Boxing Chief Turki Alalshikh on Monday said the Watford powerhouse will lock horns with unknown Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of an ‘Esports World Cup’ event, live on DAZN. It marks Joshua’s first fight since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December. Shortly after his win, AJ was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and left the former unified heavyweight champion with minor injuries. He has since returned to training and has now signed a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season, which includes a clash with Fury at the back end of the year. “To my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed,” Alalshikh tweeted. In order to set up the big one, Joshua will have to get through Prenga first. Joshua said: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back in to the ring, and today is the next step on that journey. “I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-flight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said, the landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is a doubt for the Clasico on May 10 after his club confirmed Monday he has sustained a thigh injury “He has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg,” said Los Blancos in a statement, after the France captain went off hurt during Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga last Friday. Madrid, second in the Spanish top flight by 11 points from leaders Barcelona, face Espanyol on Sunday before taking on the Catalan giants the following weekend.

Last weekend was full of excitement, especially in football and basketball, where some teams are already a step in the conference semifinal of the NBA playoff, while the Premier League drama still continues, and Victor Osimhen scored on his return from injury Arsenal back to the top of the table Long-standing leaders of the Premier League, Arsenal, are now back to the top of the table, three days after dropping to second place. The Gunners defeated Newcastle United by a lone goal, which sends them to the top, although Manchester City did not play a league game, and that means they have a game in hand. FA Cup final battle is set The battle for the oldest competition in the world is set, as Manchester City will battle Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup. Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens defeated Southampton 2-1 in the first semifinal, while the Blues won by a lone goal against Leeds United. The final is now set for the 16th of May 2026. Inter need at least one more week to secure the Scudetto Inter Milan needed Napoli and Milan to drop points to win the Italian Serie A over the weekend, but while both teams dropped points, the Nerazzurri also failed to win their match away to Torino. As it stands, the league leaders are 10 points ahead of Napoli with four matches to go, and a win in their next game will secure their second league title in three years. Osimhen scores on injury return to help Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce 3-0 Victor Osimhen lived up to expectations on Sunday, marking his return from injury in emphatic fashion as he inspired Galatasaray to a commanding 3-0 derby win over Fenerbahçe, strengthening their grip on the Turkish Super Lig title race. The Nigerian striker opened the scoring five minutes before half-time, reacting quickest to stab home with his knee and set the tone for a dominant display. Barış Alper Yılmaz later doubled the lead from the spot before Lucas Torreira sealed the emphatic victory. Osimhen now has 13 goals and four assists in 20 league appearances this season, with Galatasaray maintaining a seven-point lead over their closest rivals with three matches remaining. Simons joins the list of stars to miss the World Cup Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a major setback in their fight for Premier League survival after Xavi Simons was ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder was stretchered off during Spurs’ 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday after a collision with Hugo Bueno. Simons initially attempted to continue but quickly went down again, prompting immediate concern from teammates and medical staff. Early indications suggest the injury could involve anterior cruciate ligament damage, which would sideline him for several months. Keeper punches player after red card Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada is facing severe punishment for punching an opponent in a heated derby match with Huesca in Spain's second division - after he had already been sent off. The Argentine received a second yellow card for pushing over a Huesca player in stoppage time at the end of a fiery relegation battle. He then sprinted towards Huesca captain Jorge Pulido and punched him in the face. That led to a mass brawl, resulting in Huesca keeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza's Dani Tasende also being dismissed. Andrada later issued an apology, saying he "lost focus" and will accept any punishment that comes his way. Five teams have one leg in the conference semi-final In the West, Oklahoma City Thunder won game three against Phoenix Suns 121-109, and now lead the Series 3-0. A win at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, will send them to the conference semi-finals, but if the Suns win, they will have a chance to come back. Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, and LA Lakers also need one more win to enter the semifinals, as the led 3-1 against Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, and Houston Rockets. In the East, while all games are keenly contested, Boston Celtics blew out Philadelphia 76ers to lead the series 3-1.

With the World Cup fast approaching, several high-profile players are sidelined or racing against time to prove their fitness A growing injury crisis is casting a shadow over several national teams as they prepare for a major international tournament, with key players facing uncertain races against time to prove their fitness. The following players are in a race against time to be ready for the global showpiece in June. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain) Lamine Yamal caused Spain concern when he suffered a hamstring injury in scoring for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on Wednesday – although his club expect him to be fit for the World Cup. Marc Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany) Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper is fighting to recover from a long-term hamstring problem. The injury has severely limited his preparation, and his chances of being ready for the opening matches in June are fading. His absence would be a major setback for a squad built around experience at major tournaments. Rodrygo (Real Madrid and Brazil) Brazil face a significant blow with the Real Madrid forward ruled out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in March. The five-time world champions will be without one of their most explosive attacking options, with his injury ending any hopes of a tournament comeback. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur and Argentina) The Argentina defender is out for the remainder of the Premier League season with a knee injury. The 27-year-old was visibly upset as he limped off following a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky during Tottenham’s Premier League defeat at Sunderland in April. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich and Canada) Canada’s talisman is once again struggling with the recurring muscle issues that have plagued his recent seasons at Bayern Munich. His explosive pace is central to Canada’s threat, but his body seems to be pushing back at the worst possible moment. If he is not fully fit, Canada’s chances take a massive hit. Mikel Merino (Arsenal and Spain) The Arsenal midfielder has been a steady presence for Spain, but a fractured foot has kept him out since February. Spain’s medical staff are wary of a premature return to normalcy. Wataru Endo (Liverpool and Japan) Japan captain Endo is coping with a double setback involving his knee and ankle since sustaining the injury that left him in need of surgery during February’s match against Sunderland. He is set to miss the rest of Liverpool’s season and his absence for Japan would leave a big gap in terms of midfield leadership and experience. Arda Guler (Real Madrid and Turkey) A hamstring injury has brought Guler’s domestic season to an end. Although he might recover in time for the World Cup, concerns remain over his sharpness and readiness with limited time to regain match fitness. Estevao Willian (Chelsea and Brazil) The Chelsea teenage forward is recovering from a hamstring tear and will not feature again for the Blues this season. Brazil remain hopeful, but its lack of recent football makes selection uncertain. The final decision is likely to hinge on his progress in the coming weeks. Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool and France) France striker Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon in April and is not expected to return to action until 2027, ending his World Cup hopes entirely. Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last July and has been one of their standout performers in a difficult season for the club, with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions. Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur and Ghana) Kudus is awaiting further assessment on a quad injury that could require surgery. Ghana risks losing their key creative figure if recovery takes longer than expected. His availability remains uncertain as crucial decisions loom. The Ghana international has been out for more than three months after limping out of Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland on 4 January. Eder Militao (Real Madrid and Brazil) Militao has been ruled out for the rest of Real Madrid’s season after suffering a hamstring tear. The 28-year-old centre-back is targeting a return for the World Cup, but Brazil’s medical staff are cautious given his recent history of muscle injuries. Reece James (Chelsea and England) England defender James is once again dealing with hamstring issues while sidelined at Chelsea. Having missed the past two major tournaments, his hopes depend on avoiding further setbacks. The 26-year-old sustained the injury in a 1-0 Premier League defeat by Newcastle in March. Any delay in recovery would put his place in serious doubt.

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has been given a six-game ban by UEFA for homophobic conduct during their Champions League knockout play-off match with Real Madrid in February The match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon was halted for 10 minutes after Real's Vinicius Jr accused Prestianni of racially abusing him. Prestianni, 20, denied making a racist comment and said Vinicius misheard him. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said that Prestianni told him he had in fact directed a homophobic comment towards the Brazil forward. Argentina's Prestianni will be banned for two further games, having already served a provisional one-match ban, with the other three suspended for two years. European football's governing body UEFA has made a request to its world counterpart Fifa to extend the ban worldwide. Vinicius had put Real 1-0 up in the second half against Benfica, before being booked for an excessive celebration. Following an interaction with Prestianni, 25-year-old Brazilian Vinicius ran over to referee Francois Letexier while gesturing towards the opposition player. Letexier then made the crossed arms gesture, which was introduced by Fifa in May 2024, to signal racist abuse. Vinicius then walked off the pitch and was followed by his Real Madrid team-mates. After the match he wrote on his Instagram account: "Racists are, above all, cowards." Prestianni would have faced a minimum 10-match ban from European competition if he had been found guilty of racist abuse. Benfica defended their player following the incident, claiming there was a "defamation campaign" against him, adding they "fully support" and believe his version of events. However, coach Jose Mourinho said Prestianni's career under him would be "over" if the abuse was proven. Two weeks later, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said players who cover their mouths when speaking to opponents during confrontations should be sent off. Football's rule making body the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has already agreed to look at measures to stop players hiding what they might be saying to an opposition player.

Lamine Yamal injured himself as he scored the penalty that gave Barcelona a narrow victory over Celta Viga and extended their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points The 18-year-old converted from the spot in the 40th minute at the Nou Camp after he skipped into the box and was brought down by Yoel Lago. But straight after slotting past Celta keeper Ionut Radu, Lamine Yamal signalled to the bench and went to ground clutching his left hamstring. He limped off the pitch with the help of team doctors and headed straight down the tunnel as he was replaced by Roony Bardghji. The injury will also be a worry for Spain with fewer than 50 days before the start of the World Cup. "We have to wait. We have to see what it is. I think there's something, because he felt it and after the goal he would not leave the pitch without a reason. Hopefully, it's not so bad," Barcelona boss Hansi Flick said after the match. The victory moves reigning La Liga champions Barcelona - who have six games left -a step closer to retaining their title. Flick will hope Yamal's injury does not keep him out of next month's Clasico meeting with second-placed Real Madrid. The teenager, who has scored 16 goals and assisted 11 more in La Liga this term, was named the Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 as Spain lifted the trophy. "I hope [his injury] is for as few weeks as possible. He'll be tested and we'll see what it is. I wish him the best of luck, and he should stay calm - he's young and will surely recover well," Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri told Movistar Plus.

Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni has emerged as one of the international midfielders Manchester United are monitoring as they look to address their priority position this summer After focusing on their forward options and, eventually, the goalkeeping position last year, United want to target midfield reinforcements at the end of the current campaign. Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton are three players who have been mentioned regularly. They have the Premier League experience that has proved so successful this term through the arrivals of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. However, doubts have been cast over Wharton's suitability as his playing profile is similar to that of Kobbie Mainoo, who is close to agreeing terms over a lucrative contract extension. United are also looking overseas and, among a number of players, Tchouameni is one of those on their radar. The 26-year-old's contract is not due to expire until 2028 and Real are reportedly keen on extending that. However, in what promises to be a summer of change at the Bernabeu following a disappointing campaign that looks certain to see them end without a trophy, they could be open to a sizeable offer. United were interested in Tchouameni when he left Monaco in 2022, but the player opted to join Real, where he has become one of the most effective midfield players in the world. Chelsea's unexpected collapse has allowed Michael Carrick's side to move to the brink of Champions League qualification. Victory over Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday would leave United needing one positive result from their remaining four games to seal a return to Europe's elite club competition after a two-year absence. With two high earners departing in Casemiro and Jadon Sancho, there will be space on United's wage bill even if it is not yet clear if Barcelona will take up their option to sign Marcus Rashford for 30m euros (£26.1m) before the 15 June deadline.

US tennis veteran Venus Williams has disclosed that she may compete in the French Open for the first time since 2021 The 4-time Olympic gold medalist made this known after losing to Kaitlin Quevedo 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at the Madrid Open. Despite a 10th consecutive loss, she expressed enjoyment playing on clay and a desire to continue, though she will skip the Italian Open due to scheduling. “Yeah, I mean, to get my feet dirty, this was a great start,” Williams said after the match. “We would love to keep it going on the clay. All these things take adjustments. I haven’t really played on clay in years, but I enjoy it. It’s fun.” Her major accomplishments include 7 Grand Slam singles titles and 14 Grand Slam doubles titles (all with Serena Williams). She is a former World No. 1, reaching the top ranking on February 25, 2002.

Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge and on the back of losing five consecutive Premier League matches without scoring for the first time since 1912 Rosenior arrived at Stamford Bridge in January, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal, but has won just 11 of his 23 games across all competitions. After Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Brighton, Rosenior said the performance was "indefensible" and "unacceptable" as he faced angry chants from the travelling supporters. They subsequently slipped to seventh in the Premier League standings in a further blow to their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. "Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season," Chelsea said. "This has not been a decision the club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season." Calum McFarlane will take over as interim manager until the season of the season. McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant, was in charge for a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and a defeat at Fulham in January after previous boss Enzo Maresca was sacked. "As the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment," Chelsea added. Rosenior won five of his 13 games in the Premier League and led the Blues to four victories in the FA Cup - all against lower-league opposition - to reach the semi-finals. McFarlane's first game in charge comes on Sunday when Chelsea face Leeds at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed strong support for young midfielder Nico O’Reilly in the race for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award, praising the teenager’s breakthrough campaign Speaking after Man City’s win over Arsenal on Saturday, Guardiola highlighted O’Reilly’s consistency and impact across the season, saying the youngster had done enough to stand out among his peers. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Monday, Guardiola was quoted as saying, “Nico O’Reilly deserves to win PL Best Young Player of the Season! What a season he had!” “I don’t know who is the best player of the season, but the Young one?! It has to be Nico”. He provided the assist for Erling Haaland in the second half as Man City beat Arsenal 2-1 to pile up pressure on the leaders. The Manchester City boss also admitted he was unsure who would claim the overall Player of the Season honour, but was far more certain when it came to the youth category. O’Reilly’s rise has been one of the positives of the campaign for Manchester City, with the midfielder earning praise for his versatility, composure, and ability to step up in key moments despite his young age. Guardiola’s comments are expected to boost O’Reilly’s profile further as the season’s individual awards approach, with the teenager increasingly seen as one of the club’s most promising emerging talents.

San Antonio Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama has been named the NBA's defensive player of the year The 7ft 4in France international is the first unanimous winner in the award's 43-year history having secured all 100 of the first-place votes. At 22, he is the youngest player to win the award and the second to win it within their first three seasons, after Spurs legend David Robinson (1991-92). Wembanyama was the first overall draft pick in 2023 and has led the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season. The two-time All-Star also averaged career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5), and claimed a steal per game. "I'm super, super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ever unanimous [winner]," he told NBC. Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren finished second with 239 points (76 second-place votes), while Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons was third with 60 points (nine second-place votes). Wembanyama, who is also a Most Valuable Player contender, helped San Antonio post the second-best record in the regular season (62-20) and their defence was ranked third overall. German NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki told AFP: "I've never seen anything like it. His defence is so good that he changes the game just by being on the court and taking away some of the lay-ups and twos that other teams would usually take."

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz says the results of the next test on his injured wrist will be "crucial" in determining whether he plays at the French Open The world number two pulled out of the Barcelona Open last week after sustaining an injury to his right wrist in his first-round victory, and later withdrew from the Madrid Open, which starts on Tuesday. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who has won back-to-back French Open titles, has described the injury as "more serious than any of us expected". The French Open runs from 24 May to 6 June. "We've been trying to do everything we can do to make sure that this test goes well," Alcaraz told Spanish television channel TVE. "I'm trying to be very patient. But we are good and just waiting a little bit. We have a few tests in the next few days and then we will see how the injury is and what the next steps will be." Jannik Sinner reclaimed the world number one ranking this month after beating Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final. Alcaraz, who won clay-court titles in Monte Carle, Rome and Roland Garros and reached the final in Barcelona last season, could lose significant ground to Sinner in the rankings because of the injury. "I'd rather come back a little later but in great shape than come back early, rushing around, and unwell. God willing, I have a very long career ahead of me - many years - and pushing myself too hard at this Roland Garros could seriously harm me in future tournaments," Alcaraz said. "Things happen in the professional world. You have to accept them. I need to recover really well if I don't want it to affect me later on."

Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior has dismissed speculation linking Alejandro Garnacho with a summer exit, questioning the credibility of recent reports and stressing his focus on the player’s development According to Fabrizio Romano on X on Tuesday, responding to rumours about the Manchester United winger’s future, Rosenior said: “I’d like to know the source of the report. The Chelsea gaffer went on to highlight Garnacho’s potential and importance to his development at this stage of his career. “Garna is 21. Garna is someone who has special qualities when he is in a good place and he’s in good form,” Rosenior explained. “And my job is to help him reach those levels.” The comments come amid circulating reports suggesting uncertainty over Garnacho’s long-term future, though Rosenior made no indication that any exit is being considered or discussed internally. Instead, the emphasis of his message was firmly on coaching responsibility and performance consistency, with the manager underlining that his priority remains helping the young winger reach his best level rather than engaging in transfer speculation.

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season The Portugal midfielder, 31, has scored 76 goals and made 77 assists in 451 appearances for City since joining from Monaco in 2017. Last month's Carabao Cup victory was his 15th major honour with City, including the Treble in 2022-23. Silva also helped City win the Premier League title with 100 points in 2017-18, all four domestic trophies in 2018-19 and four consecutive league titles between 2021 and 2024. "What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart," he said on Instagram. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the four in a row and much more. It wasn't that bad." Silva is the only player from City's modern era in the top 10 of the club's all-time appearances list and is currently joint-eighth with Mike Summerbee. He was named club captain following the departure of Kevin de Bruyne at the end of last season and has won six Premier League titles in his first eight seasons with City. The Blues are currently second in the league and play Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals on 25 April. "My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys (the fans) could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I hope you felt that every single game," Silva added. "I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team and I'm pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future. Let's enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us."

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Chelsea after receiving an additional one-match ban following his red card at Bournemouth last month The England defender, 33, was sent off and conceded a penalty in the 78th minute of the 2-2 draw at Vitality Stadium for pulling down Evanilson in the box. He was later charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for something he said to fourth official Matt Donohue as he made his way off the pitch. In addition to a one-match suspension Maguire has also been fined £30,000 by the FA who said in a statement he "acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the fourth official following his dismissal". In the full written reasons Donohue said that "Maguire, as he was leaving the field of play, approached me and shouted 'You're a joke. You're all a ******* joke'". Maguire denied in his written submission that he directed the words towards Donohue or any of the other match officials present. "As I left the field of play following my dismissal I said something along the lines of 'it is a ******** joke'. I am certain that I did not call the fourth official or any match official, a joke or use any other form of insult." Maguire said. Maguire, however, acknowledged in his evidence that acting as he did was inappropriate and he apologised for saying what he did. The regulatory commission considered an additional two-match suspension but "taking mitigating factors into account" - including Maguire accepting the charge - felt one match was appropriate. United will also be without centre-back Lisandro Martinez at Stamford Bridge after he was dismissed for violent conduct for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair in Monday's 2-1 defeat by Leeds, which Maguire missed through suspension. Michael Carrick said it was "one of the worst" decisions he has seen and the United boss suggested the club will appeal against the Argentine's red card. Matthijs de Ligt is also set to miss out against Chelsea as he deals with a long-term back problem. It leaves Carrick with 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro as his only recognised central defenders. United are third in the Premier League, level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa and three points above Liverpool in fifth with six games left. A win for Chelsea on Saturday would close the gap between themselves and United to four points and throw the Red Devils' hopes of Champions League qualification into doubt.

The Ghana Football Association has appointed former Real Madrid manager, coach Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the Ghana national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States In a statement on Monday, the GFA said the appointment was made by its Executive Council in collaboration with key stakeholders, with Queiroz set to take charge of the team’s campaign immediately as preparations begin for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026. “The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association working with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars,” the GFA stated. Queiroz brings extensive World Cup experience to the role, having previously managed at four editions of the tournament. He guided South Africa to qualification for the 2002 World Cup, led Portugal to the knockout stages in 2010, and coached Iran at both the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Across those appearances, he has overseen 13 World Cup matches, recording three wins, four draws and six defeats. “The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal, and Iran coach will lead Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States,” the statement added. The GFA also highlighted Queiroz’s long international coaching résumé across several continents, including spells in Egypt, Oman, Japan and Qatar, noting that his experience is expected to strengthen Ghana’s preparations for the global showpiece. The 73-year-old’s appointment comes after Ghana parted ways with Otto Addo on March 31, following a poor run of results that included defeats to Germany and Austria in friendly matches. The Black Stars had also lost their previous four games and failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite a squad featuring Premier League-based players such as Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo. Ghana will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17, 2026 in Toronto, before facing England and Croatia in what is expected to be a challenging group.

Chelsea legend John Terry is the latest big-name star to buy a football club — taking over Colchester United The ex-England ace, 45, is poised to announce a £14million deal for the League Two outfit alongside a consortium. It comes after Ryan Reynolds’ success with Wrexham, Snoop Dogg’s involvement with Swansea and Will Ferrell popping up at Leeds. An insider said: “JT is really excited for it to become official.” And the former England defender is expected to have “significant influence” over the footballing side of the Essex-based club. “JT”, whose 22-year-old nephew Frankie Terry is on Colchester’s books, is the latest big name to join a club’s board, with the most successful being Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham. An insider told The Sun: “This has been a long time in the making, and JT is really excited for it all to become official. He’s a hugely passionate advocate of lower league football, and helping clubs get the support and publicity they deserve. “He’s already been down to the training ground a few times and got stuck in without any fanfare. He really believes in the boys and, for their part, the lads at Colchester are absolutely buzzing that he’s getting involved. “He will bring a real stardust. Everyone involved with Colchester is excited, and the hope is this deal will really put them on the map as they push for promotion.” Terry enjoyed a glittering career at Chelsea, and has a banner at Stamford Bridge proclaiming him “Captain, leader, legend”. He won a string of trophies including five Premier League titles plus the Champions League in 2012, famously joining in the celebrations in full kit despite being suspended for the final.

Nikola Jokic scored 23 points in a first-half appearance as the Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-118 to claim third seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the regular NBA season Denver's victory meant the Los Angeles Lakers finished as fourth seed in the Western Conference for the NBA play-offs, which begin this weekend. The Lakers, who were missing their top scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves through injury, defeated Utah Jazz 131-107. Veteran Lakers star LeBron James, 41, impressed with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in the first half. Denver will host sixth seed the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the play-offs, while the Lakers welcome the Houston Rockets, who are seeded fifth. Three-time Most Valuable Player Jokic, 31, who also registered eight rebounds, played just over 18 minutes in Texas to reach 65 games and become eligible for the league's season-ending awards. Denver's Julian Strawther scored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. De'Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 24 points while MVP contender Victor Wembanyama was rested following his 40-point performance in the 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Second seed San Antonio, who secured their play-off spot against the Mavericks, will host the winner of the in-play tournament game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns in the first round. The play-in tournament follows the regular season, where eight teams compete to establish the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference. Oklahoma City Thunder, who are defending NBA champions and top seed in the West, plus Eastern Conference first and second seeds the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics, will find out their first-round opponents once the in-play tournament finishes on Friday.

Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has declined an immediate fight offer from rival, Tyson Fury, following Saturday night’s bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Fury had cruised to a comfortable victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in a one-sided contest that failed to ignite the crowd. With Joshua watching from ringside, the self-styled “Gypsy King” called out his long-time rival and urged him to step into the ring. “I want you, AJ… Let’s give the fight fans what they want. The Battle of Britain. I challenge you, Andy Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next. You accept my challenge? Let him say yes or no. Come on, you big shithouse!” Fury declared. Joshua, however, declined the invitation and did not enter the ring, drawing jeers from sections of the crowd. He later responded to Fury, saying, “Tyson… you’re a clout chaser. Tyson, I’ve never had no problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you out when we were kids, and after seeing you in the ring tonight, I’d punch you up again. “With all due respect, tonight is your night and I will sit across the ring from you in due time. You ain’t gonna tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions. I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord, remember that, you work for me.” Joshua insisted he remains open to the fight but stressed that proper negotiations must take place before any agreement is reached. “There are negotiations that you go through. I have been at this table with him many times. In my heart, I’d fight Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that. There is not a problem fighting him. “I am not here to get clout. I am here to fight. The contract will be sent over, we will go through the nitty gritty, and you will probably see us in the ring next, more than likely – but I am not here to get in the ring shouting in someone’s face. If you look at my track record, I have never done that. I came to watch the fight, I saw what I saw, and I know what I need to do,” he added. When asked about a possible interim bout, Joshua added, “Good question. There are both options. We’ll see. I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago. “I need to really check out what is going on with my return to the ring. But I’m here, keeping my eye on the game. I am not ducking anyone, there are just things in my life I need to tend to. I am sorting some things out. My brothers, their parents, the brotherhood of taking care of things. That is the priority right now.” The confrontation highlights the long-simmering “Battle of Britain” rivalry between the two British heavyweights. Joshua has repeatedly expressed interest in the matchup over the past decade, while Fury has been vocal about his desire for the fight. But negotiations have repeatedly stalled over financial terms, promoters, and scheduling.

Chelsea have announced plans to visit Lagos for the first time in the club’s history as part of their global fan engagement initiative, The Famous CFC, later this May The Premier League side confirmed on Thursday that the Nigerian city will host the penultimate event of the 2025/26 programme, with the visit organised in partnership with MSport, the club’s official betting partner in Africa. Former Chelsea and Super Eagles forward Victor Moses is set to headline the event, where he will interact with fans across a series of activities designed to celebrate the club’s global following. “Chelsea Football Club will be visiting Lagos, Nigeria, for the first time in the club’s history this May when our fan engagement programme The Famous CFC hosts its penultimate event of the 2025/26 season,” the club said in a statement. The Lagos edition will feature a weekend of activities, including a watch party hosted by MSport, a question-and-answer session with Moses and opportunities for supporters to win signed merchandise. “The Famous CFC in Lagos will bring a packed weekend of action to the city, where MSport will host an ever-popular watch party along with exclusive activities including a Q&A with Moses and the chance for fans to win signed merchandise,” the statement added. The event marks the fifth stop of the international fan programme this season, which has been expanded to include more host cities as Chelsea seek to strengthen their connection with supporters worldwide. “The visit to Nigeria is the fifth stop this season for the international fan programme, which looks to deepen connections with Blues supporters around the world,” the club noted. Moses remains a popular figure among Chelsea supporters, having played a key role in the club’s 2016/17 Premier League title-winning campaign, while also representing Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup before retiring from international football in 2018. The visit is expected to bring together Chelsea’s Nigerian fan base as the season approaches its conclusion, with the club describing the Lagos stop as an opportunity to unite supporters through shared experiences and direct engagement.

After his win over Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder came face-to-face with Anthony Joshua and made his move to try and secure a long-awaited fight with the British-Nigerian Joshua was ringside as Wilder defeated the veteran Chisora in a back-and-forth slugfest at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday. It was a much-needed return to winning ways for Wilder, who has dismissed retirement talks and is targeting big fights again. A showdown that has come close to fruition on several occasions is the long-anticipated clash with Joshua, whose boxing return remains uncertain following the death of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, in an accident in Nigeria last December. As the American left the ring for his dressing room, he spotted Joshua waiting nearby. The pair exchanged a respectful bump before Wilder made his intentions clear. He said, “Let’s do it.” Joshua simply held his gaze and offered no response in a tense moment. In a separate encounter, the pair ignored each other’s presence in another awkward corridor exchange. Joshua has, however, stepped up preparations for a summer comeback by returning to full training camp, linking up with the team of former unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk as he closes in on his first fight since the December car crash in Nigeria. AJ knocked out Jake Paul in his last outing but sustained injuries in the accident, which delayed his 2026 plans. He is now expected to return in July, with a bout also being eyed as a potential lucrative meeting with Tyson Fury. Wilder, meanwhile, insists he is fully healed and ready to face Joshua next. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said, “Put up or shut up, baby. “I’m ready and back now. A healed Wilder is a dangerous Wilder. I’ll come anywhere in the world to fight.”

Nikola Jokic outshone fellow Most Valuable Player contender Victor Wembanyama with a game-high 40 points as the Denver Nuggets ended the San Antonio Spurs' 11-match winning streak Serb Jokic, a three-time winner of the NBA's MVP award, starred as Denver recorded their eighth straight win with a 136-134 triumph in overtime. Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points but the Frenchman's team squandered a 107-96 advantage in the fourth quarter. Both players are among the leading names to claim this season's coveted individual award, given to the best performer during the regular season, and were full of praise for the other after the match. Jokic said of Wembanyama to ESPN: "I think the first time I played against him, I told you guys he's going to change the league. He's going to change basketball. Reflecting on defeat, Wembanyama said: "I think it was an amazing game. One of the most fun games. I wish we could have closed it out. It was a real test against a team that's playing for something right now. They've got the best offensive player in the world." Both teams have already clinched a place in the post-season play-offs, which begin on 18 April. But while San Antonio are assured of a top-two seeding in the Western Conference - they trail reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder - Denver's final placing within the top six is still to be decided. The Thunder can move closer to a third straight Western Conference title against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seeks back-to-back MVP crowns. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic could be out of MVP contention after the NBA's leading scorer was ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a hamstring injury on Friday.

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the regular NBA season with a hamstring injury The Slovenian, 27, had played himself into contention for the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during an outstanding March in which he became only the 10th player in history to score 600 points in a single month. But he will miss the final five regular season games after suffering a grade two strain of his left hamstring during Thursday's heavy loss to Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers have not provided a timetable for Doncic's return after he had a scan on Friday - just two weeks before the start of the NBA play-offs on 18 April. Doncic is the NBA's leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game. However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA's major end-of-season awards. Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge", according to his agent Bill Duffy. "This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory," Duffy told ESPN. "To ensure Luka's incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league's end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an 'Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge' to the 65-game rule." Doncic was named March's player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder.

Enzo Fernandez will sit out Chelsea's next two games after he "crossed a line" with comments he made about his future at the club, says manager Liam Rosenior After Chelsea's exit from the Champions League last month, Fernandez told ESPN that he did not know whether he would remain at Stamford Bridge next season. The 25-year-old Argentine joined the Blues for what was a British record transfer fee of £107m in January 2023 and has made 161 appearances. Rosenior said the midfielder has been dropped for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale and the Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 12 April. "It's disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I have got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build. As a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He's frustrated because he wants us to be successful," Rosenior said. "In terms of the decision, it's not all about me, or the sporting directors. The ownership, the players, we are aligned in our decision. The door is not closed on Enzo. It's a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed." In the same interview, Fernandez said that there had been "no talks" with Real Madrid and added that he was focused on Chelsea but would "see after the World Cup". However, in a more recent interview, he said he would "like to live in Spain" and that Madrid reminded him of Buenos Aires. "It's not ideal. A lot of this stems from a difficult 10 days in terms of results we have had - probably the most difficult for me as a player or manager." Rosenior said. Chelsea lost four successive games between 11 and 21 March, including an 8-2 defeat on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 tie with Paris St-Germain. Defender Marc Cucurella also made suggestions that his future could lie elsewhere, opening the door to a return to Barcelona, although he clarified that he was "happy" at Chelsea and would prefer to wait a "few years" before moving on. "The players were motivated that we could do something really special in the Champions League. The comments from Enzo and Marc Cucurella's interview both stem from that. It actually stems from a good place where they want the club to succeed," Rosenior said. "But in those moments, we need more emotional stability as a group of players." Rosenior said he spent 30 minutes talking with Cucurella on Thursday and believes the Spain international is "fully committed". Chelsea have won 10 of their 19 games since Rosenior took charge in January, losing seven and drawing two. They sit sixth in the Premier League and are six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League spot.

Oklahoma City Thunder condemned Los Angeles Lakers to one of the heaviest defeats in their history - one made more painful by an injury to star Luka Doncic Reigning NBA champions Thunder claimed a commanding 139-96 victory, helped by 28 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as they improved their league-best record to 61-16. Lakers have only been beaten by a greater margin on six occasions, with this 43-point loss just six points short of their worst margin of defeat against the Dallas Mavericks in 2017. It was a first defeat in five for the Lakers, who must now wait to learn the severity of Doncic's left hamstring injury after the Slovenian appeared emotional as he exited the court during the third quarter. Doncic, who had scored 40 or more points in each of his previous three games and five of his past seven, will have an MRI scan on Friday, Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed. Lakers had won 13 of their previous 14 games as they seek to hold on to the third seeding in the Western Conference, behind Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, before the play-offs begin on 18 April. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning Most Valuable Player, finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Isaiah Joe added 20 points for the Thunder. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 15 points despite struggling with back pain, and LeBron James added 13 in 26 minutes. Thunder's 139 points were the most conceded by the Lakers this season and the 43-point defeat was the team's heaviest since a 44-point loss to Philadelphia in November 2023.

Tottenham parted company with coach Igor Tudor by mutual consent on Sunday after just seven games in charge as they battle to stay in the Premier League Tudor lost five of those matches to leave Spurs out of the Champions League and hovering just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League. The 47-year-old did not appear in front of the media after last weekend’s damaging 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest after learning of his father’s death just after the game ended. “We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time,” Tottenham said in a statement. “An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course.” Tottenham are not in action again for another two weeks when they travel to Sunderland. The former Juventus boss was appointed in February following the dismissal of Thomas Frank. But the Croatian has been powerless to stop Tottenham’s slide towards the relegation trap door for the first time since 1977. The London club, ravaged by injuries this season, have not won a Premier League match since late December and are out of every cup competition. Spurs won the Europa League final last year under Ange Postecoglou to end a 17-year trophy drought but the Australian was sacked following a 17th-place finish in the Premier League. Frank arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with an impressive track record and the club started the season with just one defeat in their first seven league games. But they lost their way and club bosses axed Frank following a run of just two wins in 17 league games. With the fates of Burnley and Wolves almost certainly sealed, Spurs are battling for survival along with West Ham, currently in the relegation zone, Forest and Leeds. Relegation to the second-tier Championship would be a seismic event in English football. Spurs, who play in a gleaming new stadium that holds more than 60,000 fans, are one of the so-called “Big Six” in the Premier League and were ninth in Deloitte’s latest Money League study for the richest clubs in world football. Just a few years ago they were Champions League regulars under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, reaching the final in 2019, but their decline has been precipitous. Spurs have seven matches remaining to save themselves following the international break.

Jannik Sinner creating a moment of history by adding the Miami Open title to his Indian Wells victory will certainly not have escaped Carlos Alcaraz's notice Sinner, 24, became the first man to complete what is known as the 'Sunshine Double' - scooping both trophies on the hard courts in California and Florida - without dropping a set. The imperious nature of the Italian's 6-4 6-4 win over Czech 21st seed Jiri Lehecka in a rain-interrupted Miami final was another illustration of how far Sinner and Alcaraz remain ahead of the chasing pack. It was also a reminder for Alcaraz - not that he needed one - how he must continue to find ways to further improve if he is able to maintain his current status as the leading player on the men's tour. World number two Sinner has now won his past 34 sets at Masters events, enabling him to join Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only men to claim three consecutive titles in the tier of tournaments below the Grand Slams. Securing another triumph in Miami helped Sinner close the gap on Alcaraz, who was beaten in the third round, at the top of the rankings. The gap is down to 1,190 points as the season moves on to the European clay-court swing, where the pair will unquestionably spar again for the biggest prizes given the stratospheric level on which they operate.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 to retain her Miami Open title and extend her exceptional start to 2026 Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, is the fifth female player - and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 - to complete the 'Sunshine Double' by winning titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf are the other three women to have previously achieved that feat. Sabalenka has won three WTA Tour titles and 23 of her 24 matches during this calendar year. Her only loss was in January's Australian Open final to world number two Elena Rybakina, who had been the only player to win a set against Sabalenka in 2026 before American Gauff sent the Miami final into a decider. Sabalenka said on Sky Sports: "I haven't had a moment to stop, look back and realise what's happened in the past months. I'm so proud of the work we've done and the fight I was able to bring on court. "Coco will fight for every opportunity and she played incredibly, but I was mentally strong. I knew I was doing everything right and it was just a matter of a few points." Despite losing, Gauff will move above Poland's Swiatek to third in the world when the rankings are next updated. Both of the 22-year-old's Grand Slam victories were sealed with wins in finals against Sabalenka and the pair's head-to-head record was level at 6-6 prior to Saturday's match. Sabalenka had looked on course for a more convincing win when she broke in the very first game and raced through the first set. Gauff responded well, saving break points at 2-2 and 3-3 in set two before converting a set point on her opponent's serve to level the contest. But four-time major champion Sabalenka gained an important break in the opening game of the decider and she clinched victory on her first match point when Gauff went wide with a backhand. Meanwhile, Great Britain's Henry Patten and Finnish partner Harri Helioevaara were beaten 6-4 6-2 in the final of the men's doubles by Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Like Sabalenka, Italian Sinner is aiming to follow up a victory at Indian Wells with another title in Miami.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri does not believe being a former Atletico Madrid player rules him out of joining Real Madrid and has said "you can't turn down the best clubs in the world" The 29-year-old Spain midfielder, who has made 293 appearances for City since joining from La Liga club Atletico in 2019, will be out of contract next summer. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner says he "needs to sit down and talk" with City but added he would one day "like to come back" to Spain. Despite making 47 appearances for Atletico, Rodri said he would consider joining city rivals Real. "There have been many players who've gone down that path. Not immediately, but over time. For me, you can't turn down the best clubs in the world." Rodri told Spanish media. Players who have featured for both Real and Atletico include Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Spain forward Alvaro Morata - both of whom played for Chelsea between their spells at the Madrid clubs. Rodri has won 12 major trophies with Pep Guardiola's side, including four Premier League titles and one Champions League. He has featured in 18 Premier League games this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024. When asked what he thought of Real president Florentino Perez's reported admiration for him as a footballer, Rodri replied: "I don't know - they don't talk to me directly. They'd talk to my agent." Rodri has been named in Luis de la Fuente's Spain squad for upcoming friendlies against Serbia and Egypt as he targets a spot for this summer's World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada. He has made 59 appearances for his country and won the European Championships in 2024 and the Nations League the year before.

American Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her first Miami Open final, where she will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka Florida-born 22-year-old Gauff dropped only two games to triumph 6-1 6-1 in one hour and 30 minutes. The world number four will meet defending champion Sabalenka for the title on Saturday after the Belarusian overcame Elena Rybakina in straight sets. Sabalenka, who beat Rybakina in the Indian Wells final earlier this month after losing to the Kazakh in the Australian Open showpiece, won their latest encounter 6-4 6-3. Gauff will rise to third in the world next week, above former world number one Iga Swiatek, on the back of reaching the final of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament for the first time. She lost serve at the start of the match but won 10 games in a row to take control against Czech 13th seed Muchova.

Manchester United are considering Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly as a potential left-back target this summer, according to reports from the UK Football world governing body, FIFA have announced several significant rule changes that will be implemented at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The new regulations aim to improve the flow of the game and reduce time-wasting. A player being substituted off will have a maximum of 10 seconds to leave the pitch. If he takes longer, his replacement must wait 1 minute before entering, leaving the team with 10 players for that period. A 5-second timer will apply to throw-ins and goal kicks. Exceeding the time will result in the opponents being awarded possession. Any player who receives medical attention on the field must leave the pitch and wait one minute before returning — unless the injury was caused by a foul that resulted in a card. VAR will now review incorrectly awarded corner kicks. Only the team captain is allowed to approach the referee for explanations. Other players who surround the referee risk receiving a yellow card. which of these new rules do you prefer?

Manchester United are considering Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly as a potential left-back target this summer, according to reports from the UK The Old Trafford side are contemplating several options in their search for a new wide defender as they look to potentially replace Luke Shaw, who is approaching the final year of his contract. United are also claimed to be looking at Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown as two other left-back candidates. Lewis-Skelly only signed a five-year deal at Arsenal last summer but has made just one Premier League start this season, along with 13 appearances off the bench. According to Khan, Lewis-Skelly’s future at Arsenal could become uncertain heading into the summer, with the Gunners needing to sell players to make additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad. Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign with Arsenal, making 42 appearances in all competitions and starring in the club’s Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid. Twelve months later, the ‘incredible’ 19-year-old finds himself largely limited to a rotational role under Arteta, having made just 12 starts in all competitions and registering four assists. Amid his limited club involvement, Lewis-Skelly has also dropped out of the England picture and was not called up by Thomas Tuchel for a second consecutive camp during the March international break. Along with Ethan Nwaneri, who is currently on loan at Marseille, the left-back has instead been called up to the England U21s and looks set to make his first appearances for the Young Lions this week.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season The 33-year-old Egypt international, who joined Liverpool from Roma in June 2017, confirmed the news in a video message on his social media accounts. "Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season." Salah said. Salah signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool in April 2025 but will leave on a free transfer after the club said they had "reached an agreement" over his future. By his own high standards, this has been a difficult campaign for Salah on the pitch. He has scored 10 goals in 34 games in all competitions so far and is on course to finish with his lowest tally for a season during his time at Anfield. In December, Salah gave an interview to reporters after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds, where he said he was "thrown under the bus" by the club and his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down. There was speculation Salah could leave in the January transfer window, but he subsequently returned to the side following his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations. It is not clear for which club or in which country Salah will play next season after leaving Anfield. Liverpool said the timing of Salah's announcement was because he wished to tell supporters "at the earliest possible opportunity" and to "provide transparency about his future due to his respect and gratitude for them". Salah said his time on Merseyside has left a significant mark on his life, having lived through the Covid-19 pandemic and - more recently - the death of team-mate Diogo Jota. He said: "I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club. It's a passion. It's a history. It's a spirit. "I can't explain it in words to anyone not part of this club. We celebrated victory. We won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life. I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates, past and present." Salah has played a key role in reviving Liverpool's fortunes on the pitch during the past nine years. He helped the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup and two EFL Cups, as well as the Community Shield. Salah's tally of 255 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds has him third in the pantheon of all-time leading scorers for the club, behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285). He has won the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions and been named the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year three times - in 2018, 2022 and 2025. Salah also hailed the support he has received from Liverpool fans who "showed me through the best time of my career" and also "stood by me in the toughest times". "It's something I will never forget and something I will take with me always. Leaving is never easy," he said. "You gave me the best time of my life, I will be always one of you. The club will always be my home, to me and to my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you I will never walk alone." Liverpool said that Salah's time at Anfield had been a "remarkable nine-year chapter" and plans to show their appreciation will come at a later date. "With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool. Therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield." the club added. Defending champions Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League with seven games remaining. They will face holders Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals and next play Manchester City in the FA Cup last eight on Saturday, 4 April. Liverpool team-mate Andy Robertson said Salah deserves a send off that reflects his status as "the greatest" player in the club's history. The Scot posted on Instagram, external it "has been a joy to watch and be part of" Salah's career at Anfield.

Eberechi Eze is set to miss a crucial spell of Arsenal's season amid concerns he will miss about a month through injury Eze, 27, suffered a calf injury in last week's win over Bayer Leverkusen, which caused him to miss Sunday's Carabao Cup loss to Manchester City and withdraw from the latest England squad. Sources have indicated initial fears are the attacking midfielder could miss between four to six weeks. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said Eze will have a definitive scan this week to determine the full extent of the injury. Nevertheless, the loss of Eze will come as a blow to Arsenal as they pursue three trophies, with crucial Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup fixtures on the horizon. However, the impending return of captain Martin Odegaard will help ease the impact of Eze's loss. Odegaard has a knee injury and has been unavailable for a month, but there is hope he will be fit to play after the international break. The midfielder will miss Norway's games against Holland and Switzerland to focus on ensuring he is available as early as possible. While losing Eze comes as a blow, the fact the injury comes as the international break starts will help minimise the impact created by his absence. Arsenal's next game is the FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton on Saturday, 4 April - a competition in which Arteta has looked to rotate members of his squad.

The Palestinian Football Association on Tuesday called for the Israeli Football Association to receive a ban after a FIFA report found “multiple breaches” of its anti-discrimination obligations “We maintain our right and continue our efforts to ensure that the Israeli Football Association is expelled from all international institutions,” PFA chief Jibril Rajoub, who also heads the Palestinian Olympic Committee, said during a press conference in the occupied West Bank city of Al-Bireh. FIFA fined the IFA 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,700) for the breaches last week, “a significant decision” according to Rajoub, who said the penalty still “falls short of the minimum required.” Rajoub cited the IFA’s “racist nature,” alleged criminal activity by some Israeli sports officials, and the inclusion of football clubs from Israeli West Bank settlements in the Israeli federation as grounds for a ban. A recent report by the disciplinary committee of world football’s governing body found that the IFA “failed to take meaningful action against Beitar Jerusalem” for “persistent and well-documented racist behaviour.” Rajoub, who is also Secretary General of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’ Fatah party’s central committee, said Tuesday that Beitar Jerusalem is “an extreme example of racism, fascism, and discrimination” but that such attitudes are commonplace in Israeli football clubs. On the alleged criminal activity of Israeli sports officials, Rajoub said he was referring to instances of players killed during two years of war in Gaza and the destruction of many of the Palestinian territory’s sports facilities during the same war. “Some figures within Israeli sports either participated in or openly supported what has been happening,” Rajoub said, stating that 1,007 athletes and coaches were killed in Gaza and 265 sports facilities damaged since the war started in October 2023. Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting. At least five football clubs based in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are members of the Israeli Football Association. After a separate investigation, FIFA announced no action would be taken against the IFA over allegations that Israeli clubs based in the occupied West Bank were taking part in Israel’s leagues. The UN has repeatedly condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, as illegal under international law. Israel is part of UEFA, European football’s governing body.

Antoine Griezmann will leave Atletico Madrid for MLS side Orlando City at the end of the season, the two clubs announced on Tuesday Atletico’s all-time record goalscorer has agreed a two-year deal with Orlando and will become the latest veteran star to move to North America. “The forward travelled to Orlando, with the club’s permission, during the two days of rest granted to the first team, to finalise his contract with the Florida side,” Atletico said in a statement. The 35-year-old Griezmann will be hoping to sign off in style and cap his 10th season as an Atletico player with a second major trophy at the Rojiblancos, after the 2018 Europa League. Atletico will face La Liga rivals Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals next month and take on Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on April 18 in Seville. Griezmann, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, retired from international football in 2024 after scoring 44 goals in 137 caps for Les Bleus. He has netted 211 times for Atletico, surpassing the previous record of 173 set by Luis Aragones. Griezmann joined Atletico in 2014 from Real Sociedad and has made 488 appearances for the club, who he left for Barcelona in 2019 before returning two years later, initially on loan. Griezmann has scored 13 goals in 43 appearances for Diego Simeone’s Atletico this season. The MLS will add Griezmann to the ranks of well-known players to have made the switch from Europe in recent seasons, including his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. “He is one of the most gifted, accomplished and influential players of his generation, and his decision to choose Orlando City reflects the mission and culture of our club,” said Orlando City owner Mark Wilf. “Our focus is on consistently building a championship-caliber roster every year, and adding a world-class player like Antoine reinforces that commitment and our belief in what the club can achieve.” Orlando, who have played in MLS since 2015, have never won the MLS Cup and have lost four of their first five games of the 2026 season. Atletico sit fourth in La Liga this term, but are comfortably placed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with a 13-point lead over fifth-placed Real Betis. Griezmann will make his move to Orlando in July.

LeBron James set the record for the most regular-season games played in NBA history as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a dramatic buzzer-beating 105-104 victory against the Orlando Magic in his 1,612th outing James, 41, moved one clear of Robert Parish's 1997 record of 1,611 appearances, in a game the Lakers won when Luke Kennard scored a three-pointer with 0.6 seconds left. "It just kind of happened. It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to be the best player in this league at some point. I wanted to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to ever play this game. I wanted to be an NBA champion," said four-time NBA champion James. "I wanted to possibly win rookie of the year, make All-Star appearances, win a gold medal, win some MVPs - those were some of my goals. But some of the stuff that's just been happening over the course of the last few years has been super-duper cool." James - who is the first player to take part in 23 consecutive NBA seasons and is also the NBA's record points scorer - contributed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Lakers beat Orlando for a ninth straight win. The Lakers are third in the Western Conference, while Magic are eighth in the Eastern Conference. "Availability, I've always wanted to be available to my team-mates. It's a mental toll, trying to play a lot and being out there. I just give a lot of praise to the man above and [it's about] just loving the game and appreciating the game." added James. James was not the only player to achieve a milestone as Kevin Durant passed NBA legend Michael Jordan to go fifth in the all-time scoring list in regular-season games. Durant moved to 32,294 - two ahead of Jordan - courtesy of a 27-point display for the Houston Rockets, who are fourth in the Western Conference, in their last gasp 123-122 win against the Miami Heat, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference. "It means a lot," said Durant, who passed Jordan with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. "I'm grateful to be here and for this incredible journey it's been. I'm looking forward to continuing." Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder as four players were ejected in his side's fiery 132-111 win against the Washington Wizards. The Thunder's Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace were ejected, along with Washington's Justin Champagnie, following a mass brawl near the end of the second quarter. Reigning NBA champions Thunder remain top of the Western Conference, while the Wizards are one place off the bottom in 14th place.

Lionel Messi became only the second player in history to reach 900 top-level career goals after scoring in Inter Miami's match against Nashville SC on Wednesday The Argentina international scored the landmark goal after just seven minutes at Geodis Park in Tennessee in the Concacaf Champions Cup last-16 second leg tie. The 38-year-old forward has found the back of the net 81 times in 92 appearances since signing in June 2023 to help Inter Miami win the League Cup and MLS Cup. Messi - regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time - has also scored a plethora of goals for Barcelona, Paris St‑Germain and Argentina during a glittering career in which he has won the Ballon d'Or eight times. Since becoming the youngest scorer in Barcelona's history at 17 years, 10 months and seven days old - Messi hasn't stopped scoring. It took the forward only three minutes to find the back of the net after replacing Samuel Eto'o in the second half of a La Liga fixture against Albacete in May 2005. It was his first of 672 goals during a legendary 17-year career with the Catalan club. In total, he made 778 appearances for Barcelona, helping them to 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, four Champions Leagues, three Super Cups and three Fifa Club World Cups before leaving to join PSG in 2021. Although his time in the French capital only lasted two seasons, Messi still managed 32 goals in 75 games for the Ligue 1 club as part of a formidable front three alongside Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe. After his contract at the Parc des Princes expired at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, Messi - who led Argentina to a World Cup triumph six months earlier in Qatar - joined MLS side Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham. On the international stage, the frontman has 196 caps for Argentina, scoring 115 goals for the three-time world champions.

The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision of the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board awarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco and confirmed it will challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport Morocco were on Tuesday crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football Appeal Board overturned the result of the final against Senegal, ruling that the West African side forfeited the match following a walk-off during the game in Rabat on January 19. CAF stated that “the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.” The decision followed a protest by Morocco after chaotic scenes late in the final, when Senegal players briefly left the pitch after a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded to the hosts, an action the appeal board ruled fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations on misconduct and forfeiture. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football said it had taken note of the decision delivered by CAF’s Appeal Committee in case DC23316, which followed a complaint filed during match 52 of the TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco. “The Senegalese Football Federation has today taken note of the notification of the decision rendered on March 17, 2026 by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football, in the context of case DC23316,” the statement read. The federation said the appeal board declared admissible the protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football and overturned the earlier decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board, citing a procedural flaw in the initial hearing. “With this decision, the CAF Appeals Board declared the appeal of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation admissible and accepted it. “In doing so, the board overturned the decision rendered by the CAF Disciplinary Board, on the grounds that the appellant’s right to be heard had not been respected during the initial proceedings,” the FSF said. According to the statement, the appeal committee ruled that the conduct of the Senegal national team fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, leading to the forfeiture decision. “The Appeals Committee also determined that the conduct of the Senegalese team fell under Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations. Consequently, CAF declared that the FSF had violated Article 82 and awarded the match by forfeit, with a recorded score of 3–0 in favor of the FRMF, in accordance with Article 84,” the federation stated. Reacting to the verdict, the Senegalese federation criticised the decision, describing it as damaging to the credibility of African football. “The Senegalese Football Federation denounces an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision that discredits African football,” the statement added. The federation confirmed that it would file an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. “To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the Federation will initiate, as soon as possible, an appeal procedure before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” the statement said. The FSF added that it remained committed to due process and would continue to inform the public as the case progresses. “The FSF reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity and sporting justice, and will keep the public informed of the follow-up to this matter,” the statement concluded.

The Confederation of African Football has awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco after its appeal board ruled that Senegal forfeited the final of the tournament following a successful protest by the Moroccan football federation The decision, announced on Tuesday, overturned an earlier disciplinary ruling after an appeal by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football, with the board finding that Senegal breached competition regulations. The CAF Appeal Board stated in its ruling, “The Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football.” The ruling was made in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, under which the appeal board set aside the earlier decision of the CAF Disciplinary Board and upheld Morocco’s protest. On Senegal’s conduct, the board ruled, “The Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations,” adding that “the appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.” The appeal board also addressed a series of related disciplinary matters involving both federations. On Moroccan player Ismaël Saibari, the board confirmed a finding of misconduct in violation of Articles 82 and 83(1) of the CAF Disciplinary Code but amended his sanction. The board ruled that “the sanction imposed on Mr Ismaël Saibari is amended to a suspension of two official CAF matches, of which one match is suspended,” while the $100,000 fine previously imposed on the player was set aside. Regarding incidents involving ball boys during the match, the board found the FRMF responsible for their conduct, ruling that “the fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football in respect of the ball boys incident is reduced to USD 50,000.” On the laser incident, the board ruled that “the fine imposed on the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football in respect of the laser incident is reduced to USD 10,000.” However, the appeal concerning interference around the VAR review area was dismissed, with the board confirming the $100,000 fine imposed on the FRMF in that respect. Morocco, who hosted the tournament, are therefore crowned AFCON 2025 champions by ruling of the appeal board rather than on the final whistle, in one of the most extraordinary conclusions to an Africa Cup of Nations in the competition’s history. Senegal had originally been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating hosts Morocco 1–0 in the final played in Rabat, with the match decided in extra time after a tense and controversial encounter. The final was overshadowed by several incidents, including protests by Senegal’s players and technical crew after a late refereeing decision, as well as confrontations involving players, officials, and match personnel during the closing stages of the game. Following the match, the Confederation of African Football disciplinary board sanctioned both the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football and the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football over misconduct during the final, issuing fines and suspensions to players and officials from both teams. CAF had initially upheld the result of the match despite Morocco lodging a protest, ruling at the time that the final scoreline would stand while disciplinary penalties were imposed separately. Tuesday’s appeal decision, however, overturned that earlier position after the Moroccan federation challenged the disciplinary ruling, leading to the forfeiture decision that awarded the title to the host nation.

Joan Laporta vowed Barcelona will be "unstoppable" after he was re-elected club president for a further five years Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday Neymar is “not 100 per cent” fit so he will miss two friendlies later this month as youngster Endrick returns to the squad Santos’ Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023 due to a serious knee injury, but has played four games for his club since mid-February. The 34-year-old misses out on pre-World Cup friendlies against France on March 27 in Boston and Croatia four days later in Orlando. Brazil start their bid for a sixth World Cup title, but first since 2002, against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13, before also facing Haiti and Scotland in Group C. “I haven’t called him up because he’s not 100 per cent,” Ancelotti told reporters. “But for the final (World Cup) squad, that’s another story,” the 66-year-old added. Real Madrid forward Rodrygo and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are sidelined through injury. Endrick, 19, made the last of his 14 international appearances a year ago. But he earned a recall thanks to an impressive string of performances since joining Lyon on loan from Real Madrid. Ancelotti brought Endrick to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2024 from Palmeiras. The Italian has selected two uncapped players in Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth teenager Rayan. Squad Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG) Bento(Al-Nassr/KSA) Ederson (Fenerbahce/TUR) Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo) Bremer (Juventus/ITA) Danilo (Flamengo) Douglas Santos (Zenith Saint-Petersburg/RUS) Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal/ENG) Ibanez (Al-Ahli/KSA) Leo Pereira (Flamengo) Marquinhos (PSG/FRA) Wesley (Roma/IT) Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea/ENG) Casemiro (Manchester United/ENG) Danilo (Botafogo) Fabinho (Al-Ittihad/KSA) Gabriel Sara (Galarasaray/TUR) Forwards: Endrick (Lyon/FRA) Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal/ENG) Igor Thiago (Brentford/ENG) Joao Pedro (Chelsea/ENG) Luiz Henrique (Zenith Saint-Petersburg/RUS) Matheus Cunha (Manchester United/ENG) Raphinha (Barcelona/ESP) Rayan (Bournemouth/ENG) Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid/ESP)

The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been agreed, with Telegraph boxing correspondent Gareth A Davies revealing on talkSPORT that the all-British mega fight is signed and will be broadcast on Netflix Davies, who has covered boxing for over 30 years, told talkSPORT that the bout is already in place behind the scenes, with the big-money infrastructure that has backed Fury’s recent career moves understood to be involved. “The Fury-Joshua fight is signed. Okay, it is signed in the background. I’ve got that on good authority,” Davies said. Asked who the fight is signed with, he replied, “It’s with the big money people. It’ll be on Netflix.” Davies added that while both men are moving towards the fight, it is not imminent. Joshua is expected to return to the ring in June or July, with the Fury bout targeted for late 2026 or early 2027. “Agreed. They are moving towards it, but they both want the fight. It’s on the cards, and it’s going to happen,” he said. The announcement comes as Joshua edges closer to a return to training camp following the horror road crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29 that claimed the lives of his friends, personal trainer Kevin Ayodele and recovery therapist Sina Ghami, just 10 days after he stopped Jake Paul in six rounds in Miami. Promoter Eddie Hearn told iFL TV that the British-Nigerian has returned to Finchley, his first amateur gym, and that a full return to training camp is imminent. “We are very close to returning to training camp, and I feel like AJ is physically and perhaps mentally ready to throw himself back into that environment. It is exciting. For everything that he has been through and all the pain, I do not think that will leave. But he has a career and a job to do, which he wants to continue doing. And I am excited to see him back,” Hearn said. Hearn, who expects Joshua’s comeback fight to land in July, also spoke about how the structure of camp life suits the British-Nigerian fighter. “I feel like fighters are at their happiest when they are in training camp. The regiment is there, the discipline is there, the focus is there. And although it is a lot of hard work, I really feel like AJ — when he is in training camp — that is him,” he said. Fury, meanwhile, returns to action on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham’s stadium before turning his attention to Joshua. Hearn expects Joshua to have a tune-up fight before the Fury clash, though he did not rule out a more direct route depending on how the 36-year-old feels once back in camp. “There have been discussions about going straight into a Fury fight. I expect him to have a fight first, and that fight to come in the summer. But until he gets back into training camp, there will be no decisions on the actual route that we take,” Hearn added. A potential warm-up opponent has also emerged, with Boxing King Media reporting that Joshua could renew his rivalry with Dillian Whyte, whom he stopped in their 2015 professional meeting. Whyte has not fought since suffering a first-round defeat to Moses Itauma last August.

Chelsea have been fined £10m and handed a suspended transfer ban after admitting making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018 The £10m fine is the largest ever imposed by the Premier League, topping the £5.5m fine given to West Ham United in 2007 over the signings of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. Chelsea also received an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban and a £750,000 fine over the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022. The Premier League's report named a number of transfers related to the unregistered payments, including those of Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of those players, The club accepted the historical charges, which occurred under Roman Abramovich's ownership. The Premier League said "undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties" for the "benefit or Chelsea". The Premier League added that the £10m fine would have been £20m, but was reduced by 50% on account of Chelsea's proactive self-reporting and co-operation with the process. Chelsea self-reported the potential breaches after Todd Boehly's consortium acquired the club in 2022. The club said: "From the outset of this process, the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators." The Premier League said Chelsea would not have breached its Profitability and Sustainability rules during the applicable seasons, even if the payments had been registered and it therefore did not deem a points deduction to be an appropriate punishment. In 2023, the Blues were fined £8.6m by Uefa for "submitting incomplete financial information" for the period between 2012 and 2019. A separate FA disciplinary process investigating alleged "use of and the making of payments to unregistered agents" is ongoing. Chelsea won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one Champions League, one Europa League and one League Cup between the period of 2011-2018. They employed six different permanent managers during the seven-year spell, though there is no suggestion that any head coach was part of the wrongdoing.

Joan Laporta vowed Barcelona will be "unstoppable" after he was re-elected club president for a further five years Winning just over 68% of the vote, he will begin his second-consecutive term - and fourth overall - from 1 July, the La Liga club announced on Sunday. His opponent, Victor Font tallied almost 30% with the remaining votes void or invalid. Having taken office in March 2021, Laporta stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election. The 63-year-old described the result as "resounding", adding "it gives us great strength". "It makes us unstoppable. No-one will stop us. Exciting years lie ahead. They will be the best of our lives. This is a wonderful club, where the members elect their president and their board of directors. A club unique in the world, truly extraordinary." he said. Laporta, who first led Barcelona between 2003-10 and oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager, thanked the members who voted, saying the process was a "celebration of democracy and civic spirit". He pledged that his new term would see officials and fans "defend Barca against everything and everyone". His victory speech also saw him promise to strengthen the first team and complete the redevelopment of the Nou Camp stadium. Almost 48,500 votes were cast – a turnout of 42.34% – with Laporta securing 32,934 and 53-year-old Font receviving 14,385. The Catalan club have battled significant financial issues in recent years, but claimed a domestic treble last season. They now lead rivals Real Madrid by four points at the top of La Liga, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over struggling Sevilla on Sunday. This Wednesday will see them face Newcastle United in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. A 96th-minute penalty by Lamine Yamal rescued a 1-1 draw for Barcelona at St James' Park last week.

Joan Laporta vowed Barcelona will be "unstoppable" after he was re-elected club president for a further five years Winning just over 68% of the vote, he will begin his second-consecutive term - and fourth overall - from 1 July, the La Liga club announced on Sunday. His opponent, Victor Font tallied almost 30% with the remaining votes void or invalid. Having taken office in March 2021, Laporta stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election. The 63-year-old described the result as "resounding", adding "it gives us great strength". "It makes us unstoppable. No-one will stop us. Exciting years lie ahead. They will be the best of our lives. This is a wonderful club, where the members elect their president and their board of directors. A club unique in the world, truly extraordinary." he said. Laporta, who first led Barcelona between 2003-10 and oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager, thanked the members who voted, saying the process was a "celebration of democracy and civic spirit". He pledged that his new term would see officials and fans "defend Barca against everything and everyone". His victory speech also saw him promise to strengthen the first team and complete the redevelopment of the Nou Camp stadium. Almost 48,500 votes were cast – a turnout of 42.34% – with Laporta securing 32,934 and 53-year-old Font receviving 14,385. The Catalan club have battled significant financial issues in recent years, but claimed a domestic treble last season. They now lead rivals Real Madrid by four points at the top of La Liga, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over struggling Sevilla on Sunday. This Wednesday will see them face Newcastle United in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. A 96th-minute penalty by Lamine Yamal rescued a 1-1 draw for Barcelona at St James' Park last week.

Jannik Sinner said it "means a lot to me" after he became the youngest man to complete the set of hard-court trophies with victory over Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final World number two Sinner saw off the resurgent Russian 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) in a match lasting just under two hours in baking conditions in California. Sinner has won both hard court Grand Slams, triumphing at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and at the US Open in 2024. The 24-year-old has also lifted all six Masters 1,000 titles, external on hard courts - adding the Indian Wells title to victories in Miami, Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris - and the season-ending ATP Finals. Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have achieved the same feat. "I knew that this was a tournament I haven't won, so I wanted to prepare in the best possible way, as professionally as possible. Having this achievement now means a lot to me. Now I have couple of days to relax - there is not so much time in between here and Miami," said Sinner "It's again an important tournament in Miami, but we try to play the best tennis possible there too." Andre Agassi won the five Masters 1,000 events that were held on hard courts in his career, as well as both majors and the ATP Finals. Sinner, who had his Australian Open title defence ended by Djokovic in a thrilling five-set semi-final in January, also extends his head-to-head record against Medvedev, having won nine of their past 10 meetings. The Italian did not face a break point against Medvedev and only lost four points behind his first serve. He did not drop a set on his way to claiming his first title of the year and a 25th overall. Despite the loss, Medvedev will re-enter the top 10 when the rankings are updated on Monday. The former US Open champion almost missed the tournament, having been stuck in Dubai because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. After arriving in the USA, Medvedev showed why he was previously at the top of the men's game, with a fine semi-final victory over world number one Carlos Alcaraz. However, it was Sinner who edged the tight moments on Sunday, helped by his imperious serve. Sinner won 43 of 47 first-serve points, hit 10 aces and won 60% of points behind his second serve to remain in control of the match. Medvedev saved the only two break points of the final and came close to forcing a third set when he went 4-0 up in the tie-break. However, Sinner reeled off seven points in a row to close out the match and win back-to-back Masters 1,000 titles without dropping a set. Elsewhere, world number three Djokovic has withdrawn from this week's Miami Open with injury. The Serb great has won the title six times and finished runner-up to Jakub Mensik last year. However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said a right shoulder injury had stopped him competing at the hard-court event, which begins on Monday.

Chelsea captain Reece James has committed his long-term future to the club, signing a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032. A lifelong Chelsea supporter, James joined the club’s Academy at just six years old and has become one of the club’s most influential figures Having progressed through the Cobham Academy, James made his Under-18 debut while still a schoolboy and was a key figure in the team’s Treble-winning season. He signed his first professional contract in March 2017 and quickly made an impact in Chelsea’s youth teams, finishing as Academy Player of the Season and captaining a Youth Cup-winning side. Confirming the deal in a statement obtained from the Pride of London’s X handle on Friday, Chelsea Sporting Directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart praised James as a leader who embodies the club’s values. “He knows what it means to wear this badge, and having committed his long-term future to Chelsea, we’re excited to continue this journey with him,” they said. After an impressive loan spell at Wigan Athletic, where he was named both Player of the Season and Players’ Player, James broke into Chelsea’s first team ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. He scored on his debut in a League Cup win over Grimsby Town and soon became known for scoring in big European matches, including a memorable Champions League goal against Ajax. Over the past few seasons, James has established himself as a first-team regular and a leader on and off the pitch. He has made over 200 appearances, lifted five major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2021 and two FIFA Club World Cups, and captained the Blues more than 50 times. Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, he was named men’s team captain and has since led the team to UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup glory. Speaking about his new deal, James said: “I am over the moon to have extended my contract. Chelsea means so much to me. I have always said I want my peak years to be here, and I truly believe we have everything it takes to build on our previous successes. I’m excited for the future under this ownership, Sporting Directors, Coach, and all the staff, and hopefully we will lift many more trophies together over the coming years.” At 26, James continues to demonstrate his versatility, quality, and leadership. With two decades already spent at the club, he is set to write the next chapter of his Chelsea story.

Donald Trump's claim that it would not be "appropriate" for Iran to take part in the 2026 World Cup "for their own life and safety" has been followed by the Iranians saying it should be co-hosts the United States who sacrifice their place instead US President Trump said in a post on social media that Iran would be "welcome to the World Cup" before signalling he felt they should not be involved. Trump's comments came after Iran's Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, said his country were not in a position to participate in the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June. Iran are due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on 15 and 21 June respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. But their participation has been in doubt since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. "The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety," Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday. However, a message on the Iran team's Telegram account said that Fifa is the organiser of the World Cup and "not any single country". Iran have not yet withdrawn from the tournament, and they appear determined to make their own decision, rather than have one imposed upon them, saying there should be no question about the safety of their players should they send a team. The statement on Telegram added: "The Iranian national team also qualified for this event with authority and through consecutive victories, becoming one of the first teams to reach this great tournament. "Certainly, no-one can remove the Iranian national team from the World Cup. Rather, the country that should be removed is the one that merely carries the title of host but does not have the ability to ensure security for the teams participating in this event." Earlier this week, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said Trump had told him Iran are "welcome to compete" at this summer's finals. But in an interview with the IRIB Sports Network on Tuesday, Donyamali said: "Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup. Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist." If Iran does withdraw from what would be the team's fourth consecutive World Cup, Fifa's regulations give the governing body discretion to choose a replacement, but it is unclear who that would be.

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea winger Pedro Neto after he pushed over a ball boy during the Champions League defeat by Paris St‑Germain The 26-year-old Portugal international shoved the youngster in stoppage time of Wednesday's last-16 first leg at Parc des Princes - where Chelsea lost 5-2 - which caused him to fall off a chair. It sparked an altercation between both sets of players. UEFA said proceedings have been instigated against Neto for "unsporting behaviour" in accordance with its disciplinary regulations. "UEFA's disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course," European football's governing body added in its statement. Neto apologised for the incident after the match and blamed being caught up "in the emotion of the game" while he was attempting to quickly retrieve the ball. "I'm not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologise. I gave him my shirt. I'm really sorry about it - I feel I have to apologise to him," Neto told TNT Sports. "My French is not very good, and [Portugal team-mate] Vitinha came over and said to him I was not like this. At the end he [the ball boy] laughed and I gave him my shirt and said sorry about 35 times. He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation." Chelsea host PSG next Tuesday in the second leg, following Newcastle's visit to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League.

Manchester City’s Rodri has been fined £80,000 by the The Football Association after comments he made about the referee following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month The Spain international criticised referee Robert Jones during a post-match interview after the 1 February Premier League clash, suggesting the official had not been “neutral”. As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Rodri made the remarks after Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke scored a controversial goal that City players felt should have been ruled out. The midfielder believed Solanke had kicked through the leg of City defender Marc Guehi in the build-up, but the goal was allowed to stand. “I know we won too much and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral,” Rodri said after the game. “It’s not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated.” Following the comments, the Football Association charged Rodri with acting in an improper manner during a post-match media interview, stating his remarks implied bias and questioned the integrity of match officials. The FA said Rodri admitted the charge and accepted his comments fell below the expected standard. However, an independent regulatory commission decided the threshold for a sporting punishment had not been met, meaning the midfielder will not face a playing suspension. As part of the disciplinary process, Rodri submitted two letters explaining his comments. In the first, he said his words had been misunderstood and misinterpreted by some media organisations. In a second letter, he acknowledged the remarks were inappropriate. “I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials. I have always had, and continue to have, great respect for referees and the difficult job they undertake in a fast-moving and highly pressured environment. “My comments were made in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result. Upon reflection, I recognise that the words I used were poorly chosen and capable of being interpreted in a way that I did not intend,” Rodri said. The FA’s regulatory commission said it was unanimous in its decision to issue a financial penalty rather than a suspension, concluding that a fine of £80,000 was an appropriate sanction.

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points - the second highest number in an NBA game - as the Miami Heat beat the Washington Wizards 150-129 The center said it was a "special moment" when he passed Kobe Bryant's 81-point tally, set in 2006. Wilt Chamberlain's record of 100 points has stood since 1962. Adebayo scored 36 of 43 free-throws - records for the most free-throws attempted and most free-throws made - at Kaseya Center in Miami. "It's Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy," he said. The 28-year-old described it as a "special moment" and said he "really got emotional" when he realised the scale of his achievement. "I wish I could relive it twice," Adebayo said. Paying tribute to his family and trainers, he said: "They've seen me at the lowest, at the bottom of the bottom, trying to figure out how to really pick myself up. "To have this moment and share it with all them, it's a pretty emotional moment." The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-106 at home thanks to Luka Doncic's 31 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Lakers climbed to fourth in the Western Conference, ahead of the Timberwolves on a tie-breaker as they both have 40-25 records. Eastern Conference leaders the Detroit Pistons moved to 46-18 with a 138-100 win at the Brooklyn Nets as Jalen Duren scored 26 points.

Experienced England defender Kyle Walker has retired from international football with immediate effect The 35-year-old Burnley full-back has decided to call time on his career after winning 96 caps for the Three Lions and featuring at five major tournaments. Walker, who won the last of those caps in a friendly against Senegal at the City Ground in June 2025, said it had been a "whirlwind of a journey" but the "book is now closed". "I am sad to be making this decision, but I'm also very proud of what I've achieved with England. Today is the time that comes to an end. It's good for me to have a little bit of closure to my career on the international stage," he said. Walker made his debut for England against Spain in November 2011 and went on to establish himself as a regular for the Three Lions. The former Sheffield United, Tottenham and Manchester City defender played at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the European Championships in 2016, 2021 and 2024. He was a key player in Sir Gareth Southgate's England side, helping them to successive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024. Walker was selected in both of Uefa's teams of the tournament at the Euros and was the Three Lions' vice-captain for the latter. None of this, though, was enough to keep him in the favour of current England manager Thomas Tuchel, who left him out of his most recent squad. Walker said to win so many caps is a "great honour" that he is "extremely proud of" and hopes to have played his part in leaving behind a positive legacy in how the national side are perceived. "We've tried to change the way that people look at English football. We've tried to change the way that the media looks at football and we've tried to take a little bit of the pressure off that you feel playing for England," added Walker, who scored his solitary international goal against Ukraine in September 2023. "Of course, I think there should be some pressure playing for your country, but we should all carry that because we're the chosen ones who are lucky enough to pull on that shirt and represent our country."

Manchester City will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup, following the draw made on Monday ahead of the fifth-round tie between West Ham United and Brentford at the London Stadium According to a statement on the Emirates FA website, the draw was conducted by former FA Cup winners and West Ham players Joe Cole and Joe Hart. League One side Port Vale, who beat Sunderland in the previous round, will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, while Championship side Southampton will host Arsenal at St. Mary’s. The fourth tie will be an all-Premier League clash between the winners of West Ham United and Brentford against Leeds United. The quarter-finals are scheduled to take place across the weekend of April 4, 2026, with the final schedule to be confirmed following talks with clubs, broadcast partners and local authorities. THE DRAW: Southampton v Arsenal Chelsea v Port Vale Manchester City v Liverpool West Ham United or Brentford v Leeds United Who are you rooting for?

Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said the club’s president Joan Laporta scuppered the return of all-time great Lionel Messi in 2023 to avoid a power struggle The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and then two years later moved to MLS side Inter Miami. “Leo was signed, in January 2023 after winning the World Cup, we got in touch and he told me he wanted to come back. We had the green light from La Liga (financially), but it was the president who threw it away,” Xavi told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia late on Sunday. “Laporta told me, word for word, that if Leo came back he was going to wage war against him and that he couldn’t allow that. And then suddenly Leo stopped answering my calls because he’d been told that it couldn’t be done.” Xavi said everything was ready for Messi’s return, there was “no doubt” in a football sense and “we were going to do a last dance, like (former NBA star Michael) Jordan’s”. Laporta, who resigned as president a few weeks ago to run for re-election this week, suggested Monday former coach Xavi was bitter and said Messi’s father and agent Jorge had told him the superstar had decided not to come back. “With Xavi I saw we were going to lose and with (current coach Hansi) Flick that we will win. I understand that (Xavi) is hurt — with the same players Flick wins,” Laporta said at a presidential debate Monday. Laporta said he sent a contract to Jorge Messi who later came to his house and told him that “here there would be too much pressure” if the forward returned. Messi is Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals and won a club-record 34 trophies at Camp Nou. Laporta also claimed Barca rejected a 250 million euro ($288 million) offer from PSG for teenage superstar Lamine Yamal, reported to have been made in the summer of 2024.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moved to within two games of breaking a decades-old NBA record as he scored 27 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-97 home win over the Golden State Warriors He has scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games for the defending champions, a sequence that began on 1 November 2024. The legendary Wilt Chamberlain holds the record of 126 games - set between October 1961 and January 1963. The Thunder host the Denver Nuggets on Monday and the Boston Celtics on Thursday. Victory at Paycom Center was the Thunder's fifth in a row. They became the first side to 50 wins this season and sit top of the Western Conference. The Warriors - again missing the injured Stephen Curry - scored seven unanswered points to reduce the Thunder's lead to 99-97 before a three-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute. Michael Porter Jr scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets came from 23 points down to win 107-105 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons and end a 10-game losing streak. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the visiting Utah Jazz 113-99. Jalen Johnson's 35 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists helped the Atlanta Hawks to a 125-116 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 19-point first-half deficit to win 123-120 at the Memphis Grizzlies. The Orlando Magic won 119-92 at the Minnesota Timberwolves despite Anthony Edwards' 34 points for the hosts.

LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals scored in NBA history as the Los Angeles Lakers lost at the Denver Nuggets on Thursday James scored 16 points for the Lakers in the 120-113 defeat and passed Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 15,837 during the first quarter. The 41-year-old, who is playing in an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, passed Abdul-Jabbar to become the top scorer in NBA history in February 2023. Last year he became the first player to reach 50,000 points combined in the regular season and post-season, and currently has 43,127 in the regular season alone. "Being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling," said James, the league's four-time Most Valuable Player. "I grew up watching, reading [about], idolising a lot of the greats, and if I was able to be part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in position that I can be named with some of the greats by doing something right. It's a pretty cool feat, but it's hard for me to kind of wrap my head around it or what it looks like." Lakers coach JJ Redick likened the evolution of James' career to that of Bruce Springsteen, saying: "You get to the end and you're like, 'this guy's greatest hits are like insane'. "And LeBron's greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them. He just plays and plays and plays and the greatest hits, he's got a hell of a catalogue." James passed Abdul-Jabbar's points record before field goals as three-point shots were introduced midway through the NBA legend's career. The six-time champion spent most of his 20-year career with the Lakers and retired in 1989 having scored 55.9% of his 28,307 shots. James has a 51.6% scoring rate. The four-time champion is set to claim another record as Thursday's game was his 1,606th in the regular season, putting him five behind Robert Parish. James earned his 22nd All-Star selection this year and says he has not decided whether he will continue playing next season. Fellow All Stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each scored 28 points for Denver, who stayed fifth in the Western Conference standings, one spot above the Lakers. Second-placed San Antonio claimed their 13th victory from 14 games, with Victor Wembanyama returning to top form with 38 points and 16 rebounds as the Spurs won 121-106 at home against the Detroit Pistons, who lead the Eastern Conference.

Barcelona will be without defenders Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde for their Champions League last 16 tie against Newcastle after they were diagnosed with hamstring injuries on Wednesday Both players were taken off hurt during Barca’s 3-0 Copa del Rey semi-final win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, with the Catalans ousted 4-3 on aggregate. “The time of the recovery process (for Balde) will be four weeks,” said Barcelona in a statement, without specifying how long Kounde will miss. Spanish media reported that France international Kounde, 27, is likely to be sidelined for a similar length of time. As well as the Champions League matches, the duo will also miss La Liga games against Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona are currently also without midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who also has a hamstring injury. The injury makes Kounde a doubt for France’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States at the end of March, in the build-up to this summer’s World Cup. Balde is a Spain international but has been behind Marc Cucurella and Alex Grimaldo in coach Luis de la Fuente’s pecking order.

FIFA on Wednesday confirmed the final line-up for the inter-confederation play-off tournament, naming DR Congo as Africa’s representative The development by the football governing body has dashed Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In an accreditation notice circulated to journalists ahead of the competition, FIFA detailed the tournament format and listed the six participating nations. DR Congo’s inclusion leaves no room for Nigeria, whose football federation had challenged the result of their defeat in the CAF play-offs in November 2025. The Nigeria Football Federation lodged a formal protest, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the decisive tie, which ended 1-1 and went to penalties, where Nigeria lost. The appeal sought to overturn the result and secure the Super Eagles’ place in the inter-continental play-offs. Confirming the development in a statement, FIFA said, “The FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament will see six teams fight it out for the final two places at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States across 16 Host Cities.” “All of the six teams have now been decided, with Bolivia, Congo DR, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname confirmed as qualifiers.” The play-off tournament gets underway on March 26.

Real Madrid and Brazil forward Rodrygo has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is set to be sidelined for up to seven months, ruling him out of the World Cup, the club have confirmed The Brazil international will undergo surgery, as confirmed by Los Blancos in a statement. “Following tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg,” the club said. The 25-year-old featured for more than 30 minutes after coming off the bench in Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Getafe, but will now sit out for the rest of the season. Rodrygo becomes the fifth Madrid player to suffer an ACL injury since the summer of 2023. Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal have all sustained similar injuries, while Eder Militao has endured two ACL ruptures in that period, in August 2023 and November 2024. He has scored three goals in 27 appearances this season, starting just six La Liga matches and two Champions League fixtures. His absence further stretches Madrid’s injury list. Jude Bellingham has been out since early February with a hamstring injury sustained against Rayo Vallecano, while Militao has also been sidelined with a hamstring problem since December. Top scorer Kylian Mbappe has been managing ongoing knee discomfort since December and recently travelled to Paris for additional assessment and treatment. Madrid currently sit second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona. They face Celta Vigo on Friday before hosting Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on March 11, now without one of their key attacking options for the foreseeable future.

Captain and forward for Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, has left Saudi Arabia for Madrid, Spain, following escalating tensions in the Middle East after US-Israeli strikes in Iran According to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, the 41-year-old departed Riyadh late at night aboard his £61 million ($81 million) Bombardier Global Express 6500 private jet. His reported departure follows regional strikes. The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones overnight, and Iranian state media reported that a command and staff building in Bahrain had also been destroyed. “Riyadh, where Ronaldo lives with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and their five children, has been affected by attacks linked to the regional conflict,” the report said. Flightradar24 confirmed that the aircraft “departed Riyadh at 8:00 pm and arrived in Madrid at almost 1:00 am, flying a path over Egypt and the Mediterranean.” The move follows US-Israeli military strikes in Iran on February 28, 2026, which reportedly killed several Iranian leaders. Iranian state media confirmed early on March 1 that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed, declaring 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday. The Saudi Ministry of Defence said, “A limited fire broke out at the United States Embassy in Riyadh after it was hit by two drones,” noting the strike caused “minor material damage.”

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been diagnosed with a left knee sprain and will not have surgery at this stage The 27-year-old France international has been struggling with an injury to the external ligament of his left knee since the end of 2025. He missed last week's Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica and travelled to Paris for more tests. Mbappe will be absent for the La Liga fixture with Getafe on Monday, while his availability to face Manchester City in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie next week is not clear. Real Madrid said "the diagnosis of a sprain in his left knee has been confirmed" and Mbappe will continue with the current course of "conservative treatment". Mbappe's representatives said he was in the French capital with members of the Real Madrid medical staff. "In agreement with the club, he is undergoing further tests on his knee with the aim of optimising his follow-up care and preparing for his comeback. No surgical intervention is being planned at the moment," said a statement. Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said last week the decision to allow Mbappe, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances for the club this season, time to get back to full fitness was a mutual one. "It was a bit of a consensus between everyone and we think the best thing is that he stops, that he recovers and comes back at 100%,. It's not going to be a question of days, it will be a bit longer, but I can't say how long. Hopefully not too long." Arbeloa said.

Floyd Mayweather will fight veteran Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in an exhibition bout in June before his rematch with Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao, 47, and Mayweather, 49, will fight at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, 19 September, live on Netflix, in a rematch of their 2015 'Fight of the Century' - the richest bout in boxing history. And former five-weight champion Mayweather - who announced he would come out of retirement for a fourth time two weeks ago - has decided to take on Zambidis in Athens to prepare for his first professional boxing match in nine years. "2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for me. I'm on the way to entertain!! Athens, Greece, get ready. This summer will be a legendary battle," American Mayweather said on Instagram. Zambidis, 45, boasts a 157-24 kickboxing record with 87 KOs. His last official fight was in June 2015. Mayweather has not had a pro bout since beating mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor with a 10th-round technical knockout in 2017.

Chelsea will play holders Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last 16 while Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the knockout stages for a fifth straight season Although six Premier League clubs have qualified for the last 16 there will be no all-English ties, with leaders Arsenal to face Bayer Leverkusen. Newcastle United will meet Barcelona, Liverpool take on Galatasaray and Tottenham have been drawn against Atletico Madrid. The first legs will be played on 10 and 11 March, with the second legs to take place on 17 and 18 March. Newcastle are at home for their first leg with Barca, while their Premier League rivals are all at home for their second leg having qualified for the last 16 automatically. Chelsea's tie with PSG is a rematch of last year's Fifa Club World Cup final, when the Blues beat the European champions 3-0 in New Jersey. Man City, Newcastle and Liverpool all met their opponents during the league phase of this season's competition, with City's win in Madrid in December their ninth meeting with Real since April 2022. City's director of football Hugo Viana said: "It's a big game for both teams. It's like a final, we are happy to go there again." Liverpool ambassador Ian Rush added: "I think our advantage is that the second leg is at home. I think the atmosphere at Anfield is second to none and, hopefully, that will come into it." The route to the final is already known and if Newcastle and Tottenham both progress, they will meet in the quarter-finals, as will Chelsea and Liverpool in the other half of the draw. The final will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, 30 May.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become co-owner of Spanish second division side Almeria by acquiring a 25% share in the club The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward has bought his stake in Almeria, who are owned by a Saudi Arabian investment consortium led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, through his recently formed CR7 Sports Investments company. While the financial details have not been disclosed, Ronaldo said in a statement he was looking forward to working with the leadership team "to support the next phase of the club's growth". The Portugal international added: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch. Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth." President Al-Khereiji said: "[Ronaldo] is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy." Last year, Al-Khereiji's SMC Group acquired Almeria from Turki Al-Sheikh, who is chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), a Saudi government department. Ronaldo spent nine successful years in Spain playing for Real Madrid, winning La Liga twice and lifting the Champions League four times before joining Italian side Juventus in 2018. He has played for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League since 2022 and is the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m. Almeria were founded in 1989 are third in Segunda, two points off leaders Real Racing with 15 games to go.

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Toronto Raptors to extend their winning run and close in on NBA Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder Devin Vassell scored 21 points and De'Aaron Fox 20 as the visitors triumphed 110-107 at Scotiabank Arena to claim a 10th successive win for the first time since the 2015-16 season. Victor Wembanyama scored only 12 points for the Spurs but made a crucial block - his fifth of the game - with 44 seconds remaining. The Spurs improved to 42-16, while the Thunder are 45-15 after losing 124-116 at Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren scored 29 points apiece for the Pistons, while the NBA's Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a ninth straight game for the Thunder because of injury. The Pistons improved to 43-14, going ahead of the Thunder for the league's best record and extending their lead the top of the Eastern Conference above the Boston Celtics, who lost 103-84 at the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Nuggets. The Milwaukee Bucks overcame the continued absence of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with a calf injury to win 118-116 at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs were without new signing James Harden after he suffered a broken thumb in Tuesday's win over the New York Knicks. The Houston Rockets beat the Sacramento Kings 128-97 - their biggest victory of the season - while the Golden State Warriors won 133-112 at the Memphis Grizzlies.

Players who receive treatment for an injury could be forced to stay off the field for one minute under proposals from FIFA It is one of a number of measures to tackle tempo disruption and time lost which are set to be approved at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual general meeting on Saturday. At present there is no stipulation in the laws over how long injured players have to remain on the sidelines. Leagues have the right to set their own guidelines, with the Premier League adopting a 30-second rule since the 2023-24 season. FIFA held its own trials at the Arab Cup in December which required a player to stay off the field for two minutes. FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina says the two-minute rule is intended to reduce time-wasting and improve the flow of the game. It mirrors an approach taken by Major League Soccer, which is triggered if a player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the physio comes on. At an IFAB meeting in January it was agreed a fixed period should be added to the laws, but there was disagreement over the length of time and strong pushback against two minutes.

UEFA on Monday suspended midfielder Gialuca Prestianni from Benfica’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid this week after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior UEFA’s disciplinary body, who are still investigating the alleged incident from last week’s first leg, said in a statement that they had decided to provisionally suspend Prestianni for the next UEFA club competition match. “Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and upon request of the EDI with an interim report, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) today decided to provisionally suspend Mr. Gianluca Prestianni for the next (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible for the prima facie violation of Article 14 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) related to a discriminatory behaviour. “This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies,” the football body said. The decision follows allegations of discriminatory behaviour during the first-leg encounter on February 17, 2026, in Lisbon, where Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory. The incident occurred after Vinícius Júnior scored, leading to a heated confrontation in which the Brazilian forward accused Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him, specifically the term “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”), while covering his mouth with his shirt. The referee invoked UEFA’s anti-racism protocol, resulting in a roughly 10-minute pause in play as the matter was addressed on the field. Vinícius initially appeared reluctant to continue but eventually resumed, later posting on social media that “racists are, above all, cowards.” Prestianni could face further sanctions, including a potential multi-match ban, depending on the evidence presented, which may include referee reports, match footage, witness statements, and player testimonies. He has denied making any racist remark, claiming instead that he used a homophobic slur (an anti-gay insult in Spanish) rather than a racial one. Benfica has publicly backed its player, expressing confidence in his character while the club reportedly prepares arguments to challenge or mitigate the sanction. The case has reignited broader discussions about racism in football, particularly given Vinícius Júnior’s history of facing similar abuse in Spain and Europe. Prestianni’s absence represents a blow to Benfica’s attacking options ahead of the decisive return leg, where Real Madrid holds a narrow advantage.

Al Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo has reached a remarkable milestone, scoring 500 goals after turning 30, further cementing his status as one of the greatest goal scorers in football history Since celebrating his 30th birthday in February 2015, Ronaldo has continued to defy age, maintaining an extraordinary scoring rate across club and international competitions. His goals have come in top leagues, European tournaments, and for the Portugal national football team, demonstrating his consistency and longevity at the highest level of the game. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Saturday, Romano was quoted as saying, “Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored 500 goals after turning 30.” Ronaldo’s brace against Al-Hazem FC on Saturday took his total career goals to 964, bringing him closer to the coveted 1,000-goal milestone. The achievement highlights Ronaldo’s dedication to fitness, technique, and sharpness in front of goal. Very few players in football history have sustained such prolific scoring well into their 30s. This milestone adds to an already glittering career that includes multiple UEFA Champions League titles, league championships in England, Spain, and Italy, and the prestigious UEFA European Championship with Portugal. Ronaldo’s 500-goal tally after turning 30 underscores why he remains a dominant figure in world football, continuing to inspire fans and young players around the globe.

Jake Paul has revealed he has undergone a second surgery on a broken jaw suffered during his knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua in December Paul, 29, suffered a sixth-round knockout against Joshua on December 19 after being dominated throughout the fight. The defeat was Paul’s first since losing to Tommy Fury via unanimous decision in August 2023, having recorded victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr since then. ‘The Problem Child’ was taken to hospital after the bout, where it was subsequently confirmed that he had suffered a double broken jaw as a result of Joshua’s knockout blow. Paul had titanium plates inserted into his mouth which limited him to consuming liquids for the following seven days. Over the past two weeks, the American has been in Milan supporting his fiancee, Jutta Leerdam, during her 2026 Winter Olympics programme. The Dutch speed skater won gold in the women’s 1000 metres competition, before securing a silver medal in the 500m. Paul was left in floods of tears after Leerdam won her first Olympic gold, adding to the silver she won at Beijing 2022. Now, Paul has taken to Instagram to announce that, following the pair’s return to the United States, he has undergone a second jaw surgery. He wrote, “Had to get another jaw surgery. The screws and plates were coming loose because apparently I didn’t rest for the past 2 months whaattttttttt.” He shared photos of himself sat on a hospital bed, and in a wheelchair with Leerdam assisting him. Paul then posted two AI videos of a bionic jaw, which was attached to his mouth where his real jaw would be. He then pulled the bionic mechanism away to show an entirely mechanical mouth. “Ask how I get millions of views. Pretty wild, right?” he added, before ‘reattaching’ the jaw to restore his real face to the camera.

Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba has called out Oleksandr Usyk, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury days after brutally stopping former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin in the fourth round of his Zuffa Boxing debut in Las Vegas Ajagba dropped Martin in the third round with a devastating right hand before finishing the job early in the fourth, with referee Thomas Taylor waving off the contest at 1:11 after a barrage of rights left the American helpless on the canvas. The victory, which improved Ajagba’s record to 21-1-1 with 15 knockouts, cemented his status as a top-10 heavyweight and prompted the 31-year-old to demand bigger fights. “My last fight after Martin Bakole, they didn’t give me a shot against Usyk because it was a draw,” Ajagba said at the post-fight press conference. “I want to fight Usyk, I wish I’d won the fight as they could have given it to me. But Usyk, Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll fight anyone in the top ten.” A showdown with unified champion Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, remains a possibility, though the Ukrainian has been pursuing a voluntary defence after talks over a fight with Wilder collapsed. Wilder chose instead to face Derek Chisora on April 4 in London. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has since said Usyk must face interim WBC champion Agit Kabayel after his voluntary defence, which could further complicate Ajagba’s push for a title shot. However, Ajagba’s path to the big names could open up if Usyk follows through on reported talks with Zuffa Boxing promoter Dana White over a potential move to the promotion. Usyk’s team director Sergey Lapin told talkSPORT Bet, “There is contact, there is dialogue, and interest exists from Dana White and Zuffa Boxing. Details aren’t for the public right now. Let’s say a few doors are open, and if format, numbers, and timing align, the market could see a move nobody expects.”

England winger Bukayo Saka has signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal until 2031 The agreement will make Saka the club's best-paid player on wages in excess of £300,000 a week. Talks over a new deal have been ongoing for nearly a year, with Saka verbally agreeing to commit his future to the club in January. Saka signed his previous deal, which was due to expire in 2027, in 2023but his renewal means the 24-year-old has committed his peak years to the Gunners. The news comes as a major boost for the Gunners, as they battle on four fronts to win silverware for the first time since 2020. The agreement is the latest example of Arsenal tying down their key players to long-term contracts as they look to keep their title-chasing squad together. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly all signed new long-term contracts in the summer. Saka has scored seven goals in 33 appearances for the Gunners this term.He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2018 after coming through Arsenal's academy and has gone on to make 217 Premier League appearances, scoring 57 goals. Saka is 116 Premier League appearances behind Ray Parlour's record 333for the Gunners and will have been a professional at the club for 13 years when his new deal expires in 2031. He has scored 14 goals in 48 appearances for England and is expected to be part of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the World Cup which begins in June. Arsenal are four points clear at the top of the Premier League and they will face Manchester City in the EFL Cup final in March. The Gunners are also through to the the knockout stages of the Champions League, as well as the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Carlos Alcaraz says he was glad to get through some "difficult moments" against Arthur Rinderknech as he won his first match since triumphing at last month's Australian Open Top seed Alcaraz had to save two set points in the second set but won6-4 7-6 (7-5) against the unseeded Frenchman in the first round of the Qatar Open in Doha. It was seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz's first match since beating Novak Djokovic in Melbourne to become the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam. "It was really difficult. Arthur is a really dangerous player.Nobody wants to play against him in the first round, I'm happy with the level.I'm happy that I got through difficult moments in the match," said the Spaniard Alcaraz started well and broke to go 3-2 up, before comfortably seeing out the rest of the set to take it 6-4 with a deft volley at the net. World number 30 Rinderknech improved from there, earning two set points at 6-5, but Alcaraz, helped by his 28 winners in the match, saved them before coming out on top in the tie-break. He sealed victory with a forehand down the line and sets up a second-round tie against France's Valentin Royer, who beat countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-0 6-3. Victory was Alcaraz's 150th at tour level on hard courts and extended his flawless start to the 2026 season to 8-0.

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho says Real Madrid will be "wounded and dangerous" because of their dramatic defeat against his side in the Champions League last month as the sides prepare to meet again in the competition Benfica sealed their spot in the play-offs with an incredible 4-2victory against Madrid in the final match of the league phase, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a 98th-minute header. The defeat in Lisbon dropped the Spanish club, who have won the Champions League 15 times, from third to ninth and out of the automatic qualification spots. "They are wounded. And a wounded king is dangerous. We will play the first leg with our heads, ambition and confidence. We know what we did to the kings of the Champions League," said former Madrid coach Mourinho. Benfica, who are third in Portugal's Primeira Liga, host the first leg of the tie at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday by 9 pm Nigeria time. The Portuguese side looked to be heading out of the competition on goals scored,despite leading Madrid 3-2 with seconds remaining. But Benfica were awarded a free-kick against nine-man Real, who had Raul Asencio and Rodrygo sent off in added time, and Ukraine goalkeeper Trubin headed past opposite number Thibaut Courtois. Mourinho said the tie will be"very demanding, without a doubt". He added: "Trubin won't be in the attack at the Luz stadium. I'm very used to these kinds of ties. I've been doing it all my life. People often think you need a certain result in the first leg for this or that reason. I say there is no definitive result." The victory last month was Mourinho's first over his former club and meant Benfica reached the knockout stages despite losing their first four games in the league phase. Real, meanwhile, are top of the La Liga table, two points clear of rivals Barcelona in second place.

The Premier League and English Football League will resume their procedures for Ramadan, with matches pausing briefly to allow Muslim players to break their fast Ramadan starts this week and will last for a month. During the this time, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset. With sunset in the UK ranging from about 17:00 to 19:00 GMT during this period, the only games that could see a break in play will be Saturday's 17:30 kick-off and Sunday's 16:30 kick-off. As has been the case in previous years, club captains alongside match officials will find a natural pause in the game to allow Muslim players or match officials to break their fast. Teams and match officials will discuss beforehand whether a pause is required and an approximate time for the stoppage will be agreed. Play will not stop while matches are in mid-flow but at the earliest convenient moment during a goal-kick, free-kick or throw-in. In 2021, an agreement was put in place to allow Muslim players to break their fast during a Premier League match. This first break took place in a game between Leicester City and Crystal Palace in April 2021. The match was paused at a goal-kick around the half-hour mark to allow Leicester's Wesley Fofana and Palace's Cheikhou Kouyate, external to replenish themselves with liquids and energy gels. One of the five pillars of Islam is that during Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours to show their devotion to their religion. Muslim names in the Premier League include Mohamed Salah, William Saliba, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Amad Diallo among others. "In the Premier League you are free to do whatever suits you. They will never do anything against your faith and this is great," former Everton player Abdoulaye Doucoure said 2023. "I fast every day, I don't miss any day. It has become normal and very easy for me. Training is still the same during Ramadan but when we go [for away matches], we might need to eat later than the others so the chef prepares food for us, making sure everything is in place as at home. We get halal food so there are no problems," Doucoure added. And in 2022, former Liverpool player Sadio Mane revealed the club altered their training schedules to support their Muslim players during the month of Ramadan.

British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has disclosed that the potential fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury may eventually not happen Recall that the former heavyweight champion narrowly escaped death after last December’s car accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that killed two of his close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami. However, speaking on a potential fight between the two British boxers, Hearn stated that the fight may not see the light of day. “Before this terrible incident,we were geared up to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury. Obviously, that s not happening now, and I don’t know if it will ever happen right now,” Hearn told First Round TV – via The Sun. There’s been talk of the two towering Englishmen throwing down for years now. Even at this moment, when neither man is in possession of a word title belt, the possibility if the two former world champions squaring off would make fan’s mouths water, particularly in Britain. “Due to a horrible and deadly automobile accident involving Joshua early in the new year, however, all plans have had to be put on hold. The two former world heavyweight champions have never fought each other despite being close to a match-up in2021 which never materialised in what would have been a fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown.

Thomas Tuchel will remain in charge of England after signing a contract extension until 2028 Tuchel’s previous deal will end after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The German’s main backroom team – Anthony Barry, Henrique Hilario, Nico Mayer and James Melbourne – have also agreed extensions through to the end of Euro 2028. “I am very happy and proud to extend my time with England. It is no secret to anyone that I have loved every minute so far of working with my players and coaches, and I cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup,” Tuchel said. “It is an incredible opportunity and we are going to do our very best to make the country proud.” FA CEO Mark Bullingham added: “I am delighted Thomas has committed to stay with us through to the Euros in 2028.He was the right person for the job when he joined us for the World Cup campaign, and has only strengthened his reputation across the qualifiers. We know the players are right behind him, and the togetherness within the group is there for all to see. “There is simply no better candidate available in world football. With his big-game experience, knowledge and passion, he gives the squad the very best chance for success – this summer and with the once-in-a generation EURO being hosted on these shores in two years’ time. In Thomas, Anthony and the wider team, we have a perfect blend of English coaching and international expertise. Their full focus remains on doing as well as possible this summer, and by securing them early for 2028, we have taken away the potential distraction of contract renegotiations around the tournament.”

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on FIFA’s official resale platform, with seats for many matches listed at several times their face value even though most tickets have only recently been distributed following the end of the main sales phase in January Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that tickets made available on resale sites were likely to come with an exorbitant price tag, those fears have come to pass on world football’s own platform. As of Wednesday, a “category three”seat — the highest section of the stands — for the tournament’s opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324, compared to an original price of $895. One category three seat for the World Cup final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, meanwhile, was being advertised for an eye-watering $143,750 — more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450. The cheapest available ticket for the final on the resale site was listed at $9,775. In a few rare cases, though,some ticket prices have actually decreased. One ticket for Austria’s group game with Jordan at the Levi’s Stadium in California — which hosted Sunday’s Super Bowl — is being offered at $552 despite costing its original buyer $620. For football fans around the world,some of the prices on FIFA’s resale site are confirmation of what they have railed against since the tournament draw in December. “These exorbitant prices unfortunately don’t surprise me. It reflects what we know and what we fight against: many people buy to resell,” Guillaume Aupretre, spokesperson for the France national team supporters group “Irresistibles Francais”, which has nearly 2,500 members. “In the end, who pays the price? The passionate fans who end up with outrageous offers. We would prefer that this benefit real fans who come to support their team, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.” Yet despite the steep price tag, sales are main brisk, reflecting a global clamour that has seen some 500 million requests for tickets according to FIFA. While its resale platform benefits from FIFA’s endorsement, the football body specifies in its terms of sale that it acts only as a facilitator — for a 15% fee — in this fan-to-fan market, and that resellers are the ones who determine ticket prices. “Generally speaking, the pricing model adopted for FIFA World Cup 26 reflects the existing market practice for major entertainment and sporting events within our hosts on a daily basis, soccer included,” FIFA said in a statement. “This is also a reflection of the treatment of the secondary market for tickets, which has a distinct legal treatment than in many other parts of the world. We are focused on ensuring fair access to our game for existing but also prospective fans.” The resale market is unregulated in the United States and Canada. In Mexico, reselling a ticket above face value is prohibited, but only when the ticket is purchased in Mexico using the local currency. Ticketing has become one of the most controversial issues surrounding the World Cup, with fan groups around the world such as Football Supporters Europe accusing FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” over pricing. That in turn prompted FIFA to introduce a tiny sliver of tickets priced at $60 for official supporters groups. Critics maintain the cut-price category does not go far enough in addressing the problem. FIFA meanwhile has been notifying applicants since February 5 whether they have obtained tickets during thesecond sales phase, which ended in January. A final “last-minute” sales phase, from April until the end of the competition, will be organised on a “first-come,first-served” basis. During these sales phases, FIFA states that it applies “variable pricing” whereby prices fluctuate “according to demand and availability” for each match. However, it emphasises that it does not apply “a dynamic pricing model (…) given that prices are not automatically adjusted.”

Nottingham Forest have sacked Sean Dyche as head coach after just 114 days in charge and are looking for their fourth boss of the season Forest were held to a goalless draw at home by bottom club Wolves on Wednesday and are just three points above the Premier League relegation zone with 12 games remaining. Dyche, 54, succeeded Ange Postecoglou in October and had signed a contract until the summer of 2027. "Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach," a statement read. "We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time." Postecoglou lasted just 39 days in the job after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked just three matches into the 2025-26 campaign. They look set to become the first Premier League club to have four permanent managers in one season. Dyche took over at the City Ground with Forest 18th in the table after one win in eight games during a difficult start to the season. After a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth in his first match in charge, Dyche led Forest to four wins and one draw in their next seven to guide them out of the drop zone. A run of four consecutive defeats followed, but Dyche's side responded with a four-match unbeaten run - including a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers West Ham and a resilient goalless draw with leaders Arsenal. However, the improved form of Leeds United and West Ham has kept Forest mired in the relegation battle. Forest finished 13th in the Europa League group table, with four wins, two draws and two defeats in their eight matches, to reach the knockout phase. They face Turkish side Fenerbahce over two legs this month for the chance to reach the last 16, with the first leg taking place next Thursday. Forest are out of both domestic cup competitions, losing 3-2 to Swansea under Postecoglou in the EFL Cup third round in September and exiting the FA Cup on penalties to another Championship side, Wrexham, in the third round under Dyche last month.

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has expressed his desire to manage Real Madrid in future. Chelle enhanced his reputation as one of the best home grown coaches on the continent after guiding Nigeria to third position at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The 48-year-old has been linked with a number of countries after the tournament. Chelle said he want to make history as the first African to coach the multiple European champions. “My dream is to become the first African Acoach to manage Real Madrid,” he told RMCsport. The Malian, started his career with French Amateur side, Groupe Sportif Consolat in 2014. The former defender also coached Mali from 2022 to 2024.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has warned Arsenal that the race for the Premier League title is not yet over Haaland, who scored the winning goal in Man City’s 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield, made this known in an interview with the club’s website. His words serve as an early reminder that City’s challenge remains very much alive despite Arsenal’s current dominance. “Of course, and look at the emotions with the fans in the end, it was amazing. They deserve it, after supporting us, week in, week out, and, yeah, they definitely deserve to win at Anfield. “I’ve never won here before, so it’s amazing to come here and be able to win for the first time. As everyone knows, it’s not easy because of the history that City and Liverpool have had for the last decade. There’s also history behind it also. So, of course, it’s a good feeling. “It’s three points, simple as that, no matter who you play, if it is Tottenham or whatever. But I know what you mean. We’ve seen before that the title race is not over until it’s over.”

Serena Williams will be eligible to return to tennis from Sunday, 22 February - but it is unclear if or when the American great will make a comeback Williams' name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reinstatements list on Monday,meaning she can enter tournaments from the date specified, the organisation confirmed. However, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has not announced an official return after ending her career at the 2022 US Open. Retired players can be reinstated and return to sanctioned events once they have made themselves available for out-of-competition drug testing for at least six months. In December, the ITIA confirmed to BBC Sport that Williams was back on the list of players registered for the drug testing pool. Once a player is in the pool,they must let testers know where they will be for one hour of every day. Hours later, Williams, 44, posted on social media: "I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy." She then refused to rule out a comeback at the end of January, telling the Today Show: "I don't know, I'm just going to see what happens." Interviewer Savannah Guthrie pushed Williams further, saying "that's a maybe to me", and the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion said: "It's not a maybe." Asked whether she had re-entered the drug testing pool, Williams said: "I don't know if I was out. Listen,I can't discuss this. "If I want to put it [rumours] to bed... listen, I want to go to bed." Williams previously spoke about using weight-loss drugs in August and appeared in a commercial for the drug during Sunday's Super Bowl. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion has never liked the word retirement and instead said she was "evolving away"from the sport when she ended her career in New York. Only Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic have won more Grand Slam singles titles than Williams. Her haul of seven Australian Open titles, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons and six US Opens is the most majorsingles titles by any woman in the Open era. She and elder sister Venus, who is still active on the WTA Tour, won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic golds together.

Four players were ejected after amass brawl as the Detroit Pistons beat the Charlotte Hornets 110-104 in a bad-tempered NBA fixture Detroit's Jalen Duren was fouled by Charlotte's Moussa Diabate during the third quarter, with the pair then confronting one another and appearing to butt heads. Diabate had to be held back as he tried to hit Duren, before several other players got involved in the incident. Detroit forward Isaiah Stewart confronted Charlotte's Miles Bridges and put him in a headlock before appearing to strike him multiple times. The brawl lasted about 30 seconds, ending with a brief police presence on the floor. Diabate, Duren, Stewart, and Bridges were ejected - and Hornets coach Charles Lee was kicked out in the fourth quarter after he had to be restrained while angrily shouting at the officials having disagreed with a decision. "Emotions were flaring. At the end of the day, we would love to keep it basketball, but things happen.Everybody was just playing hard," Duren said after the match. "This isn't the first time that people have tried to be like extra aggressive with us and talk to us,whatever the case may be. At the end of the day, emotions got high with everybody being competitive. Things happen." Bridges later apologised to fans,writing on Instagram: "Sorry Hornets nation! Sorry Hornets Organization!Always going to protect my team-mates forever." Lead official John Goble said in a post-game report the players were ejected because they "engaged infighting activity during the dead ball". "After review, we assessed fighting fouls, and by rule, they were ejected from the game," he added. Lee, asked about the clash between Diabate and Duren that triggered the wider brawl, said: "Two guys got in a heated conversation and then it kind of spiralled from there." Of his own ejection in the fourth quarter, Lee added: "I've got to have a little bit better emotional control in that moment." Elsewhere, Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry will miss Sunday's All-Star game with an injury to his right knee. However,the Warriors are hopeful Curry will return after the All-Star break for the game against the Boston Celtics on 19 February.

The Saudi Pro League has warned Cristiano Ronaldo "no individual - however significant - determines decisions beyond their own club" amid doubts over his future at Al-Nassr The Portugal forward, 41, was left out of Al-Nassr's squad for Monday's Saudi Pro League game against Al-Riyadh. Portuguese outlet A Bola, external reported Ronaldo refused to play,having grown dissatisfied with how the club was being run by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). It was reported that former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema's move to league leaders Al-Hilal from Al-Nassr. French striker Benzema, 38,scored a hat-trick on his debut for Al-Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood on Thursday. Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal - the country's most successful club with19 league titles - are among the teams controlled by the PIF, which also backs Newcastle United. Ronaldo posted a picture of himself back in training on Wednesday, but Saudi Pro League officials are unsure if he will play against Al‑Ittihad on Friday. In a statement, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: "The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules. Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership.Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.That framework applies equally across the league. "Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club's growth and ambition," added the Saudi Pro League spokesperson."Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual - however significant - determines decisions beyond their own club. "Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters." Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022after leaving Manchester United mid-season, becoming the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m, but has only won the Arab Club Champions Cup with them. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner signed a new two-year contract in June 2025. Before he agreed the new deal, however, there was speculation he might leave Al-Nassr with a loan move to rivals Al-Hilal among those touted. Al-Nassr only signed IraqUnder-23 midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem in the January transfer window. Al-Hilal are unbeaten in the league this season and lead with 50 points after 20 games,while Al-Nassr are four points behind in third place, although they have a game in hand. The Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: "The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended. "The focus remains on football - on the pitch, where it belongs - and on maintaining a credible,competitive competition for players and fans."

James Harden is set to join Cleveland Cavaliers from Los Angeles Clippers, with Darius Garland moving in the opposite direction after the sides agreed a trade Harden, 36, is an 11-time NBA All-Star and regarded as one of the greatest guards in history, but he has never won an NBA title. Although the deal is yet to be confirmed by the NBA,Harden said the opportunity to win a first championship was key in deciding to move. Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference in their pursuit of a play-off spot, while the Clippers are ninth in the West. "I see an opportunity to win in the East - they got a very good team, coaching staff, all of the above. As much as I wanted to stay in LA and give it a go, I've never won one before. Asa basketball mind, I think we have a bit better chance," Harden told ESPN. Harden has helped Clippers climb the table after a dismal 6-21 start this season, but sat out Sunday's defeat by Philadelphia 76ers while talks with Cavaliers progressed. Harden,who won the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 while with Houston Rockets, denied speculation that he requested a trade from Clippers. "That wasn't the case at all. In life, not even just basketball, when things don't work out, there are ways to end things in relationships without having to crack each other,"he said. Maybe we just don't see a future with each other. Maybe we just outgrew each other. Whatever the case may be, I feel like our situations weren't like that." Across stints at five franchises, Harden has scored 28,805 points, putting him ninth on the NBA's all-time list. Cavaliers have not won a title since 2016. Garland, 26, averages 18 points this season in a campaign blighted by injury. As part of the trade, Clippers secured a second-round pick for this year's draft. Clippers host Cavaliers on Wednesday, but Harden and Garland must pass medicals before the trade is confirmed.

Atletico Madrid have signed Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in a deal worth £30.3m Lookman will be the first English-born player to have played in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga. Just 21 players have done so, while only three - Christian Poulsen, Justin Kluivert and Stevan Jovetic - have featured in all of Europe's"big five" leagues, which also includes France's Ligue 1. The London-born 28-year-old has played in Serie A since 2022, scoring 55 times and making 27 assists following a move from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. His goals included a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, which secured the club's first European trophy. In 2024, he was named African Footballer of the Year and was also the only African player on the men's Ballon d'Or shortlist that year, finishing 14th. He represented England at youth level, winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017, before making his debut for Nigeria in 2022. Atletico, who are third in Spain's top flight and trail leaders Barcelona by ten points, announced they had agreed a deal with Atalanta on Monday before confirming that Lookman has signed until June 2030 on transfer deadline day. He began his career at Charlton Athletic, playing his first game in 2015, before moving to Everton two years later, where he scored on his Premier League debut. Following a successful loan spell, he then moved permanently to Leipzig in July 2019. He then had season-long loans with Fulham and Leicester City before making the switch to Italy.

Spanish club, Real Madrid and the Three Lions of England are waiting to discover if midfielder Jude Bellingham faces a spell out after he suffered a hamstring injury during the 2-1 win against Rayo Vallecano The England international, 22,was in tears as he was replaced by Brahim Diaz after pulling his left hamstring less than 10 minutes into the La Liga match at the Bernabeu. England play friendlies against Uruguay on 27 March and Japan on 31 March before manager Thomas Tuchel names his World Cup squad in May. After his side’s win, Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa said he "didn't know anything" about the severity of the injury. But on Sunday night the La Liga side confirmed Bellingham had sustained a hamstring injury and was awaiting further tests on the issue. "Jude was in perfect condition to play and has given everything. "It's a very important loss,but I have an extraordinary squad," added Arbeloa. "Let's not forget that there are 17 players here who were European champions a year-and-a-half ago. With them, we will overcome whatever situations come our way."

Carlos Alcaraz won a pulsating Australian Open final to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam - ending Novak Djokovic's latest attempt to land a 25th major title in the process The 22-year-old immediately collapsed on the court in celebration after clinching a 2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5 victory in Melbourne. Despite his disappointment, Djokovic showed his sportsmanship by clambering over the net to warmly congratulate Alcaraz on creating a slice of history. However, the Serb great will know he may never have another better opportunity to underline his place as the greatest player of all-time. Afterwards, the 10-time champion placed doubt on whether he would be on court in Melbourne again. Spanish world number one Alcaraz struggled in the opening exchanges as Djokovic used all his nous to dominate. But Alcaraz found more rhythm from the baseline and outlasted the fourth seed to claim his seventh major title. Alcaraz is only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments - the Australian Open, French Open,Wimbledon and US Open - and the first since Djokovic in 2016. His victory means Djokovic's wait to break his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles title goes on. Djokovic has been tied with Australia's Court - who was watching on Rod Laver Arena - since winning the2023 US Open. Over the past two seasons, Alcaraz and Italy's Jannik Sinner have emerged as the dominant forces in the men's game. Alcaraz's maiden win on the Melbourne hard courts means the pair have lifted the past nine major trophies between them. Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to beat second seed Sinner in Friday's semi-finals, but beating both of his younger opponents back-to-back always looked like being a step too far.

Elena Rybakina inflicted further Grand Slam final heartbreak on world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a dramatic third-set fightback to win her first Australian Open title Kazakh fifth seed Rybakina was3-0 down in the final set, with Sabalenka looking set for a fifth major singles trophy. However, Rybakina won five successive games before completing a 6-4 4-66-4 victory to avenge her loss to two-time winner Sabalenka in the 2023 final. This was US Open champion Sabalenka's third defeat in her past four major finals, following disappointing losses in last year's Australian Open and French Open showpieces. The Belarusian had broken Rybakina's impressive serve late in the second set and again early in the decider to take control in her bid for a third Australian Open title in four years. But Sabalenka surrendered her advantage, tightening as the finish line drew closer and producing three unforced errors to allow Rybakina to break for a second time and hit the front. The 26-year-old Rybakina then maintained her composure superbly to serve out the match with an ace and claim her second major trophy following her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.

Anthony Joshua has posted a video - described as a "short message from the heart" - thanking fans for their support following the deaths of his two close friends in a car crash The former world heavyweight champion, 36, sustained minor injuries in the incident in Nigeria on 29 December which killed Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele. Joshua, along with Ghami and Ayodele, were passengers in the vehicle when it collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos. Ghami and Ayodele were both pronounced dead at the scene, while Joshua was pictured being helped from the wreckage. In a six-minute video posted on his social media channels, the British heavyweight acknowledged supporters worldwide "who were showing so much love, support through that tragic, traumatic time". He added:"One day my time will come and I'm not scared either at all. "It's actually comforting knowing I got two brothers on the other side. I've lost people before, but I don't think I've lost people like that. My left and my right." The two friends were also part of Joshua's team, with Ghami his strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele his personal trainer. Joshua said the trio formed a close bond and were living together, adding: "We became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants. We became generals. We became everything." Last week, Adeniyi Kayode, 46, the chauffeur who was driving the LexusSUV, appeared in court in Nigeria and has been charged with four offences, including causing death by dangerous driving. Joshua continued: "Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives. It's tough.It's really tough." Joshua added he will help Ghami and Ayodele's families "achieve their goals" and "fulfill their dreams". "I'm sure their parents 100% are proud of them [because] Iam." Earlier this month, Joshua returned to the gym, posting a video on Snapchat of him hitting the pads and working out, with the message "mental strength therapy". While Joshua has not said whether he will fight again,promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will return to boxing "when the time is right".

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov in the UK on 11 April as he ends his latest spell of retirement. The fight, which will be broadcast on Netflix, will be Fury's first since he lost his rematch with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024. The Briton,37, retired a month after that defeat but announced his return to boxing earlier this month. "Excited to be back. Heart's always been and always will be in boxing. Someone go tell the king that the ace is back!" Fury said. Russian Makhmudov, 36, has won 21 of his 23 fights and beat Briton Dave Allen in his last bout in October. Fury, who announced his retirement for the first time in2022, has not fought in the UK since December 2022 when he beat Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to retain the WBC title. The Morecambe fighter has 34 victories from 37 fights - winning 24 by knockout -losing two and drawing one. He has enjoyed two stints as world champion,beating Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO belts in 2015and claiming the WBC title in 2020 with victory over Deontay Wilder, but has never reigned as undisputed champion. Fury's two career defeats came in successive bouts against Usyk in 2024 and he has spoken of a desire to avenge those losses this year.

Serena Williams has refused to rule out returning to professional tennis after recently filing the necessary paperwork. Williams,who won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, retired after the 2022 US Open. In December, the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed to BBC Sport that the 44-year-old was back on the list of players registered for the drug testing pool. At the time, the American said she was "not coming back" but during an interview on the Today Show on Wednesday, Williams did not rule out stepping back on to the court. "I don't know, I'm just going to see what happens," Williams said. Interviewer Savannah Guthrie pushed Williams further, saying "that's a maybe tome", and the seven-time Wimbledon champion said "It's not a maybe". Williams- a mother of two - said she recently put stay-at-home mum and housewife as her occupation on a form. Asked whether she had re-entered the drug testing pool,Williams said: "I don't know if I was out. Listen, I can't discuss this. "If I want to put it [rumours] to bed... listen, I want to go to bed." Players are only eligible to return to competition once they have spent six months in the testing pool. Williams' name appeared on a document published by the International Tennis Integrity Agency on 6 October. Every active player is subject to out-of-competition testing. But those in the testing pool - which is largely comprised of the top 100 singles, doubles and wheelchair players as well as returning athletes - must let the testers know where they will be for one hour of every single day.

On the evidence of what Iga Swiatek showed across the first four rounds, it never truly felt like she would complete the career Grand Slam at this year's Australian Open Swiatek's bid for the clean sweep was ended by Elena Rybakina in the Melbourne quarter-finals, with the Kazakh fifth seed triumphing 7-5 6-1. Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek's serve has been far from solid during the tournament, the Pole having won fewer games with the ball than any other quarter-finalist and being broken the most times alongside Coco Gauff. Swiatek changed her service technique during the off-season, but the 24-year-old has historically struggled against aggressive opponents on the quicker Melbourne courts. And former Wimbledon champion Rybakina, known for her powerful game from the baseline,ruthlessly took advantage. Swiatek can already be ranked among the greats, having won six major titles across the three different surfaces. Mastering the Wimbledon grass last year - a surface considered her weakest - meant she arrived in Melbourne attempting to become only the sixth woman in the Open era to win all four Grand Slam singles titles. Swiatek insisted she was blocking out the outside noise about what was at stake but perhaps she did not fully believe she could win in Australia, given the changes to her serve and the conditions. That doubt played perfectly into Rybakina's hands. Rybakina could not initially find her rhythm on her serve, with an uncharacteristically low first-serve percentage of 41%, but she had enough pace and aggression in her groundstrokes to rush Swiatek. That was demonstrated in the crucial 12th game. Rybakina fought back from 0-30 with depth from the baseline and explosive winners to take the opener. Rybakina immediately took control of the second set, her groundstrokes flying through the court, and Swiatek could do little to halt her momentum. Rybakina, runner-up in 2023, will face American sixth seed Jessica Pegula in Thursday's semi-finals. Pegula, 31, won 6-2 7-6 (7-1)against fourth seed Amanda Anisimova later on Wednesday.

Manchester United's Patrick Dorgu is likely to be out for a number of weeks after injuring his hamstring during Sunday's 3-2 win at Arsenal The 21-year-old, who lashed in United's second goal from the edge of the box, limped off in the closing stages of the match with what interim head coach Michael Carrick hoped was cramp. It is more significant than that but sources say the Denmark international is still being assessed and the timescale for his absence is not clear. The in-form Dorgu, who joined United as a wing-back from Italian club Lecce 12 months ago, has excelled in an advanced left-sided attacking role under Carrick, and also scored in the previous win over Manchester City. United have eight Premier League games before the March international break, when Dorgu is expected to be involved for Denmark in the World Cup play-offs. Dorgu's absence could lead to a greater role for Matheus Cunha, who has started United's past two games on the substitutes' bench but scored the winner against Arsenal.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl says the German club are in talks with Harry Kane about extending the striker's contract The 32-year-old England captain joined on a four-year deal from Tottenham in August 2023 in a move worth an initial 100m euros (£86.4m). Kane has since scored 119 goals and registered 30assists in 126 games for Bayern and clinched the first major trophy of his career when he helped them win the 2024-25 Bundesliga title. "We're talking to Harry,we're talking. Everyone knows at some point a decision has to be made,"Eberl said at a Bundesliga event in Frankfurt. In October, Kane said he"could definitely" see himself staying at Bayern, and that his desire to return to the Premier League had "gone down a little bit". Thisseason he has scored 34 times in 30 games for Vincent Kompany's side, including21 goals in 19 Bundesliga outings as he tries to beat former Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign. Kane has also helped Bayern to second place in the Champions League group phase table with one game to go. "Harry has great confidence in us and he feels comfortable in Munich. He and his family are settled in.Therefore we've got absolutely no reason to rush," said Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen.

Luka Doncic put on another scoring masterclass with 46 points as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 129-118victory at the Chicago Bulls The Slovenia guard's haul included eight three-pointers, and he also registered seven rebounds and 12assists at the United Center to end the Bulls' four-game unbeaten run. Doncic becomes the quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points - achieving the feat in his65th game since he was traded by the Dallas Mavericks last February. It was the fourth match in a row that the 26-year-old has finished with more than 30 points and he tops the NBA scoring charts with an average of 33.8 points per game. He joins Kobe Bryant as the only players in Lakers history with at least 45 points, 10 assists and five three-pointers in a single game. LeBron James added 24 points,five rebounds and three assists for the Lakers with Rui Hachimura hitting 23points off the bench. Despite Doncic's achievements, Lakers coach JJ Redick admitted after the game that the superstar still gives him some anxious moments on the sidelines.

Aryna Sabalenka maintained her pursuit of a third Australian Open title in four years with a dominant quarter-final victory over teenager Iva Jovic - but third seed Coco Gauff suffered a 59-minute demolition at the hands of Elina Svitolina World number one Sabalenka said her mentality is trophy or nothing after overpowering rising American star Jovic 6-3 6-0. The 27-year-old Belarusian has a favourable 5-1head-to-head record against Svitolina - but she will be wary after the Ukrainian dismantled Gauff 6-1 6-2. A despondent Gauff served five double faults, made 26 unforced errors, hit just three winners and smashed her racquet in the players' area after the loss. Four-time major singles champion Sabalenka has made the semi-final stage at 14 of the past 17 majors she has contested. She has become only the third women's player to reach eight consecutive singles semi-finals at Grand Slams in the past 38 years, after Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.

Luka Doncic starred for the Los Angeles Lakers with 33 points as he helped them beat his former side, the Dallas Mavericks 116-110 The Slovenian, playing in Dallas for the second time since being traded to the Lakers last February, also registered 11 assists and eight rebounds. He scored twice from beyond the arc in the first quarter as the 26-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,500 three-pointers. He had been with Dallas from 2018 until last year, and said he almost went to the home dressing room at half-time as he "was kind of confused". The Lakers trailed by 15 points with seven minutes and 41 seconds remaining, but overturned the deficit to secure a third win in four games. LeBron James scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, while Max Christie top scored for Dallas with 24 points. The result leaves the Lakers fifth in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks are 12th. Elsewhere, Kevin Huerter made a three-pointer just before the buzzer to help the Chicago Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 114-111, while Bam Adebayo scored 26 points as the Miami Heat thrashed the Utah Jazz 147-116. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves' home game against the Golden State Warriors was postponed until Sunday following federal immigration officers shooting and killing a man in Minneapolis.

Aryna Sabalenka broke Novak Djokovic's Open era record of consecutivetie-breaks won at Grand Slams to defeat teenage Canadian Victoria Mboko and setup a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final against another of tennis' rising stars - 18-year-old Iva Jovic The two-time champion won 6-1 7-6 (7-1) on Rod Laver Arena - sealing it with her 20th tie-break triumph in a row - and is yet to drop a set at this year's Australian Open. Belarusian Sabalenka has now reached at least the quarter-finals in 13 consecutive Grand Slam appearances and is two wins away from a fourth successive final in Melbourne. The champion in 2023 and 2024, Sabalenka lost last year's final to American Madison Keys. The 27-year-old appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory against 17th seed Mboko, leading by a set and a double break. However, she almost let a 4-1 lead slip in the second set and eventually clinched victory in a tie-break.

Real Madrid stayed top of football’s rich list as Liverpool outstripped their English rivals for the first time, according to Deloitte’s Money League study on Thursday Spanish giants Madrid generated nearly 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in revenue in the 2024/25 season despite failing to win a major trophy. The refurbishment of the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium into a multi-purpose venue continues to pay rich dividends — Madrid’s 594 million euros of commercial revenues alone would be enough for a place in the top 10. Barcelona climbed back intos econd place in Deloitte’s table (975 million euros) despite delays forcing them to play the whole season away from the Camp Nou, which is still being redeveloped. Bayern Munich were third on the list (861 million euros), marginally ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, whose income was boosted by winning the Champions League for the first time. The rest of the top 10 is dominated by Premier League clubs, with Liverpool leading the English contingent for the first time. An expansion of Anfield, plus a return to the Champions League and winning the Premier League title boosted the Reds’ revenue to 836 million euros. Pep Guardiola’s City fell from second to sixth after an early exit from the Champions League and a third-placed Premier League finish following four consecutive titles. United dropped behind Arsenal to eighth after missing out on the Champions League and finishing 15th in the Premier League. Together, the 20 top-earning clubs in Europe reported an 11 per cent increase in revenues to 12.4 billion euros. The first 32-team Club World Cup had an impact, helping lift Bayern into the top three for the first time since2020/21, while Benfica, in 19th spot on the 20-team list, are the first entrant outside the traditional “big five” leagues of England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France in four years. Arsenal were the highest-earning women’s team for the first time after winning the Champions League. The Gunners, with revenues of 25.6 million euros, edged out London rivals Chelsea and Barcelona.

Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The Brazil international arrived from Real Madrid in 2022 for a fee of£70 million and has so far played 146 games for the club, scoring 21 goals. Casemiro said in a club statement that he would “carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life”. “From the first day that I walked out at this beautiful stadium, I felt the passion of Old Trafford and the love that I now share with our supporters for this special club. It is not time to say goodbye — there are many more memories to create during the next four months.” he said. The midfielder, 33, forged his reputation at Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles. Casemiro scored the opening goal in United’s League Cup final win against Newcastle in 2023 as the club finished third in the league. But he did not feature in the club’s FA Cup final win against Manchester City the following year. Casemiro, one of the highest earners at Old Trafford, said on his personal Instagram account that he would be “forever” a Red Devil. “Knowing when to say goodbye when you feel that you will be remembered and respected forever. Four months to give my all for this badge and for our goal. Eternal respect and affection for Manchester United and its wonderful fans,” he posted. United are fifth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s trip to leaders Arsenal.

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has been offered to Manchester United as he seeks a return to the Premier League just six months after leaving Leicester City, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed. The 29-year-old midfielder joined Turkish giants Besiktas in the summer,bringing an end to his eight-year spell in England, but is reportedly anxious to return to the Premier League. Speaking on his YouTube channel on Thursday, Romano disclosed that Ndidi has been presented to the Red Devils as a possible option to bolster their midfield for the second half of the campaign. “One player that is offered to Manchester United is Wilfred Ndidi. The former Leicester City midfielder, who is now playing in Turkey, is being offered as an opportunity for this January transfer window for their midfield,”Romano said. Despite the Nigeria international’s willingness and readiness to return to England, Romano revealed that Manchester United are yet to make any formal offer for his services. “Offered in the sense that the player will be keen to return to the Premier League. Manchester United are aware of this chance, but at the moment,Manchester United have not made any bid or offer. The player is ready in terms of contract side, even to accept what it takes to go back to the Premier League,”he added. Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs told fan outlet The United Stand that Besiktas are contemplating a sale, with a loan with an option or a conditional obligation potentially on the table at roughly €12m-15m. Ndidi arrived at the King Power Stadium in January 2017 from Belgian side Genk for £17m with the monumental task of replacing N’Golo Kante. Over approximately eight-and-a-half seasons, he became a fan favourite, winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the EFL Championship title. Known for his tackling and interceptions, Ndidi was regularly atop the top flight’s defensive charts in his early Leicester career. Following Leicester’s relegation from the top flight in 2025, Ndidi joined Besiktas on adeal running until 2027. While he has adapted well in Istanbul, even captaining the side recently, his desire for a Premier League comeback is widely reported. After a strong showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he led Nigeria to a bronze medal and received rave reviews, his stock has risen once more. Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is seeking midfield reinforcements at Old Trafford, and Ndidi’s experience stands out. Ndidi has been an influential figure for the Black and White, making 14 league appearances and scoring once so far this season. With less than two weeks remaining in the winter transfer window, Ndidi will be eager to seal a move back to the Premier League in search of a more competitive challenge.

Manchester City have lost back-to-back games, after being beaten by rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday The Manchester City squad will refund the ticket costs for 374 supporters who travelled to Norway to witness their side's shock 3-1 Champions League defeat at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday. With the price of an away ticket for the game costing around £25, City players will put together a total of£9,357 towards paying back those who made the trip to the Arctic circle. Speaking on behalf of the squad,City's captaincy group of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland said: "Our supporters mean everything to us. "We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. They are the best fans in the world. We also recognise that it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch. "Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do. Battered in Bodo' - is this more than just a blip for Man City? The gesture has been praised by the official supporters' club (OSC) as there were limited calls from fans to be refunded. Kevin Parker, representative of Manchester City's OSC, said: "City fans will travel to the ends of the earth to support our team, and last night was no different in the arctic circle. "Bodo is not an easy place to get to, and the sub zero temperatures made it a challenging evening on a number of levels for our fans. The City support has an incredible connection with the players on a matchday, and this gesture is yet another reminder of that relationship – it means a lot to us. "We know that the players are disappointed with the defeat to Bodo, but with our next game at home on Saturday there's a chance to get back to winning ways and our fans will be in full voice." City suffered one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history in being stunned by Glimt and now require victory in their final group-phase game against Galatasaray to ensure atop-eight finish. Haaland called the result "embarrassing" and apologised to the travelling fans by telling TNT Sports: "Bodo played some incredible football and it was deserved. I don't know what to say. What I can say is sorry."

France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave amid interest from other Premier League and European clubs Mateta, 28, has 18 months remaining on his current deal at Selhurst Park and as things stand he will not be signing an extension. Italian giants Juventus have tried to sign the striker this month but have so far failed to reach Palace's valuation, which is believed to be around £40m. Aston Villa, who have been keen on Mateta for some time, have also shown interest in a move this month. Speaking last week, Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted the club are listening to offers for Mateta. "There will be a price that Crystal Palace [accept], with 18 months left on his contract. We'd do the deal,if JP wants. If nobody pays that price, then he will stay," said the Austrian. Palace, who won the FA Cup in May, sold star midfielder Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in the summer and have lost captain Marc Guehi this January, after he joined Manchester City in a £20mdeal. Glasner, who announced last week that he will leave the club at the end of the season, launched a scathing attack on the Palace hierarchy following Saturday's loss to Sunderland -claiming the team had been 'abandoned' by the club's recruitment strategy. Palace were knocked out of the FA Cup at non-league Macclesfield in one of the tournament's greatest shocks earlier this month.

Marc Guéhi has completed a high-profile move to Manchester City, joining from Crystal Palace on a long-term contract that runs until June 2031 The England international brings an end to his four-year spell at Selhurst Park, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent centre-backs and a key figure in Palace’s defence. According to a Fabrizio Romano post on X on Monday, “Marc Guehi joins Man City from Crystal Palace on contract until June 2031.” City moved decisively to secure his signature, with Guéhi seen as a strategic addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad both for the present and the long term. For City, the signing addresses the need for defensive depth and versatility. Guéhi’s ability to play out from the back and operate in a high defensive line makes him a natural fit for Guardiola’s system. He is expected to compete immediately for a starting role while also providing long-term stability in central defence.

A holiday in Miami, time at home surrounded by loved ones and plenty of board games - that is how Carlos Alcaraz mentally recharged during the off-season before starting another bid to make history at the Australian Open Victory in Melbourne would complete the career Grand Slam for the Spaniard, who has already won each of the other three majors twice. Should he do so, the 22-year-old would become the youngest player - and only the ninth overall - to achieve the milestone in the men's singles, with six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer among those backing him to do so. Despite taking a nine-week break from competitive tennis following a landmark 2025 season which saw him win eight titles, including the French Open and US Open, and finish as year-end number one, Alcaraz showed few signs of rust as he overcame Australia's Adam Walton 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam at which Alcaraz is yet to reach the final, with the quarter-finals in 2024 and 2025 his best showings, but he advanced to round two in comfortable fashion against Walton. Playing in his first Grand Slam match since splitting from long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz had to wait until the eighth game of the opening set to convert a break point and also had his serve broken in the second, but immediately bounced back with a break of his own and proved too strong in the key moments, pulling away in the second set tie-break to win it 7-2. However, his 38 winners were almost matched by his 36 unforced errors and he only converted four of his 10 break points - statistics he will be eager to improve on in his second-round meeting with Germany's Yannick Hanfmann. Elsewhere in the men's draw on day one, third seed and 2025 runner-up Alexander Zverev came from a set behind to defeat Canada's Gabriel Diallo in four sets. The German lost the first-set tie-break 7-1 but only conceded seven games across the next three sets to set up a second-round meeting with either Alexei Popyrin or Alexandre Muller. Kazakhstan's 10th seed Alexander Bublik beat Jenson Brooksby 6-4 6-4 6-4 while fellow seeds Francisco Cerundolo, Frances Tiafoe and Corentin Moutet also advanced in straight sets.

Memphis Grizzlies cruised to a 126-109 victory over Orlando Magic in the first NBA regular-season match to be hosted in London since 2019 As part of the stardom that the NBA attracts, courtside at London's O2 Arena was full of famous faces, including footballers Virgil van Dijk and Declan Rice, Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli and actress Rosamund Pike. American singer Vanessa Williams sung the US national anthem before the game but during her performance a heckler shouted "leave Greenland alone". The remark drew some applause from the crowd but Williams continued unfazed. It comes after US President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on eight European allies, including the United Kingdom, if they oppose his proposed takeover of Greenland. Trump insists the autonomous Danish territory is critical for US security and has not ruled out taking it by force - a move that has drawn widespread criticism. Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was also courtside in close proximity to the Orlando bench throughout the match, alongside NBA legend Tony Parker. Both Henry and Pike received cheers from the crowd in atmosphere akin to that of an American game at times. The atmosphere might have been even better if it had been a more even contest. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was shown on screen, met with a huge chorus of boos, which quickly turned to cheers when the camera switched to show former Real Madrid and Brazil footballer Marcelo. Before tip-off, NBA greats John Amaechi and Steve Nash both addressed the crowd, with Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama, of the Magic and Grizzlies respectively, also thanking the fans for their support.

Senegal forward Sadio Mané was named Man of the Tournament at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after inspiring the Teranga Lions to their second continental title with a 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in the final The Teranga Lions needed extra time to edge the hosts after a drama-filled 90 minutes ended goalless. Senegal took the lead in the 94th minute when Pape Gueye struck a powerful long-range effort into the top corner. Mané finished the tournament with two goals and four assists, including the assist for Gueye’s decisive strike in the final. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who was the most influential player for the third-placed Super Eagles at the tournament, scoring three goals and providing four assists in six matches, missed out on the individual honour. Only four Nigerians have previously won the Man of the Tournament award: the late Christian Chukwu in 1980, Rashidi Yekini in 1994, Austin Okocha in 2004 and William Troost-Ekong in 2023. Lookman earned two Man of the Match awards for his performances in Morocco, further enhancing his reputation at the competition. Across two AFCON tournaments, he now has six goals and five assists. Deployed in a more centrally advanced role alongside African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and AFCON debutant Akor Adams, Lookman’s attacking flair was central to Nigeria’s potency in attack, supported by the fluid movement of Alex Iwobi, who operated freely in midfield. Hosts Morocco clinched the Fair Play award, while the Best Goalkeeper award went to Yassine Bounou. Ibrahim Díaz finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals to claim the AFCON Golden Boot.

Moroccan fans walked out of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat in utmost despair as Senegal stunned the hosts in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in an extra-time thriller Many of the Atlas Lions’ supporters had already begun leaving the stands before the final whistle on a cold and wet night in Rabat. “We cried in the final against Tunisia in 2004, and tonight the same scenario repeats itself. That’s very hard to take,” said Ismail Korradj, 30, speaking moments after the final whistle. At a cafe in central Rabat festooned with Moroccan flags, the loss came as a major blow. Still, Morocco “lost with their heads held high”, said Laila Bourezma, 32. “The defeat leaves us with bitterness, but our players gave everything.” Oumaima Boukrab, 34, said Morocco “showed beautiful football throughout the tournament”, adding: “The players were excellent. We salute them, and we’re proud of them.” The North African team were touching distance away from ending a 50-year curse and lifting the cup when they were awarded a controversial last-gasp penalty. But Senegal’s Edouard Mendy easily saved an audacious Panenka chip by Brahim Diaz, following a lengthy protest by the Senegalese contingent against the penalty decision that led the game to be paused for nearly 20 minutes after the players walked off the pitch. Four minutes into extra-time, Senegal scored the game’s sole goal and stunned the home fans, stripping Morocco of its hopes of winning the tournament for the first time since 1976. Senegalese supporters gathered by the stadium after the game ended to celebrate their feat — a second along with a title in 2021. “We won, but Morocco is always with us, so it’s two African countries that won,” said 42-year-old Senegalese supporter Abdoul who did not state his last name. The Senegalese supporters were a smaller fraction compared to the tens of thousands of Moroccans present in the total crowd of 66,526 at the stadium. But their cheers and joy of winning were felt nonetheless. “Today, Senegal won. Tomorrow, Morocco will win,” said Salim Bom, another Senegalese supporter. “They’re our brothers and they welcomed us here We’ve been preparing for this great match for a very long time. However, there’s a lot of work that CAF needs to do regarding the referees,” said 43-year-old Senegalese supporter Bassirou Gueye. When Congolese match referee Jean-Jacques Ndala gave the penalty right at the end of the game, most of the Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest. Some Senegalese fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play. But they were eventually contained by a large barrier of police and stewards, and their anger turned to delight and disbelief when the penalty was saved after the game restarted. “We’re so happy to have won, but it’s Africa that won. Morocco and Senegal are brothers. The cup belongs to Senegal and Morocco. Long live Africa,” said Adja Cisse, a 30-year-old Senegalese woman.

Senegal were crowned champions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday night after defeating hosts Morocco 1–0 after extra time in the final played in Rabat The decisive goal was scored by Pape Gueye in the 94th minute after a tense contest that ended goalless in regulation time. The final was marked by prolonged stoppages following a late VAR-reviewed penalty awarded to Morocco, which was missed by Brahim Diaz after a save by Senegal goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy. Despite late pressure from the hosts, Senegal held on to secure the title, bringing the tournament to a dramatic close. Following the final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the full list of winners and individual award recipients. AFCON 2025 Full Winners List Champions: Senegal Runners-up: Morocco Third place: Nigeria Fair Play Award: Morocco Despite losing the final on home soil, Morocco also received the Fair Play Award for their conduct and discipline during the tournament. Best Player of the Tournament: Sadio Mané (Senegal) Sadio Mané was named Player of the Tournament after leading Senegal to the title, scoring two goals and playing a key role throughout the competition. Best Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou (Morocco) Top Scorer: Brahim Diaz (Morocco) Morocco’s Brahim Diaz finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals from seven matches, while goalkeeper Yassine Bounou claimed the Best Goalkeeper award following a series of decisive performances. The 2025 AFCON delivered moments of drama, controversy and standout performances, bringing the continental competition to a memorable close in Rabat.

Real Madrid fell to a shock 3-2 defeat in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Wednesday as Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as coach ended in humiliation by second-tier opposition Appointed on Monday to replace Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa and his side were ousted by Jefte Betancor’s stoppage-time winner at the Carlos Belmonte stadium. Without French superstar Kylian Mbappe and various other key players, Arbeloa’s side struggled against a side currently 17th in Spain’s second division. Albacete took the lead through Javi Villar, but Franco Mastantuono equalised just before half-time. Jefte put the hosts back ahead after 82 minutes and then scored the winner after Gonzalo Garcia’s 91st-minute goal looked to have forced extra time for the 15-time European champions. After Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday against rivals Barcelona, president Florentino Perez replaced Alonso with reserve team coach Arbeloa. The Spaniard selected two players currently playing in the reserves he led until Monday — holding midfielder Jorge Cestero and right-back David Jimenez. The first half was mostly played under heavy gloom, not just Madrid’s mood but an intense fog that set in a few minutes into the game. Vinicius Junior smashed high and wide from long range as neither side produced any clear chances until shortly before half-time, when the hosts took a shock lead. Villar escaped Mastantuono’s attentions at a corner and nodded Albacete in front after 42 minutes. Arbeloa’s side levelled before the break through, also capitalising on a corner, with Mastantuono turning home from close range. Albacete frustrated Madrid after the break and then burst into life in attack to take the lead once more. Andriy Lunin pushed away an effort from Riki, but shortly afterwards, Jefte put Alberto Gonzalez’s side ahead. Gonzalo Garcia’s clearance fell to the striker in the box, and he fired down into the ground with the ball bouncing up and flashing past Lunin. Madrid’s young forward made amends by pulling his team level in stoppage time with a well-placed header. However, there was a sting in the tale as Jefte produced a sensational finish over Lunin to snatch a famous late victory for Albacete.

Manchester United have appointed former player Michael Carrick as their caretaker head coach until the end of the season Carrick will be assisted by former England number two Steve Holland, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion also part of his staff. Former United midfielder Carrick, 44, had a three-game stint as United's temporary boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021. He will be back in the Old Trafford dugout for Saturday's Premier League derby against Manchester City. United sacked Ruben Amorim on 5 January after 14 months in charge, and Darren Fletcher took charge as caretaker boss for two matches. "It's an unbelieveble feeling to come back through the doors and be part of the club again. It's a big responsibility, a massive pleasure and a privilege to be here, but we want to do a good job - this place deserves that," Carrick told the in-house Inside Carrington podcast. Carrick added he "might have to play certain ways" in order to win games but insisted he wants his side to show "a really exciting type of football, be positive and express and bring excitement". "I want to be off my seat, I want to be enjoying watching the boys play and results obviously need to come with that," he said. Carrick held face-to-face talks with United officials last Thursday and is understood to have impressed chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox with his vision for the team. He is set to play a 4-2-3-1 formation - a move away from the three-at-the-back set-up employed by Amorim. Norwegian Solskjaer, who has played for and managed United, also held talks with the club about the vacancy. But Carrick has been chosen as he is more of a hands-on coach than Solskjaer. Fletcher, who took charge of the games against Burnley and Brighton immediately after Amorim's exit, will return to the under-18s. United view him as a key part of their coaching staff moving forward but it was mutually agreed a return to the under-18s is best to continue his development.

Mikel Arteta has delivered Arsenal’s team news ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea, revealing that two of his stars, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba are both doubts for the match According to Sky Sports on Tuesday, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, the Arsenal manager confirmed, “Trossard and Saliba are being assessed ahead of the tie, with late decisions to be made on their availability.” Any absence would be a blow for the Gunners, with Saliba a key figure in defence and Trossard offering versatility and attacking threat. Arteta did not disclose full details of the issues affecting either player but stressed that his squad will be prepared to cope with any changes as Arsenal look to take a positive result against their London rivals. Saliba, Trossard and Hincapie all missed Arsenal’s victory at Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round while Calafiori has a muscle injury that has ruled him out of the last five matches. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the injuries to Saliba and Trossard are “nothing serious”, but he didn’t know when Hincapie would return. Calafiori is “progressing” but still expected to be out for a few weeks. Centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is still out with an ankle injury, meaning Arsenal remain short for defensive options.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was absent as Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa took charge of his first training session on Tuesday, after replacing Xabi Alonso at the helm of the Spanish giants Arbeloa was appointed on Monday and his first game is against Albacete in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, in which French forward Mbappe is unlikely to feature. Mbappe made his comeback from a knee sprain as a late substitute in the Spanish Super Cup final defeat by Barcelona on Sunday, but is likely to keep working on his recovery until next Tuesday’s Champions League match against his former side Monaco. A Real Madrid source told AFP it was “logical” that Mbappe was absent from training, given his knee issue. Former coach Alonso had admitted it was a calculated risk to involve Madrid’s top goalscorer in the match against Barca in Saudi Arabia. Alonso, replaced after less than eight months at the helm, said on social media he was leaving the club, having done the best he could. “Things didn’t go as I would have liked. Coaching Real Madrid was an honour and a responsibility. I’m grateful to the club, the players and above all, the fans for their confidence and support,” wrote the Basque coach on Instagram on Tuesday. “I leave respectfully, with gratitude, and the pride of having done the best I could.”

Xabi Alonso has left his position as head coach of Real Madrid after just seven months in the role Real announced the Spaniard's departure just a day after the club's defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. He departs with Real also second in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Barcelona at the midway stage of the campaign. The Spanish giants are also seventh in the Champions League table having won four our of their six games, losing the other two. A Real Madrid statement announced the club had parted ways with Alonso, who also had a stellar playing career at the club, via "mutual agreement". The statement continued: "Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home. Our club thanks Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives."

Michael Carrick has emerged as favourite to be appointed Manchester United caretaker head coach, according to sources close to the process Club chiefs are hoping to have an appointment in place for when players return to training on Wednesday. While a final decision is yet to be reached, talks are said to have progressed with the 44-year-old over the position. Carrick previously had a three-game stint as United's temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021. He won two and drew one of those matches but left after Ralf Rangnick's arrival as interim manager. Carrick is known to have significant backing from within the United squad and the Ineos hierarchy that run football affairs at Old Trafford. Solskjaer held face-to-face discussions with the club on Saturday about a return. United sacked Ruben Amorim as manager after 14 months in the job on 5 January. Darren Fletcher, a former United and Scotland midfielder, was initially handed temporary responsibility for first-team affairs following Amorim's departure. United suffered an FA Cup third-round defeat at the hands of Brighton on Sunday in what looks set to be Fletcher's second and final game in charge. He led the side to a draw at struggling Burnley in the Premier League last Wednesday. Former England midfielder Carrick played 464 games in all competitions for United between 2006 and 2018, having been signed from Tottenham by Sir Alex Ferguson. He has been out of work since he was sacked by Championship club Middlesbrough last June after two and a half years in charge. Carrick guided Boro to the Championship play-offs in the 2022-23 campaign, only for them to lose to Coventry in the semi-finals. His side then narrowly missed out on the top six in successive campaigns, resulting in Carrick losing his job. Wallsend-born Carrick does not boast the same managerial experience as Solskjaer, given he has had only one permanent role with Middlesbrough. Following his retirement from a glittering playing career at Old Trafford, Carrick immediately joined Jose Mourinho's coaching staff at United at the end of the 2017-18 season. After the Portuguese was sacked, he was kept on as a first-team coach throughout Solskjaer's 168-game reign.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has apologised to Vinicius Junior for his behaviour towards the Real Madrid winger during their Spanish Super Cup semi-final Simeone made comments to the 25-year-old Brazilian winger from the touchline, with the Argentine reportedly suggesting Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would be offloading him. Vinicius, whose contract runs until the simmer of 2027, helped his side beat Atletico 2-1 in last Thursday's semi-final before Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 by Barcelona in the final in Saudi Arabia. "I would like to apologise to Mr Florentino and Mr Vinicius for the incident they witnessed. It was wrong of me to put myself in that position, and I accept that it was wrong. The team that wins deserves to go through; they deserved to go through," said Simeone. Simeone also appeared to exchange words with Vinicius when the forward was substituted after 81 minutes. Asked if his behaviour had crossed a line, Simeone added: "I apologise, but I do not ask for forgiveness. I have nothing more to add."

Manchester United have set an unwanted record of least game played by the club in a single season, following their FA Cup lost to Brighton at Old Trafford, breaking the record set over a century ago When Brighton last visited Old Trafford 11 weeks ago, a third successive win seemed to be a clear sign of a corner being turned under Ruben Amorim. The grey clouds enveloped Old Trafford and the rain fell during Sunday's FA Cup third-round defeat by Brighton. It was a fitting metaphor. Amorim is gone, United have fallen at the first hurdle in both domestic cup competitions for the first time since 1981-82. They are condemned to a 40-game season, the fewest they have played since 1914-15. The world's oldest person, 116-year-old Ethel Caterham, was five at the time, so even she probably doesn't remember it. After a two-game trip to Asia at the end of last season to plug a financial hole, now the mooted mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia has to become more likely - as there is a 10-day window in United's season in February and March, given the FA Cup fourth and fifth round weekends are, for them, blank. Before that, United host Manchester City next Saturday with no manager in place to lift their "fragile" confidence. They have one win in seven games, a fortunate triumph against Newcastle on 26 December. Out of 13 matches since the previous Brighton visit, they have enjoyed three victories. While their current position of seventh in the Premier League is not catastrophic, if results against Manchester City and Arsenal go to form, they could be firmly in the bottom half of the table by the time they entertain Fulham on 1 February, when the 1958 Group of supporters plan a mass demonstration against the ownership. 'They'd take him back in a heartbeat' - Welbeck haunts Man Utd again For context, Bradford Park Avenue and The Wednesday were two of the teams United played in that 1914-15 season. It was 1948 before they won the FA Cup again and 1952 before they won the league, doing so for the first time under Sir Matt Busby. The 41-year gap between titles was by far the longest in their history. By the end of this season, it will be 13 years since United last won the league - half the gap between Busby's final success in 1967 and Sir Alex Ferguson's first in 1993. Interim boss Darren Fletcher tried to say the right things as he summed up United's FA Cup exit. But there is no certainty what he wants for the club will come to fruition. "Don't waste the season. That would be the challenge I would set. It's not a great moment, let's be honest. We are out of the cups early," he added "But true character shows itself at difficult times. There's still a Champions League place to fight for – and I still think that can be achieved this season. It's probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because we should be winning cups and challenging for the Premier League. But it is probably the object of this season. "All the players' focus and energy should go into improving as a team – and improving quickly. Anything other than that is just noise."

Chelsea Football Club has officially appointed Liam Rosenior as the new head coach of the men’s team Rosenior, who enjoyed a successful playing career across the Premier League and Championship, joins Chelsea with a growing reputation in coaching. He previously held roles in youth development and first-team coaching, earning praise for his tactical acumen and his ability to nurture young talent. The club expressed confidence that the former Strasbourg coach will bring energy, fresh ideas, and a strong leadership presence to the squad as they aim to compete at the highest level domestically and in Europe. In a statement on Chelsea’s official website on Tuesday, the club said: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Liam Rosenior as head coach of the men’s team. The club extends a warm welcome to Rosenior and looks forward to his leadership on and off the pitch. Welcome to Chelsea, Liam!” Rosenior arrives at Stamford Bridge after coaching overseas with RC Strasbourg, where he led the French club to European qualification for the first time in 19 years in his first season, and following earlier roles in England with Hull City and Derby County. On moving to the Premier League, he said: ‘I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. The 41-year-old has signed a contract with the Blues through to 2032 “My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves. “I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success. I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal. “There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club. “I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club. I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.” The club added that Rosenior has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch. “While there will continue to be a focus on player development, the Club’s expectations and ambitions remain high. Liam has the ability to get the best out of this squad quickly and joins us with the responsibility and the backing to ensure Chelsea continues to compete at the top level in all competitions this season and in seasons to come,” the club averred.

Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim as head coach after 14 months in charge The Portuguese boss will leave the club following Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds, which leaves United in sixth place in the Premier League. Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher will take temporary charge while the club search for a replacement. Amorim leaves United having won 24 of his 63 matches in charge of the club - the third-lowest of any permanent manager in the club's history. The former Sporting boss had hinted at significant tensions between himself and the club's footballing hierarchy in his post-match press conference during the Leeds defeat. Amorim stated that he had joined United to be 'a manager, not a coach', and suggested he would leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract in 2027. His exit has instead been brought forward 18 months early, with The Athletic reporting that the decision was made to sack Amorim after a 'breakdown in relations behind the scenes'. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are both named as being part of the decision-making process. Significantly, it is added that United will have to pay compensation in full to Amorim as part of the contract he signed in November 2024. That will come as another major blow to minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with the club forced to pay former manager Erik ten Hag and his staff a huge sum of £14.5 million after giving him a new contract and then sacking him months later. Shortly after initial reports surrounding Amorim's sacking, United released a statement confirming his departure. It reads: "Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United. "With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club's leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish. The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future. Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday."

Chelsea confirmed that they have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca ahead of Sunday's game against Manchester City Maresca's 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge comes to an end after a run of one win in seven Premier League games that left his side fifth in the table, though sources have told ESPN the primary reason for his exit is a breakdown in relations with the club's hierarchy. His exit was confirmed in a 99-word statement following talks about his future. Chelsea's official wording stopped short of saying that Maresca had been sacked, rather that "Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track." Sources said the club's hierarchy had become concerned by Maresca's behavior, with the 45-year-old having been increasingly public with his displays of dissent toward Chelsea's ownership. Maresca claimed last month he had experienced "the worst 48 hours" of his time at the club in the buildup to a 2-0 win over Everton. He repeatedly declined to explain that outburst, but reports say that this due to ongoing issues he had with medical advice over player loads as opposed to a one-off bust-up behind the scenes. It was also said that Maresca's public comments took members of his own staff by surprise. Chelsea have not confirmed who will be in the dugout for Sunday's key clash against City, though Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane will speak to the media on Friday at a pre-game news conference. For the long term, sources told ESPN that Liam Rosenior, in charge of the BlueCo-owned Strasbourg, is a contender -- while Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is not in the running. Maresca's last game was a 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday, when they were booed off at Stamford Bridge after the final whistle. Maresca faced chants of "You don't know what you're doing" from fans when opting to substitute Cole Palmer. He also did not appear at his postmatch news conference. The official explanation given at the time was that Maresca was "sick." Maresca, who joined Chelsea in July 2024, guided the club back to Champions League football in his debut season by finishing fourth in the Premier League, as well as lifting the Conference League title and the inaugural Club World Cup. His contract was due to run until 2029, with the club holding an option for an additional year.

Real Madrid has received bad news to end 2025 with the club confirming that top scorer Kylian Mbappe has suffered a knee injury in training It will keep him out of Sunday's La Liga game at home to Betis and which makes him a doubt for the Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia. "Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee," informed the club on its official website. As is usual with Real Madrid, the medical report didn't say when the French striker would return, merely commenting "his progress will be monitored." However, the fact thar Real Madrid plays Atletico in the second semi-final in the Supercup on January 8th in Jeddah means he has very little time to recover and he has to be considered a major doubt for the competition, which has its final on January 11th. Most believe that Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has his job on the line in Saudi Arabia and the team could be playing for Alonso's future without its star player. Mbappe has played in 24 of Real Madrid's 25 matches this season, with the only game he missed ending in a 2-1 home defeat against Manchester City in the Champions League. He has netted 18 goals in 18 La Liga matches (half of Real Madrid's total of 36) and nine more in five Champions League games.

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic suffered a "gut-wrenching" knee injury as the Denver Nuggets lost 147-123 at the Miami Heat Jokic was hurt late in the first half in an accidental coming together with team-mate Spencer Jones. Jones stepped on the foot of Jokic who immediately collapsed to the ground clutching his knee. The 30-year-old will have an MRI scan on Tuesday to determine the seriousness of the problem. "Immediately, he knew something was wrong. This is part of the NBA. Anyone who gets hurt, it's gut-wrenching, especially somebody as special as he is. We'll find out more tomorrow," said Nuggets head coach David Adelman. "We'll move on as a team. Obviously, right now, I'm more concerned just about him as a person and the disappointment of going through something like that." Jokic, who leads the NBA season in rebounds and assists, had 21 points and eight assists in the game before suffering the injury.

World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident today in Makun, Ogun State Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around past 11am on Monday. The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated. An eyewitness, Adeniyi Orojo, said that Joshua sustained minor injuries, saying that two people died on the spot. Orojo, who stated that the accident happened just before the Danco Filling Station in Makun, before Sagamu Interchange inward Ibadan axis of the road. He stated that two people died on the spot. “It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash. “Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived. The passenger beside the driver and the person beside Joshua died on the spot,” he said. Joshua, born to British-Nigerian parents, attended a boarding school in Ikenne, just a few miles from where the crash occurred. He recently faced YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, knocking Paul out in the sixth round of their highly publicised bout on 19 December 2025. Joshua is expected to take on longtime rival Tyson Fury in 2026. Fans have flooded social media with messages of concern, while local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. Efforts to reach the TRACE Commandant, Akinbiyi Babatunde, on further updates about the crash were futile as calls placed to his line did not go through. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said in a phone call that he would get back to our correspondent shortly. “I’ve seen the videos too, but I will get back to you on it,” he said. In a brief statement later shared about 30 minutes later, it says that that “two died, while Joshua and one other have been hospitalised and are receiving treatment at a hospital that would not be disclosed.” Meanwhile, in a statement he later shared on X, he wrote: “Tragically, two other passengers in the vehicle lost their lives at the scene. The deceased have been conveyed to Livewell Hospital Morgue, Sagamu. “The Ogun State Police Command extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the public that a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident has commenced. Further updates on the incident will be communicated as investigation progresses.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has declared his ambition to win more titles and reach the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals The football superstar, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, made the statement at the 16th edition of the Globe Soccer Awards, held in Dubai on Sunday. “I want more titles, and I will reach that number. It is hard to continue to play, but the passion is still high and motivates me to carry on. It does not matter where I play, whether it is in the Middle East or Europe, I always enjoy playing football, to win trophies and to score goals, and you know my goal. “I want to win more trophies and to reach that number you all know. I will reach that 1000 for sure if no injuries,” Ronaldo said, signalling his determination to continue competing at the highest level despite an already glittering career. With multiple league titles, Champions League trophies, domestic cups, and international honours under his belt, Ronaldo’s pursuit of milestones remains undiminished. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how he approaches this next ambitious target.

Manchester City have opened talks with Bournemouth over the potential signing of winger Antoine Semenyo, whose £65 million release clause is set to become active from January 1 to January 10 According to Sky Sports on Monday, the 25-year-old’s representatives are expected to travel to Manchester this week to finalise personal terms and agree on a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium. “City are currently the only club to have formally contacted Bournemouth regarding the clause, despite earlier interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea before Christmas. “Reports suggest that Chelsea decided not to pursue the transfer, while Spurs have moved on to other targets. City are now expected to move quickly to conclude the deal once the January transfer window opens,” Sky Sports reported The potential signing of Semenyo would give Manchester City an additional attacking option ahead of the second half of the season as Pep Guardiola looks to bolster his squad.

Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been awarded the Best Middle East Player at the 16th edition of the Globe Soccer Awards, held in Dubai The 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward edged out competitors including Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Salem Al-Dawsari in a fan-voted category that highlights top performers in the region’s leagues. Renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano announced the award on X on Sunday. “Cristiano Ronaldo wins Best Middle East Player Award at Globe Soccer 2025,” he wrote. This marks Ronaldo’s second consecutive win in the category, following his 2024 triumph, underscoring his continued dominance in the Saudi Pro League since joining Al-Nassr in 2023. Ronaldo’s stellar 2025 campaign included scoring 40 goals since his February birthday, a remarkable feat for a player in his fifth decade. The Globe Soccer Awards, organised annually in Dubai since 2010, celebrate excellence across various facets of football, from players and coaches to clubs and agents. French giants PSG, capping off an extraordinary year in which they won the UEFA Champions League and Super Cup, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France, were named Best Men’s Club, while individual awards went to Luis Enrique (Best Coach), Vitinha (Best Midfielder), Désiré Doué (Emerging Player) and Luis Campos (Best Sporting Director).

Liverpool have confirmed that Alexander Isak has undergone surgery after sustaining a fracture to his left leg As reported by BBC Sports, the club said the Sweden international “successfully underwent surgery” on an ankle injury that included a fractured fibula. Liverpool have not provided a detailed recovery timeline but expect the 26-year-old to be sidelined for at least a few months. Isak was injured during Saturday’s match against Tottenham after coming off the bench to score for Arne Slot’s side. He was hurt by a challenge from Micky van de Ven just after striking the shot for his goal and was unable to continue. The forward was visibly in pain and was helped off the pitch by medical staff. The injury is a significant blow for Liverpool and for Isak, who joined the club in the summer for a Premier League record of £125m. Since arriving from Newcastle in September, he has scored three goals in 16 appearances in all competitions. It marks the latest setback in a difficult period for the striker. Over the summer, Isak was left out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with what the club described as a minor thigh injury, amid uncertainty over his future. He later trained alone at former club Real Sociedad before completing his move to Liverpool on deadline day.

Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed the arrival of Brazilian international forward Endrick after reaching an agreement with Real Madrid for a paid loan move until the end of the season In a Tuesday statement titled “Endrick joins OL until the end of the season,” the French club announced: “Olympique Lyonnais is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with Real Madrid for the arrival of Brazilian international forward Endrick, on a paid loan worth up to €1 million, until the end of the season.” The club described the 19-year-old as a player already shaped by elite competition, stating that “At just 19 years of age, Endrick joins OL with already solid experience at the very highest level and a maturity forged in demanding competitive environments.” According to Lyon, “His attacking profile, his impact in decisive areas, and his energy are major assets as the team heads into the second half of the season, with many objectives still to be achieved.” Born in Taguatinga, near Brasília, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa began his football journey at Palmeiras, where he emerged as one of the most highly rated young players of his generation. Lyon recalled that “Born in Taguatinga, near Brasília, Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa began playing football at the Palmeiras academy, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising talents of his generation.” The statement noted his early success, describing him as “a natural goalscorer,” who “soon made a name for himself on the international stage, winning several individual and collective trophies at youth level, notably at the prestigious Montaigu Tournament in 2022.” Endrick’s rapid rise continued at club level, with Lyon highlighting that “At just 16, he signed his first professional contract with Palmeiras and made his Brazilian league debut against Coritiba CFC.” The club added that “The left-footed forward went from strength to strength, confirming his immense potential before committing to Real Madrid, whom he joined upon reaching adulthood in the summer of 2024.” Before his move to Europe, Endrick—nicknamed “Bobby”—compiled an impressive record in Brazil, as Lyon stated that he “made 82 appearances for the São Paulo-based club, scored 21 goals, and won the Brazilian championship twice.” Since arriving in Madrid, the teenager has continued to develop, with the club noting: “Since arriving at Real Madrid, Endrick has continued his development at the highest level.” His contribution was underlined by the fact that “With 7 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, he has shown his ability to be decisive.” Lyon further described him as “a fast, technical, and clinical forward,” adding that he “has also established himself with the Brazilian national team, moving from youth squads to the Seleção in just a few months.” At senior international level, the statement said that “At 19, he already has 14 caps and 3 goals for Brazil.” Confirming his arrival date, Olympique Lyonnais said they “are delighted to welcome Endrick, who will join the professional squad from 29 December,” and expressed appreciation to his parent club, adding that they “would like to thank Real Madrid for the quality of the discussions and cooperation that made his arrival possible.”

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle’s final 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco blends experience with fresh talent as Nigeria chase a fourth continental title. The squad features established stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman alongside exciting newcomers, including Ebenezer Akinsanmiro GOALKEEPERS Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus) 21 caps Francis Uzoho made his senior international debut in November 2017, replacing Daniel Akpeyi during a 4–2 friendly win over Argentina, and quickly rose to prominence within the Super Eagles set-up. He was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, starting all three matches, and later featured at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, playing in the third-place victory over Tunisia. A series of injuries disrupted his progress between 2019 and 2021, limiting his role at 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where he kept a clean sheet in his only appearance. Despite criticism following Nigeria’s World Cup play-off exit to Ghana in 2022, Uzoho rebounded during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers before relinquishing the starting role at the finals to Stanley Nwabali. Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa) 27 caps Nwabali earned his first senior cap in 2021 during an international friendly against Mexico and steadily worked his way into contention. His defining moment came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where he was named man of the match in the semi-final after saving two penalties against South Africa to send Nigeria into the final. Nwabali’s composure and authority established him as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the tournament. Despite recent fitness concerns, the 29-year-old is expected to retain his place and anchor the side from the back under Eric Chelle. Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania) Uncapped Obasogie emerged as one of Nigeria’s standout goalkeepers after a record-breaking 2023/24 NPFL season with Bendel Insurance, where he kept 18 clean sheets and won the league’s best goalkeeper award. His form earned moves to Fasil Kenema in Ethiopia and later Singida Black Stars in Tanzania, where he built a reputation as a reliable penalty stopper. Within the Super Eagles, Obasogie has become a trusted deputy to Nwabali, regularly included in squads during World Cup qualifiers. Although uncapped competitively, his appearance against Egypt underlines his readiness to step in when required. DEFENDERS Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England) 46 caps, 1 goal Ajayi began his international journey with Nigeria’s under-20 side in 2013 before earning his senior debut in 2018 during Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. He established himself as a dependable option in central defence and was included in multiple tournament squads. At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ajayi was ever-present, playing every minute of Nigeria’s seven matches as they finished runners-up. His consistency and aerial strength remain key assets at the heart of the defence. Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England) 37 caps, 1 goal Bassey committed to Nigeria in 2021 after being eligible for three countries and made his debut during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Ghana. He has since developed into one of the side’s most reliable defenders, combining physicality with versatility across the back line. Bassey is the only Nigerian player to have completed every minute of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers so far. He arrives at the tournament in form after scoring for Fulham in their recent Premier League win at Burnley. Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France) 36 caps, 1 goal Awaziem made his senior debut in 2017 and has since featured at the World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Though Nantes have struggled domestically, Awaziem has impressed individually, scoring twice in his last four club appearances. His pace and aggression make him a valuable option in both central defence and at right-back. Awaziem’s experience adds depth and competition within the defensive unit. Zaidu Sanusi (Porto, Portugal) 26 caps Sanusi made his Nigeria debut in October 2020 and quickly became a regular presence at left-back. He featured prominently at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and was part of the squad criticised for tactical limitations during the round-of-16 exit. Sanusi played six matches as Nigeria reached the final of the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast. His pace and overlapping runs continue to offer width and balance on the left flank. Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England) 25 caps Osayi-Samuel earned his first Nigeria cap in 2022, starting and completing a friendly against Portugal. He was an important squad member at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, featuring five times as Nigeria finished runners-up. Comfortable on either flank, Osayi-Samuel brings energy and athleticism to the defensive line. His adaptability enhances tactical flexibility for the coaching staff. Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos, Greece) 20 caps Onyemaechi made his senior debut in September 2023, playing the full match in Nigeria’s emphatic win over São Tomé and Príncipe. He went on to feature at the 2023 AFCON finals, where Nigeria finished second after defeat to Ivory Coast. Primarily a left-back, Onyemaechi offers defensive solidity and positional discipline. His steady integration has strengthened competition on the left side of defence. Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic) 1 cap Igoh Ogbu represented Nigeria at U-20 level in 2019, featuring at both the AFCON and the World Cup. He earned senior opportunities during the 2025 Unity Cup and later made his official debut in a friendly against Russia. Ogbu is regarded as a long-term option to replace the retired William Troost-Ekong and injured youngster Benjamin Fredrick in central defence. His physical presence and European experience mark him as one to watch. Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers, England) Uncapped Alebiosu, born in England to Nigerian parents, opted to represent Nigeria at senior level. He obtained a Nigerian passport ahead of the tournament and earned his first Super Eagles call-up. The right-back arrives after a consistent run with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship. He is the only uncapped defender in the squad, representing a potential new addition to the back line. MIDFIELDERS Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) 91 caps, 10 goals The 29-year-old Fulham midfielder has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most reliable performers since making his debut in October 2015. He represented England up to under-18 level before switching allegiance to Nigeria, and has been a constant presence at major tournaments. Iwobi was part of Nigeria’s squads at the 2018 World Cup and the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing third in 2019 and runner-up at the last edition in Ivory Coast. Despite not scoring for Nigeria since 2022, Iwobi’s big-match temperament and versatility make him indispensable to Chelle’s plans. His ability to control tempo in midfield and drive forward when needed will be crucial as Nigeria aim to go one better than their final heartbreak last year. Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England) 37 caps, three goals Onyeka made his Nigeria debut in a 1-0 friendly loss to Algeria in October 2020 and has grown into an important squad member. The Brentford midfielder caught the eye at the 2023 AFCON with his tireless, non-stop running, starting all seven of Nigeria’s matches as they reached the final. The 26-year-old scored his first international goal in October 2023 during a 3-2 win over Mozambique and has added two more since. Known for his energy and box-to-box capabilities, Onyeka provides defensive solidity and forward thrust in equal measure. Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey) 71 caps The 29-year-old defensive midfielder remains one of Nigeria’s most important players despite never finding the net in 71 international appearances. Ndidi made his Super Eagles debut in October 2015 against DR Congo and has been a mainstay ever since, known for his defensive ability and tactical intelligence. He was part of Nigeria’s squads at the 2018 World Cup and the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Ndidi was named in the 2023 AFCON squad but withdrew due to injury in early January 2024, replaced by Alhassan Yusuf. Now with Turkish giants Besiktas, Ndidi’s experience and composure make him Chelle’s preferred option at the base of midfield when fit. Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium) 17 caps, one goal The 24-year-old Club Brugge midfielder has been confirmed in Nigeria’s final squad despite limited opportunities under Eric Chelle. Onyedika made his international debut in September 2022 and scored his first goal in October 2023 during a 3-2 win over Mozambique. He was part of Nigeria’s squad that reached the 2023 AFCON final in Ivory Coast but featured only once, playing the final 27 minutes of the 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau. His growing importance at club level has kept him in the conversation, with 22 appearances for Brugge this season, including three in the UEFA Champions League, contributing two goals and one assist. Regarded as the future of Nigeria’s midfield, he faces a battle to win Chelle’s trust ahead of Ndidi and Onyeka. Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem, Belgium) Uncapped The 22-year-old defensive midfielder from Imo State earns his first senior call-up after an impressive rise through Belgian football. Nnadi trained at local Campos FC and Dubai’s Madenat Alamal academy before joining Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv in August 2021, making his professional debut in April 2022. After logging 42 league appearances over two seasons in Bulgaria, he transferred to Belgian second-tier club Zulte Waregem in January 2024, where he has been a regular starter with 34 games and one goal. Known as a box-to-box, high-energy midfielder, Nnadi is quick, strong in the tackle and capable of driving forward. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy) 10 caps, two goals The 24-year-old Lazio midfielder received his first Nigeria call-up in October 2023 and made an immediate impact, scoring in his second appearance during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa. Born in Nigeria before moving to England at a young age, Dele-Bashiru’s technical ability and creativity offer a different dimension to Nigeria’s midfield. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa SC, Italy) 1 cap The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is one of Nigeria’s brightest young talents and earns his first senior call-up after impressive performances in Serie A. Born in Lagos in November 2004, Akinsanmiro began his career at Remo Stars Academy, helping them win promotion to the NPFL in 2021 at just 17. His performances attracted European interest, and he signed a four-year contract with Italian giants Inter Milan in January 2023. Currently on loan at newly promoted Pisa in Serie A, Akinsanmiro has made 11 league appearances this season, delivering one assist and earning man-of-the-match recognition twice. He made his Super Eagles debut in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Egypt on Tuesday. Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias, Israel) Uncapped The 31-year-old midfielder gets his first senior call-up after a globe-trotting career spanning Nigeria, Norway, Armenia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Israel. He moved to Europe in 2018, playing for Norway’s Sarpsborg 08 and Armenia’s FC Pyunik before settling in Israel, where he has logged over 100 appearances across Hapoel Hadera, Sektzia Ness Ziona and Maccabi Bnei Reineh. In mid-2025, he signed with Ironi Tiberias in the Israeli second tier. Muhammed gained global attention in 2018 when he scored a brilliant solo goal against reigning Europa League champions Atletico Madrid in an international friendly in Uyo. FORWARDS Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy) 34 caps, eight goals The 28-year-old Atalanta winger is one of Nigeria’s most important attacking threats. Born in England to Nigerian parents, Lookman made his Nigeria debut in March 2022 in a scoreless World Cup qualifier against Ghana. He was named in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where he emerged as a star, scoring both goals in their 2-0 win over Cameroon in the round of 16 and their only goal in a 1-0 quarter-final win over Angola. Nigeria lost the final 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast, but Lookman and the rest of the team were named Members of the Order of the Niger in recognition of their performance. He also won the 2024 Africa Player of The Year award. His pace, dribbling ability and eye for goal make him indispensable to Chelle’s attacking plans as Nigeria chase their fourth continental title. Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England) 51 caps, seven goals The 26-year-old winger has been in red-hot form for Fulham, recording five goal contributions in his last five Premier League games before joining the AFCON squad. After representing Nigeria at U-17s, Chukwueze made his senior debut in November 2018 in a 0-0 friendly draw against Uganda. He was selected for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt and scored his first senior goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 quarter-final win over South Africa. Chukwueze also participated in the 2021 AFCON, where Nigeria defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the round of 16, and was part of the squad that reached the 2023 AFCON final. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey) 45 caps, 31 goals The 26-year-old striker is Nigeria’s most potent weapon and sits just six goals behind Rashidi Yekini’s all-time scoring record of 37. After much success at the youth level, he made his senior debut in June 2017 in a 2-0 defeat to South Africa. Osimhen was part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2019 AFCON, where they finished third. He missed the 2021 AFCON, supposedly due to COVID-19. Osimhen starred in the 2023 AFCON finals with one goal and three assists, while also winning two penalties to help the Eagles reach the final. In March 2025, he became Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer after netting twice against Rwanda. He then scored hat-tricks against Benin in October 2025 and a brace against Gabon in November 2025 during World Cup qualifiers. With 31 international goals, Osimhen will be hungry to break Yekini’s record in Morocco. Moses Simon (Paris FC, France) 88 caps, 10 goals Simon made his debut in March 2015 in an international friendly against Uganda and scored his first goal in September 2015 in a 2-0 win over Niger. He was named in the preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup, though injury prevented him from making the final 23. Simon was included in Nigeria’s squad for the 2019 AFCON and has been a regular ever since. A key figure in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 AFCON final, Simon was named a Member of the Order of the Niger along with his teammates. His experience, pace on the flanks and ability to deliver dangerous crosses make him an important option for Chelle, particularly when Nigeria need to change tactics or chase a game. Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain) 11 caps, one goal The 26-year-old winger made his Nigeria debut in October 2020 in a 1-1 friendly draw with Tunisia, coming on as a substitute for Samuel Chukwueze. He was selected by coach Gernot Rohr for the 2021 AFCON and scored his only international goal in the 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Gabon in the confederation play-offs. Ejuke rounded off his pre-AFCON duties in emphatic fashion, scoring for Sevilla in their 4-0 victory over Real Oviedo on Monday, December 15. His pace, successful dribbles and ability to stretch defences impressed as he capped Sevilla’s dominant performance with a clinical touch. Ejuke’s return to form at the perfect time will give Chelle confidence that he has attacking depth to rotate and keep opponents guessing. Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain) Four caps, two goals The 25-year-old forward has made an immediate impact at international level since receiving his first call-up in October 2025. Adams featured for Nigeria’s U-20 team at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they bowed out in the last 16 to Senegal. He made his senior debut as a substitute against Lesotho in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and scored on his first appearance. Adams has now scored two goals in just four caps, establishing himself as an exciting option in Nigeria’s attacking armoury. The Sevilla striker also signed off his pre-AFCON duties in style, scoring and providing two assists in the 4-0 victory over Real Oviedo. Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey) 25 caps, three goals The 31-year-old striker stands at 2.01 metres (6 feet 7 inches), making him one of the tallest players in international football. Onuachu received his first call-up to Nigeria’s under-23 team in February 2015 and made his senior debut in March 2019. On March 26, 2019, Onuachu scored his first goal for Nigeria in a friendly against Egypt within the first 10 seconds, the fastest goal ever scored by Nigeria. He is arguably the most in-form Eagles player in Europe this season, with 11 goals in 15 league games. Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos FC, Greece) 11 caps, three goals The 31-year-old striker was born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, but chose to represent Nigeria at international level in December 2019. Dessers made his debut in a 1-1 friendly draw with Tunisia in October 2020. After scoring against Ghana in March 2024, he repeated the feat in May 2025 during the Unity Cup, netting the opening goal against Ghana for the second consecutive time. This will be Dessers’ first official competition with the Super Eagles. Salim Fago (NK Istra 1961, Croatia) The 22-year-old forward earns his first senior call-up on the strength of his scoring form in Croatia. Born in Lagos, Fago joined NK Istra 1961 in the Croatian top division in 2023 and has quickly made his mark, scoring four goals and providing two assists in 16 league games this season. A participant in Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, where he played five games, Fago’s knack for carrying the ball and clinical finishing have caught the eye. He signed off his club duties before AFCON in impressive style, scoring for Istra in their match against Rijeka on Monday, though the game was suspended after just 18 minutes due to heavy fog. Though his senior minutes in Morocco may be limited by stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Fago’s inclusion adds attacking depth and a high-energy threat. Given his youth-team pedigree, Chelle will hope the Croatian league goalscorer can learn and potentially deliver late in the tournament.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will start on Sunday, 21st of December, and here, we take a look at all the 24 countries that will be participating in the showpiece, and their styles, best players, and all Group A (Morocco, with the hosts joined by Mali, Zambia, and Comoros) Morocco carry the weight of home advantage, Mali bring consistency and flair, Zambia arrive with ambition rooted in past glory and Comoros seek to prove their rise is no fluke. MOROCCO – The Atlas Lions’ Homecoming - Afcon Pedigree: Champions in 1976 - Finals Appearances: 20th Popular name: Atlas Lions Morocco enter as hosts and continental contenders. With a squad stacked with European stars and a tactical identity forged in recent World Cup success, the Atlas Lions are expected to dominate. The pressure of home soil is immense, but so is the opportunity to deliver a historic triumph. Leading scorer: 7 - Brahim Diaz Captain: Achraf Hakimi, defender Coach: Walid Regragui (MAR) Rankings: 1 Africa, 11 world Morocco squad Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal / Saudi Arabia), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja CA) Defenders : Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids FC / Egypt), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma SC / Saudi Arabia), Roman Saïss (Al-Sadd SC / Qatar), Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Amiens SC / Ligue 2), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Adam Masina (Torino FC / Italy), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United / England), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven / Netherlands) Midfielders: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord Rotterdam/Netherlands), Sofyan Amrabat (Betis Sevilla/Spain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma/Italy), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart/Germany), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC/Spain) Forwards : Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid / Spain), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal CF / Spain), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland AFC / England), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos / Greece), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain / United Arab Emirates), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Betis Seville / Spain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco) MALI – The Eagles’ Consistency - Afcon Pedigree: Runners-up in 1972 Qualifying: Group I winners Leading scorer: 3 - Nene Dorgeles Captain: Hamari Traore, defender Coach: Tom Saintfiet (BEL) Rankings: 8 Africa, 54 world Previous appearances: 13 Popular name: Eagles Mali squad Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (IK Sirius), Mamadou Samassa (Laval) Defenders: Sikou Niakate (SC Braga), Abdoulaye Diaby (Grasshoppers), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo), Fode Doucoure (Red Star), Hamari Traore (Paris FC), Ousmane Camara (Angers SCO), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution), Nathan Bassama (Baltika), Amadou Dante (Arouca) Midfielders: Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Mohamed Camara (Al-Saad / Qatar), Mamadou Sangaré (RC Lens), Aliou Dieng (Al-Ahly), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham), Mahamadou Doumbia (A Ittihad), Ibrahima Sissoko (VFL Bochum) Forwards: Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahce), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord), El-Bilal Toure (Besiktas), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Gaoussou Diakite (Lausanne-Sport), Mamadou Camara (Laval) ZAMBIA – The Chipolopolo’s Ambition Afcon Pedigree: Champions in 2012 Zambia’s unforgettable 2012 triumph remains etched in Afcon folklore. Since then, they’ve battled to recapture that magic. With a blend of youthful energy and experienced campaigners, the Chipolopolo arrive in Morocco determined to prove they can rise again. Leading scorer: 4 - Kennedy Musonda Captain: Lubambo Musonda, defender Coach: Moses Sichone (ZAM) Rankings: 19 Africa, 90 world Popular name: Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) Zambia squad Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos) Defenders: Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Obino Chisala (Al Merrikh), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), David Hamansenya (Leganes), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchun Yatai) Midfielders: Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Lameck Banda (Lecce), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos) Forwards: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan). COMOROS - Afcon Pedigree: Debut in 2021, reached Round of 16 Comoros are the group’s underdogs, but their spirited performances in recent tournaments have made them fan favourites. Compact defensively and fearless in attack, they thrive on upsetting bigger names. Group A is their chance to show their rise is sustainable. Comoros squad Goalkeepers: Yannick Pandor (Francs Borains), Salim Ben Boina (Istres), Adel Anzimati (FC Ararat) Defenders: Said Bakari (Sparta Rotterdam), Kassim M'Dahoma (Aubagne), Kenan Toibibou (Bravo), Ahmed Soilihi (Toulon), Idris Mohamed (Le Puy) Yannis Kari (Frejus Saint Raphael), Akim Abdallah (Guingamp), Bendjaloud Youssouf (FC Sochaux), Remy Vita (CD Tondela), Ismael Boura (Troyes) Midfielders: Youssouf M'Changama (Al-Batin), Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh / Saudi Arabia), Rayan Lutin (Amiens), Raouf Mroivili (Villefranche), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia), Aymeric Ahmed (Chateauroux) Yacine Bourhane (Aris Limassol) Forwards: Rafiki Said (Standard de Liege), Myziane Maolida (Al Kholood), Faiz Selemani (Qatar SC), Aboubacar Ali Abdallah (Francs Borains), El Fardou Ben Mohamed (Zemun), Zaïd Amir (Istres) GROUP DYNAMICS - Favourites: Morocco, with home advantage and star power. - Challenger: Mali, consistent performers hungry for a breakthrough. - Wild Card: Zambia, capable of rekindling past glory. - Underdog: Comoros, fearless and unpredictable. Group B (Egypt, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe) EGYPT — Pharaohs in pursuit of permanence Egypt enter every Afcon with the weight of legacy and the expectation of control. Their identity is defined by tournament craft: measured tempo, structure, and ruthless exploitation of moments. In Group B, the Pharaohs aim to assert authority early, turning disciplined phases into scoreboard pressure. - Afcon pedigree: Record seven titles; continental standard-setters Leading scorer: 4 - Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan Captain: Mohamed Salah, forward Coach: Hossam Hassan (EGY) Rankings: 3 Africa, 34 world Best placing: Champions 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 Most goals scored: Nigeria 6-3 (1963) Popular name: Pharaohs Squad Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El-Shenawy (Pyramids FC), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek) Defenders: Rami Rabia (Al-Ain / United Arab Emirates), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Yasser Brahim (Al Ahly), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Al Ahly) Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Hamdy Fathi (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids FC), Mahmoud Saber (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids FC) Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mostafa Mohamed (FC Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Al Masry), Osama Faisal (Bank El Ahly) SOUTH AFRICA — Bafana Bafana’s tactical clarity South Africa bring organisation and repeatability. Their strength lies in compact spacing, smart pressing triggers, and transitions that punish loose structure. Opening the group against Angola gives them a platform to set rhythm and command the narrative from day one. - Afcon pedigree: Champions in 1996; consistent finalists Leading scorer: 3 - Teboho Mokoena Captain: Ronwen Williams, goalkeeper Coach: Hugo Broos (BEL) Rankings: 11 Africa, 61 world Popular name: Bafana Bafana (The Boys) Squad Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates) Defenders: Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Khulamani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB), Samukele Kabini (Molde), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates) Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela) Forwards: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq), Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley), Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates), Elias Mokwana (Al Hazem), Shandre Campbell (Club Bruges), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) ANGOLA — Palancas Negras Leading scorers: 2 - Mabululu, Milson, Zini Captain: Fredy, midfielder Coach: Patrice Beaumelle (FRA) Rankings: 18 Africa, 89 world Best placing: Quarterfinalists 2008, 2010, 2024 Squad Goalkeepers: Neblu (Primeiro de Agosto), Hugo Marques (Petro de Luanda), Signori Antonio (Etoile Carouge) Defenders: Rui Modesto (Udinese), Eddie Afonso (Petro de Luanda), To Carneiro (FAR Rabat), Nurio Fortuna (Volos), Pedro Bondo (Famalicao), David Carmo (Real Oviedo), Jonathan Buatu (Gil Vicente), Kilandola Gaspar (Lecce), Clinton Mata (Olympique Lyonnais) Midfielders: Beni Mukendi (Guimaraes), Show (Kocaelispor), Fredy (Bodrumspor), Maestro (Alanyaspor), Kelliano (Akhmat Grozny), Mario Balburdia (Boluspor) Forwards: Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari), Manuel Benson (Swansea City), Milson (Red Star Belgrade), Chico Banza (Zamalek SC), Gelson Dala (Al-Wakrah), Randy Nteka (Rayo Vallecano), Ary Papel (Al-Akhdar SC), Mabulu (Al-Ahli Tripoli SC), Mbala Zola (Pisa), Zine Salvador (AEK) ZIMBABWE — Warriors built for the fight - Afcon profile: Battle-tested finalists; aiming for consistency in outcomes Leading scorer: 2 - Walter Musona Captain: Marshall Munetsi, midfielder Coach: Mario Marinica (ROM) Rankings: 36 Africa, 129 world Previous appearances: 5 Best placing: Never qualified for second round Zimbabwe squad Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC) Defenders: Godknows Murwira (Scottland FC), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata SC Libya), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora FC), Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Alec Mudimu (Flint Town United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns) Midfielders: Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Jonah Fabisch (Erzegebirg Aue), Andrew Rinohmhota (Reading), Prosper Padera (SJK Seina Joki), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Knowledge Musona (Scottland FC) Forwards: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen), Ishmael Wadi (CAPS United), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants ), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Washington Navaya (TelOne), Macauley Bonne (Maldon & Tiptree), Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy), Tadiwanasche Chakuchichi (Scottland FC) GROUP DYNAMICS AND STAKES - Favourites: Egypt and South Africa — pedigree, structure, and big-match durability. - Wild cards: Angola and Zimbabwe — disciplined schemes, emotional intensity, and transitional danger. Group C (continental heavyweights Nigeria and Tunisia, flanked by East Africa’s fiercely committed Uganda and Tanzania) Expect disciplined defending, razor-sharp transitions, and tight margins across fixtures as pedigreed favourites wrestle with stubborn challengers. Nigeria and Tunisia set the pace; Uganda and Tanzania arrive ready to disrupt it. NIGERIA — The Super Eagles’ standard - AFCON pedigree: Three titles; perennial contenders Leading scorers: 2 - Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen Captain: Wilfred Ndidi, midfielder Coach: Eric Chelle (CIV) Rankings: 5 Africa, 38 world Best placing: Champions 1980, 1994, 2013 Popular name: Super Eagles Squad Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa Utd), Amas Obasogie(Singida Black Stars), Francis Uzoho(Omonia) Defenders: Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers) Midfield: Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias) Forwards: Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Akor Adams (Sevilla), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Moses Simon (Paris FC), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961). TUNISIA — Carthage Eagles’ clinical assurance Tunisia carry a reputation for control:compact structures, risk-managed possession, and ruthless exploitation of moments. Their consistency across AFCON cycles makes them hard to rattle, especially in cagey group games. Expect Tunisia to squeeze space, punish errors, and turn small advantages into decisive points. - AFCON pedigree: Champions in 2004; serial qualifiers Leading scorer: 2 - Ali Abdi Captain: Ferjani Sassi, midfielder Coach: Sami Trabelsi (TUN) Rankings: 6 Africa, 40 world Previous appearances: 21 Best placing: Champions 2004 Popular name: Carthage Eagles Squad Goalkeepers: Aymen Dahmen (CS Sfaxien), Bechir Ben Said (ES Tunis), Noureddine Farhati (Stade Tunisien), Sabri Ben Hassen (ES Sahel) Defenders: Yassine Meriah (ES Tunis), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Dylan Bronn (Servette), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Nader Ghandri (Akhmat Grozny), Mohamed Ben Ali (ES Tunis), Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday), Ali Abdi (Nice), Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Ali Maaloul (CS Sfaxien) Midfielders: Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Houssem Tka (ES Tunis), Ferjani Sassi (Al-Gharafa SC), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Mohamed Belhadj Mahmoud (FC Lugano), Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Al Ahly FC), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley) Forwards: Elias Saad (FC Augsburg), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Hazem Mastouri (Dinamo Makhachkala), Seifeddine Jaziri (Zamalek SC), Naim Sliti (Al-Shamal SC) UGANDA — The Cranes - AFCON profile: Emerging presence with rising belief Leading scorer: 2 - Denis Omedi Captain: Khalid Aucho, midfielder Coach: Paul Put (BEL) Rankings: 17 Africa, 85 world Best placing: Runners-up 1978 Popular name: Cranes Squad Goalkeepers: Salim Magoola (Richards Bay), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nafian Alionzi (Mechal), Charles Lukwago (KCCA FC) Defenders: Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion), Elio Caprodossi (FC Universitatae Cluj), Jordan Obita (Hibernian), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC), Aziz Kayondo (Slovan Liberec), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod), David Owori (SC Villa), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC) Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula (Al Adalah), Khalid Aucho (Singida Black Stars SC), Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Oakland Roots), Baba Alhassan (FCSB) Forwards: Allan Okello (Vipers SC), Melvyn Lorenzen (Muangthong United), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien), Denis Omedi (APR FC), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa), Jude Ssemugabi (Jamus FC), Uche Ikpeazu (St Johnstone), Steven Mukwala (Simba SC), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA FC), Shafiq Kwikiriza (KCCA FC) TANZANIA — Taifa Stars. - AFCON profile: Building experience, sharpening identity Leading scorers: 2 - Simon Msuva, Feisal Salum Captain: Mbwana Samatta, forward Coach: Miguel Gamondi (ARG) Rankings: 27 Africa, 112 world Previous appearances: 3 Best placing: Never past first round Squad Goalkeepers: Yakoub Suleiman (Simba SC), Hussein Masalanga (Singida BS), Zuberi Foba (Azam FC) Defenders: Bakari Mwamnyeto (Young Africans), Shomari Kapombe (Simba SC), Lusajo Mwaikenda (Azam FC), Mohamed Hussein (Young Africans), Nickson Kibabage (Singida BS), Alphonse Mabula (Shamakhi), Wilson Nangu (Simba SC) Midfielders: Novatus Miroshi (Göztepe), Kelvin Nashon (Pamba Jiji), Pascal Msindo (Azam FC), Ibrahim Abdulla (Young Africans), Haji Mnoga (Salford City), Dickson Job (Young Africans), Habibu Idd (Singida BS) Forwards: Tarryn Allarakhia (Rochdale), Charles M'Mombwa (Floriana), Yusuph Kagoma (Simba SC), Feisal Salum (Azam FC), Morice Abraham (Simba SC), Abdul Suleiman (Azam FC), Iddi Suleiman (Azam FC), Kibu Dennis (Simba SC), Ally Samatta (Le Havre), Kelvin John (Aalborg), Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba) GROUP DYNAMICS AND STAKES - Favourites: Nigeria and Tunisia — depth, pedigree, and repeatability of performances. - Wild cards: Uganda and Tanzania — tenacity, transitions, and set-piece value. Group D (Senegal, recent champions, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana) SENEGAL – Lions of Teranga - AFCON Pedigree: Winners in 2021 Leading scorer: 3 - Habib Diarra, Sadio Mane Captain: Kalidou Koulibaly, defender Coach: Pape Thiaw (SEN) Rankings: 2 Africa, 19 world Best placing: Champions 2022 Squad Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre) Defenders: Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), Krépin Diatta (AS Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Abdoulaye Sek (Maccabi Haifa), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), El-Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray) Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Alassane Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano) Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Habib Diallo (Metz), Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Cheikh T Sabaly (Metz), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) DR CONGO – The Leopards’ Legacy - AFCON Pedigree: Winners in 1968 and 1974 - Finals Appearances: 21st Leading scorer: 2 - Meschak Elia Captain: Chancel Mbemba, defender Coach: Sebastien Desabre (FRA) Rankings: 9 Africa, 56 world Previous appearances: 20 Best placing: Champions 1968, 1974 Popular name: Leopards Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard de Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre) Defenders: Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw), Joris Kayembe (Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham) Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Celtic), Brian Cipenga (Castellon), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanaol Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal'ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht) Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Betis), Simon Banza (Al-Jazeera), Samuel Essende (Augsburg), Meschack Elia (Alanyaspor), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids) BENIN – The Stallions of Surprise - AFCON Pedigree: Quarterfinalists in 2019 - Finals Appearances: 5th Leading scorers: 2 - Andreas Hountondji, Steve Mounie Captain: Mounie, forward Coach: Gernot Rohr (GER) Rankings: 20 Africa, 92 world Best placing: Quarterfinals 2019 Popular name: Cheetahs Squad Goalkeepers: Marcel Dandjinou (Loto), Kassifa Saturnin Allagbe (Chaurey), Serge Obassa (Remo Stars) Defenders: Samadou Attidjikou (Smouha), Charlemagne Azongnitode (Oulu), Rodrigue Fassinnou (Coton FC), David Kiki (FCSB), Rachid Moumini (Sumqayit FK), Tamimou Ouorou (no club), Yohan Roche (Petrolul), Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon), Olivier Verdon (Ludogorets) Midfielders: Mattéo Ahlinvi (Arsenal / England), Mariano Ahouangbo (NK Olimpija Ljubljana / Slovenia), Ghislain Ahoudo (AS Gabes), Sessi d'Almeida (Neftci Baku / Azerbaijan), Dodo Dokou (Leixoes), Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers), Rodrigue Kossi (Agadir) Forwards: Adam Akimey (Helsingborgs IF), Rodolfo Aloko (Kustosija), Romaric Amoussou (Asec Mimosas), Jodel Dossou (L'US Pays du Valois), Steve Mounie (Alanyaspor), Junior Olaitan (Goztepe), Razack Rachidou (Kustosija), Olatoundji Tessilimi (SJK Seinajoki), Aiyegun Tosin (Lorient) BOTSWANA – The Zebras’ Return - AFCON Pedigree: Group stage in 2012 - Finals Appearances: 2nd Botswana return to AFCON after more than a decade. As underdogs, they carry little pressure but immense pride. Their goal is simple: compete fiercely, earn respect and perhaps deliver a shock result that will echo across Africa. Leading scorer: None Captain: Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, defender Coach: Morena Ramoreboli (RSA) Rankings: 40 Africa, 138 world Previous appearance: 1 Best placing: First round Popular name: Zebras Squad Goalkeepers: Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United), Keoagile Kgosipula (Orapa United), Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers) Defenders: Alford Velaphi (Gaborone United), Mothusi Johnson (Gaborone United), Mosha Gaolaolwe (Township Rollers), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al Ittihad), Shanganani Ngandane (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Chicco Molefe (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thabo Leinanyane (Jwaneng Galaxy), Tebogo Kopelang (Jwaneng Galaxy) Midfielders: Godiraone Modingwane (BDF XI), Olebogeng Ramotse (Jwaneng Galaxy), Gape Mohutsiwa (McOran), Omphile Vissagie (Township Rollers), Gilbert Baruti (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Mothusi Cooper (Township Rollers), Lebogang Ditsile (Gaborone United), Thabo Maponda (Gaborone United), Monty Enosa (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Roketso Majafi (Orapa United), Omphile Ramoagi (Gaborone United) Forwards: Omaatla Kebatho (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Seakanyeng (MAS Fes), Thabang Sesinyi (Jwaneng Galaxy), Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad AC), Segolame Boye (SA Flamingoes), Eric Ookame (Orapa United), Thabang Balatlheng (Township Rollers), Losika Ratshukudu (Ubuntu FC / South Africa), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United) GROUP DYNAMICS Favourites: Senegal, with their star-studded squad and recent title. Challenger: DR Congo, with pedigree and ambition. Wild Card: Benin, capable of upsetting giants. Underdog: Botswana, driven by pride and hunger. Group E (Algeria and Burkina Faso enter as favourites Equatorial Guinea lurk as a dangerous outsider, while Sudan seek to rekindle past glory) ALGERIA – The Fennecs’ Redemption Quest - AFCON Pedigree: Winners in 1990 and 2019 Leading scorer: 4 - Amine Gouiri Captain: Riyad Mahrez, midfielder Coach: Vladimir Petkovic (BIH) Rankings: 4 Africa, 35 world Best placing: Champions 1990, 2019 Popular name: Desert Foxes Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Anthony Mandrea (SM Caen), Luca Zidane (Granada) Defenders: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Manchester City), Rafik Belghali (Hellas Verona), Youcef Atal (Al Saad), Mehdi Dorval (Bari), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Mohamed Tougai (ES Tunis), Ramy Bensebaini (Dortmund), Zinedine Belaid (US Kabylie), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys) Midfielders: Ismael Bennacer (Dinamo Zagreb), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Adem Zorgane (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise) Forwards: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Shamal), Adil Boulbina (Al Duhail), Moncef Bakrar (Dinamo Zagreb), Redouane Berkane (Al Wakrah), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord), Ilan Kebbal (Paris FC), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) BURKINA FASO – The Stallions’ Charge - AFCON Pedigree: Runners-up in 2013 Leading scorers: 2 - Dango Ouattara, Lassina Traore Captain: Bertrand Traore, forward Coach: Brama Traore (BUR) Rankings: 12 Africa, 62 world Best placing: Runners-up 2013 Squad Goalkeepers: Herve Koffi (Angers), Kylian Nikiema (ADO Den Haag), Farid Ouedraogo (Al Hilal) Defenders: Abdoul Ayinde (KAA Gent), Issoufou Dayo (Umm Salal), Nasser Djiga (Rangers), Issa Kabore (Wrexham), Arsene Kouassi (Lorient), Adamo Nagalo (PSV), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Steeve Yago (Aris Limassol) Midfielders: Cedric Badolo (Spartak Trnava), Stéphane Aziz Ki (Wydad Casablanca), Ismaila Ouedraogo (Odense), Saidou Simpore (National Bank), Blati Touré (Pyramids), Gustavo Sangaré (Noah), Mohamed Zoungrana (Mouloudia Alger) Forwards: Ousseni Bouda (San Jose Earthquakes), Cyriaque Irie (Freiburg), Pierre Kabore (Hearts), Georgi Minoungou (Seattle Sounders), Dango Ouattara (Brentford), Bertrand Traore (Sunderland), Lassina Traore (Shakhtar) EQUATORIAL GUINEA – The Dark Horses - AFCON Pedigree: Fourth place in 2015 - Finals Appearances: 5th Leading scorer: 2 - Luis Nlavo Captain: Emilio Nsue, forward Coach: Juan Micha (GEQ) Rankings: 21 Africa, 97 world Best placing: Semifinals 2015 Popular name: National Thunder Squad Goalkeepers: Jesus Owono (FC Andorra), Manuel Sapunga (Sekhukhune), Aitor Embela (Lorca) Defenders: Esteban Orozco (FC Arges), Marvin Anieboh (San Sebastian Reyes), Carlos Akapo (Amazonas), Saul Coco (Torino), Basilio Ndong (KF Tirana), Michel Ngaah (Real Avila CF), Néstor Senra (Huelva / D4, Spain), Charles Ondo (Portland Timbers / USA), Javier Mum (Muza FC) Midfielders: Jannick Buyla (Numancia), Omar Mascarell (Mallorca), Pablo Ganet (Persita), Alex Masogo (Beroe), Alex Balboa (CD Lugo), Jose Machin (Monza), Pedro Obiang (Monza), Santiago Eneme (Sparta Prague) Forwards: Iban Salvador (Wisla Plock), Josete Miranda (PS Kalamata), Gael Akogo (Recreativo Granada), Joel Nabil (Nantes II), Luismi Nlavo (Shanghai Shenhua), Dorian Junior (Viborg FF), Loren Zuniga (Real Madrid Castilla), Emilio Nsue (CF Intercity SUDAN – Nostalgia and Hope - AFCON Pedigree: Winners in 1970 - Finals Appearances: 10th Captain: Bakhit Khamis, defender Coach: Kwesi Appiah (GHA) Rankings: 31 Africa, 118 world Previous appearances: 9 Best placing: Champions 1970 Most goals scored: Nigeria 4-0 (1963) Popular name: Nile Crocodiles Squad Goalkeepers: Ali Aboeshren (Al Hilal OMD), Mohamed Elnour Abooja (Al-Merrikh SC), Monged Elneel (El-Merriekh FC Bentiu) Defenders: Mohamed Saaed (Al Hilal OMD), Altayeb Abdelrazig (Al Hilal OMD), Mustafa Karshom (Al Hilal OMD, Yasser Awad (Al Hilal OMD), Bakhit Khamis (Al Ahli Tripoli), Mazin Mohamedein (Al Akhdar), Awad Zaid (Al-Merrikh SC), Ahmed Abdelmonem (Al Hilal OMD), Mohamed Kesra (Al-Merrikh SC) Midfielders: Abuaagla Abdalla (Al Ahly/Egypt), Waliedin Khidhir (Al Ahly), Abdelrazig Omer (Al Hilal OMD), Ammar Tayfour (CS Sfax), Salaheldin Adil (Al Hilal OMD), Musa Hussain (Al-Merrikh SC/Rwanda), Sheddy Ezeldin (FC Den Bosch), Amar Yunis (Avondale FC/Australia) Forwards: Yasser Mozamil (Al Hilal OMD/Rwanda), Mohamed Abdelrhman (Al Hilal OMD), John Mano (Al Ahli Tripoli), Mohamed Eisa (Uthai Thani FC), Elgozoli Hussain (Al-Merrikh SC), Abobaker Eisa (Chonburi FC), Mohamed Teya (Al-Merrikh SC) GROUP DYNAMICS - Favourites: Algeria and Burkina Faso, with pedigree and consistency. - Wild Card: Equatorial Guinea, capable of upsetting giants. - Underdog: Sudan, driven by history and heart. Group F. Dubbed the “Group of Death”, this pool brings together reigning champions Ivory coast, continental heavyweights, Cameroun unpredictable challengers, Gabon and hungry underdogs, Mazambique. Matches in Marrakech and Agadir promise drama, flair, and unforgettable storylines. Ivory Coast – The Champions’ Burden - Afcon Pedigree: 3 titles (1992, 2015, 2023) - Fifa Ranking:46 Ivory Coast arrive as defending champions, carrying the weight of expectation. Their squad blends seasoned leaders with emerging stars, making them both feared and admired. Every opponent will raise their game against the Elephants, but their depth and confidence could see them march on. Leading scorers: 3 - Oumar Diakite, Jean-Philippe Krasso Captain: Franck Kessie, midfielder Coach: Emerse Fae (CIV) Rankings: 7 Africa, 42 world Best placing: Champions 1992, 2015, 2024 Popular name: Elephants Squad Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos) Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Armel Zohouri (FC Iberia) Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FC Metz), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor) Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Sebastien Haller (FC Utrecht), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte). Cameroon – Indomitable Tradition - Afcon Pedigree: 5 titles (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017) - Fifa Ranking: 49 Cameroon’s name is synonymous with Afcon glory. The Indomitable Lions thrive in high-pressure tournaments, their physicality and resilience unmatched. With five titles already, they enter Group F determined to remind Africa that their roar still echoes across the continent. Leading scorer: 3 - Vincent Aboubakar Captain: Bryan Mbeumo, forward Coach: David Pagou (CMR) Rankings: 10 Africa, 57 world Previous appearances: 21 Best placing: Champions 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 Squad Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucharest), Simon Omossola (Saint-Éloi Lupopo), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Montpellier), Edouard Sombang (Colombe Sport) Defenders: Samuel Kotto (La Gantoise), Gerzino Nyamsi (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna), Mahamadou Nagida (Rennes), Christopher Wooh (Spartak Moscow), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient) Midfielders: Martin Ndzie (Rapid Vienna), Carlos Baleba (Brighton), Arthur Avom (Lorient), Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe (Brest), Brice Ambina (Valerenga), Jean Junior Onana (Genoa), Olivier Kemen (Istanbul Basaksehir) Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Christian Bassogog (Al Okhdood), Georges-Kevin N'Koudou (Al-Diraiyah), Danny Namaso (Auxerre), Frank Magri (Toulouse), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante, Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Patrick Soko (Almeria) Gabon – The Dark Horses - Afcon Pedigree: 9 appearances, best finish – quarterfinals (1996, 2012) - Fifa Ranking: 84 Leading scorers: 2- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shavy Babicka Captain: Bruno Ecuele, defender Coach: Thierry Mouyouma (GAB) Rankings: 15 Africa, 78 world Previous appearances: 8 Best placings: Quarterfinals 1996, 2012 Popular name: Panthers Squad Goalkeepers: Loyce Mbaba (Stella Club), Anse Ngoubi Demba (Mosta FC), Junior Bekale (Hafia FC) Defenders: Anthony Oyono (Frosinone), Jeremy Oyono (Frosinone), Johann Obiang (Orleans), Aaron Appindangoye (Sivasspor), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Paris 13 Atletico), Alexis Moucketou (Aris Limassol), Mick Onfia (Hafia FC), Jonathan Do Marcolino (Bourg-en-Bresse), Uriel-Michel Mboula (Metz), Jacques Ekomie (Angers) Midfielders: Mario Lemina (Galatasaray), Samake Nze (Stade d'Abidjan), Guelor Kanga (Esenler Erokspor), Eric Gocoum (Gol Gohar Sirjan FC), André Poko (Amed SK), Ruben Loufilou (Al Mina'a SC), Didier Ndong (Esteghlal) Forwards: Shavy Babicka (Toulouse), Teddy Averlant (Amiens), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Edlin Essang-Matouti (USM Khenchela), Malick Evouna (AS Mangasport Moanda), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille), Royce Openda (Bordeaux), Jim Allevinah (Angers) Mozambique – Hungry Underdogs - Afcon Pedigree: 6 appearances, never beyond group stage - Fifa Ranking: 96 Leading scorers: 3 - Stanley Ratifo Captain: Mexer, defender Coach: Chiquinho Conde (MOZ) Rankings: 22 Africa, 102 world Previous appearances: 5 Best placings: First round Popular name: Mambas Squad Goalkeepers: Ernani Siluane (Black Bulls), Ivane Urrubal (UD Songo), Kimiss Zavala (Maritimo) Defenders: Bruno Langa (Paphos), Oscar Cherene (UD Songo), Edmilson Dove (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya), Nanani (UD Songo), Feliciano Jone (Black Bulls), Diogo Cabral (Santa Clara), Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland), Mexer (Keciorengucu), Fernando Chambuco (Black Bulls) Midfielders: Joao Bonde (Ferroviario), Ricardo Guimaraes (Zira FK), Manuel Kambala (Polokwane City), Keyns Abdala (Chaves), Alfonso Amade (Dunfermline) Forwards: Geny Catamo (Sporting CP), Witness Quembo (CD Nacional), Elias Pelembe (UD Songo), Chamito Alfandega (AC Viseu U23), Stanley Ratifo (Chemie Leipzig), Faisal Bangal (Mestre), Melque Alexandre (UD Songo), Gildo Vilanculos (Tadamon Sour) GROUP F DYNAMICS Ivory Coast and Cameroon are favourites, but Gabon’s unpredictability and Mozambique’s hunger ensure no fixture is straightforward. Every clash is high-stakes, every point precious. Expect fireworks, upsets, and the kind of drama that defines Afcon folklore. Group F is more than just a collection of teams — it’s a collision of history, ambition, and raw emotion. Whether it’s Ivory Coast defending their crown, Cameroon chasing a sixth title, Gabon plotting an upset, or Mozambique seeking their breakthrough, this group embodies the essence of African football: passion, unpredictability, and spectacle.

Anthony Joshua faces Jake Paul in one of boxing’s most divisive fights in Miami on Friday (today), with the British-Nigerian heavyweight vowing to end the YouTuber’s run Joshua, 36, returns to the ring for the first time since a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September, while Paul is having his 14th professional bout following a points win over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June. At the final press conference on Wednesday, Paul predicted “the biggest upset in the history of sports” and claimed he is “more important for boxing” than anyone else in the last decade. “The odds are stacked against me. There’s no sporting teams in history that have gone together where it’s this big of a difference in terms of skill, experience, resume, height, weight, etc. So this is going to be the biggest upset in the history of sports, and you guys get to witness it,” he said. Joshua outlined a sense of responsibility to beat Paul on behalf of the boxing world in the eight-round heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Centre, which will be streamed live on Netflix. “With this one, it feels like I’m being pulled in to save the purists of boxing because people don’t like I’m fighting Jake,” Joshua said. “If we look at the people that don’t want me to be here, but want me to put an end to ‘the Jake Paul show’, I understand it, and that’s why I carry boxing on my back with this fight.” Paul defended himself by proclaiming a greater influence on boxing than Joshua. “No one has done more for the sport of boxing in the last decade than myself,” Paul said. “So if people cared about boxing, they would want me to win. But I see the angle they’re coming from in the sense he’s been doing it all his life. But I think that I’m more important for boxing, so if they cared about the sport, they would want me to win.” At their first face-off in Miami, the 6-foot-6 Joshua towered over the 6-foot-1 Paul and promised violence. “If I’m going to be honest, I’m going to break his face, I’m going to break his body up, I’m going to stomp all over him,” Joshua said. Paul insisted he is willing to die in the ring to win the fight and has set his sights on challenging Tyson Fury next. “I just have to avoid that one shot for eight rounds, and I believe that I can do that,” Paul said. “I want him to cut me up. I want him to break my face, but guess what? He’s going to have to kill me to stop me, and I’m ready to die. Seriously. Ready to die in the ring to win this fight.” The fight will take place in a rare 22-by-22-foot ring, larger than the standard 20-by-20 size, with Paul hoping the extra space will help him use his movement to tire out Joshua. Former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye has predicted a shock Paul victory, telling The Sun Sport, “I think somehow, I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I think it’s going to be the biggest upset in sporting history.” Rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma, who has sparred with Joshua, warned Paul the fight is “suicide” and predicted “the scariest knockout you’ve ever seen.” Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that Tyson Fury has indicated he will return from retirement for a long-awaited British battle with Joshua next summer, but warned Joshua will have to forget about those plans if he suffers a loss to Paul. Joshua admitted he needed a career reset after the Dubois defeat, but insisted the Paul fight presents an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.

Paris St-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele has been named the men's player of the year at the FIFA Best awards The 28-year-old, who won the Ballon d'Or in September, picked up the FIFA award in Qatar on Tuesday after helping PSG to four trophies in the 2024-25 season. The former Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund player, who joined PSG in 2023, had 51 goal contributions in 53 games for Luis Enrique's side last term. After helping PSG to a first Champions League triumph, Dembele beat Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe to the prestigious individual award. Dembele was present at the awards ceremony before his side's Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo on Wednesday. The award, which is based off events from August 2024 to August 2025, is voted for by men's national team coaches, men's national team captains, journalists and fans. The Frenchman's success underlines his status as one of the best players in the world. Dembele initially struggled for form during the first half of the 2024-25 campaign but saw his season spark into life after being redeployed as a central forward. Eight of his 35 goals came in the Champions League last season, including crucial strikes against Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout stages. Dembele joins an illustrious list of names, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to have won the award since its inception in 2016. In total, he has scored three goals and provided three assists for PSG across all competitions this term. On the international stage, meanwhile, Dembele helped France qualify for next summer's World Cup, where the two-time winners will face Senegal, Norway, and one of the play-off winners in the group stage.

Paris St-Germain have been ordered to pay former striker Kylian Mbappe 60m euros (£52.5m) in unpaid salary and bonuses by a French court Mbappe had been seeking 263m euros (£231.5m) from his former club after the long-running dispute reached a Paris labour court in November. The European champions were counter-suing the France captain for 240m euros. The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward claimed the nine-figure sum as damages in response to a contract dispute and ill-treatment by the club. However, he was awarded just over a fifth of that amount in court on Tuesday. The court recognised that PSG had failed to pay three months of his salary between April and June 2024 as well as an ethics bonus and a signing bonus under his contract. It is believed that the majority of the money awarded to Mbappe was bonuses, rather than his salary. In May, a 55m euro sum in the club's accounts was frozen following a request by Mbappe's legal team. "We are satisfied with this ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid," Mbappe's lawyer Frederique Cassereau said. In a statement, Mbappe's legal team added: "This judgement confirms that commitments entered into must be honoured. It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone. "Mr Mbappe, for his part, scrupulously respected his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years, right up to the final day." While accepting the court's ruling, PSG haven't ruled out appealing against the decision. The club had been seeking compensation for Mbappe's failed 300m euro transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in 2023. He joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer the following summer. The club's statement read: "Paris St-Germain takes note of the judgement pronounced by the Paris Labour Court, which it will execute, while reserving the right to appeal. "Paris St-Germain has always acted in good faith and with integrity, and will continue to do so. The club is now looking to the future, based on unity and collective success, and wishes the player the best for the rest of his career." Mbappe's decision not to move to the Saudi Pro League, coupled with his refusal to sign a contract extension, sparked a dispute lasting more than two years, with the forward believing he was sidelined by the French champions. He was not invited to take part in the club's pre-season tour of Asia and missed their first match of the 2023-24 campaign. He was later reinstated to the side - a decision PSG said followed Mbappe's agreement to forgo some of his end-of-contract payments to protect the club's financial health. However, Mbappe's representatives dismissed the claim as "fantasy" at November's hearing. PSG also accused the player of acting "disloyally by concealing for nearly 11 months, between July 2022 and June 2023, his decision not to extend his contract" and said the club had suffered "significant damages" as a result of his actions. Mbappe was at PSG from 2017 to 2024, initially on loan from Monaco and later on a permanent transfer, and won 15 trophies in the French capital. He is PSG's all-time leading scorer, with 256 goals in 308 games, including 44 goals in 48 matches in his final season.

Five-weight boxing world champion Terence Crawford says he is walking away as a great with nothing else left to prove after announcing his retirement at 38 The American, who finishes with a perfect record of 42-0, made history in September when he beat Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to become the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions. That will now go down as Crawford's last fight, having started his professional career in 2008 with a victory over Brian Cummings. His future had been debated since he beat Canelo to become the undisputed super-middleweight champion, adding to titles at lightweight, light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight. In a post on his YouTube channel, external, Crawford said "every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when". He added he had "nothing else to prove" in the caption, external to his video on social media. "I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines, but that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong," said Crawford. "This sport gave me everything, I fought for my family, I fought for my city, I fought for the kid I used to be, the one that had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves, and I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I have, every spar, every triumph, every ounce of my heart. I've made peace with what's next. Now, it's time. Thank you." Omaha-born Crawford had 31 knockouts in his 42 fights, which included WBO welterweight title wins over Britons Amir Khan and Kell Brook.

Arsenal fear defender Ben White could face a minimum of a month out with the hamstring injury he suffered in their win over Wolves The Gunners are still awaiting final confirmation of the extent of White's muscular issue but initial concerns are that he will miss between four and six weeks. The 28-year-old Englishman limped off in the 31st minute of Arsenal's 2-1 win over Wolves at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and was replaced in the back four by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said post match that the injury was a suspected hamstring problem. The absence of White, who has played 11 times this season for the Premier League leaders, compounds injury problems in Arsenal's defence before a congested period of four fixtures in 10 days. Gabriel Magalhaes sustained an abductor injury while playing for Brazil during the last international break which will keep on the sidelines until the end of the year. Fellow defender Cristhian Mosquera has also ruled out until the middle of January 2026 with an ankle injury. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber returned to the heart of Arsenal's backline at the weekend following recent injury problems. Arsenal travel to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday before a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace on 23 December. Areta's side, who are two points clear of second-placed Manchester City, then have home games against Brighton and Aston Villa on 27 and 30 December respectively.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has been voted the Women's Tennis Association player of the year for a second successive season The 27-year-old won four titles - the most on tour - including retaining the US Open against Amanda Anisimova in September to claim her fourth Grand Slam singles triumph. Across the season Sabalenka played in a tour-best nine finals, with losses to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final in January and Coco Gauff in June's French Open final. The Belarusian also won the Brisbane International in January, the Miami Open in March and the Madrid Open in May, and spent the entire year as world number one, finishing 2025 top of the rankings for a second successive year. In July, she became the first player to top 12,000 WTA ranking points since Serena Williams in 2015. Sabalenka finished the season with a 63-12 win-loss record, and picked up a record £11m in prize money. She received almost 80% of the votes cast by international tennis media. On 28 December, she will face 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios in a Battle of the Sexes-style exhibition match in a bid to "help bring women's tennis to a higher level". Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, 28, has been voted comeback player of the year after taking a 13-month break following the birth of her first child and returning to the sport at the start of this year. Canadian 19-year-old Victoria Mboko picked up newcomer of the year after starting the season ranked outside the world's top 300 and climbing to world number 18. Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend were voted doubles team of the year after winning their second Grand Slam title together, while Anisimova was named most improved player of the year after reaching five finals. Last week, Carlos Alcaraz took home three honours in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Awards, including the year-end number one award, while Jannik Sinner was voted fans' favourite for a third time.

Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in a game as the Dallas Mavericks lost 140-133 after overtime to the Utah Jazz The number one pick at this year's Draft, the 18-year-old forward finished with 42 points, seven rebounds and six assists at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Only Cliff Robinson (45), GG Jackson (44) and LeBron James (43) have scored more points in a game as a teenager, while Flagg equalled Mark Aguirre's record for a Mavericks rookie. Flagg, who turns 19 on Sunday, is the third teenager in the league's 79-year history - after James and Kevin Durant - to claim 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The Mavericks led 75-71 at half-time - by which time Flagg had 24 points - and 124-116 late in the fourth quarter. However, after blowing their eight-point lead to trail 129-127, they required two free throws from Max Christie with less than five seconds remaining to level the game. The Jazz dominated overtime to register their 10th win of the season as Keyonte George finished with 37 points and Lauri Markkanen 33. The Jazz are 10th in the Western Conference and the Mavericks 12th.

Former England striker Wayne Rooney says he received death threats when he made the move from boyhood club Everton to Manchester United Aged 18, Rooney signed for the Red Devils in a £27m deal in 2004 after turning down a club record contract offer from the Toffees. But Rooney's move from Merseyside led to a heavy backlash from some Everton supporters. "I got death threats. My parents' house was getting spray painted and smashed up. My girlfriend at the time, wife now, her house was getting spray painted. I think that's where you have to be mentally strong. The people around you have to help," Rooney said on the latest episode of BBC Sport's The Wayne Rooney Show. "Leaving was difficult because I went to Manchester United, and Liverpool and Manchester was a big rivalry so that made it a lot more difficult. But I was always of a mindset of 'I don't care'. I knew what I wanted and I knew how to get there. "I had to stay tough in my mind. This was people from my city so it was tough but I thought 'I don't care', you have to be selfish and make these decisions. There's millions of people watching' - Rooney on pressures of modern game When Rooney made the move to Manchester United it was at a time with far less social media, the increase of which he feels creates a different kind of pressure on young footballers in the modern game. Rooney's oldest son, Kai, is currently on the books at United and has stressed the importance of making sure he has a strong support network as he looks to make it in professional football. "Now the difference is social media. When I was young, I was in the local newspapers and so everyone in Liverpool really knew me," Rooney said. "Now I have it with my boy who's 16 and he's on social media. He plays for my United, he's sponsored by Puma and there's hundreds of thousands or millions of people watching them when they're that young, and I didn't have that really. "Being a young player and going into the first team especially, you're getting judged. Rightly or wrongly, you get judged and that's where you need the people around you, people at the club or your family to keep you in a good place. "We can all get carried away with social media as well. So it's really important that the people who are close to you have your best interest. It's the main thing."

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is a target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League, confirmed its chief executive Omar Mugharbel The 33-year-old was left out of the squad that travelled to Inter Milan for Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League win after publicly falling out with manager Arne Slot and the club. Following Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw at Leeds, Salah said he has been blamed for Liverpool's poor form and his relationship with manager Slot had broken down. While the Reds boss denied that and said Salah could still return, Mugharbel said clubs in Saudi Arabia are keen to sign the Egypt international. Speaking at the World Football Summit in Riyadh, he added: "Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players. For sure Salah is one of them [a target]." There have been reports Salah, who signed a two-year contract extension in April, could leave the Anfield club in January. Saudi interest in Salah has long been known, with a reported £150m bid from Al-Ittihad rejected by Liverpool in September 2023, but this is the first time a league official has gone on the record about the player since his outburst. Not every Saudi club will be interested, with Al-Kholood chairman Ben Harburg calling Salah "a bad fit" and suggesting Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr would be a better signing. "There's already, even among the public, much more apprehension around his coming into the league. He's 33 years old, he got paid a boatload [at Liverpool] and has underperformed massively since then," Harburg said. "I'm sure some people like his star power, he's from the region, but my sentiment is that he is not a fit for our league. If it were between him and Vinicius, I'd take Vinicius. I'm hoping we go after those 25-year-old next-wave players rather than guys like Salah, who definitely this would be the last stop of his career."

The draw for the Third Round Proper of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup has been finalised, setting up a host of clashes between Premier League giants and lower-league sides Premier League teams enter the competition at this stage, joining the lower-league sides who progressed from the first and second rounds. The fixtures, as released by the Emirates FA Cup on Monday are as follows: Portsmouth vs Arsenal Derby County vs Leeds United Swansea City vs West Brom Salford City vs Swindon Town Boreham Wood vs Brackley Town or Burton Albion Grimsby Town vs Weston-super-Mare Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers Newcastle United vs Bournemouth MK Dons vs Oxford United Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City Cambridge United vs Birmingham City Bristol City vs Watford Stoke City vs Coventry City Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town Wolves vs Shrewsbury Town Doncaster Rovers vs Southampton Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic Ipswich Town vs Blackpool Wrexham vs Nottingham Forest Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea Manchester City vs Exeter City West Ham United vs QPR Sheffield Wednesday vs Brentford Fulham vs Middlesbrough Everton vs Sunderland Liverpool vs Barnsley Burnley vs Millwall Norwich City vs Walsall

Jake Paul showed off a fresh black eye from sparring a British heavyweight in preparation for his bizarre yet seismic clash with Anthony Joshua On Friday, December 19, heavyweight star Joshua will fight the YouTuber-turned-boxer at Miami’s Kaseya Center. The bout will not be an exhibition but rather a professional contest, meaning the result will go on each man’s record and a knockout is possible. Joshua vs Paul is an example of some of the most-unexpected matchmaking in boxing history, with 36-year-old Joshua a former two-time world heavyweight champion, while Paul, 28, made his name on YouTube and the Disney Channel before establishing a boxing career. At 12-1 (seven KO wins) as a professional, the American has defeated – among others – former boxing world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, former UFC champions Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, and heavyweight boxing icon Mike Tyson, who was 58 at the time they fought. But in preparation for this mammoth step up in competition and size, Paul has been getting used to fighting big British bruisers and has a shiner to show for his sessions with former WBC and WBO champion Lawrence Okolie. “I’m sparring a bunch of world champion heavyweights. I think Lawrence Okolie did that to me,” Paul said on Adin Ross’ Kick stream. “He’s like six foot six, 270lbs.” Hackney-born Okolie, 32, is on a three-fight win streak and last beat Kevin Lerena on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois at Wembley. Paul also revealed that he currently weighs 215lbs and is aiming to reach 220lbs by fight night, with Joshua capped at 245lbs.

Mohamed Salah has been left out of the squad for Liverpool's Champions League match at Inter Milan The club have decided to remove Salah from selection for a short period after he gave an explosive interview on Saturday, claiming that he was "thrown under the bus" by Liverpool and his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down. The decision has been taken with the full support of Slot and that it is in the best interest of all parties involved for Salah to have a brief period away from selection given the nature and timing of the player's public comments. It is understood there will be no formal disciplinary action taken by the club. The 33-year-old is set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations next Monday and also looks likely to also miss Liverpool's game against Brighton on Saturday. Liverpool's 19-man squad flew to Milan on Monday afternoon and Slot will speak at the news conference alongside Alisson Becker at 18:45 GMT. Salah gave his interview after he was an unused substitute in Saturday's 3-3 draw at Leeds United - the third straight game the Egypt international has started on the bench. The previous two games had seen Salah come on as a substitute in a 1-1 home draw at Sunderland, while he was left on the bench in a 2-0 win at West Ham. His last start was in a 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven at Anfield in a Champions League group game and his last goal came in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday, 1 November. Salah has scored five goals in 18 appearances in the Premier League and Champions League this season. Overall, he has 250 goals in 420 Liverpool appearances and his 29 top-flight goals in the 2024-25 campaign helped the Anfield side win the Premier League title last season. Salah, who joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017, signed a new two-year contract with the club in April.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday that several first-team players remain doubtful for Saturday’s Matchday 15 trip to Aston Villa Speaking at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, Arteta said final training-ground assessments will determine his squad for the early kick-off. Pressed for updates, the Arsenal boss set the tone early ahead of the Saturday opener at Villa Park. “Let’s see. I think with all the questions I’m going to get, the answer, unfortunately, is going to be the same. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we’ll decide which ones.” He admitted defender Mosquera faces the toughest race: “That’s the one that is more complicated, but again, we have another test today to see where we are with them.” On William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, he remained cautiously upbeat, saying: “It is a matter of days with those two, for sure.” When asked about Declan Rice’s availability, he stated, “Let’s see. I think with all the questions I’m going to get, the answer, unfortunately, is going to be the same. We have another training session in the afternoon. Every hour is going to be very important to see the availability of the players. After that, we’ll decide which ones.” With Unai Emery’s Villa emerging as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous sides, Arteta acknowledged the scale of the task awaiting his squad at Villa Park. “For what they’ve been doing, the way they’ve been playing and winning matches, certainly it’s a team that is in great form and we know that. We know obviously the manager and the incredible job he’s done there as well, so we know the task tomorrow but we always take it as an opportunity.” Asked whether Emery’s past at Arsenal might add spice, Arteta dismissed the notion: “I don’t know… in my opinion, he never needs anything extra. I think he’s good enough in himself.” With Arsenal entering a defining stretch of the season, Arteta stressed the need for relentless focus. He said, “Consistency, again, to perform at the highest level and win another game… that’s exactly how we have to take it every game.” On whether Villa should now be considered title contenders, he was unequivocal: “Well, if they continue where they are already… I think any club, any team in that position has chances for sure.” The Arsenal manager also reflected on how squad depth has transformed his options compared to last season: “Great… when you look at the bench and you can say, now we can change the game. Or last year when we were in February to May, look there, and we had two players really, so that’s a huge difference.” From managing suspensions to monitoring knocks, Arteta repeated that clarity will only come after the final training session. But the mission remains unchanged as Arsenal attempt to keep pace in the title race. “We have to focus on performing, preparing really well for tomorrow… and be ready for it to fulfil our potential.”

The Istanbul public prosecutor’s office said Friday it had ordered the arrest of 46 people, among them 29 football players, as part of a sprawling investigation into illegal betting on Turkish matches Among the arrested players, 27 of them are suspected of having bet on matches involving their own teams, in which they themselves were playing, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Eighteen people were being held in Turkey in a probe into referees suspected of betting on football matches, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office said in early November. A week before that the TFF suspended 149 referees accused of betting on matches. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that its disciplinary committee has imposed suspensions of between eight and 12 months on several officials implicated in the ongoing betting scandal. The federation noted that inquiries remain active regarding three additional referees. According to the TFF’s findings, a review of 571 referees working across Turkey’s professional leagues uncovered that 371 had opened sports-betting accounts, while 152 were found to have placed wagers. Among those named in the federation’s latest statement was Metehan Baltacı of reigning champions Galatasaray, who had already received a nine-month ban earlier in the month for his involvement. The scandal has sent shockwaves through Turkish football. On November 10, six referees were placed in pre-trial detention, along with the president of Eyüpspor, a club competing in the top-flight Super Lig. Prosecutors did not disclose the identities of the other 26 players accused of betting on matches involving their own clubs, though they confirmed that Fenerbahçe midfielder Mert Hakan Yandaş allegedly placed wagers using another person’s account. Authorities reported that police have detained 35 of the 46 individuals named in the arrest warrants, while five suspects are currently believed to be outside the country. The warrants also target two club presidents accused of trying to manipulate the result of a third-division fixture during the 2023–2024 season. The match had raised suspicions after neither team attempted a single shot on goal, a detail that Turkish media say triggered the broader investigation. To date, the TFF has issued suspensions to more than 1,000 players nationwide, including 25 from the Super Lig. The penalties range from 45-day bans to year-long suspensions. Only one foreign player, Konyaspor’s Senegalese winger Alassane Ndao, was sanctioned, receiving a 12-month ban. Most of those punished—over 900—compete in the country’s third and fourth tiers.

England defender Trent Alexander‑Arnold will be out for about two months after sustaining a thigh injury during Real Madrid's win over Athletic Club The right-back, who has been limited to just 11 appearances in all competitions this season because of injury, provided his first La Liga assist in Real's 3-0 victory in Bilbao. But Alexander-Arnold injured his thigh 10 minutes into the second half and required medical assistance to leave the pitch. The 27-year-old is expected to be sidelined for about two months. It is the latest blow to Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real from Liverpool in the summer and has already missed six weeks of the season with a hamstring strain. With Spain right-back Dani Carvajal also ruled out until early 2026, Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde may have to fill in at full-back.

Milwaukee Bucks beat Detroit Pistons 113-109 despite losing the NBA's Nigerian-born two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury early in the match Antetokounmpo, 30, fell to the floor in the third minute and had to be helped off court by his team-mates. Bucks trailed by 18 points in the first quarter, but fought back at Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum to claim just their second win in 10 games. Kevin Porter Jr registered 26 points for the Bucks, with Ryan Rollins adding 22 and AJ Green scoring 11 of his 19 in the fourth quarter to fuel the comeback. Detroit remain top of the Eastern Conference after their fifth loss of the season, with Milwaukee sitting 10th. Bucks initially thought Antetokounmpo had strained his right calf, but are awaiting confirmation after the Greek power forward had an MRI scan. Before the match, rumours had emerged via ESPN that Antetokounmpo was "mulling his future" with the franchise. But Rivers said there had been "no conversations" about a possible trade. Elsewhere, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 48 points to help Los Angeles Clippers end a five-game losing streak with a 115-92 win at Atlanta Hawks. Jamal Murray scored a season-high 52 points as Denver Nuggets beat Indiana Pacers 135-120 in Indianapolis.

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has expressed genuine concern for Jake Paul ahead of his December 19 fight against Anthony Joshua, warning that the British-Nigerian boxer could “kill” the YouTuber-turned-boxer The Ukrainian, who has gone 24 rounds with Joshua across two fights without ever being beaten, believes the size and experience difference between the two fighters could prove catastrophic for Paul. There is a staggering 52lb difference between their last recorded fight weights, and Joshua also has a five-inch height advantage over the American. “If Anthony Joshua wants, he will kill this guy. Listen, a lot of questions, blah, blah, blah… Anthony Joshua is an Olympic champion, first. Jake Paul, yeah, a sportsman, a YouTuber, a showman. Joshua is Rolls-Royce; Jake is a Fiat,” Usyk told Boxing Scene. “Listen, it’s true. It’s just true… Yes, I will pray (for) Jake Paul. Because I want to fight with Jake Paul in the octagon,” Usyk added. Having moved up from cruiserweight to heavyweight himself, Usyk knows exactly what it means to step in with a much bigger opponent. The Ukrainian was considered by many as one of the greatest cruiserweights ever before moving up and finding similar success at heavyweight, becoming undisputed champion twice despite always giving up size. However, Usyk stressed that Paul’s situation is vastly different from his own experience. Before turning professional in 2020, when Joshua had already been unified champion twice, Paul had only fought once in an amateur white-collar bout. By that time, Joshua was already an Olympic gold medallist. Usyk recently squared up with Paul in hopes of building momentum for a potential MMA fight, but any hopes of that happening depend on Paul surviving his encounter with Joshua at the Kaseya Centre in Miami. Paul holds a 12-1 professional record built mostly against limited or faded opposition, with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury in 2023.

Erling Haaland smashed Alan Shearer's record by reaching 100 Premier League goals faster than anyone in the competition's history - bringing up his century of strikes in Manchester City's win at Fulham The 25-year-old Norwegian, who could have represented England at international level, has had a scintillating season so far by scoring 20 goals in 19 games in all competitions. Haaland had unusually come into the Fulham game on the back of three consecutive blanks in front of goal, in defeats by Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen and the win against Leeds at the weekend. But he got back among the goals with a lovely finish, steering home Jeremy Doku's cross in the first half of a thrilling encounter that ended in a 5-4 win for Manchester City. "A proud moment. The 100 club is a huge thing. To do it this quickly is amazing. I'm proud, I'm happy. I've said it many times - a striker for City should score a lot of goals. That's my job, that's what I try to do. And I'm not bad at it!" Haaland said.

Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, but their victory at the Spotify Camp Nou has come at a cost. Dani Olmo was injured in the process of scoring their second goal, and it has now been confirmed that he is set for a spell on the sidelines Olmo fell on his shoulder after striking the ball past Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak, and immediately he was in a lot of pain. Hansi Flick was forced to replace him, and as per Sport, he will now be without his services for the rest of the year. Olmo has suffered a shoulder dislocation, for which he could surgery. The minimum time out for him will be three weeks, although Barcelona do not expect to count on him before the winter break. The concern for Barcelona is that Olmo had issues with his left shoulder earlier in his career. In 2023, he was out for two months after undergoing surgery on a dislocation, which will spark fears of a possible recurrence of that situation, which would be dreadful news for the La Liga leaders. Olmo had been in his best moment of the season, having scored twice against Alaves at the weekend and again against Atleti, but that has now come to an end. The bad news for Flick is that Fermin Lopez also remains out with an injury of his own, so the only natural attacking midfielder in his squad is Dro Fernandez. The 17-year-old could start against Betis this weekend, although the likelihood is that Flick goes one of two ways: he plays Pedri further forward with Frenkie de Jong (if fit) and Eric Garcia in behind, or he uses Raphinha in a central position, which would allow Marcus Rashford to make his return to the starting line-up.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi has become the player with the most assists in football history The Argentine recorded the 405th of his career in Inter Miami’s MLS Cup semifinal win over New York City on Sunday. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner set up Mateo Silvetti in the 67th minute as Inter Miami cruised to a 5–1 victory to clinch the Eastern Conference title. The result sets up a clash between Inter Miami and Western Conference champions Vancouver in the MLS Cup final on Saturday, December 6. He had earlier drawn level with Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskás before surpassing him with his latest assist. Below is the updated list of players with the most career assists: Lionel Messi – 405 Ferenc Puskás – 404 Pelé – 369 Johan Cruyff – 358 Thomas Müller – 352 Luis Suárez – 317 Kevin De Bruyne – 316 Ángel Di María – 313 Cristiano Ronaldo – 304 Luís Figo – 283 Overall, the 38-year-old Argentine has scored 896 goals and provided 405 assists, giving him the highest goal contributions in football history.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn says British-Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua must demolish Jake Paul on December 19 or face retirement alongside him With Paul gearing up to face Joshua at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Hearn acknowledged there is significant pressure on the former two-time unified heavyweight champion. Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn acknowledged Paul’s skills but pointed out that he still falls short of being skilled enough to beat Joshua. Hearn brushed off any notion of the fight being rigged, calling it “illegal” to do so. Moreover, he even commended Paul for signing up for a “real fight”. But what happens if Joshua ends up losing to Paul? Hearn has a plan of action if that ever happens. “Maybe I’m wrong. If I’m wrong, I think my time’s up. Not just AJ and me retire, I think we should all retire. So, AJ, the weight of boxing is on your shoulders, my man!” he said. However, Hearn continues to remain confident about Joshua’s performance in the fight. “I really believe this is going to be a straightforward obliteration,” he stated. “There is absolutely no escape for Jake Paul in this fight. You will find out very quickly what this game is all about. And it will not be pleasant for you. AJ, he’s got no interest in hanging around. He’s not capable of doing that. He can’t do it because the minute he smells weakness, the minute he smells blood, he’s letting his hands go. And the minute he lets his hands go in this fight, there’s a major problem for Jake Paul.” Joshua holds a 28-4 record with 25 knockouts, while Paul brings a 12-1 record with seven knockouts into the contest.

Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 41 points as the Atlanta Hawks clinched a dramatic 142-134 double-overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers The teams were tied at 115-115 at the end of the fourth quarter and 126-126 following the first five-minute period of overtime. But, after Tyrese Maxey's driving lay-up brought the 76ers level at 132-132, Johnson responded with a pair of three-pointers to help Atlanta move clear. Maxey led with 44 points for the 76ers, who welcomed back key man Joel Embiid from knee soreness following a nine-game absence. Embiid scored 18 points in 30 minutes on his return to action. Elsewhere, LeBron James missed the Los Angeles Lakers' 133-121 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in order to rest a lingering problem with his left foot. Luka Doncic scored 20 of his 34 points in the first quarter to help the Lakers on their way to a seventh straight victory, with Austin Reaves adding 33 points. Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to 12 matches with victory at the Portland Trail Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points in a 123-115 win for the Western Conference leaders, who have won 20 of their 21 games this season.

A Bolivian Cup clash ended in chaos as 17 men were sent off following a huge brawl between players and staff Bolivian sides Blooming and Real Ocuro drew 2-2 in the Copa Bolivia quarter-finals. It meant Blooming qualified for the semi-finals of the competition after a 2-1 win over their rivals in the first leg. But the action on the pitch was overshadowed after tempers flared following the full time whistle. In a clip that has gone viral on social media, players from both teams are seen coming together in a huge crowd. Some staff members and players then threw punches in shocking scenes. Police who were present at the game were forced to use tear gas to stop the scenes of violence. According to Bolivian outlet El Potosi (via The Sun) the unsavoury scenes began when Oruro star Sebastian Zeballos had to be held back by Blooming players, before breaking free and started pushing players. His team-mate Julio Vila was also furious and threw punches that triggered the chaotic scenes, the report added. Oruro coach Marcelo Robledo, meanwhile, confronted another coach and was pushed as he fell backwards. There was chaos around the pitch as 20 police officers were forced to intervene. Blooming coach Mauricio Soria then took his players into the dressing room to calm them down. The report says Oruro were incensed after failing to qualify for the semi-finals, despite needing only one goal to force penalties. The match report states seven Blooming players were dismissed by referee Renan Castillo, while four Oruro stars were shown red cards. The other dismissals came from both sets of Robledo, Soria and their assistants. Blooming forward Cesar Menacho had been sent off earlier in the game for offensive language. Bolivian outlet Vision360 claimed that Castillo will send his report to the Sports Disciplinary Tribunal in Bolivia for further action. It added that Robledo suffered a shoulder injury and blow to his head during the brawl and was hospitalised. And it goes on to claim that a Blooming official suffered a fractured cheekbone during the chaos.

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for Portugal in the loss to the Republic of Ireland in November; the Portugal captain has been given a three-match ban but two of those games are suspended for one year; Ronaldo will play at the start of Portugal's World Cup so long as he does not re-offend Cristiano Ronaldo is set to avoid a ban for the start of Portugal's World Cup campaign despite his red card against the Republic of Ireland. A FIFA disciplinary committee has imposed a three-match ban, but the final two games are suspended for one year provided there is no similar infringement during the probation period. Ronaldo was shown a red card after appearing to swing an elbow at Ireland defender Dara O'Shea during a World Cup qualifier earlier this month. He has already served the one-match suspension, in Portugal's final qualifier against Armenia. Should Ronaldo commit another offence of a similar nature, the two matches will be automatically activated for the next official matches for the Portugal national team, which are set to be the opening two World Cup group games. A FIFA statement said: "In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probation period. If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team. "This is without prejudice to any additional sanctions imposed for the new infringement. The three-match suspension is subject to appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee." The decision comes days after Ronaldo attended a black tie dinner at the White House alongside US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Under normal circumstances, Ronaldo should be suspended for Portugal's first two World Cup games, but there is nothing normal about the Portugal superstar. Ronaldo's legion of fans will say it is only right that their hero is being treated differently from everyone else. After all, his red card was the first time he had been sent off in 226 internationals. Others will say rules are rules. Serious foul play should mean a two-match ban and violent conduct means a three-match ban.

Liverpool’s summer signing, Florian Wirtz missed the Reds training on Tuesday, in a major blow to Arne Slot’s struggling side The German international picked up an injury during November’s international break, and missed the Reds’ 3-0 thumping from Nottingham Forest on Saturday. However, Wirtz was not the only Liverpool star absent from training this week. Jeremie Frimpong was also missing from Tuesday’s session at the AXA Training Centre, as was Conor Bradley – as both continue to recover from their own respective injuries. It will come as disheartening news to Liverpool fans, who have recently seen their side suffer a sluggish run of form in the Premier League. At the time of writing, the defending champions languish at 12th in the league standings, losing six of their last seven outings. And while Slot will hope to find his footing in Europe to make up for a turbulent term on English soil, he looks to be without three key players in Wirtz, Frimpong and Bradley for Wednesday evening’s clash with PSV Eindhoven. In the Champions League thus far, Liverpool have enjoyed wins over Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid, as well as enduring a loss to Galatasaray at the end of September. And as a result, they sit eighth in the competition’s league table. However, they could climb the standings on Wednesday with a win over the Eredivisie’s table-toppers on home soil, depending on results elsewhere. It comes as Slot came under fire for Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Forest at Anfield at the weekend. The Reds struggled to get going in front of the Kop, heading 1-0 down midway through the first half when Murillo found the back of the net. Igor Jesus looked to have doubled the visitors’ lead moments later, only to see his goal ruled out for a handball in the build-up. Nicolo Savona bagged a second for Forest moments after the restart, before Morgan Gibbs-White put the game well and truly out of reach with around 10 minutes left to play. Speaking after the match, Slot explained how Liverpool failing to take their chances in the first-half proved particularly costly.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the Champions League trip to face Olympiacos because of a stomach bug, said the Spanish giants on Tuesday The Belgian stopper “has been diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis,” said Madrid in a statement ahead of Wednesday’s match in Athens. Andriy Lunin is set to fill in for the record 15-time champions, who are seventh in the league phase table. Madrid have failed to win any of their last three games across all competitions, including a 1-0 defeat by Liverpool in their previous Champions League match.

Roger Federer will become the first member of the 'Big Three' of tennis to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame Federer, 44, retired in 2022 having won 103 ATP-level titles, second only to Jimmy Connors (109) during the Open era. The Swiss great was the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles - a total since surpassed by 'Big Three' rivals Novak Djokovic (24) and Rafael Nadal (22). Federer, one of only eight men to achieve a career Grand Slam, received the news at Swiss Tennis, where he played in his youth, as he was welcomed by some of the current 270 Hall of Fame members in a video call. "It's a tremendous honour to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game's great champions. Throughout my career, I've always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me," Federer said. "To be recognised in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling. I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community." Federer will be inducted over the weekend of 27-29 August next year, when ceremonies will take place in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States. Among his 20 major triumphs, Federer won a record eight men's singles titles at Wimbledon. He held the world number one ranking for a total of 310 weeks - including a record 237 consecutive weeks. Broadcaster and journalist Mary Carillo has also been elected in the Contributor Category. Fred Perry and Virginia Wade are among the famous British names already in the Hall of Fame.

Super Falcon’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has again been crowned CAF Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) for 2025, marking her third consecutive win of the prestigious award The 24-year-old goalkeeper received the honour on Wednesday at the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco, further solidifying her status as one of Africa’s elite shotstoppers. Nnadozie beat Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini to the honour, reaffirming her dominance as Africa’s top goalkeeper. She enjoyed a stellar year for both club and country. At Paris FC, she helped lift the Coupe de France Féminine, while internationally, she played a key role in the Super Falcons’ record-extending 10th WAFCON title, keeping four clean sheets and earning the tournament’s best goalkeeper award. Following WAFCON, she joined Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League, making an immediate impact with a Player of the Match debut, and earning multiple nominations, including the WSL Save of the Month and PFA Fans’ Player of the Month awards. Nnadozie’s latest CAF honour adds to her growing legacy, cementing her status as one of the most exciting talents in women’s football today.

Morocco and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the Confederation of African Football Men’s Player of the Year Award for 2025, edging out finalists Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) and Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray) The announcement came on Wednesday during the glittering CAF Awards ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, where Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back, was the only finalist in attendance, adding to the electric atmosphere. This marks a historic breakthrough for Hakimi, after finishing as runner-up in both 2023 and 2024 (behind Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, respectively), the 27-year-old has finally claimed Africa’s top individual football honour. It’s also the first win for a Moroccan since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, and only the fourth for a defender in the award’s modern history.

LeBron James became the first player to take part in 23 consecutive NBA seasons when he stepped onto the court for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday The 40-year-old, who missed his side's opening 14 games of the season because of sciatica, contributed 11 points, 12 assists and three rebounds in 30 minutes of a 140-126 home win over the Utah Jazz. James - the NBA's record scorer - overtook Vince Carter's mark of having played in 22 successive NBA seasons, while his two three-pointers also moved him above Reggie Miller into sixth place in the NBA's all-time list of most three-pointers made. Doncic had a game high 37 points and four steals in the win against the Jazz as he also contributed 10 assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves scored 26 points for the Lakers, while Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen scored 34 and 31 points respectively for Utah. The win puts the Lakers fourth in the Western Conference, with the Jazz in 10th place.

Curaçao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup Curacao will be joined by CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti which also booked their spots. Curaçao finished as the only undefeated nation in the tournament and finished atop of Group B with 12 points to advance to the World Cup for the first time in its history. Curacao got the historic result it needed despite not having his coach Dick Advocaat. on the bench. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the crucial match because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons. Advocaat was at the helm of the Netherlands national team for three stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking the job with Curacao. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curaçao, the country has a population of 156,115 persons as of last January. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000 was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.

Amid worrying injury news involving Gabriel Magalhaes, one positive update for Arsenal is that Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be fit by this weekend With Gabriel Magalhaes now a major doubt to face Tottenham Hotspur on November 23rd due to injury, there’s additional concern from supporters over whether Riccardo Calafiori will be fit for the match. Despite being called up by Italy, Calafiori missed both of their games over the break with a hip injury, returning to Arsenal early. Yet there’s good news on that front, with Fabrizio Romano (via Daily Cannon) reporting that the defender will “100%” be ready for the Spurs game. Arsenal have run their own checks and confirmed there’s no serious injury, so the defender should be fit by the time club football returns this weekend. Even ignoring Gabriel’s injury, there’s understandably increased scrutiny around Calafiori’s fitness following his debut campaign at the club. The left-back was absent from 24 of Arsenal’s 58 matchday squads in 2024/25, over 40% of the team’s fixtures, and almost all of those absences were fitness-related. Things have been a lot different this season so far, with Calafiori featuring in all of Arsenal’s 17 matchday squads to start the season, making the starting lineup on 12 occasions. The Italy international only started 16 club matches in the entirety of the last campaign, so he’s 75% of the way to matching that total already. It would be a shame for injury to strike again after such a positive run.

Former Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema has opened the door to a potential return to the Spanish giants, while also remaining non-committal about his future at Al Ittihad According to a Fabrizio Romano post on X on Tuesday, Benzema said, “If Florentino is still there, it could happen. I could never say no to Pérez. “I’m a Madridista. I feel it in my soul. Madrid is still my city. We’ll see what happens.” In his current situation in Saudi Arabia, where his contract with Al Ittihad runs until June 2026, the ex-France international remained cautious about committing to either staying or leaving. “I don’t know if I’ll leave Al Ittihad or stay. It depends on many factors… let’s see what happens,” he explained. Benzema, who scored over 300 goals for Real Madrid and was pivotal in multiple Champions League and La Liga victories, remains a beloved figure among Los Blancos fans. Benzema also called for calm and fairness in the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Vinícius Júnior, urging fans and pundits not to overlook the Brazilian’s enormous contributions to the club. “Don’t forget what Vini Jr did for Real Madrid, it’d be not fair at all. He’s a very good kid, with a big heart, who wants to learn, he’s phenomenal. People put a lot of pressure on him. He can do more, but you can’t say he’s bad now, told @diarioas.” Vinícius, widely regarded as one of Real Madrid’s most decisive attacking players in recent seasons, has faced intensified public scrutiny. Despite some inconsistent performances and heightened scrutiny from fans and media, the club’s leadership remains confident in his ability to influence matches and drive the team forward.

Barcelona will officially return to the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou this week, with their first match at the revamped stadium set against Athletic Club The Blaugrana have spent more than a year away from their iconic home ground due to major reconstruction works under the Espai Barça project. During the renovation period, the team played their home fixtures at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Monday, he said, “Barcelona will make their long-awaited return this week, with Athletic Club as the first visitors at the upgraded stadium.” The return marks a historic moment for the club, as fans prepare to experience the significantly modernised Camp Nou for the first time. The matchup against Athletic Club will serve as the official debut of the new-look Spotify Camp Nou and is expected to draw a sell-out crowd. More details, including final stadium preparations and planned pre-match events, are expected from the club in the coming hours.

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is expected to miss upcoming matches after sustaining a knee injury during the club’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur According to reports from Sky Sports, the striker is to be out for at least one month. “Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko is set for a spell on the sidelines as a result of a knee injury picked up against Spurs,” Sky Sports added. Preliminary assessments indicate that Sesko will require a period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to full fitness. United manager and fans alike will be hoping for a swift recovery, as Sesko has been a key figure in the team’s attacking lineup since joining the squad. Updates on his rehabilitation and expected return are expected in the coming days.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight YouTube star Jake Paul in a professional bout in Miami next month, with the two fighters set to share a reported $184m purse 36-year-old Joshua will take on the YouTuber-turned-boxer at Kaseya Centre in Miami, Matchroom Boxing announced on Monday. The fight will consist of eight three-minute rounds and represents a significant payday for both fighters, with reports suggesting an even split of the massive prize pot. The bout is a replacement fight for America’s Paul, who had been scheduled to take on lightweight Gervonta Davis in an exhibition match earlier this month before the fight was cancelled. Paul, 28, beat heavyweight great Mike Tyson in Texas in November 2024 in a fight that drew an audience exceeding 60 million viewers on Netflix. Joshua has not fought since being stopped by British compatriot Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September last year in their IBF title bout. The match-up has generated significant controversy, with critics questioning why the former two-time unified heavyweight champion would take on an opponent with Paul’s limited credentials. However, the massive financial incentive provides clear motivation for the British-Nigerian heavyweight. Paul’s 12-1 record across the past five years has been built against nobodies and elderly stars, with his sole loss coming against Tommy Fury, the younger brother of Tyson Fury. Despite the controversial nature of the bout, boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has hinted at major plans for Joshua’s future beyond the Paul fight. Speaking on DAZN’s broadcast before the Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. fight on November 15, Alalshikh revealed ambitious plans for 2026. “I am talking now with Eddie, we have next year, two big events here in London. It will be a surprise. We will have (Anthony) Joshua in our country in February, then there is the big fight, one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, it will be in London here, maybe in September,” Alalshikh said. When pressed on whether this could finally be Joshua vs. Tyson Fury, Alalshikh added, “I will not give you the answer. But we will have in April here, maybe in Tottenham, big fights. Then in September, we will have me and (Eddie Hearn), a big surprise for the fans in England.” Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua with Matchroom, expressed optimism about making the long-awaited Fury fight happen. “Listen, we have all got excited about that fight for many years. I believe (Turki) is the man to make it happen. Everything we do with Anthony Joshua, we do with Turki Alalshikh. We have been sitting down this week. We have a lot of plans for Anthony Joshua’s future. He wants to regain the world heavyweight championship; he wants to, of course, fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. However, should Joshua somehow lose to Paul, the iconic bout with Fury could be off the table, raising the stakes for the December clash in Miami.

Spain’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Davis Cup Final 8 tournament in Italy this week due to injury, the two-time Wimbledon champion announced on X on Tuesday “I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to play with Spain in the Davis Cup in Bologna. I have swelling in my right hamstring, and the medical advice is not to play. I’ve always said that playing for Spain is the greatest thing there is, and I was really looking forward to helping the team fight for the Davis Cup trophy,” the 22-year-old six-time Grand Slam winner said. Alcaraz’s announcement comes two days after he was beaten by arch-rival Jannik Sinner, the Italian world number two, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 in the ATP Finals title-decider in Turin. Sinner had already announced he would miss the tournament, with hosts Italy aiming for a third title in a row. Italy’s second-highest-ranked player, Lorenzo Musetti, has also pulled out of Italy’s defence. Austria, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Argentina, and Germany are the other countries vying for victory in Bologna.

Jannik Sinner is relishing more "great battles" with Carlos Alcaraz in 2026 after overcoming the world number one in two tight sets to defend his ATP Finals crown in Turin For the second consecutive year, the Italian captured the title without dropping a set throughout the tournament, winning 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 in the final, and is now unbeaten in 31 consecutive matches on indoor hard courts. It was Sinner's second victory in six finals against Spaniard Alcaraz this season and closed the gap in their head-to-head record to 10-6. The duo have dominated the 2025 men's tour calendar, winning a combined 14 titles, including all four Grand Slams, and the 'Sincaraz' rivalry went stratospheric in June when Alcaraz fought back from two sets down and saved three championship points to win a Roland Garros epic. The Spaniard also triumphed in Rome, Cincinnati and at the US Open, but Sinner, who came out on top at Wimbledon, had the final word in front of home support. Alcaraz, who has won seven of their past nine meetings, is similarly keen to renew their rivalry next year, issuing a friendly warning. Despite missing out on the year-end number one ranking, Sinner said there could be no better ending to 2025. A successful year on court saw him add two Grand Slam titles to his collection, including a maiden Wimbledon triumph, and reach all four major finals. He missed three months of the season to serve a doping ban but still collected six titles – the second-best haul of his career – after reaching the final in 10 of the 12 tournaments he entered. This latest win extends his prolific record at the end-of-season showpiece event, where he has not lost a match since being defeated by Novak Djokovic in the 2023 final. Sinner becomes just the fourth player to successfully retain the men's singles title this century, joining Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer and Djokovic. All signs point to more dominance by 22-year-old Alcaraz and 24-year-old Sinner in the new year, and more contests played at this high level can only be a good thing for the sport. After the first 11 games came and went without a break point, Sinner was forced to save set point with a huge second serve. He then dominated the tie-break, capitalising on a run of backhand errors from Alcaraz and executing a couple of pinpoint lobs, to seal the first set. His usually reliable serve faltered in the opening game of the second, with a pair of untimely double faults gifting Alcaraz, sporting a bandaged right thigh after receiving treatment earlier in the match, an early break. However, Sinner hit back with a break of his own in the sixth game before saving a break point in the seventh to keep the set on serve, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with each point he won. With Alcaraz serving to stay in the match in the 12th game, Sinner forced deuce with a down-the-line backhand before dropping to the floor as consecutive errors from his opponent confirmed the Italian's successful title defence.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green confronted a courtside New Orleans Pelicans fan who was taunting him during his side's victory in Louisiana Green approached the supporter after the 35-year-old was punished for a shooting foul while guarding Pelicans forward Herbert Jones during his team's 124-106 victory in New Orleans. As the two sides lined up for Jones' foul shots, Green instead made his way over to the supporter, who stood with his hands outstretched and a grin on his face. The pair exchanged words before match officials stepped between them and removed Green from the situation. "He just kept calling me a woman. It was a good joke at first, but you can't keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way. You can't keep calling me a woman," Green said after the game. The fan, Sam Green, said he chanted the name of WNBA forward Angel Reese at the forward because he had several rebound opportunities but had yet to make a shot. "I wasn't using profanity, and for him to walk 12 feet off the court to come and get in my face like that, it was a little unnerving," said Sam Green. The supporter was given a warning by stewards but was allowed to remain in his front-row seat. "He was talking at first," said Draymond Green, who was fined $25,000 (£19,000) for "directing obscene language" towards a fan in 2022. "Then you get a little closer and he didn't really say much else. But it's fine. We move on." Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he was unaware of what was said during the confrontation. "As long as it doesn't escalate. It's fine to go over and have a discussion. I had no problem with it but it would have been nice if security had got there a little bit earlier," Kerr said.

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has been named among the three finalists for the CAF Player of the Year award The Galatasaray striker, who won the honour in 2023, will compete with Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) for Africa’s top individual prize. Osimhen’s name appeared on the shortlist released on Sunday evening by the Confederation of African Football for the award last won by Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman. In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade also made the final shortlist. She will contest the award alongside Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy. The CAF Awards 2025 will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on November 19 from 7 pm local time (6 pm Nigerian time). Men’s Categories: CAF Awards 2025 Shortlists Player of the Year Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray) Goalkeeper of the Year Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane) Yassine Bonou (Morocco/Al Hilal) Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) Interclub Player of the Year Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids) Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids) Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane) Coach of the Year Bubista (Cape Verde) Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20) Walid Regragui (Morocco) Young Player of the Year Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax) Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford) Tylon Smith (South Africa/Queens Park Rangers) National Team of the Year Cape Verde Morocco Morocco U-20 Club of the Year Pyramids RS Berkane Mamelodi Sundowns

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss at least the opening game of the 2026 World Cup after receiving a red card for violent conduct during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday The Al Nassr forward was shown a yellow card initially in the 61st minute for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. Still, after a review via VAR, the referee upgraded the decision to a red card. It was Ronaldo’s first red card for Portugal in his 226th international appearance, setting a record in men’s football, though he has been sent off 13 times at club level. Following FIFA disciplinary rules, Ronaldo faces a mandatory one-match ban in competitive fixtures. The regulations state that violent conduct could result in a ban of “at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.” The ban would apply to competitive games and cannot be served in pre-tournament friendlies. Portugal went into the game knowing a win would secure their place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but two goals from Troy Parrott stunned the visitors. Despite the loss, Portugal still leads Hungary by two points in Group F, meaning a win against Armenia on Sunday will ensure Ronaldo reaches his sixth World Cup. Before the game, Ronaldo acknowledged the challenge of playing at the Aviva Stadium, where he expected to face boos from Irish fans. He said, “I really like the fans here. The support they give to the national team it’s lovely. For me, it’s a pleasure to come and play here again. Of course, it will be tough. I hope they don’t boo me too much tomorrow. I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy.” After being sent off, Ronaldo was seen reacting to the crowd’s jeers with a wry expression, clapping his hands and giving two thumbs up in a gesture interpreted as sarcastic. Ronaldo’s red card came after previous controversies with Irish fans, including accusations in the reverse fixture of having undue influence over the match official when Rúben Neves scored a last-minute winner against Ireland.

Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly preparing for a sensational return to the ring as he gets ready to face social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a high-profile heavyweight clash expected to take place in Miami in December According to reports from the Daily Mail, negotiations between Joshua’s team and Paul’s camp are nearing completion, with either December 9 or 12 being targeted for the much-anticipated showdown. Joshua has been out of action since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. The British boxing icon has been carefully considering his next step, and it now appears that his comeback fight will be one of the most talked-about matchups in recent years. Dubois brutally knocked out Joshua in the fifth round, derailing hopes of him mounting a charge for the heavyweight titles. Paul, who has steadily built a credible boxing career since transitioning from YouTube fame to professional fighting, was originally scheduled to face Gervonta Davis on November 14. However, that fight was cancelled after Davis faced serious allegations of domestic violence. Paul could now face Joshua in what would be a blockbuster clash between a former unified champion and one of boxing’s most controversial figures. The fight would mark Joshua’s return to the ring after more than a year of inactivity, while Paul continues his journey from social media stardom to legitimate boxing contender. If the bout materialises, it would generate significant interest from both traditional boxing fans and Paul’s massive social media following, potentially becoming one of the biggest pay-per-view events of the year.

Kylian Mbappé made history last night. He scored a brace for France, and reached the 400 goal mark for his career so far. He is the youngest player to ever do that in the 21st century, which personifies the remarkable goal scorer we all know he is The Frenchman plays like one of the most experienced players around, but it's important to remember there is still more to be squeezed out of Mbappé. Real Madrid fans have already seen the benefits of him being the main man under Xabi Alonso. Right now, the Real Madrid star is the best player in the world, and that won't change anytime soon. However, he is not patting himself on the back yet. He has one man's record to break. Kylian Mbappé, when asked about reaching 400 goals in his career, said that nobody is impressed by a player scoring 400 goals. Instead, he has his eyes on breaking the 950-goal mark, which only one player has done (Cristiano Ronaldo). In his own words, Mbappé said: “400 goals don’t impress people. I want to make my mark in football history, so I have to score at least 400 more. There is one with 950+ goals, and another with 900+, 400 isn’t enough to stay in the circle of players who shock people”. So, in his own view, Mbappé is not even halfway there. He has no time to celebrate, he wants to break Cristiano Ronaldo's record. And, let's face it, he might just be on pace to do it. Especially if he keeps improving season by season, which he has been doing in recent history. He is the main man for Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, and the main man for France under Didier Deschamps. When Zinedine Zidane takes over as France boss, then the only way is up for Mbappé. Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as one of the best players of all time. Many would even consider him the best, but we won't feed into that age-old cliche. If Mbappé wants to leave behind the same legacy, he has more to do than Ronaldo did. Let's face it, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be remembered by a generation. The standards have changed, and players of his generation need to go above and beyond to even be spoken about in the same sentence. Mbappé knows this, which is a truly terrifying thought for anyone who isn't a Real Madrid fan.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Thursday the club is planning to erect a statue of Lionel Messi outside the newly renovated Camp Nou, as the Catalan side prepare to honour their record scorer after his emotional visit to the stadium Messi, 38, returned to Barcelona on Sunday to tour the revamped ground for the first time since leaving the club in 2021, later posting on Instagram that he hoped to “return one day, and not just to say goodbye as a player.” Laporta, speaking at a book presentation in Barcelona (via Reuters), said the board had already discussed plans for a permanent tribute to the Argentine World Cup winner. “Messi will always be linked to Barca, he knows that the doors are open for him. We have absolute respect for him, he deserves the best tribute. He should have a statue at Spotify Camp Nou, like (Johan) Cruyff and (Laszlo) Kubala. He is one of those iconic players who have left their mark on us. We have discussed it at a meeting and are working on it. The family must agree, and all Barca fans would want it,” he said. Laporta previously dismissed suggestions that Messi could return to play for Barca, calling the idea “unrealistic” given the forward’s contract with MLS side Inter Miami, which he extended last month. Messi, who joined Barca’s academy at 13, scored 672 goals in 778 appearances and led the team to 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups during his 21 years at the club.

Carlos Alcaraz said securing the year-end world number one ranking "means everything" after he reached the knockout stages of the ATP Finals with three straight wins Alcaraz was already assured of a semi-final place, after Alex de Minaur beat Taylor Fritz earlier on Thursday - but he would not be denied in his bid to edge rival Jannik Sinner in the race to be crowned the top-ranked men's player of 2025. The 22-year-old Spaniard let out a huge roar as he achieved the feat by beating Italian ninth seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-1 - also ensuring he recorded 70 wins in a season for the first time in his career. In topping the Jimmy Connors Group, Alcaraz has avoided a semi-final meeting with Sinner - who is already confirmed as winner of the Bjorn Borg Group before the final round of matches on Friday. Sinner will play De Minaur in the last four, while Alcaraz awaits the winner of German Alexander Zverev and Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, as the world's top two aim to set up a tantalising final blockbuster showdown to conclude a year in which they have once again dominated the tour. "It means the world to me, to be honest. The year-end number one is always a goal. At the beginning of the year I saw number one really far away, with Jannik winning almost every tournament he plays," said Alcaraz said "Then in the last three, four tournaments of the year, [I was] fighting toe-to-toe with Jannik for this spot, and then finally I got it. For me, it means everything." Alcaraz will end the year top of the rankings for the second time, having become the first teenager to achieve that feat in 2022. In addition to his tour-leading 70 wins, Alcaraz has also achieved an unmatched eight titles in 2025 - including two Grand Slams - equal to his total number of losses. Now he will seek to complete another stunning season by winning the ATP Finals for the first time. Musetti was backed by a passionate home support inside a packed 12,000-capacity Inalpi Arena, as he sought to build on the momentum of his dramatic victory over De Minaur on Tuesday. The Italian, battling fatigue in his seventh match in nine days following his run to the Athens Open final, matched Alcaraz deep into the opening set - but his admirable resistance was eventually ended in an absorbing 11-minute 10th game. Although Musetti continued to dig in, withstanding a break point in his opening service game of set two, his relentless opponent continued to apply pressure and broke to love for a 3-1 lead. That sparked Alcaraz's dash to the finish line, but only after a free-hitting Musetti created his first two break points to re-energise the crowd. That excitement was short-lived as Alcaraz fired back with four consecutive points, and there would be no recovery for a fading Musetti, who was broken again before Alcaraz served out victory to achieve the first of his goals in northern Italy.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi, recently shared his thoughts on career priorities and life after football According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Wednesday, when asked whether he would prefer to win another World Cup or another Ballon d’Or, Messi was unequivocal, “World Cup or another Ballon d’Or? Another World Cup.” The Argentine superstar’s comments highlight his passion for international success, following Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup. Despite his record-breaking haul of individual awards, Messi opted for team glory on the global stage above personal accolades. When asked whether he would prefer to be a club owner or a manager after retiring, the Argentine superstar said, “I’d say club owner.” It was reported that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shared his thoughts on a potential appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying he remains excited about the idea but will only take part if he feels physically capable of helping the Argentina national team.

A former Manchester United defender who now plays for Burnley, Axel Tuanzebe, has filed a £1million lawsuit against the club, alleging “clinical negligence” in the medical care he received during his time at Old Trafford As reported by Sky News on Tuesday, court documents indicate that the defender—now with Premier League side Burnley—claims he can no longer play “without restriction or impediment” due to injuries sustained while at United. The defender reportedly “expects to recover damages in excess of £1,000,000” should he win the case. The case centres on a left-sided pars fracture, a stress fracture of the lower spine, first sustained in January 2020, which reportedly caused him “significant pain and discomfort.” A similar injury on the right side in July 2022 is also cited. He and his legal team alleged that United failed to allow adequate rest and did not refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon. “Appropriate treatment plans would, on the balance of probabilities, have resulted in the claimant avoiding the pain and discomfort… and being able to play professional football at an elite level without restriction or impediment. As it is, although he continues to play at an elite level, this has impacted his career and earnings,” the court papers read. It continued, “It is the claimant’s case that the defendant (United) negligently failed to properly investigate the claimant’s pars fractures, failed to rest the claimant and failed to refer him to a specialist sports spinal surgeon. As a result, the claimant’s symptoms significantly progressed to bilateral grade 4 fractures, and he developed a left-sided chronic spinal fracture. “Had the claimant been appropriately rested, his left-sided pars fracture would not have developed into a chronic condition, and the right-sided fracture would have been avoided altogether.” An academy graduate at United, Tuanzebe left the club in 2023 after 17 years. He made his senior debut in January 2017, but his time at Old Trafford was disrupted by multiple injuries, including a season-ending one against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup in December 2019. Manchester United has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Carlos Alcaraz came through a thriller against Taylor Fritz to move within one win of the year-end world number one ranking and Lorenzo Musetti captivated the crowd at the ATP Finals in Turin Spanish top seed Alcaraz battled back to overcome American Fritz 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 6-3 in a high-quality two-hour and 48-minute contest. But despite achieving back-to-back victories, Alcaraz must wait to confirm his place in the knockout stages after Musetti's stirring victory against Alex de Minaur. Backed by passionate support, ninth seed Musetti produced a remarkable comeback from 5-3 down in the deciding set to prevail 7-5 3-6 7-5. Alcaraz will seal the world number one ranking - and a place in the semi-finals - with victory over Musetti on Thursday. Rival Jannik Sinner must defend his title and hope Alcaraz loses a group match and does not reach the final to claim the top ranking. On whether achieving the year-end number one ranking played on his mind during his match, Alcaraz, 22, said: "It's really difficult not to think about the number one spot. Having contested six matches in the past seven days after his run to the Athens Open final, Musetti will be grateful for a rest after his two-hour and 48-minute epic. Musetti's match against De Minaur was paused for about eight minutes because of a medical emergency in the stands. Two spectators died from cardiac arrests at the tournament on Monday.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has suffered an injury to the adductor longus muscle in his leg, the club confirmed The Belgian shot-stopper was named in Real Madrid’s squad that played a goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Monday, “Thibaut Courtois suffered injury to the adductor longus muscle in his leg. Real Madrid staff will assess him during the break, as Courtois will miss the upcoming games with Belgium.” Courtois will miss Belgium’s upcoming fixtures as a precaution, with Real Madrid’s medical team set to monitor his recovery closely. The 33-year-old’s latest setback comes as a blow to both Real Madrid and the Belgium national team, as he continues his efforts to regain full fitness after missing most of the previous season. The Los Blancos are expected to provide an update on his condition once further tests are completed.

Inter Miami forward, Leo Messi, made a secret visit to the newly renamed Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday night, revisiting the stadium where he spent the most celebrated years of his career According to a video posted on Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Monday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, in an emotional message shared afterwards, said: “Last night I returned to a place that I miss with my soul. A place where I was immensely happy.” The six-time Ballon d’Or winner added, “I hope one day I can come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I could never do.” Messi’s visit comes amid growing nostalgia among fans for the era when he led FC Barcelona to numerous domestic and European triumphs. The forward left the club in 2021 after more than 20 years, leaving behind a legacy of records, trophies, and unforgettable moments. The Spotify Camp Nou, which opened this year under its new sponsorship, holds a special place in Messi’s heart, and his surprise visit is seen as a poignant reminder of the deep connection between the player and the club. Fans took to social media to express their excitement and gratitude for Messi’s heartfelt gesture, calling it a “touching return” and “a love letter to Barcelona.”

Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia is set to miss at least a month with a quadriceps injury The 21-year-old's time at Stamford Bridge has been blighted by fitness problems. Lavia was injured four minutes into the 2-2 Champions League draw at Qarabag last week. It was only his fourth start since returning from an injury suffered at the Club World Cup. Since joining Chelsea from Southampton in a £53m move in 2023 - having turned down Liverpool - Lavia has struggled with repeated injuries. He has made 29 appearances but missed 88 matches during two and a half seasons at Chelsea. Hamstring, thigh and other unspecified injuries have prevented Lavia, who has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Chelsea, from maintaining fitness. The club have tried to manage his workload by limiting his minutes and restricting him to one match per week. Captain Reece James is now considered past the worst of his injury problems after following a similar plan. Lavia is expected to miss games against Burnley, Barcelona, Arsenal, Leeds, Bournemouth and Atalanta. Chelsea are third in the Premier League following Saturday's 3-0 win over Wolves.

Portland Trail Blazers fought back to beat Oklahoma City Thunder and halt the NBA's last remaining unbeaten record The defending champions won their opening eight games of the new NBA season but their streak ended as Portland came back from 22 points down to win 121-119. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points for Oklahoma City and last season's Most Valuable Player has now scored 20 or more in 81 consecutive games, extending the third-longest streak in NBA history. Luka Doncic got the better of Victor Wembanyama as Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 118-116 win over San Antonio Spurs. Elsewhere, Brooklyn Nets became the last team to claim their first win of the season, beating injury-hit Indiana Pacers 112-103. Nikola Jokic registered a triple-double to lead Denver Nuggets to a 122-112 win over Miami Heat, while New York Knicks scored 83 points in the second half to claim a 137-114 victory over Minnesota Timberwolves.

Former England captain and midfielder David Beckham will be among those accepting honours on Tuesday as he receives a knighthood at Windsor Castle The football star, 50, is being honoured for his services to sport and charity. Earlier this year, Sir David said he was “immensely proud” of being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours. The sports star from north-east London made his Premier League debut for Manchester United in 1995 and was part of the team that earned a dramatic Champions League final victory in 1999 when they beat Bayern Munich with two late goals. Alongside his football career, he has supported several charity causes, including serving as a goodwill ambassador for the humanitarian aid organisation UNICEF since 2005. Last year, Beckham, who has described himself as a “huge royalist”, was named an ambassador for the King’s Foundation, an educational charity established by the King in 1990. He is also known for his stylish clothing choices, and in 1998, was named the most stylish man of the year by GQ magazine. and he has modelled for the likes of H&M, Armani and Boss. Beckham married his wife Victoria in 1999, and the couple share four children together – Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper. Also among the personalities to be honoured on Tuesday are Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and West End performer Elaine Paige.

Giannis Antetokounmpo beat the buzzer to give the Milwaukee Bucks a dramatic 117-115 victory over Indiana Pacers in the NBA With the scores level heading into the final few seconds of the Central Division game, the 30-year-old pivoted to avoid a double block before he floated in a jumper. It was the fifth occasion the Greek-Nigerian has produced a game-winning shot in the last five seconds of a game, and the second buzzer-beater of his career. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic scored with 0.6 seconds of play left to give Utah Jazz a late win over of their own as they clinched a 105-103 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Northwest Division.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Nick Kyrgios in a 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match in the United Arab Emirates later this year Belarus' Sabalenka, 27, and 30-year-old Australian Kyrgios - ranked 652nd in the world - are set to play each other at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on 28 December. Four-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka is the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion. Kyrgios, who reached a career-high 13th in 2016, has only played five matches this year since returning from a serious wrist injury that kept him out for 18 months. He has not played on the ATP Tour since losing in the Miami Open second round in March. "I have a lot of respect for Nick and his talent, but make no mistake, I'm ready to bring my A-game," Sabalenka said. Three official matches labelled as the 'Battle of the Sexes' have taken place - most famously between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. American veteran Riggs had beaten Australia's Margaret Court before King exacted revenge four months later. In 1992, a 40-year-old Jimmy Connors beat fellow multiple Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, then 35, under hybrid rules. "I have so much respect for Billie Jean King and what she has done for the women's game. I'm proud to represent women's tennis and to be part of this modern take of the iconic 'Battle of the Sexes' match," Sabalenka added. Kyrgios, who reached the 2022 Wimbledon final, said he will relish the chance to play against Sabalenka, with whom he shares the same agent. "When the world number one challenges you, you answer the call. I've got massive respect for Aryna; she's a powerhouse and a true champion. But I've never backed down from a challenge, and I'm not just here to play, I'm here to entertain. This is what I live for," he said.

Elena Rybakina stunned Iga Swiatek to confirm her place in the knockout stages of the WTA Finals while Amanda Anisimova produced a comeback victory to stay in contention in Riyadh Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina was outplayed in the opening set against world number two Swiatek but completely dominated thereafter. Sixth seed Rybakina won 12 of the final 13 games to storm to a 3-6 6-1 6-0 win and snap a four-match losing streak against Swiatek. American Anisimova later beat Madison Keys to send Rybakina through to the semi-finals. Anisimova battled back from a set and a break down to beat compatriot Keys 4-6 6-3 6-2 and set up a winner-takes-all final group match against Poland's Swiatek on Wednesday. Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Anisimova, appearing at her first Finals, let out a roar of frustration after going 2-0 down in the second set but recovered superbly to win 12 of the next 15 games. Keys did not shake hands with Anisimova at the end of the match, explaining to her opponent that she was ill. The leading eight women's players in singles and doubles are competing in Saudi Arabia, where £12m ($15.5m) in prize money will be won.

Liverpool will again be without forwards, Alexander Isak ahead of a huge Champions League test against Real Madrid Recall that the Swedish international, who is yet to recover from a groin injury, missed training on Monday, according to The Times. The Reds host Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid on Tuesday night in what promises to be another chapter in one of European football’s most storied rivalries. With both clubs chasing qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds, the fixture carries enormous significance, especially for Liverpool, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray last month that complicated their path to the last 16. The striker will join goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defender Jeremie Frimpong (both hamstring) who remain sidelined for a number of weeks

Arsenal look destined to be without striker Viktor Gyokeres for Tuesday Champions League game against Slavia Prague The Sweden international ended a six-game goal drought in Saturday’s win over Burnley but was taken off at half-time following what Mikel Arteta described as a ‘muscular injury’. Gyokeres was absent from Arsenal’s open training session on Monday morning and now faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League game against high flying Sunderland. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also missed the session, although Martin Zubimendi, who also failed to complete 90 minutes at Turf Moor, did take part. The Spain international midfielder, however, will miss the game in Czech Republic through suspension having already accumulated three yellow cards in the competition. How Arteta chooses to offset the absence of Gyokeres remains to be seen but his options are far from pentiful. Natural replacements Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz remain unavailable, while Gabriel Marinelli is also currently nursing a muscle injury. Leandro Trossard, who has been a regular on the left wing in recent weeks, represents one option while Mikel Merino could again deputise in the position he filled so capably towards the end of last season. Teenager centre forward Andre Harriman-Annous, meanwhile, made an eye-catching debut in last week’s Carabao Cup victory against Brighton and could be included in the matchday squad. The likely absence of Gyokeres will come as a blow to Arteta whose side will be looking to extend their 100% start to the Champions League group stage and take a significant step closer to securing automatic qualification for the next round. After an erratic start to life at his new club, the summer signing from Sporting Lisbon produced his most accomplished display in an Arsenal shirt to date against the Clarets, according to his manager. “His high press, his position and his touches, his threading behind, the way he linked play, the way he got us from this situation to transition moments,” said Arteta in praise of Gyokeres. “I think he was in a really good moment. It’s a shame that he felt something.”

The 2025 FIFPro Men’s World 11 has been unveiled, showcasing the elite footballers voted by their peers worldwide for outstanding performances over the past season According to a post obtained from FIFPro XI’s handle on Monday, more than 26,000 professional footballers from 68 countries took part in this year’s voting process. Players selected their best team based on performances between July 15, 2024, and August 3, 2025, with eligibility requiring a minimum of 30 official matches during the period. The FIFPro Men’s World11 recognises the best goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and four forwards, as chosen by peers, symbolising the highest level of respect and recognition within the game. Here is the full list of the players that made the FIFPro best 11 for 2025 Goalkeeper Donnarumma Defenders Ashraf Hakimi (PSG) Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool) Mendes (PSG) Midfielders Cole Palmer Chelsea) Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) Pedri (Barcelona) Vitinha (PSG) Forwards Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) Ousmanne Dembele (PSG)

Arsenal defender William Saliba has revealed that interest from European giants Real Madrid was “really tempting,” but stressed that his priority remains winning titles with the Gunners According to a Fabrizio Romano X post on Monday, the Arsenal defender was quoted as saying, “Real Madrid interest: “Of course it’s really tempting when a club like that is interested in you… …but I wanted to win titles at Arsenal first before thinking about anything else”, he told Telefoot.” The 22-year-old French centre-back has been a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s defence since his return to Arsenal, helping the club challenge for major honours in domestic and European competitions. Saliba’s comments underline his commitment to the north London side, despite ongoing speculation linking him to Real Madrid and other top European clubs. The statement is likely to reassure Arsenal fans that the player remains focused on the club’s ambitions. Real Madrid were actively exploring defensive reinforcements with centre-backs Dean Huijsen, William Saliba, and Ibrahima Konaté on the club’s shortlist.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has said Wayne Rooney blaming a lack of leadership for the Anfield side's recent poor form is "lazy criticism" The Reds won the Premier League title last season in manager Arne Slot's first campaign in charge but, after starting the 2025-26 campaign with five top-flight wins, they have fallen off the pace. They suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat at Brentford last week and, following the loss to the Bees, former England and Manchester United forward Rooney said Van Dijk and team-mate Mohamed Salah had not "really led that team this season". "I didn't hear him last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things but I feel that comment is just I would say it's a bit of a lazy criticism," Van Dijk said, after Liverpool arrested their slide with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday. "It's easy to blame the other players but he knows we do it together, trying to help each and every one of us to try to get out of this. Last year when things go well you don't hear that at all. It is what it is. [Pundits] have to do that job. He has an opinion and we have to deal with it. There's no hard feelings. I don't take it personally." In his latest podcast Rooney says Van Dijk has been one the best defenders in the world over the past five years, but stands by his comments. "I've got full respect for Virgil. I think he's a fantastic player. My job now as a pundit is to give my opinions on what I feel. I'm sure if you ask him or Arne Slot, he probably hasn't been as good as he has been over the last few years. That was my comment which I stick by," he said. Liverpool are third in the Premier League and seven points behind leaders Arsenal heading into a two crucial games this week. Slot's side host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday before they visit Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday. "I've heard the reports as well about [Slot] being under pressure, but I don't think we play at a club that makes rash decisions. We all felt that we can work our way out of this. It's not a guarantee, but we can do it together. As long as we believe, stay humble and keep working, we can do it, and we all have that feeling," added Van Dijk.

Jannik Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to win his first Paris Masters title and reclaim the world number one ranking from rival Carlos Alcaraz Sinner's 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory over the Canadian extended his winning streak on indoor hard courts to 26 matches - a run that stretches back to the 2023 Davis Cup Finals. The win lifted the 24-year-old Italian 250 points above Alcaraz in the rankings before the season-ending ATP Finals begin on 9 November. Sinner's victory ensures the race for the year-end world number one ranking will go to the final tournament of the season - a fitting end to a year where his rivalry with Alcaraz has reached stratospheric heights. The pair have won the past eight Grand Slam tournaments between them and remain on a different level to the rest of the men's tour. Such is their dominance that the gap between second-placed Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev (5,690) is greater than the third-ranked German's points total (5,560). Sinner, who will have more points to defend than Alcaraz at the Finals after lifting the title last year, said: "It's not only in my hands, but I'm of course happy [to return to number one]. Sinner's 65-week reign as world number one was ended by Alcaraz when he lost to the Spaniard in September's US Open final. But he regained top spot in style by conceding the fewest games on route to the Paris title since the event switched to hard courts in 2007. The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion dropped only three points across his five service games and was entirely untroubled on his way to capturing the first set. Sinner won 93% of points on his first serve in the opener and was dominant in the rallies, winning 17 of 25 points from the baseline. Auger-Aliassime raised his level, saving multiple break points in the second set before edging 4-3 ahead, but Sinner continued to starve his opponent of opportunities. Despite briefly appearing to struggle physically, Sinner levelled at 5-5 after being taken to deuce for the first time while serving to stay in the set, and both players held out for a tie-break. Producing just three unforced errors throughout a hard-fought second set, a single mini-break proved enough for Sinner, who took his first championship point to lift the tournament's unique tree-shaped trophy for the first time.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Coco Gauff experienced contrasting fortunes with their serves at the WTA Finals US Open champion Sabalenka hit 11 aces in a crushing 6-3 6-1 victory over Italian Jasmine Paolini in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Belarusian, who secured the year-end number one ranking earlier this week, won 66% of first-serve points and produced 24 winners to outmuscle the agile Paolini. But French Open champion Gauff recorded 17 double faults and made 75 unforced errors as she was beaten by fellow American Jessica Pegula. World number three Gauff had her serve broken nine times in a 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 loss to fifth-ranked Pegula in Sunday's second match in the Stefanie Graf Group. Victory over world number eight Paolini was Sabalenka's 60th win of the year and her 12th over a top-10 opponent. She has spent 63 weeks in total at the top of the world rankings, including 55 in a row since October last year. Sabalenka has qualified for the year-end Finals for the past five years but has never won the title. She was runner-up to Caroline Garcia in 2022. The 29-year-old was imperious against Paolini, who is the only player competing in the singles and doubles tournaments. The pair traded breaks in the first set before Sabalenka powered on, winning six games in a row to close out the opener and take a 4-0 lead in the second. Paolini got on the board and took Sabalenka to deuce in the next game, but big first serves helped Sabalenka to hold, and Paolini barely threatened from there on. Both Pegula and Gauff struggled for consistency throughout a scrappy contest. Pegula, runner-up in 2023, settled quicker in an opening set that began with five consecutive breaks of serve, holding for a 4-2 lead before breaking Gauff for a fourth time. Gauff responded by breaking at the start of the second but failed to serve out the set at 5-4 when she was broken back on a double fault, and again at 6-5 after hitting three consecutive double faults. However, she resetted admirably to take the resulting tie-break and force a deciding set. The players again exchanged breaks of serve but Pegula would not be denied after breaking Gauff for a 3-2 lead. Pegula reeled off five games in a row before closing out victory after two hours and 15 minutes with her second match point. Earlier, third seeds Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski began their doubles campaign with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) win over Russians Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider. Second seeds Taylor Townsend and Katarina Siniakova later overcame a second-set wobble to beat Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani 6-2 3-6 10-6. Elsewhere, Canadian 19-year-old Victoria Mboko continued her breakthrough year with a 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 victory over Spain's Cristina Bucsa to win the Hong Kong Open. It is a second title of the season for Mboko after her stunning triumph in Montreal in August.

Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina produced statement opening victories on the first day of the WTA Finals in Riyadh Wimbledon champion Swiatek, bidding to win the season-ending Finals for the second time, took just 61 minutes to dismantle Australian Open winner Madison Keys 6-1 6-2. Kazakhstan's sixth seed Rybakina was on court for only 57 minutes in a dominant 6-3 6-1 win against American fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in the other match in the Serena Williams Group on Saturday. The top eight women's players in singles and doubles are competing in Saudi Arabia, where £12m ($15.5m) in prize money will be won. Victory never appeared in doubt for 2023 winner Swiatek after an error-strewn start by Keys, who was contesting her first match since losing in the first round of the US Open in August. World number two Swiatek broke the American's serve at the first opportunity - helped by two double faults - and did not relent from there. Keys had won just three points by the time she found herself 5-0 down. Keys, who ended her wait for a first major title in January, held serve at the third attempt to temporarily halt Swiatek's progress - but the 30-year-old ultimately ended the 23-minute first set with only one winner to 15 unforced errors. Six-time major winner Swiatek kept her momentum with an immediate break in set two, but a lapse in concentration in the next game gave Keys a route back into the contest. But two more double faults by Keys handed the initiative back to her opponent, and Swiatek reeled off five of the final six games to complete an inevitable victory. Asked what pleased her most about her performance, the 24-year-old told the crowd: "Everything. All the things I have practised, I got it together today to play with the right balance between playing solid and aggressive." Elena Rybakina achieved her seventh top-10 win of the season, equalling her most in a calendar year Rybakina produced a serving masterclass, hitting seven aces and winning 87% of points behind her first serve in a clinical display. The 2022 Wimbledon champion seized four of her five break point opportunities in an efficient victory over Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Anisimova. In-form Rybakina is the player with the most WTA-level wins since the end of the US Open, having won the Ningbo Open in October to secure her place at the Finals. Rybakina said in her post-match interview: "I knew I needed to serve well. I'm very happy with the way I played and hopefully I can continue serving like this all week." In the doubles competition, Italian top seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani defeated American Asia Muhammad and Dutch partner Demi Schuurs 6-3 6-3.

Juventus have announced the appointment of former Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti as their manager until the end of the season The 66-year-old replaces Igor Tudor, who was sacked after the Serie A side's defeat by Lazio on Sunday. Tudor had joined the club in March as Thiago Motta's replacement but left after seven months at the end of an eight-match winless run. Spalletti led Napoli to the Serie A title in 2022-23 before taking charge of Italy, who had failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup under former boss Roberto Mancini. He helped them qualify for Euro 2024 where they were knocked out in the last 16 by Switzerland. However, Spalletti was sacked by Italy in June after a World Cup qualifying defeat by Norway, with the Azzurri at risk of missing out on a third consecutive World Cup. Spalletti has also managed Inter Milan, Roma and Udinese in Serie A and won the Russian Premier League twice with Zenit St Petersburg. Massimo Brambilla took interim charge of Juventus for their 3-1 win against Udinese on Wednesday which left them seventh in Serie A - six points behind leaders Napoli after nine games. They are 25th in the league phase of the Champions League, having lost once and drawn twice in their opening three matches.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, labelled Liam Delap’s red card as “very stupid” after the striker’s late dismissal overshadowed the Blues’ dramatic 4–3 Carabao Cup victory over Wolves Delap, making his return from a 10-week hamstring lay-off, was sent off just 26 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute. The 22-year-old picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, first for pushing Yerson Mosquera, then for barging into Emmanuel Agbadou, and will now miss Saturday’s London derby against Tottenham, with João Pedro already a fitness doubt. When asked whether Delap deserved to be sent off, Maresca said, “Absolutely, yes. Stupid foul. We can avoid that.” The dismissal came as part of a wider Chelsea collapse. They built a 3-0 lead at the interval, but after the break Wolves scored three times, with Jamie Gittens’ sensational late strike enough to scrape the Blues into the quarter-finals to face Cardiff City. Maresca added, “The three goals we conceded, I think all of them we can avoid. Certainly, we also received a very unnecessary red card today. “After the first yellow card, I told him [Delap] four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player who, when he’s on the pitch, is probably playing the game for himself and struggles to realise and listen to those around him.” It was Chelsea’s sixth red card in nine games, including Maresca’s own dismissal for celebrating a last-minute winner against Liverpool before the international break. The Italian was asked to clarify whether he had wider concerns about indiscipline, with Chelsea also having received the highest number of yellow cards in the Premier League over the past three seasons. He continued, “I completely understand when there are red cards like against Brighton [Trevoh Chalobah red] or Manchester United [Robert Sanchez red], that’s difficult, but the red cards against Nottingham Forest and today, both we can and have to avoid. “It’s embarrassing when it’s a red card like today because it’s two yellow cards in five or 10 minutes. Both, I think, we can avoid. So it’s not good.”

Arsenal have been drawn against Crystal Palace in a blockbuster Carabao Cup quarter-final tie, as the competition’s last-eight line-up was confirmed on Wednesday night The draw, held live on Sky Sports Main Event following Newcastle United’s 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, also handed Premier League champions Manchester City a home clash against Brentford, while Chelsea travel to Cardiff City. Defending champions Newcastle United will host Fulham at St James’ Park. Here is the full Carabao Cup Quarter-Final draw as obtained by our correspondent on the EFL website. Arsenal v Crystal Palace Cardiff City v Chelsea Manchester City v Brentford Newcastle United v Fulham Sky Sports presenter Mark Chapman conducted the draw alongside pundits Jamie Redknapp and Jobi McAnuff. The quarter-final fixtures are scheduled for the week commencing December 15, with Arsenal’s clash against Palace promising fireworks after the Eagles’ stunning 3–0 win over Liverpool in Round Four. Newcastle continue their title defence, while City and Chelsea both eye a return to Wembley as the competition heats up. All quarter-finalists all advanced after an eventful Round Four that saw Arsenal beat Brighton 2–0, Crystal Palace stun Liverpool 3–0 at Anfield, Chelsea edge Wolves 4–3, Manchester City rally to defeat Swansea 3–1, and Newcastle United overcome Tottenham 2–0.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has apologised to supporters for his reaction to being substituted in Sunday's fiery El Clasico win against Barcelona The Brazilian was taken off in the 72nd minute and expressed his frustration by going straight down the tunnel. Vinicius later returned to the bench and, after his side's 2-1 win, tried to confront Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during unsavoury post-match scenes. "Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologise again to my team-mates, the club, and the president," he posted on X. "Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents." Vinicius joined Real from Flamengo in 2018 for £38.7m and has scored 111 goals in 335 appearances. But his future in the Spanish capital is far from certain with reports in recent months stating that Real would consider letting the 25-year-old leave if they were to receive a suitable offer. When Vinicius was substituted on Sunday, cameras from broadcaster Dazn picked him up saying: "Always me! I'm leaving the team! It's better if I leave, I'm leaving." In his latest statement on X, Vinicius said: "I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri is set for a significant spell out after suffering a tear in his hamstring On Wednesday, Barcelona confirmed that the 22-year-old had a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. The biceps femoris is part of the hamstring group at the back of the thigh. The club did not give a recovery timeline, instead stating that "the player's recovery will dictate his return to action". Pedri had played in 41 consecutive games for Barcelona, and has missed just one of Hansi Flick's 73 matches as manager. The midfielder was set to miss Barcelona's next La Liga match against Elche after receiving a red card for a late challenge on Aurelien Tchouameni during Sunday's 2-1 loss to Real Madrid. Pedri has made 215 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona since joining the club from Las Palmas in 2020 aged 17. The Spaniard has suffered several hamstring injuries since joining the club, including one that kept him out for over three months between September 2021 and January 2022. He joins a long list of Barcelona injury absentees including Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Flick's side are second in La Liga, five points behind leaders Real.

Napoli midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on the thigh injury he sustained while scoring a penalty against Inter Milan The 34-year-old clutched the back of his right thigh after opening the scoring in the 33rd minute on Saturday and was substituted a few minutes later. The Belgium playmaker was taken to hospital where scans revealed a high-grade tear to his bicep femoris, a hamstring muscle at the back of the thigh. Napoli confirmed that De Bruyne underwent successful surgery on Wednesday in Antwerp, Belgium, and will begin the first phase of his rehabilitation in Belgium. Reigning champions Napoli, who beat Inter Milan 3-1 to return to the top of Serie A, have not put a timeline on his return to action. De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City in June. He has scored four goals in eight league appearances and made a further three appearances in the Champions League.

Arsenal are making steady progress in negotiations with Bukayo Saka and his representatives over a new contract, with all parties aligned and committed to moving forward together The discussions, which were already underway before the summer transfer window, are reportedly proceeding smoothly. Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Tuesday said, “Arsenal are progressing well in talks with Bukayo Saka and his camp over a new contract. Salary details are being discussed, but all parties involved are aligned and convinced to move forward together. Talks were already underway before the summer window, proceeding well.” The 24-year-old winger’s current contract runs until 2027, but Arsenal are eager to secure his long-term future amid growing attention from rival clubs. Fans will be hoping that the negotiations conclude successfully, keeping one of the Premier League’s brightest talents at the Emirates Stadium. The discussions will include salary, incentives, and the broader structure of the deal, reflecting Saka’s importance to Arsenal’s squad planning.

Britain's Cameron Norrie described his upset of Carlos Alcaraz as "the biggest win of my career" as he reached the Paris Masters last 16 with a gritty comeback against the world number one Norrie, who was beaten in straight sets by the Spaniard in this year's Wimbledon quarter-finals, won 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the second round of the ATP Masters 1,000 event in the French capital. "This win is so big for me. I had lost the first round of the qualifiers here last year. Coming back from my injury, I've been trying to enjoy my tennis in the second half of the year and I was able to do that," said Norrie, who missed the Olympic Games in Paris and the US Open last year because of a forearm injury. "To get the biggest win of my career, my first win over a world number one, and probably the most confident player in the world right now, I am pleased with the way I did it." Alcaraz won the first set before Norrie responded strongly in the second by breaking early and maintaining his momentum to set up the decider. The world number 31 then played an incredible backhand pass to break Alcaraz in the final set and saved two break points on his way to victory. The Briton will next face the winner of the second-round match between wildcards - and cousins - Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points to help defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder maintain their perfect start to the season Thunder have won all five games this term and lead the way in the Western Conference after beating Sacramento Kings 107-101 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma. Gilgeous-Alexander, last season's Most Valuable Player, is the league's joint leading scorer this campaign with 143 points. Oklahoma trailed by three points going into the fourth quarter but took the lead with two minutes 33 seconds remaining before holding on for victory. They host Washington Wizards on Friday, while Kings travel to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Giannis Antetokounmpo maintained his strong start to the season as Milwaukee Bucks overturned a 14-point deficit to beat New York Knicks 121-111 at Fiserv Forum. Antetokounmpo scored 23 of his game-high 37 points in the second half to spark the comeback and guide the Bucks to their third win of the season. Milwaukee were without Kevin Porter Jr for a third successive game and coach Doc Rivers said he is "going to be out a bit". Philadelphia 76ers remain unbeaten after four games following a thrilling 139-134 overtime win at Washington Wizards. Golden State Warriors beat Los Angeles Clippers 98-79 in San Francisco, while Miami Heat thumped Charlotte Hornets 144-117 at home.

Boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather could fight once again, more than 10 years after their first meeting; the American won their first bout but Pacquiao revealed that after in a press conference that he entered the fight with an injured right shoulder Manny Pacquiao has hinted a rematch of his blockbuster bout with Floyd Mayweather could be on the cards next year. The two boxing legends fought in a superstar bout in May 2015 for the unified world welterweight title, where Mayweather took the win by unanimous decision. Both fighters had previously retired from the sport but yet seem to be unable to stay away from the ring with Mayweather competing in exhibitions and Pacquiao returning to professional boxing in July this year. "Right now we have a lot of negotiations about my next fight - there's a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather. There's a lot of ongoing negotiations right now, so it's hard to plan what fight I'm going to post. I'm waiting for the final negotiation," Pacquiao said. "I'd love to have another fight, a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. So I hope that in the negotiations, we can understand each other and we can negotiate well." A world champion in eight divisions from flyweight to super welterweight, Pacquiao was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June. A month later, he emerged from retirement and fell just short of regaining a title at the age of 46, with Mario Barrios retaining the WBC welterweight championship by majority draw. Pacquiao initially retired in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2 with 39 KOs, fighting in some of the biggest blockbusters of the 2000s. He said he'd always sought the toughest opponents so he could continuing testing himself. The Filipino boxer also served his country as a senator from 2016-22. Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in 2015 in a bout that had been billed as the "fight of century," but he later disclosed he'd been hampered by a shoulder injury. In the meantime, he'll be focusing on his son, Jimuel Pacquiao, who will make his pro debut against American Brendan Lally on November 29 in California. "I'm excited, but I'm worried about my son," the former senator said. "He started late, but that is his passion, so I will support him. I'm praying for him for a safe fight."

Football fans worldwide now have the names of the 26 players shortlisted for the 2025 FIFPro Men’s World XI, as the global players’ union officially revealed the list In a statement obtained from FIFPro X handle on Monday, the annual award honours the very best footballers on the planet, as voted by their fellow professionals. With participation from players across every continent, the FIFPro World XI remains one of the most prestigious and respected accolades in the sport. Here is the list of the 26 players nominated for the World XI Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain). Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), William Saliba (Arsenal). Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Joao Neves (Benfica), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Pedri (Barcelona), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain). Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona). The final FIFPro World XI will be officially revealed on Monday, November 3, 2025, during the FIFA awards ceremony. Fans and analysts are already debating which stars will make the final cut, with many expecting a close contest among football’s biggest names. The inclusion of youngsters like Cubarsi, Yamal, and Neves also highlights a generational shift in global football, where emerging players are standing shoulder to shoulder with legends such as Messi and Ronaldo. This year’s lineup promises to reflect not just talent but also the evolution of modern football, a perfect blend of experience, creativity, and youthful brilliance.

Napoli midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after significantly injuring his thigh as he scored a penalty against Inter Milan The 34-year-old clutched his right thigh after opening the scoring in the 33rd minute on Saturday and was substituted a few minutes later. The Belgium playmaker was taken to hospital and scans confirmed a high-grade tear. Reigning champions Napoli, who beat Inter Milan 3-1 to return to the top of Serie A, have not put a timeline on his return to action. De Bruyne joined Napoli on a free transfer from Manchester City in June. He has scored four goals in eight league appearances and has made a further three appearances in the Champions League.

Juventus have sacked manager Igor Tudor following the side's defeat by Lazio The Croatian joined the Italian club in March as Thiago Motta's replacement. But the 43-year-old has overseen an eight-match winless run, which has left the club eighth in the Serie A table. Defeat against Lazio on Sunday was the side's third consecutive loss in all competitions. "The club thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers," a Juventus statement read. Juventus added that Massimiliano Brambilla will take charge of the side for their Serie A fixture against Udinese on Wednesday (17:30 GMT). The Old Lady are six points behind leaders Napoli, and have failed to win in their last five league matches. Juventus are 25th in the Champions League group stage table, having lost once and drawn twice in their opening three matches.

Victor Wembanyama became the first player in NBA history to record 100 points and 15 blocks in the first three games of the regular season as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Brooklyn Nets in Texas San Antonio recovered from blowing a 26-point lead to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 118-107 win. The home side led 81-55 with nine minutes left in the third quarter but a 26-7 run in the Nets' favour reduced the deficit to 88-81. But a strong display in the fourth quarter - which included a 10-0 run - helped the Spurs seal the win. Frenchman Wembanyama put up 31 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and six blocks in 36 minutes of action. The 21-year-old, the number one draft pick in 2023, is averaging 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and six blocks from his three matches this season. The 7ft 4in centre returned from eight months out at the start of the campaign following surgery on his shoulder for deep vein thrombosis in February. Austin Reaves put up a career-high 51 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 127-120. Without the injured Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Reaves took a leading role to surpass his previous best tally of 45 against the Indiana Pacers in February. Elsewhere, Anthony Davis scored 25 points and recorded 10 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 139-129, while Kawhi Leonard managed 30 points and James Harden scored 20 as the Los Angeles Clippers saw off the Portland Trail Blazers 114-107. Giannis Antetokounmpo managed 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists but could not prevent the Milwaukee Bucks from falling to a 118-113 defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lionel Messi has agreed a contract extension with Inter Miami which will see the Argentine superstar remain in Major League Soccer until the end of the 2028 season, the club confirmed Inter Miami’s X feed posted a video of Messi signing a contract sitting at a table in the middle of the club’s new Freedom Park stadium, which is under construction, with the simple caption: “He’s Home.” “It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality — playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park,” Messi said in a club statement. “Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here,” Messi added. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said Messi’s decision to extend reflected his “commitment to the city, to the club, to the game”. “He’s still as committed as he’s ever been, and he still wants to win,” Beckham said. “As owners to have a player that loves the game as much as he does, and who has done as much for the game in this country and to inspire the next generation of young talent as he has, we feel very lucky.” The World Cup-winner’s current contract expires at the end of the 2025 MLS season. A new deal had been viewed as a formality after club sources told AFP last month that the franchise had reached an agreement on an extension. Messi’s contract ensures he will remain in competitive action until and long after the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament gets underway on June 11, with the final to be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023 after a spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but the bulk of his stellar career was spent at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021 after coming through the youth system at the Spanish giants.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones were arrested on Thursday for alleged involvement in sprawling gambling conspiracies that rocked the NBA The FBI said Rozier and other co-conspirators — some named and some not — provided inside information to sports bettors, including information on players who had no idea the valuable intelligence was being passed on. Key games alleged to feature in the scheme include: Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans, March 23, 2023 Authorities allege Rozier, Charlotte’s starting point guard, advised a co-conspirator that he planned to leave the game with an injury. Bettors then placed more than $200,000 in bets based on predictions of Rozier’s statistics for the game. Rozier exited with a supposed foot injury after nine minutes, and the bets paid off, “generating tens of thousands of dollars in profits,” prosecutors said, alleging that one defendant and Rozier later met at the player’s house to count the winnings. Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers, March 24, 2023 The slumping Trail Blazers sat starters Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons in a 124-96 loss to the Bulls. Lillard had been listed as “probable” on the early injury report with calf tightness, Nurkic was listed as “questionable” and both Grant and Simons were listed as “out.” The indictment alleges that defendant Eric Earnest was told by an unnamed “co-conspirator 8” that the Blazers were “tanking” in a bid to improve their position in the following NBA draft and key Blazers players would be sidelined. Using that information before it became available to the public or to betting companies, bettors placed more than $100,000 in wagers against the Trail Blazers that “yielded major winnings.” The unnamed “co-conspirator 8” was described in the indictment as an NBA player from approximately 1997 through 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021. That timeline matches Billups’s resume, although his arrest on Thursday was in connection with a separate scheme involving alleged mafia-backed, rigged poker games. Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers, February 9, 2023 The Bucks beat the Lakers 115-106 with Lakers superstar LeBron James sidelined by an ankle injury that would see him miss two more games. The indictment alleges that before news of James’s injury was official, Jones, then an “unofficial assistant coach” with the Lakers, texted a co-conspirator, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! (Player 3) is out tonight.”

Two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has ruled out an imminent showdown with rising star Moses Itauma and revealed he plans to continue fighting until age 41 The Ukrainian southpaw dismissed talk of facing the 20-year-old British prospect in his next bout, saying the youngster is too young for such a high-profile clash. “No, I won’t fight Itauma. He’s young, always teasing me. And he said himself he doesn’t hit grandpas,” Usyk joked in an interview with Ready To Fight. The 38-year-old champion added that active negotiations prevent him from naming future opponents. Usyk has not fought since his dazzling fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium and is currently recovering from a back injury. The pound-for-pound star does not expect to defend his IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring titles until 2026. However, Usyk has revised his retirement plans, announcing he intends to extend his career beyond his previously stated goal of one more fight. “I’ll fight until I’m 41,” Usyk told his Ready to Fight website. “Then I will build a sports academy. I will train there and train others.” The revised timeline hints at a busier late-career stretch once he’s fully healthy, with multiple defences potentially stacked into 2026–2028. Itauma rocketed up the division with a first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the immediate aftermath, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh publicly floated the idea of Usyk–Itauma, and the British prodigy has called such a bout a “win-win”, even in defeat. For now, Usyk appears to prefer more seasoned opposition, though the match-up could resurface in the next couple of years as Itauma continues his ascent. The unbeaten champion is ranked number two pound-for-pound by The Ring and boasts a record of 24-0 with 15 knockouts. Before beating Dubois, Usyk suggested he would fight only once more after a rematch with the former IBF titleholder, but that stance has now softened. His next fight could be a defence of his WBO belt against the winner of the Joseph Parker versus Fabio Wardley showdown. Alternatively, he might forgo the belt and wait for a more high-profile bout. A back injury has prevented the world heavyweight champion from fighting for the rest of this year, but he is training and preparing for a targeted return in 2026. Itauma, who is 13-0 with 11 knockouts, is often considered the second coming of Mike Tyson because of his incredible rise through the ranks.

Nottingham Forest have appointed former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche as their new manager The 54-year-old Englishman, who has signed a contract to run until the summer of 2027, becomes the Forest's third different boss this season. Dyche succeeds Ange Postecoglou, who lasted just 39 days and was sacked 17 minutes after Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in the Premier League. Postecoglu did not win any of his eight games in charge - drawing two and losing six - after he was brought in to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked just three matches into the campaign. Forest are 18th in the league table after one win in eight games during what has been a difficult start to the season. Dyche's first game will be a Europa League game at home to Porto on Thursday before Forest are at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. The process to appoint a new manager was led by Forest's global head of football Edu Gaspar and global technical director George Syrianos. Former Italy and Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini also held discussions with Forest about the post, while Fulham manager Marco Silva was also known to be admired by the club. "A respected and experienced Premier League manager, Dyche brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the club through its next chapter. As a former Forest youth player who lives locally, Dyche also has a deep understanding of the values and pride of Forest and its supporters," said a Forest statement. "His appointment represents the best opportunity for a successful and competitive season across both domestic and European competitions." Dyche's coaching staff will include Ian Woan and Steven Stone, who both played for Nottingham Forest. "It's a mess isn't it? If Dyche gets over the line it is an admission that they got it wrong with Ange Postecoglou and are thinking about survival," said BBC Sport football pundit Chris Sutton on the Monday Night Club before Dyche's appointment was confirmed. "Dyche has always managed clubs where it has been a struggle. He bucked the trend at Burnley and got the best out of the players he had and proved himself to be an extremely capable manager. At Everton he took over a team in trouble and stabilised the club. He had points deductions to contend with. "Forest want to stay in the league so it seems a sensible appointment. They won't go down, they have too many good players."

Real Madrid winger Endrick is expected to leave Real Madrid on loan during the January transfer window, with discussions already underway between the club and potential suitors According to a post by Fabrizio Romano, X post on Tuesday, “Endrick, expected to leave Real Madrid on loan in January, with talks already taking place. The Brazilian wants to play more also ahead of World Cup 2026… …and Real Madrid are understood to be open to a loan move for Endrick.” Real Madrid secured his signing in late 2022, with the agreement that he would join the club after turning 18, in line with FIFA regulations. He officially joined Real Madrid in July 2024, stepping into one of the most competitive attacking lineups in Europe. Since then, Endrick has seen limited game time, largely playing behind established stars like Vinícius Jr., Rodrygo. It was reported that Endrick made a lasting impression on his Real Madrid debut, scoring a stoppage-time goal to seal a 3-0 win over Valladolid in August 2024.

Former Real Madrid and Everton winger Royston Drenthe is in hospital after suffering a stroke The 38-year-old ex-Netherlands international was admitted to hospital on Friday. The news was announced by FC de Rebellen, an agency which represents former footballers including Drenthe. A statement read: “Last Friday, Royston Drenthe suffered a stroke. Drenthe is currently receiving good care and is in good hands. The team and those involved hope for a speedy recovery.” Drenthe began his professional career with Feyenoord before moving to Real Madrid in 2007, winning the La Liga title a year later. He went on loan to Everton in 2011-12 and spells at other clubs included Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. A statement from Everton on X read: “Everyone at Everton wishes Royston Drenthe a full and speedy return to full health after reports he’s been taken to hospital.”

Barcelona have posted a €17 million net loss for the 2024–25 season despite generating €994 million in revenue This was disclosed at the club’s Ordinary General Assembly on Sunday, monitored by Marca. Addressing members in what appears to be his final appearance, the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, said the accounts initially showed a surplus before additional charges turned the figure into a high loss. “Barcelona’s initial financial accounts depict a €2m surplus, before additional fees resulted in a €17m net loss overall,” he revealed. He stressed that the financial picture is nevertheless improving and stressed the club’s progress on and off the pitch. “In the economic realm, we have done everything so that you can continue being the owners of the club, the members, without having to bear the cost, without having to dig into your pockets. We are very satisfied with that. Positive results with a surplus of 2 million euros…achieving revenues of €994m, you will agree, is even more remarkable considering that we are still playing away from home,” said Laporta. “We have achieved a historic record in sponsorship with a total of €259m, which is explained by the internationalisation of the market. We have reduced the debt set by the League by €90m, which is no small feat. So we are on the right track. We have made a titanic effort to contain spending.” On the sporting side, Laporta underlined last season’s successes as evidence of the club’s recovery, praising the coaching staff and La Masía while pointing to the ongoing Spotify Camp Nou rebuild as a long-term boost. “We feel stronger than ever to complete Barça’s recovery in every area,” he added, reflecting on a season that produced major silverware and renewed optimism. The assembly also approved the club’s financial statements and set out the budgetary plans for 2025–26, which will seek to build on commercial momentum while continuing debt reduction and stadium redevelopment efforts. The figures signal a slight downturn from 2023-24, when both Barca’s income and expenditure were under €900m and they recorded a marginal net profit of £4.3m ($5.8m) overall.

Nottingham Forest have parted ways with manager Ange Postecoglou after a winless run of eight matches in charge The club revealed this in a short statement shared on X and its website. The Greek coach’s time ended on Saturday afternoon after a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea. Forest wrote, “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect. “The Club will make no further comment at this time.” Their only reprieve came from hard-fought draws against Burnley in the Premier League and Real Betis in the Europa League. Two weeks ago, Postecoglou said he remained unfazed by the pressure surrounding his position, despite a poor start to his tenure. This came after the former Tottenham and Celtic boss’s 3-2 Europa League defeat at home to Midtjylland. Postecoglou’s tenure lasted just 39 days. The Greek-Australian tactician has now been dismissed twice within four months in the Premier League. He was first sacked by Tottenham in June — only 16 days after guiding the club to its first trophy in 17 years, a Europa League triumph. Postecoglou had led Spurs to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, ending a 41-year wait for European silverware and sealing a Champions League return for the north London side. The 60-year-old had agreed to take charge of the club in September, following the departure of former manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Forest confirmed the dismissal Espírito Santo bringing an end to his spell at The City Ground after weeks of reported tension between both parties. Eight games into the 2025/2026 Premier League season, Forest have managed just one win, two draws, and five defeats. The club currently sit 17th in the Premier League table with just five points.

Spanish La Liga sides, Oviedo and Espanyol players refused to move for the first 15 seconds of their match on Friday as the teams staged a protest at the league organizer's decision to host a game in Miami In August the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved plans to move Villarreal's fixture against Barcelona to the Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December - a decision which sparked discontent in Spain. The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) said in a statement they had co-ordinated with the captains of each La Liga club to "protest symbolically" against the league's "lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence". La Liga refuted the accusations, external this week, stating a "willingness to meet" with the AFE to "foster useful dialogue that allows explaining the project". The protest by Oviedo and Espanyol players was not shown on live television as cameras cut away to the exterior of the stadium. The AFE said replica demonstrations will take place at the remaining La Liga games this weekend. Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso, whose side play at Getafe on Sunday, said: "We are against the [Miami] match. We believe it distorts the competition. "There hasn't been unanimity or consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive, and that sentiment is positive. We believe it could happen if there were unanimity, but that's not the case." The AFE has not asked Barcelona and Villarreal players to participate in the protests to avoid it being "interpreted as a possible measure against any club". It said: "In the face of La Liga's constant refusals and unrealistic proposals, the Spanish Footballers' Association categorically rejects a project that does not have the approval of the main players in our sport and demands that the employers' association create a negotiating table in which all information is shared and the exceptional characteristics of the project are analysed, the needs and concerns of the footballers are addressed, and the protection of their labour rights and compliance with current regulations are guaranteed." Confirmation of the Miami game followed a decision by the Italian football federation (FIGC) to sanction a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be played in Perth, Australia, in February. On Friday Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said: "My players are not happy. I am not happy. But La Liga decided that we will play this game." Real expressed opposition when the fixture was announced, saying the consequences would be "so serious", while Uefa "reluctantly" approved the move. This week RFEF president Rafael Louzan said the move was "good for football", while Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the match will "definitely be a great show".

Portugal and Al Nassr striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, is on the verge of achieving a milestone no male footballer has ever reached: 1,000 career goals Following his recent brace against Hungary in the World Cup qualifiers, the Portuguese legend has now scored a staggering 948 goals across club and international competitions, 805 at club level and 143 for Portugal. He also became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying history, surpassing Carlos Ruiz on 39, with Lionel Messi third in the list on 36. Ronaldo turned 40 in February, but he continues to rack up impressive numbers at club level as well as internationally, albeit against weaker opposition in Saudi Arabia, where he has scored 104 goals in 117 appearances across four seasons with Al-Nassr. With 32 goals already for club and country in 2025, he is maintaining a remarkably consistent level of productivity in front of goal. Ronaldo has averaged more than 50 goals per calendar year since 2010. His highest scoring year came in 2013, when he smashed 69 goals and won the Ballon d’Or. Amazingly, his total has only dipped below 39 goals once in a calendar year in the last decade and a half. With Portugal set to qualify for next summer’s World Cup, and with two years to go on his Al-Nassr contract, Ronaldo is projected to become the first player in recorded history to reach the 1,000-goal mark in October 2026 based on his current scoring rate.

Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Japan Open before Friday's quarter-final because of a leg injury sustained in the second round The former world number one held back tears and needed painkillers to come through a three-set last-16 win over defending champion Suzan Lamens on Wednesday. Top seed Osaka, who completed the match with strapping on her left thigh, was due to face Jaqueline Cristian in the last eight but the Romanian will instead progress to the semi-finals. The Japan Open made the announcement on X, saying: "We regret to announce that Naomi Osaka has not recovered from a left leg injury sustained during the second round of this tournament and has withdrawn from the quarter-finals scheduled for today." It is not yet known whether Osaka will play in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo later this month. The four-time Grand Slam champion is the latest high-profile player to suffer late-season injury issues. In September, Iga Swiatek complained the season is "too long and too intense" following a string of injuries among players at the China Open. British number one Emma Raducanu called time on her season on Thursday after retiring from her two previous matches with illness. Australia's Daria Kasatkina, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Spain's Paula Badosa also ended their seasons early in recent weeks. Across two tournaments in China last week, five players retired injured.

Former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook has signed with the Sacramento Kings, as he enters his 18th season The 36-year-old played the 2024-25 season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games. The nine-time All-Star signed for the Kings after becoming a free agent in June, once the Nuggets were eliminated in the Western Conference semi-finals. Westbrook holds the NBA record for most triple-doubles with 203 and led the NBA in scoring in 2015 and 2017. He joins his seventh team since being drafted in 2008 by the Seattle Supersonics. He has also played for the Houston Rockets, the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. "Russell embodies the identity we're striving for in Sacramento. His resume speaks for itself and I'm excited to work with someone so accomplished, who is fully committed to competing and winning. We expect him to strengthen our point guard position and provide leadership both on and off the court," said Kings general manager Scott Perry.

The Golden Boy 2025 nominees shortlist has been revealed, featuring the best players under 21-years-old across European football The award, similar to the Kopa Trophy, celebrates the best young footballer playing in a European country’s top league. The Golden Boy was created by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 to celebrate the best and brightest young players across the continent. Voting includes representatives from countries such as France, Spain, England, Portugal and more. Unlike the Kopa Trophy, however, the Golden Boy takes into consideration a full calendar year compared to its counterpart which is based on a full season instead. Players in the past to win the award include Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and most recently Lamine Yamal. Check out the full list of nominees, including the Wild Cards, below. Pau Cubarsí Désiré Doué Dean Huijsen Kenan Yıldız Myles Lewis-Skelly Warren Zaïre-Emery Arda Güler Franco Mastantuono Ethan Nwaneri Jorrel Hato Geovany Quenda Estêvão Leny Yoro Senny Mayulu Nico O’Reilly Eliesse Ben Seghir Victor Froholdt Lucas Bergvall Archie Gray Mamadou Sarr Thirteen different nations are represented among the 20 initial finalists across 13 unique clubs. France is the most represented with five nominees, followed by England with four. Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid each have three representatives, more than any other club. PSG youngster Désiré Doué is a favourite for the award after helping the Ligue 1 side to their first Champions League triumph. Doué finished second in Kopa Trophy voting to Yamal, but the Barcelona star is not nominated given he won the Golden Boy last year. If Doué wins, he would become just the second French player in eight years to be named Golden Boy. As well, it would break a tie with England for the most awards won by nationality. Spain is the current leader with five wins while England and France are tied on three.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been given a one-match touchline ban after being sent off in the last-gasp win against Liverpool in the Premier League The Italian was shown a second yellow card of the game by referee Anthony Taylor for leaving the technical area to celebrate with his players following Estevao Willian's 95th-minute winner against the reigning champions this month. "It was alleged that the manager acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour during the fixture, which led to his dismissal around the 96th minute," the Football Association said. The FA said Maresca admitted the charge and accepted the standard penalty. Maresca, who was shown a yellow card for dissent earlier in the game at Stamford Bridge, has also been fined £8,000. It means he will not be in the Chelsea dugout when the Blues travel to the City Ground to face Ange Postecoglou's Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with assistant coach Willy Caballero expected to deputise for the former Leicester City boss. This will be Maresca's second touchline ban since becoming a Premier League manager in June 2024. The 45-year-old served his first suspension in April 2025 after picking up a third yellow card of the season while celebrating Pedro Neto's 93rd-minute winner at Fulham.

Barcelona has officially confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Frenkie de Jong on a new long-term contract, with the formal signing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Tuesday, the new deal will keep the Dutch midfielder at the club until June 2029, extending his stay and solidifying his role as a key figure in Hansi Flick’s squad. “Barcelona confirm new deal agreed for Frenkie de Jong as a formal act will take place tomorrow. New contract valid until June 2029,” Romano posted. De Jong, 28, joined Barcelona in 2019 from Ajax and has since become a central part of the team’s midfield, known for his composure, ball control, and tactical intelligence. The renewal comes amid persistent transfer interest from top European clubs in recent years, and signals the club’s firm commitment to building around its core players. This extension follows a series of similar moves by the club to retain key players and stabilize the squad amid ongoing efforts to rebuild both on and off the pitch. De Jong has made over 200 appearances for Barcelona, winning the Copa del Rey in 2021, and remains a crucial component of the team’s domestic and European ambitions

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Jobe Bellingham as uncertainty continues over the midfielder’s future at Borussia Dortmund The 19-year-old joined Dortmund from Sunderland last summer in a £32million package deal, but he has been used sparingly since his move. After starting the first two Bundesliga matches of the season, minutes have been hard to come by for Bellingham, and his manager, Niko Kovac, has stressed that places are won in training and how you perform on the pitch, not because of your reputation. It could lead to the 20-year-old leaving the Bundesliga side earlier than anticipated, having signed a contract until 2030 just a few months ago. And he could be set to return to his homeland, according to a report. According to BILD (via Daily Mail), Ruben Amorim is a huge fan of the younger Bellingham brother and could anchor a United move for his services. But it is reported that the Red Devils could face competition form another Premier League club in Crystal Palace if indeed Bellingham does depart. The report suggests that Amorim appreciates Bellingham’s physical robustness and believes his playing style would fit perfectly into his system.

Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup to become the second-smallest nation to reach the Mundial after the islanders thrashed Eswatini 3-0 at home Victory meant the Blue Sharks secured top spot in their qualifying group and a place at the 2026 finals ahead of continental heavyweights Cameroon. Dailon Livramento opened the scoring for the hosts in Praia, turning home a loose ball inside the six-yard box early in the second half, and Willy Semedo volleyed in a second soon afterwards. Veteran defender Stopira added the third in stoppage time before the full-time whistle sparked joyous scenes of celebration at the 15,000-capacity National Stadium. An archipelago of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with a population of just under 525,000 according to the latest figures from the World Bank, Cape Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and first attempted to reach the 2002 World Cup hosted in Japan and South Korea. The team have punched above their weight in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals on debut in 2013 and again in 2023, and currently sit 70th in the world rankings. Iceland, who featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is the only country with a smaller population to qualify for the global showpiece. Last month's 1-0 home win over Cameroon in the capital city put the islanders in pole position in Group D, knowing one victory from their remaining two games would book their place in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The Blue Sharks missed their first chance to qualify last Wednesday against Libya when they drew 3-3, fighting back from two goals down in Tripoli before being denied an almost certain stoppage-time winner by a controversial offside call. But the Cape Verdeans made sure of their second opportunity in Praia against winless Eswatini, becoming the sixth African side to book a ticket to next year's finals. Cape Verde President Jose Maria Neves was in attendance as the home crowd endured a nervy first period in which Livramento sent an effort wide and Jamiro Monteiro was denied by Eswatini goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. But the tension lifted as soon as Livramento broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half, prompting passionate celebrations with the crowd which were repeated when Semedo converted Diney's knockdown.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says Adam Wharton has no plans to join Manchester United because he wants to play in the UEFA Champions League football with the Eagles. Wharton has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders since his move from Blackburn Rovers in January 2024. With Wharton under contract until 2029, Palace could demand a sizeable fee to let go of their prized asset. And while confident that Wharton is still happy at Palace, co-owner Parish in a chat with talkSPORT, suspects the 21-year-old will have ambitions to play in the Champions League in the not-so-distant future. “I think Adam at some point will want to play either in the Champions League with us, if we can make that happen, or probably with another club. He’s an extraordinary talent. I think right now, and I can’t speak for Adam, but I think he’s focused on his time at Crystal Palace. He had a broken season last season with the groin issues that he had that a lot of young players get. “I think this season he’s completely focused on putting the games in, getting in the England squad, being a regular for us, and making sure that he can show that Saturday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday. It’s a difficult programme for us right now. I think he’s very committed to the club. I don’t know where all this stuff comes from.”

Zinedine Zidane confirmed Sunday he would one day like to coach the France national team, but did not say if he was hoping to take over from outgoing boss Didier Deschamps Zidane, who scored twice in France’s 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil, led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles in his only previous senior head coaching role. “I’m sure I’ll get back into coaching. I’m not saying it’s going to happen now, what I want one day is to coach the national team,” Zidane said at an event organised by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. The 53-year-old is the favourite to take over from Deschamps when the 2018 World Cup-winning coach steps down after next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. “The most important thing is to have a passion for football and to want to pass on something to your players, what you have in you, deep within you,” added Zidane, whose second spell in charge of Real Madrid ended in 2021. “A coach has an important role in the success of his team. In my opinion his energy and desire are 80 percent of whether things go well.”

Portugal and Al Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s most decorated goal scorers, now holds a record he would rather not claim. After his penalty miss against Ireland on Saturday, denied by Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, Ronaldo now has the most penalty misses in football history According to Planet Football on Monday, Ronaldo’s tally of failed spot-kicks has climbed to 34. While this figure stands out, it comes with an important asterisk: Ronaldo has also taken more penalties than any other player on record (211) and converted an impressive 177, giving him a solid 83.8 per cent success rate — still well above average. In the modern era, here are the seven players who have missed the most penalties. Ronaldinho – 16 misses The Brazilian boasted an impressive 81.1% conversion rate from the penalty spot, but still cracks our list with 16 misses. Perhaps one of his most famous penalty blunders came against England in 2013 as Joe Hart made an excellent double save to deny the Brazilian maestro. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 17 misses Ibrahimovic scored 87 penalties and missed 17, giving him a conversion rate of 83.6%. However, his conversion rate became more sporadic upon his return to AC Milan in 2020. During his final four seasons of his career, he only boasted a 50% conversion rate from the penalty spot, missing six of the 12 penalties he took upon his return to Milan.” Ciro Immobile – 19 misses Having missed two of his last seven penalty kicks for Besiktas, Immobile recently moved above Ibrahimovic on this list. In total, he’s taken 105 spot-kicks, has scored 86 and missed 19, giving him an overall conversion rate of 81.9%. Francesco Totti – 20 misses Totti was especially prolific from the penalty spot in his later years. Impressively, he didn’t miss a single penalty during his final four and a half seasons and scored his last 13 consecutive spot-kicks before retiring. Throughout his entire career, he took 106 and scored 86. Neymar – 22 misses While the Brazilian is usually ice-cold from the spot, he has scuffed his fair share of penalties over the years. In total, he’s taken 113 penalties and has scored 91, giving him a conversion rate of 80.5%, which is still well above average. Since re-joining Santos earlier in the year, he has boasted a 100% penalty record, having scored the two penalties that he’s taken. It’s worth mentioning that his penalty record with PSG was well above average, as he scored 28 of the 31 penalties that he took in France. That’s a conversion rate of 90.3%. Lionel Messi – 32 misses Last year, Messi held the record as the player with the most penalty misses in football history, but he’s since been overtaken. While scoring penalties has never been the strongest asset to his game, a conversion rate of 77.9% is still just about above average. There’s no doubt that he’s become a better penalty taker in his later years, although since joining Inter Miami, he’s often been happy to give the penalty responsibilities to others. In total, he’s taken 145 penalties, has scored 113, and missed 32. Cristiano Ronaldo – 34 misses Having missed four of the last 16 penalties that he’s taken over the past 12 months, Ronaldo now holds the record for the most penalty misses in football history. His latest miss came against Ireland as Brentford’s Caoimhin Kelleher denied him from 12 yards out. Along with the most penalty misses in football history, Ronaldo has also scored more than anyone else (177) and has taken more (211) than any other player on record. Despite his 34 misses, his conversion rate of 83.8% is still well above average.

LeBron James has been ruled out for up to four weeks and will miss the start of the NBA season with sciatica, Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed James, 40, signed a new contract with the Lakers in June and is set to become the first player to play across 23 separate NBA seasons. Sciatica is a pain in the sciatic nerve that goes down the lower back and through the leg. James has not taken part in pre-season and missed the defeats against the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns earlier this month because of the glute nerve irritation. The American is expected to be sidelined for all five of the Lakers' games in October, including the season-opener against Golden State. James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, has never previously missed the start of the season in his 22-year career. His tally of 1,562 regular-season appearances is just 50 short of breaking former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish's NBA record. The four-time NBA champion featured in 70 of the Lakers' 82 games last term and played on 71 occasions in the year before. Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game and finished sixth in Most Valuable Player vote. The Lakers qualified for the play-offs in 2024-25 but lost 4-1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.

Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole has declared he would knock out Anthony Joshua if they meet in the ring in Nigeria, boasting he’ll do this in front of his own crowd Joshua is being lined up for a comeback fight in Nigeria early next year following his loss to Daniel Dubois in a world heavyweight title bout at Wembley Stadium in September last year. Bakole, a former sparring partner of Joshua, has volunteered to face the British-Nigerian boxer in what he described as ‘the Rumble in the Jungle II.’ “I’d take the fight with Anthony Joshua in a heartbeat. We are both African fighters, and now we’re seeing boxing come back to Africa. Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to fight me. He knows what happened in sparring. If we get in the ring, I’m going to knock him out, without doubt,” Bakole told Sky Sports. “I’ll even knock him out in Nigeria, in front of his own crowd. This is the fight to make. And we need to make it in Africa. It’ll be the Rumble in the Jungle II.” Promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu, who recently staged the successful Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos in association with Amir Khan, confirmed that Bakole is among several options being considered for Joshua’s return. “He is an option. There are a lot of options being thrown at us for this particular fight, but – yes – Martin Bakole is here. We have a lot of options that we’ll be looking at, and we believe that we’ll come up with something really exciting that will excite the whole world and obviously bring proper excitement to Africa as well, especially Nigeria,” Adamu told Sky Sports News. Adamu disclosed that Nigeria, with its population of about 250 million people and status as Africa’s economic capital, is ideally positioned to host the fight. Joshua’s team had previously considered Ghana as a potential location for his comeback bout, but Nigeria appears to be gaining traction as the preferred destination.

Spain defender Dean Huijsen has been ruled out of their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria due to a muscle injury, with Aymeric Laporte called up as his replacement, the Spanish FA (RFEF) said on Wednesday "Huijsen, 20, arrived at the national team's training camp on Monday evening but did not train on Tuesday after reporting symptoms of muscle fatigue," the RFEF said in a statement. "Medical examinations conducted on Wednesday confirmed the muscle injury, of which Real Madrid has been informed, prompting his withdrawal from the squad. We wish him a swift recovery." Spain are set to face Georgia in Elche on Saturday before hosting Bulgaria in Valladolid on Tuesday as they aim to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup. The absence of youngster Huijsen, who has impressed at Real Madrid under coach Xabi Alonso following a £50 million close-season transfer from Bournemouth, is a setback for Spain manager Luis de la Fuente. However, Athletic Bilbao defender Laporte, 31, brings vital experience as he was a key player in Spain's European Championship-winning squad last year. Spain currently top Group E of European qualifying with six points from two matches, with Georgia and Turkey trailing by three points.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become football's first billionaire player, according to financial information and media firm Bloomberg The Bloomberg Billionaires Index,, external which tracks the world's richest people based on their net worth, has measured the 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr striker's wealth for the first time. The valuation takes into account career earnings, investments and endorsements and says Ronaldo's net worth is $1.4bn (£1.04bn). It says he earned more than $550m (£410m) in salary between 2002 and 2023, and breaks down his reported earnings through deals and sponsorship, including a decade-long deal with Nike worth almost $18m (£13.4m) a year. When Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League in 2022 he reportedly became the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m. His contract was due to end in June 2025 but he signed a new two-year deal - reportedly worth more than $400m (£298m) - which will keep him at the club beyond his 42nd birthday. Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, who played against Ronaldo for many years during their time in Spain, has earned more than $600m (£447m) in pre-tax salary during his career, according to Bloomberg. That includes $20m (£15m) in guaranteed annual pay since 2023, which is about 10% of Ronaldo's income during the same period. When he retires, 38-year-old Messi is set to get a stake in Inter Miami.

Arsenal have rewarded goalkeeper David Raya with an improved contract to underline his status as one of Mikel Arteta's key players It is understood the Spain international has finalised terms on a deal that sees Raya earn a pay increase on the contract he signed when joining the club permanently in the summer of 2024. The agreement was struck earlier this summer but has not been officially announced by the club. Raya earned a reported £100,000-per-week at the Emirates but his wages have increased following the agreement, though the length of his contract is understood to have stayed the same. His contract currently expires in 2028 - but sources have indicated there is an option to extend the deal. In a similar agreement, Leandro Trossard penned terms on an improved deal earlier this summer without extending the length of his contract, that expires in 2027. Like Raya, Trossard's new deal was not officially confirmed. Since joining Arsenal from Brentford, initially on loan in the summer of 2023, Raya has established himself as one of English football's top goalkeepers. He won the Premier League's Golden Gloves award in the 2023/24 campaign and retained the accolade last season – sharing the trophy with Nottingham Forest keeper Mats Sels. Meanwhile, Arsenal have opened talks with Jurrien Timber over a new long-term deal while the Gunners are hopeful that Bukayo Saka will renew his contract with his discussions at an advanced stage. France defender William Saliba also recently signed a new five-year deal with the Gunners, while his centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes extended his Arsenal deal until 2029 in June.

Novak Djokovic overcame injury issues and sweltering heat as he beat Jaume Munar to continue his bid for a fifth Shanghai Masters title The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to struggle with an ankle injury and called for the trainer on a number of occasions to receive treatment, but persevered to win 6-3 5-7 6-2. On Sunday Djokovic vomited during his win over Yannick Hanfmann in the previous round, which was played in temperatures of over 30C and 80% humidity. On Tuesday Djokovic called for a medical timeout after breaking to go 3-1 up in the first set and grimaced as he received treatment to his left ankle. After consolidating the break, he called for the trainer again before wrapping up the opener. The Serb continued to struggle and grasp his ankle after points, but he managed to keep pace with Munar until the Spaniard struck the decisive blow at 5-4 to take the match to a decider, with Djokovic falling to the floor exhausted after a lengthy rally. He was quickly attended to by the trainer and assisted to his chair before he had his blood pressure checked. But, despite appearing devoid of energy, Djokovic returned to the court and broke Munar's serve at the first time of asking in the third set. The world number five broke again to take a 5-2 lead before holding to wrap up victory in two hours 41 minutes. Djokovic will face world number 44 Ziziou Bergs in the quarter-finals, after the Belgian came from behind to beat 31st seed Gabriel Diallo 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-8) in the last 16. Tenth seed Holger Rune progressed to the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 win against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Afterwards Rune called for the ATP Tour to introduce a heat rule similar to the one used at Grand Slams.

Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly has received his first call-up to the England squad following the withdrawal of Reece James Right-back James suffered an injury when playing for Chelsea in their Premier League win against Liverpool on Saturday. He posted a picture on Instagram of a shin gash following the game and has been ruled out "following medical assessments". O'Reilly steps up from England Under-21s for the games against Wales on Thursday, 9 October and Latvia on Tuesday, 14 October. The 20-year-old predominantly plays at left-back, leaving Tottenham's Djed Spence as the only recognised right-back in England boss Thomas Tuchel's squad. O'Reilly, who has been with Manchester City since he was eight, made 21 appearances and scored five goals for the club last season as he broke into their first team. He was part of manager Pep Guardiola's squad at the Club World Cup in the summer and has made nine appearances this season.

Harry Kane says his interest in returning to the Premier League has cooled and he is willing to open talks with Bayern Munich about a new contract Kane is halfway through the four-year deal he signed when joining from Tottenham Hotspur for £86.4m in the summer of 2023. The 32-year-old has scored 103 goals in 106 appearances for the German club, helping them win the 2024-25 Bundesliga title - the first honour of his career. Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has said he would like to see Kane return to England, where he needs 48 goals to eclipse Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League scoring record of 260. But the England captain says he is no longer as keen on returning home as he once was, and would consider extending his stay in Bavaria. "In terms of staying longer, I could definitely see that. I spoke openly a couple of weeks ago that I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet, but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation," he said "Obviously it depends on how the next year or so goes and what we achieve together. Right now, I would say we are in a fantastic moment and I am not thinking about anything else. In terms of the Premier League, I don't know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. "Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldn't say I would never go back. What I have learned in my career is that different opportunities and different timings happen and things fall in place. Going back to my first point with Bayern right now I am fully all in with Bayern." Kane is all-time top scorer for both Tottenham and England and recently became the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe's top five leagues, reaching the landmark in just 104 games for Bayern. But a trophy had eluded him until he lifted the German title last season. Kane says he was not sure how he would react after ending his trophy drought, but now believes it has made him hungry for more. "When you win a title like I did last year, maybe it could be easy to go the other way and be like, 'OK I've done what I wanted to achieve'. But it's given me more motivation to do more and be better. I think I've shown that this year," he said. "I was interested in how I would feel after winning a trophy. Obviously there's still a lot more I want to achieve in terms of other trophies and bigger trophies for sure. But I think it was always just, in my head, what I was going to feel like after I did achieve winning my first one. "But for sure, I pushed myself the other way in terms of being even better, eating even cleaner, doing more gym. Just trying to get the most out of what I've got right now."

Chelsea captain Reece James has withdrawn from the England squad for this month’s international fixtures after picking up an injury against Liverpool The defender had been named in Thomas Tuchel’s original squad for the October internationals against Wales and Latvia. In his absence, Manchester City midfielder Nico O’Reilly has received his first senior England call-up, moving up from the Under-21s squad. England face Wales at Wembley on Thursday, 9 October in an Alzheimer’s Society International before travelling to Riga to take on Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, 14 October.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri will not join the Spanish national team after sustaining a muscle injury on Sunday While the injury is not considered serious, it is a precautionary measure. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on Monday, the Spanish international said,” I am feeling better, but no risk with the national team. “I hope to be available in two weeks for the Everton game”, he said. His comments suggest that Manchester City are optimistic about his recovery timeline, with hopes that he will be fit in time for the Premier League match against Everton following the international break. Rodri’s absence will be felt by Spain as they prepare for their upcoming matches, but national team manager Luis de la Fuente is expected to explore other midfield options during this window. Meanwhile, Manchester City will closely monitor the midfielder’s progress, knowing his presence could be crucial in the title race and the Champions League group stage.

Arsenal midfielder and captain Martin Odegaard has been diagnosed with a collateral ligament injury to his left knee, following his early substitution during Saturday’s Premier League victory over West Ham United The 26-year-old Norwegian international was forced off the pitch after just 30 minutes at the London Stadium, adding to a growing list of fitness concerns for the Gunners this season. The injury occurred during a challenge in the first half of Arsenal’s 3-1 win, which potentially kept them level on points with league leaders Manchester City. Odegaard, who has been instrumental to Arsenal’s attacking play, was seen limping heavily as he left the field, and post-match images showed his knee in a brace. Commenting immediately after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the situation as “not positive,” expressing concern over the recurring setbacks for his star player. Providing update on its website on Sunday, Arsenal confirmed the young star will be missed in Norway’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Austria during the October international break. “Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half of Saturday’s win over West Ham United. “Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible. Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window.” The latest injury marks an unwanted milestone for Odegaard, who has now been substituted before halftime in three consecutive Premier League starts, first in the competition’s history.

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has been named the Saudi Women’s Premier League Player of the Month for September after a blistering start to life with Al Hilal The 30-year-old, who joined the Riyadh-based side from Bay FC last month, topped a fan poll conducted by the league body on X, claiming 55 per cent of the 37,560 votes cast. Moroccan forward Ibtissam Jraïdi of Al Ahli came second with 44 per cent, while Al Nassr’s Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga polled just one per cent. Confirming her award on Wednesday, the league posted, “In her first month in our league: 3 goals, 2 goal assists. Asisat Oshoala of Al Hilal wins the award for the best player of the month.” Oshoala’s nomination came after a run of three matches in which she played every minute, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Her form helped Al Hilal to a perfect start, with three wins from three and no goals conceded. Her closest rival, Jraïdi, also produced three goals and two assists in the opening round of fixtures but could not prevent Al Ahli from slipping to one defeat. Luvanga, meanwhile, leads the scoring charts with four goals and one assist from three matches for defending champions Al Nassr, who are chasing a fourth consecutive league crown. The award announcement comes just two days before a mouth-watering classico clash, with Jraïdi’s Al Ahli facing Luvanga’s Al Nassr in a fixture expected to have major implications for the title race. Both clubs will be eager to halt Al Nassr’s dominance, as the yellow-and-blue side have won every edition of the competition since its inception in 2022. Oshoala’s arrival in Saudi Arabia has been widely viewed as a landmark for the women’s game in Nigeria. She signed a two-year contract with Al Hilal in September after a brief spell in the United States with Bay FC. Her reputation as Africa’s most decorated female footballer was cemented during her six years at Barcelona, where she scored 107 goals and made 19 assists in 149 appearances. She won five consecutive Liga F titles, two UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies, and numerous individual accolades. Earlier in her career, she also played for Arsenal and Liverpool in England and enjoyed a successful spell in China with Dalian Quanjian, where she won the league title. At Al Hilal, she joins a growing Nigerian contingent in the Saudi league, which includes Ashleigh Plumptre and Francisca Ordega at Al-Ittihad, Chinonyerem Macleans at Al-Shabab, and Rita Chikwelu at Al-Riyadh.

Defending champion Coco Gauff beat Eva Lys in straight sets to reach her third consecutive China Open semi-final The world number three took one hour and 28 minutes to overcome her German opponent 6-3 6-4. The American, a two-time Grand Slam winner, broke Lys three times in the opening set, converting three of her four break point opportunities. "I'm happy with how I played - she's a tough opponent and she hit some incredible shots on the run but I tried my best to play aggressive and good tennis. I think staying confident in my game [was important]. Not being too passive when I had the lead, I played one passive point in the last game but after that I played good tennis," said Gauff. Gauff, who has struggled with her serve at times this season, had an impressive 79% first serve percentage throughout the match. The 21-year-old, who was knocked out of the opening round of Wimbledon after winning the French Open earlier this year, is now the highest-ranked player left in the competition. She will face either Amanda Anisimova or Jasmine Paolini in the final four.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation has confirmed the semi-final fixtures for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup Defending champions Barcelona will battle Athletic Club, while Real Madrid face city rivals Atletico Madrid in the other semi-final clash, Lagiga disclosed this on its website on Monday. This year’s tournament will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 7 to 11, with all matches scheduled for the King Abdullah Sports City, now a regular venue for the competition. Barcelona head into the contest as holders after Hansi Flick’s men crushed Real Madrid 5-2 in last season’s final to seal a historic Treble. The revamped format of the competition, introduced in 2019, features four teams: La Liga champions and runners-up, alongside the Copa del Rey finalists.

AC Milan and Inter Milan say they are "very pleased" after the city council approved the sale of the San Siro, a move that could lead to the iconic stadium being demolished A sale of the two Milan clubs' home was approved after a lengthy overnight vote, with debates taking place for almost 12 hours. The approval could lead to the 99-year-old ground and its surrounding areas being sold to both clubs for 197m euros (£172m), but it still needs to be officially confirmed by the city government. The clubs said it is "a historic and decisive step for the future of the clubs and the city". The San Siro has been AC Milan's stadium since 1926, but it has not been modernised since the 1990 World Cup. They share the ground with city rivals Inter as joint tenants and repeated attempts to modernise it have failed. The clubs plan to build a new 71,500-capacity ground as part of a large urban regeneration project, with there reportedly being aims for it to be ready in time Euro 2032, which Italy are joint hosts of alongside Turkey. Last week, the clubs appointed architectural firms to design a new ground. "The clubs look ahead with confidence and responsibility to the next steps of the process that will lead to the creation of a new stadium meeting the highest international standards - a world-class facility destined to become a new architectural icon for Milan and a symbol of the passion of football fans around the world," a joint statement from the clubs said.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been given a one-match ban for "unsporting conduct" by Uefa following his clash with Liverpool supporters at Anfield earlier this month After Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner in Atletico's 3-2 defeat, Simeone reacted after he appeared to be goaded by a small number of home fans. The Argentine complained to the fourth official with a number of stewards positioned between him and the Liverpool supporters. Simeone had to be dragged away from the scene and continued his protests before he was sent off and walked down the tunnel. His ban lasts for one competitive Uefa fixture, meaning he will miss his side's home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday (20:00 BST). He will not be allowed in the dugout, tunnel or dressing room and Uefa regulations state he must not "communicate directly with the team's players and/or technical staff" if he sits in the stands. Speaking in the news conference after the Liverpool match, the 55-year-old said: "Firstly I regret the part I played. It's clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react and it is not good when we react." Simone said he "could not remember exactly" what had been, but he took issue with the "insults throughout the whole game" from the home supporters. "We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists/standard bearers, so in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game. "It's not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I'm a person." Liverpool, meanwhile, have been fined 4,000 euros (£3,492) for the throwing of objects.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer will be rested for up to three weeks as the midfielder continues to manage a persistent groin injury ‎ Palmer was forced off in the first half of last weekend's defeat at Manchester United after the issue reoccurred, having initially flared up during the shortened two-week pre-season after Chelsea won the Club World Cup in July. Enzo Maresca's side face Brighton and Liverpool in the Premier League, and Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the Champions League before October's international break. "Yes, we decided to protect a little bit Cole, in terms of not letting his injury get worse. We decided to rest him for two to three weeks until the international break to see if with that rest he can recover 100% and to be fit after the international break. I don't think he needs surgery but it is just to manage the pain in his groin. We have decided to be a little bit conservative with him," said Maresca.

Barcelona suffered a double injury blow on Friday with winger Raphinha and goalkeeper Joan Garcia ruled out of upcoming matches including next week’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain ‎Brazil international Raphinha is set to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the Spanish champions’ 3-1 win at Real Oviedo on Thursday in La Liga, Barcelona said in a statement. ‎Spanish stopper Garcia, meanwhile, suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee and the club said he will miss “between four and six weeks”. ‎Garcia is set to be replaced in goal by Polish veteran Wojciech Szczesny, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen also recovering from a back operation. ‎Raphinha should return for Barcelona’s clash against rivals Real Madrid on October 26, but Garcia will only be able to return if his injury heals on the quicker end of the expected recovery schedule. ‎Barcelona are set to have winger Lamine Yamal back for Sunday’s league game against Real Sociedad following a groin injury. ‎”Hey! I’m back,” wrote the teenage star in a post on Instagram, alluding to his return to action after missing the team’s last four games. ‎Barcelona trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by two points and opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Newcastle.

Spanish midfield legend Sergio Busquets has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the MLS season Football journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news in a social media post on Friday, reporting that the Inter Miami star will hang up his boots this October. He said, “Sergio Busquets RETIRES from professional football at the end of the MLS season! “Decision made by Spanish midfielder… who’s leaving Inter Miami and professional football in October. Legend and icon of the game.” Busquets, 36, is known for his intelligence, composure, and ability to control matches from midfield. He confirmed the reports in an Instagram post, sharing a tribute video with the caption: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone, and to football, for everything. You will always be a part of this beautiful story.” During his career, Busquets enjoyed massive success with Barcelona, winning multiple La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. He was also a key figure in Spain’s golden era, helping the national team lift the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Arsenal defender William Saliba has agreed a new five-year contract with the club The France international has two years left on his existing deal, but BBC Sport has been told he will sign up in the coming days to stay until 2030. Saliba, 24, joined the Gunners from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne in July 2019 but was loaned back to the French club for the 2019-20 season before having further loan spells in Ligue 1 at Nice and Marseille. He has established himself as a key part of manager Mikel Arteta's defence since making his debut in August 2022 and has made 137 appearances for Arsenal. Saliba's existing contract was due to expire in June 2027 and his impressive form had drawn transfer interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid. His commitment to the Gunners will be a further boost to Arteta's Premier League and Champions League ambitions, after Saliba's centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes agreed a long-term deal until 2029 in June. Arsenal travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle in the top-flight on Sunday.

Nigerian heavyweight boxer Efe Ajagba has been ranked among the top 10 fighters in the world by The Ring magazine In its latest rankings updated on Thursday, Ajagba secured the No. 10 spot in the prestigious list, widely regarded as the sport’s most respected independent ratings. The 30-year-old, who holds a professional record of 20 wins, one loss, and one draw with 14 knockouts, joins an elite lineup. The heavyweight division is currently led by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the champion’s position, with Britain’s Tyson Fury ranked first among contenders. New Zealand’s Joseph Parker and Germany’s Agit Kabayel occupy the top three positions. Ajagba’s inclusion comes after a string of impressive performances that have reignited his world title ambitions. His most recent victory solidified his status as one of the leading contenders from Africa in the heavyweight division. The Ring magazine, founded in 1922, updates its ratings monthly based on results, performance, and track record, with input from boxing journalists and historians worldwide. The development makes Ajagba the only Nigerian currently ranked in the heavyweight top 10. Below is the full updated heavyweight ranking by The Ring: Oleksandr Usyk (Champion) – 24-0-0 (15 KOs) Tyson Fury – 34-2-1 (24 KOs) Joseph Parker – 36-3-0 (24 KOs) Agit Kabayel – 26-0-0 (17 KOs) Daniel Dubois – 22-3-0 (21 KOs) Filip Hrgovic – 19-1-0 (14 KOs) Fabio Wardley – 19-0-1 (18 KOs) Zhilei Zhang – 27-3-1 (22 KOs) Martin Bakole – 21-2-1 (16 KOs) Moses Itauma – 13-0-0 (11 KOs) Efe Ajagba – 20-1-1 (14 KOs)

Brazilian great Ronaldo has called on the Selecao’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti to restore Neymar to the squad for the World Cup in North America next year Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals from 128 matches, Neymar has not pulled on the yellow jersey since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury. The 33-year-old has played regularly for Sao Paulo side Santos since he returned to his first club in January following a fruitless spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal. Even so, in his four matches in charge, Ancelotti has not called up Neymar. “He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We don’t have another player like Neymar,” Ronaldo, who twice won the World Cup with Brazil, said during a publicity event in Sao Paulo alongside his compatriot. “The people hope 100 per cent that he will go to the World Cup because if he is there, we will definitely have better results than if he’s not there,” added Ronaldo, 49, who scored 62 goals in 99 Brazil games. Neymar has been injury-plagued in the last few years and missed Brazil’s Copa America triumph on home soil in 2019. He joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 but after playing just five times and scoring one goal, he ruptured his cruciate knee ligament on international duty against Uruguay. He was out of action for a year and would play only two more games for the Saudi side before leaving for Santos. After leaving Neymar out of his squad for World Cup qualifiers in September, Ancelotti said that he “needs to get in better shape to help the national team and to give the best of himself at the World Cup.”

Barcelona midfielder Gavi is set to miss up to five months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury, the club said Tuesday “Gavi has had an arthroscopy to resolve a medial meniscus injury, which was sutured to preserve the meniscus. Recovery time is estimated at around 4-5 months,” Barcelona said in a statement. The 21-year-old Spain international suffered a torn cruciate ligament in 2023 in the same knee. Gavi has not played since August, with Barcelona initially hoping conservative treatment would resolve the problem, without needing to resort to surgery. Barca travel to face Real Oviedo on Thursday in La Liga before welcoming Real Sociedad on Sunday, and then hosting Paris Saint-Germain next week in the Champions League. Gavi is not set to return until early 2026, a year in which Spain are likely to be among the favourites to win the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Barcelona's return to the Nou Camp has been further delayed after the city council turned down their request for an essential permit on Tuesday The La Liga champions were hoping to host Real Sociedad in the league on Sunday with a reduced capacity of 27,000. Instead, the fixture will be at the 55,000-seater Olympic Stadium on the city's Montjuic hill, where Barca have played for the previous two seasons during the renovation work. The club thanked members and supporters, external "for their understanding and support during such a complex and exciting process", and said they were working on the amendments given by the council. Barcelona have played their two home games against Valencia and Getafe at the much smaller 6,000-capacity Johan Cryuff Stadium, home to their women's team. The city's fire department said there were problems with evacuation routes, among other safety issues. However, the Barca's operations director Joan Sentelles told reporters during a tour of the stadium on Tuesday: "Just because it's not finished, doesn't mean it's not safe." Sentelles also said the roof will be put on the stadium in the summer of 2027, a year later than originally planned. Work on the Nou Camp began in June 2023, at a cost of about £1.1bn, with the goal of modernising the stadium and expanding its capacity to 105,000 - making it one of the largest grounds in the world. The plan was to be back playing games there in November 2024, to coincide with the club's 125th anniversary, but that target has long since passed. Laia Bonet, Barcelona's deputy mayor, said the city council must guarantee the safety of everyone who wants to go to the stadium. "This is the priority," she added.

Arsenal expect Noni Madueke to miss six to eight weeks with the knee injury sustained in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday However, the 23-year-old England winger is not believed to have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The summer signing from Chelsea was substituted at half-time of the Premier League match with City and has been having tests to discover the severity of the problem. "It looks like Noni is going to be out for a few weeks, but we don't really know yet, we will have to scan him next week again. He felt something at the beginning of the match and tried to carry on but it was too sore, so let's see," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Tuesday. Asked to confirm whether Madueke will be out for weeks rather than months, Arteta replied: "We hope so. Like I said, we need to scan him again to see the extent of the injury but it doesn't look too bad." Arsenal face Port Vale in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Earlier, sources indicated medics were waiting for the swelling to subside before making a definitive diagnosis on the injury, but it is understood that Madueke will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks, though that timescale is thought to be the best-case scenario. The news is a major blow to Arteta and England head coach Thomas Tuchel given Madueke's promising start to the season. If the initial prognosis is confirmed, Madueke will not return to action until November at the earliest, ruling him out of a clutch of key domestic and European games for the Gunners. The attacker is set to miss England's forthcoming games against Wales and Latvia, while also making him a doubt for World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania in mid-November. Arsenal face Sunderland on 8 November in the Premier League. If Madueke is unavailable for that game and the international break, he could return for the north London derby versus Tottenham on 23 November.

Arsenal Women have been named the 2025 Women’s Club of the Year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris on Monday night The award comes after a historic season for the Gunners, who lifted the UEFA Women’s Champions League, defeating Barcelona 1-0 in the final in Lisbon. Stina Blackstenius scored the decisive goal to hand Arsenal their second European crown. Beyond their European success, the North London side also impressed domestically, finishin second in the Women’s Super League and reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup.. The Women’s Club of the Year award recognises not only on-field success but also the club’s wider contribution to the growth of the women’s game. Arsenal’s strong development structure, international recognition, and fan engagement were also factors behind their recognition.

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has made history by becoming the first player to win the women's Ballon d'Or three times Bonmati, 27, took the award with her international team-mate, Arsenal winger Mariona Caldentey, coming second. There were five England players in the top 10. Arsenal trio Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Leah Williamson came third, fifth and seventh respectively, with Chelsea duo Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton ninth and 10th. Bonmati also won the award in 2023 and 2024. It means Barcelona players have won the honour in each of the past five years after midfielder Alexia Putellas earned the prize in 2021 and 2022. The award, officially called the Ballon d'Or Feminin, recognises the best footballer of the year and is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa men's world ranking. Outside the top 10, Arsenal defenders Emily Fox and Steph Catley came 25th and 29th respectively, with midfielder Frida Maanum ending 27th. Chelsea pair Sandy Baltimore and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd finished 15th and 23rd, while former Blues midfielder Pernille Harder was 20th. Scotland and Real Madrid midfielder Caroline Weir finished 30th in the vote. It was a great night for the Lionesses as manager Sarina Wiegman won the women's coach award and Chelsea's Hannah Hampton was named best women's goalkeeper. Ballon d'Or Feminin top 10 Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain) Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain) Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England) Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain) Chloe Kelly (Manchester City, Arsenal, England) Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain) Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England) Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland) Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England) Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres has been named the winner of the 2025 Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the best striker in world football at the Ballon d’Or ceremony The Swedish forward claimed the prize after a remarkable season with Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 54 goals in all competitions. The Gerd Müller Trophy, named after the late German legend, is presented annually to the player with the highest scoring impact across competitions. Gyökeres’ exploits not only powered Sporting to success but also established him among the elite strikers in world football. The award forms part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, where the best individual performers in football are celebrated.

Paris Saint-Germain have been crowned the Best Team of 2025 at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris on Monday night The French champions, who enjoyed a remarkable season both domestically and in Europe, were recognised for their consistency and dominance across competitions. The French giants enjoyed an extraordinary 2024-25 season, capturing four major trophies: the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France, the UEFA Champions League, and the Trophée des Champions. They also reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, underlining their quality and ability to compete with the very best across continents. The Best Team award at the Ballon d’Or gala highlights the Parisians’ evolution from domestic dominance to genuine European and global contenders.

Paris St-Germain's Ousmane Dembele has won the Ballon d'Or, the award for the best player in the world, for the first time The 28-year-old France forward scored 35 goals and made 14 assists in 53 matches for PSG last season as they won the treble, including their first Champions League. He was the joint top scorer in Ligue 1, with 21 goals, and named the French top flight and Champions League player of the year. And he also helped PSG to the Club World Cup final where they lost to Chelsea in New Jersey. Dembele, who beat Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal to the award, was able to attend the ceremony in Paris - and was in tears as he stood on the stage - despite the fact his team were playing on Monday evening. The forward is currently sidelined through injury, meaning he missed PSG's 1-0 home defeat by Marseille in a game which was rearranged because of a storm. It caps off a sensational career revival for a player who had not scored double figures in a league campaign season since he was a teenager at Rennes. PSG manager Luis Enrique – who was named coach of the year - deserves huge credit for Dembele's award because of a tactical switch in mid-December. He moved Dembele from a wide right to centre-forward role against Lyon on 15 December, by which stage he had only scored five goals. He hit 30 goals for PSG from that date onwards. Dembele has finally shown the quality that persuaded Barcelona to pay an initial £96.8m, potentially rising to £135.5m, to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. However PSG - who dominated the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards - were the team who got the bargain by recruiting him for just £43.5m in 2023. Dembele also scored twice in seven caps for France in 2024-25. He is the sixth Frenchman to win the award and only the second of the 21st century after Karim Benzema in 2022. Lamine Yamal, 18, finished second – and also won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player. PSG and Portugal midfielder Vitinha was third, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was fourth. Chelsea and England's Cole Palmer finished eighth. Last year's winner, Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, did not make the shortlist this time after an injury-hit campaign.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named the 2025 Yashin Trophy award winner after helping Paris Saint-Germain to a quadruple, including the Champions League The Italian has since joined Manchester City after being frozen out of the squad by Luis Enrique. Donnarumma dethroned Emiliano Martinez as the best men's goalkeeper in the world, with the Argentine goalkeeper having won the last two editions. Donnarumma has already won the Yashin Trophy once before in the 2021 season after his heroics at the European Championship to help Italy win the tournament. The 26-year-old goalkeeper was present at the tournament and has matched Martinez as the only one to lift the trophy twice. Donnarumma kept in goal for PSG in 43 games and kept a total of 17 clean sheets. Les Parisiens won the Ligue 1, the Champions League, the Trophee des Champions and the Coupe de France, while making it to the final of the 2025 Club World Cup. 2025 Yashin Trophy: Full rankings Gianluigi Donnarumma Alisson Becker Yann Sommer Thibaut Courtois Yassine Bounou David Raya Jan Oblak Emiliano Martinez Lucas Chevalier Matz Sels

England manager Sarina Wiegman has been named women's coach of the year at the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards after guiding the Lionesses to a second successive European Championship title Spanish tactician Luis Enrique has been crowned with the Johan Cruyff Award for Best Coach at the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony in Paris. Enrique guided PSG to unprecedented five-trophy haul including the club’s first ever Champions League title ending decades of frustration on the European stage. His ability to rebuild the squad after Kylian Mbappe’s departure and turn them into winning machine was widely praised. Season of dominance Ligue 1 title French Cup French Super Cup UEFA Champions League UEFA Super Cup This clean sweep confirmed his status as one of the finest coaches in world football.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has been named women's coach of the year at the 2025 Ballon d'Or awards after guiding the Lionesses to a second successive European Championship title Dutchwoman Wiegman, 55, won the award ahead of four coaches, with Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor and Arsenal's Renee Slegers among those also named. England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties after the final finished 1-1 after extra time to win Euro 2025 in Switzerland as the Lionesses retained the title they won on home soil in 2021.

Lamine Yamal clinched the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21. The FC Barcelona winger became the first player in history to win this prize two years in a row Yamal beat out PSG winger, Désiré Doué and nine other contenders to succeed himself as winner. Yamal retains his Kopa Trophy title, which is presented each year to the best U21 player. This award, voted on by former Ballon d'Or winners, was handed to the young Barcelona striker during the 69th ceremony held in the French capital. He finished ahead of Désiré Doué (PSG), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), João Neves (PSG), and Estevao (Palmeiras/Chelsea), who were also finalists. The Catalan star wrapped up the 2024-2025 season with 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions. He played a vital role in Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign, securing La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen returned to full training with his teammates on Sunday ahead of the clash with Konyaspor Osimhen sustained an injury in Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Amavubi of Rwanda two weeks ago. The former Lille striker has missed Galatasaray’s last two games across all competitions due to the injury. Okan Buruk’s side coped well with his absence against Eyupspor, winning 2-0, but were thrashed 4-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt last week Thursday. Osimhen is now in contention to face Konyaspor at the RAMS Park on Monday (today). The 26-year-old has scored twice in three league appearances for the Yellow and Red this season. Galatasaray are unbeaten in the Turkish top-flight this season, with five wins from five.

The highly anticipated Ballon d’Or 2025 rankings have begun to surface, with the organiser dropping the initial names on its X handle on Monday afternoon Leading the charge at 30th place is Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, followed by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz at 29th and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk standing in 28th position. Arsenal’s Declan Rice is sitting at 27th, while Erling Haaland is rounding out the top 26. The partial list, shared also by football expert Fabrizo Romano’s X post, has sparked immediate debate among fans about the merits of these rankings. Olise’s inclusion at 30th has raised eyebrows, given his stellar 2024-25 season with Bayern, where he notched 12 goals and 15 assists. The full list of 30 nominees is expected to be revealed throughout the day. The prestigious award ceremony is set to take place later today in Paris.

Spanish government officials have suggested they could withdraw their national team from the 2026 World Cup, despite Spain preparing to head to the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year as one of the favourites for glory The European champions are already among the bookmakers’ frontrunners and look set to qualify comfortably, having won their first two matches of the campaign. It’s not hard to see why they are held in such high regard. Luis de la Fuente’s side is stacked with talent across the pitch. While teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has rightly stolen the spotlight after delivering a Ballon d’Or-contending season in 2024/25, La Roja also boast stars such as Rodri, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella, and Pedri. Yet, political tensions on the global stage have prompted the Spanish FA to open talks over a potential boycott, casting doubt on their participation and threatening to plunge next summer’s showpiece tournament into chaos. PSOE, Spain’s current governing political party, are not ruling out boycotting the showpiece international tournament in protest at the possibility of Israel also taking part across the pond. Israel currently sit third in their qualifying group but have a strong chance of securing at least a play-off spot. They are six points behind group leaders Norway but level on points with second-placed Italy, with three games remaining. Only the group winner qualifies automatically for the World Cup, while second place could secure a play-off spot depending on results in other groups. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza. Earlier this week, Sanchez said Israel should be treated the same way as Russia, which was banned from international competition by FIFA and UEFA following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He told representatives of his Socialist Workers’ Party:”Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image.” Echoing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Patxi Lopez – a spokesperson for the Socialist Group in Spanish Congress – urged sports associations to “exclude” Israel from competitions, as was done with Russia, who remain the only nation banned from the World Cup. When asked if Spain would withdraw if Israel are permitted to play, he said, as per Okdiario: “we’ll consider it later” and that a request could be made “at the appropriate time” if no action is taken. Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria also supported exclusion, saying: “Sport is not, and cannot be, an island independent of what happens in the real world, especially when that real world tells us that human rights are being destroyed.”

Nigeria international Ola Aina has confirmed that he has undergone successful surgery on the hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out of action for three months The Nottingham Forest defender took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video from his hospital bed, where he was seen with straps on his right leg before later moving with the aid of crutches. The video explained that the procedure had been completed on September 13 and he thanked supporters for their messages of encouragement. “I just finished having my first surgery and I want to say thank you for all the support and the messages. It is all in God’s timing, this is God’s plan,” Aina said in the short clip. In a caption accompanying the post, the 28-year-old described the operation as the start of a recovery process that he hopes will return him to the pitch soon. “The journey begins. Surgery went really well and recovery is going smoothly. I am looking forward to getting stronger. A massive thank you to the club, my teammates and all the fans for the incredible support. I will be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground,” he wrote Aina sustained the injury during international duty with Nigeria, limping off after just 10 minutes of the Super Eagles’ 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa. Subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the problem, with Forest’s medical staff projecting his return no earlier than December. The setback has forced Nottingham Forest to remove the full-back from their Premier League squad for the first half of the season, although he can be re-registered in January. His absence opened up a place for striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is now expected to be included in the squad list. The timing is also problematic for Nigeria as Head coach Eric Chelle is already dealing with several fitness issues in his squad, and Aina has been one of the team’s most reliable performers. His versatility on both defensive flanks and his ability to contribute in attack have been central to the Super Eagles’ plans. With crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic scheduled for October, Chelle is expected to turn to players such as Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi to fill the gap. Nigeria are in a tight group where every point will be vital in their attempt to reach the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite the disruption, Aina’s message of gratitude and optimism struck a hopeful note for club and country. “It is going to be all right,” he added, assuring Forest and Nigeria supporters that his focus is already on returning stronger.

Manchester United earned record financial revenue of £666.5m last year despite the poor on-pitch performance of their men's team United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, their worst placing since the 1973-74 relegation campaign. However, the start of their five-year front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Snapdragon enabled them to post record commercial revenue of £333.3m, while matchday revenue was also a record at £160.3m in the year to 30 June 2025. "To have generated record revenues during such a challenging year for the club demonstrates the resilience which is a hallmark of Manchester United. As we settle into the 2025-26 season, we are working hard to improve the club in all areas," said chief executive Omar Berrada. Berrada did not reference United's poor start to the current campaign but says United are building "for the long term". An overall loss of £33m represents a 70.8% reduction on the previous year, when the figure was £113.2m. United say they "remain committed to, and in compliance with, both the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules and Uefa's's Financial Fair Play Regulations". In January Deloitte ranked United as having the fourth highest revenue in world football, based on the club's earnings of £651m from the previous year. Real Madrid (£883m) were in first place, followed by Manchester City (£708m) and Paris St-Germain (£681m).

Jose Mourinho is close to a return to management with Benfica, replacing Bruno Lage who was sacked after the Champions League defeat against Qarabag The Portuguese club threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against their Azerbaijani opponents at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday. Benfica president Rui Costa said they intend to have a new manager in place by Saturday, but would not be drawn on speculation that Mourinho is their preferred option. According to multiple reports, Mourinho is in talks about to returning to work in Portugal, 21 years after he left for Chelsea. Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce on 29 August, two days after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica. "A Benfica coach's profile must be that of a winner. A coach representing a club of this size must be one with the ability to bring this team to the levels we demand and give us the titles we desire," Costa said. "There's no point in talking about names here. No coach has been appointed, nor has any coach been mentioned to represent Benfica in the future." Mourinho began his managerial career with Benfica in 2000 but took charge of only 10 games and left after a dispute with the club president. He then made his name with Porto between 2002 and 2004, winning six trophies - including the Champions League in 2003-04. Since leaving his homeland in 2004, Mourinho has managed Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Fenerbahce. Should Benfica appoint Mourinho, he would face Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on 30 September. Benfica also travel to Newcastle United and host Real Madrid later in the league phase of the competition. Benfica are sixth in the Primeira Liga, five points adrift of leaders Porto, but have a game in hand. They finished second in the top flight last season - two points behind Sporting - under former Wolves boss Lage. The move to part company with Lage coincides with Benfica preparing for their presidential election on 25 October.

Winger Lamine Yamal is not part of Barcelona's squad for their Champions League match at Newcastle United on Thursday The 18-year-old missed his side's win against Valencia on Sunday with a groin issue after Barcelona manager Hansi Flick criticised the amount of time Yamal played for Spain during the international break. Yamal played for his country for 79 minutes of a 3-0 win in Bulgaria on 4 September and 73 minutes of a 6-0 victory in Turkey three days later. Barcelona beat Valencia 6-0 without him and have not selected the forward in their squad for their first game of this season's Champions League at St James' Park. Spain left-back Alejandro Balde (hamstring) and Spain midfielder Gavi (knee) are also absent. Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong also missed the Valencia game following international duty but is available for the Newcastle match. Barcelona won La Liga last season and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing to Inter Milan.

France 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has announced his retirement from professional football at 31 years According to Tribuna, while his Instagram post captured his gratitude and reflection — “I gave EVERYTHING with passion and I regret NOTHING” — it was his farewell video at Lyon’s stadium that truly showed the depth of his connection to the game and the clubs that shaped him. Standing at the stadium where it all began, Umtiti addressed fans with emotion:”This is where it all began. And this is where I want to address you. Lyon is my home. My club. From the pitches of Menival to Groupama Stadium, I fulfilled the dream of many children by becoming a professional footballer. And then I realised my own dream by joining FC Barcelona. And what can I say, I played with the greatest.” He spoke openly about his journey in Catalonia, the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned: “I learned a lot in Catalonia, but also discovered a side of football that no one is ever really prepared for. How could I not mention the French national team and that World Cup? An unforgettable moment of togetherness and a unique human experience.” Umtiti didn’t shy away from the struggles that defined his later years, from injuries at Barcelona to rediscovering his love for football at Lecce, and trying to make a comeback at Lille:”Few people know how hard I tried, but my body couldn’t keep up. And I can only thank the club for its support.” Despite the challenges, he reflected with pride and peace:”Today, I am proud of how far I have come and at peace with my career. I gave it my all, staying true to my values, and I hope that’s the image people will remember.”

American boxer Terence Crawford pulled off a stunning upset on Sunday morning after defeating undisputed super-middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Álvarez by unanimous decision at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the United States In a thrilling contest that went the full distance, Crawford dominated the early exchanges, troubling Canelo through the first seven rounds before the Mexican star fought back in the closing stages. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 in Crawford’s favour. Crawford (42-0) moved up two weight divisions to face Canelo (63-3-2), and his victory makes him the first male boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion in three different weight classes. According to The New York Times, Crawford has now held all four titles at light-welterweight, welterweight, and super-middleweight. The American, who remains unbeaten, added Canelo’s name to a glittering list of victims that includes Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, and Kell Brook. In an interview with a Netflix reporter while reflecting on his victory, Crawford said, “Canelo is a great champion. I have nothing but respect for him, and he fought like a champion today.” When asked about his future in the sport, he added, “Like I said before, I don’t know. I’ll sit down with my team and talk about it. I’d just like to say: thank you. Thank you to all of my supporters and all of my haters. I appreciate all of you. Shout out to everybody who came to support Canelo, and I’m happy that he gets to make it home to his children.” Speaking with Netflix reporter, Álvarez, gracious in defeat, praised his opponent and insisted he remains proud of his career. “I’m a winner for being here. There is no defeat here. I take risks and that’s what I have done,” he said. On the possibility of a rematch, he said, “I feel great to share the ring with great fighters like him. If we do it again, it will be great. I already accomplished a lot in boxing, and my legacy is already there, so I take risks because I like boxing. “I feel great, I feel strong. Crawford is a great fighter, a skilled fighter, and I have to give the credit to him.”

Atalanta have welcomed Ademola Lookman back into the squad after the Nigerian striker returned from international duty Several sources, including Gazzetta, claim that Lookman arrived at the Atalanta training ground on Friday, where he trained for the first time under Ivan Juric. The former RB Leipzig and Leicester City striker was frozen out of the team and trained separately in August as he had tried to force a move to Inter Milan. Atalanta, however, are not planning to punish the player further, and Lookman has been reintegrated into the group. The Nigeria international had trained separately following his dramatic fallout with the club in August, even deleting Atalanta pictures from his social media after Inter reportedly submitted a €45m (£38m/$53m) bid, which was turned down. Lookman made his first two competitive appearances in 2024/25 during the September break with the Nigeria national team, playing 75 minutes against Rwanda and a full 90 minutes against South Africa in World Cup qualifying. It remains to be seen if, after Friday’s training session, he’ll be available for the upcoming Serie A game against Lecce on Sunday. The 27-year-old is unlikely to be involved when Atalanta face Lecce in Serie A, but he could make the squad for their Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday. La Dea stood firm throughout the summer saga, refusing to part with one of their key attacking figures despite Inter’s strong interest. Lookman, who scored 20 goals in all competitions last season, is considered vital to their ambitions in Serie A and Europe. The situation is reminiscent of 2024, when the forward was also sidelined until after the transfer window closed, only to return and play a crucial role in their campaign. Lookman’s Atalanta contract expires in June 2027, and according to Tuttosport, he’s the number one target of Juventus to replace Dusan Vlahovic in 2026. The Serbia international is not expected to extend his contract at the Allianz Stadium beyond June, and the Bianconeri are naturally looking for replacements already. The Nigerian’s return to training marks a significant development for Atalanta’s season preparations, though questions remain about his long-term commitment to the club given the summer’s events and continued speculation about his future.

Real Madrid centre back Antonio Rudiger has injured a muscle in his left leg, with reports on Friday suggesting he could be sidelined for around two months Rudiger, 32, suffered the injury in training on Friday and will have more tests in the next few days but the AS daily reported that the injury was “serious”. Real said in a statement that scans had shown Rudiger had “an injury to his rectus femoris muscle” but made no mention of how long he would be out. The veteran German international has made a single La Liga appearance this season. He battled through injury last season, but still made 55 appearances for the club. Real Madrid signed an additional centre-back this summer, taking the 20-year-old Netherlands-born Spanish international Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. But the Spanish giants are said to be keen to sign France international centre-back Ibrahima Konate from Premier League champions Liverpool, possibly at the end of this season. Real Sociedad face Real away in La Liga on Saturday and the 13-time European champions begin their Champions League campaign at home to Marseille on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland is “a little bit above” Alexander Isak as the Manchester City boss responded to Arne Slot’s claim that Liverpool’s new signing was “maybe the best striker in the world”. Isak could make his Liverpool debut at Burnley on Sunday after the Sweden star completed a British-record £125 million ($169 million) move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day. Liverpool manager Slot hailed Isak’s quality after the 25-year-old trained with the Premier League champions for the first time this week. But his suggestion that Isak could be the world’s best did not go down well with City boss Guardiola. Haaland has scored 88 times in 100 Premier League games for City since signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, helping them win two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup. Isak moved to Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022 and scored 54 goals in 86 league appearances, helping the Magpies end their 56-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup last season. Guardiola was quick to back Haaland as the cream of the crop on Friday. “A little bit above. Isak is an exceptional player. You asked me about Erling and he is top. Isak must be a top player because of what they paid. Another one would say (Kylian) Mbappe, another (Lionel) Messi, Cristiano (Ronaldo) ,” he said of Haaland. “I wouldn’t change Erling for anyone. I know him. I like him.” Guardiola will need Haaland at his predatory best as City seek to get back on track in Sunday’s Manchester derby after successive defeats against Tottenham and Brighton. After a disappointing third-place finish last season, Guardiola hoped his revamped team would hit the ground running, but they have been beset by injuries and defensive problems.

Arne Slot on Friday described new signing Alexander Isak as “maybe the best striker in the world” but warned he would be eased into action gradually after a disrupted pre-season The Premier League champions signed the Sweden forward from Newcastle on transfer deadline day for a British-record fee of £125 million ($169 million), adding further firepower to their impressive squad. Isak’s arrival after a protracted chase was part of an eye-catching splurge of more than £400 million in the summer transfer window, though a deadline-day move to sign Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi collapsed. “A lot of things happened on the last day (of the transfer window), which is not always the situation, because last season we hardly did anything during the whole window,” Slot said on Friday. “But the thing that pleases me most, of course, is us getting the deal for Alex over the line.” The Dutchman praised Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for the way he handled Isak’s workload during the international break. The 25-year-old, who has not played any club football this season, was on the bench for Sweden’s 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Slovenia and was brought on as a late substitute in the 2-0 defeat against Kosovo. “He gets one of the best, maybe the best striker in the world, and needs to play two very important games for his country, but understands that if he would play him twice for 90 minutes, then probably the player would have been injured,” Slot said. “And that’s not always easy for a manager, that he takes care of the interest of a player, so he deserves a big compliment for that. And we will treat Alex the same as they did, so don’t expect him to be every single game 90 minutes on the pitch. “That’s definitely not going to happen in the upcoming weeks. He missed a proper pre-season, I think he missed three or four months of team sessions, so now we have to build him up gradually, with us playing so many games, hardly any training time.” Slot, speaking ahead of Sunday’s match against Burnley, brushed off criticism that Isak received after he agitated to leave Newcastle, where he still had three more years to run on his contract. “Sometimes people cheer for you, so I think after he won the League Cup (trophy last season), everyone was really happy with him,” he said. “And in other moments you get criticised — this is part of his life, my life, our jobs. Now he’s a player for us and I’m really happy with that.” Slot, whose team have won all three of their Premier League matches so far this season, admitted he had been keen to sign Guehi but would not be drawn about any future bid. “I think it would be a bit ridiculous if I’m going to deny that we were close to signing him,” he said. “That’s so out in the open, that would be ridiculous. “These things happen in football, it happened to our players maybe in the past as well, that they thought they were so close on signing somewhere else, and then in the last moment things changed.” Slot, who is eyeing a record 21st English league title with Liverpool, said he had options in defence. “It’s a pity, not only for us but also for the player, I think,” he said. “But he’s in a good place playing at Palace, where he won the Community Shield and the FA Cup, with a very good manager as well. So let’s see what the future brings for him and for us.”

The Football Association charged Chelsea on Thursday with 74 alleged breaches of rules related to payments to agents between 2009 and 2022 The FA said the charges primarily relate to the period between the 2010/11 and 2015/16 seasons. The Premier League club has until September 19 to respond. Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich transformed Chelsea’s fortunes after buying the west London club in 2003. He sold the Blues in May 2022 to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital. Chelsea issued a statement saying the club were “pleased to confirm that its engagement with the FA concerning matters that were self-reported by the club is now reaching a conclusion.” “The club’s ownership group completed its purchase of the club on May 30, 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules,” the statement said. “Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including the FA.” Chelsea said they had “demonstrated unprecedented transparency” and would continue working with the FA. In July 2023, Chelsea agreed a resolution with European football’s governing body to hand over 10 million euros ($11.7 million, £8.6 million) after owning up to “incomplete financial reporting” under the Abramovich regime. UEFA said it had been “proactively” approached with the information by Chelsea’s new ownership group. Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He was described by ministers as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle but has denied financial ties to the Kremlin. In June this year the British government threatened the former Chelsea owner with legal action over the frozen £2.5 billion generated from the sale of the club. Ministers want the funds to be directed towards humanitarian purposes in Ukraine, but the oligarch insists they be used for all victims of the conflict, including in Russia.

Manchester City will be without forward, Omar Marmoush for Sunday's Manchester derby after the Egypt forward suffered a knee injury on international duty The 26-year-old was substituted in the ninth minute of his country's World Cup qualifier with Burkina Faso - which finished as a goalless draw - in Ouagadougou on Tuesday. Marmoush, who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59m in January, was hurt following a robust fourth-minute challenge. City said initial scans in Egypt indicated Marmoush would miss Manchester United's visit to Etihad Stadium on Sunday (16:30 BST). The club confirmed Marmoush "will now return to Manchester for more assessment and to begin his rehabilitation". Marmoush initially played on after receiving treatment on the field, but was replaced by Osama Faisal shortly afterwards. He has scored eight goals in 28 appearances for City. City boss Pep Guardiola could be short of options in attack, given summer signing Rayan Cherki is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and England attacking midfielder Phil Foden missed the defeat by Brighton before the international break.

Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has been given an additional three-game ban for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staff member The Leagues Cup Disciplinary Committee gave Suarez a six-match ban for his actions after the League Cup final defeat on 31 August, but that only applied to future editions of that tournament. Major League Soccer has now handed Suarez a three-match ban, meaning he will miss matches against Charlotte FC, DC United and Seattle in Miami's domestic campaign. Miami lost 3-0 in the final at Lumen Field in Seattle. A melee involving both sets of players broke out, with Suarez grabbing Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas before spitting on security director Gene Ramirez. "It was a moment of much tension and frustration, where just after the game ended things happened that shouldn't have happened, but that doesn't justify my reaction. I made a mistake and sincerely apologise," Suarez wrote on Instagram. "It's not the image I want to give in front of my family, that suffers because of my mistakes, in front of my club, that also doesn't deserve seeing themselves affected by something like this." Suarez was given an eight-match ban by the Football Association in 2011 after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. He has served three bans - at Ajax, Uruguay and Liverpool - for biting an opponent.

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled a goalscoring record as Portugal edged past Hungary in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match The striker netted for the 39th time in World Cup qualifying matches, making him the joint-highest ever scorer alongside Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz - and three ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Ronaldo, 40, extended his international record to 141 goals in 223 appearances for Portugal, the most by any male player for the country. His goal at the Puskas Arena on Tuesday came from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after Hungary forward Barnabas Varga had a 21st-minute opener cancelled out by Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva 15 minutes later. Varga equalised in the 84th minute and the hosts looked set for a point, but Joao Cancelo fired home just two minutes later to earn a dramatic victory for Roberto Martinez's side. Ronaldo also scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 win over Armenia on Saturday, leaving them top of Group F with six points from the opening two matches. Hungary are third on one point alongside the Republic of Ireland, who suffered a 2-1 setback in Armenia.

The 2025 shortlist of nominees to join the Premier League Hall of Fame has been revealed – but there is a glaring omission as once again, Ryan Giggs does not feature on the 15-strong list of names to join the esteemed group Manchester United icon Giggs has been a notable absentee from the nominated players since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 2021. It follows a series of off-field controversies including an affair with his brother’s wife, another fling with former Big Brother contestant Imogen Thomas and the collapse of his marriage. More recently, Giggs left his post as Wales manager after being arrested on suspicion of assault in 2020. He always denied the claims and was cleared in 2023 after ex-girlfriend Kate Greville withdrew from the trial. The 51-year-old has not returned to management since but does work as Director of Football at Salford City. While Giggs isn’t on the shortlist, several of his former United teammates are. Patrice Evra and Teddy Sheringham are nominated for the first time, while Gary Neville, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar and Michael Owen return having been previously shortlisted. Sol Campbell, Jermain Defoe, Cesc Fabregas, Les Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Eden Hazard, David Silva and Yaya Toure complete the list of 2025 nominees.

Ange Postecoglou has agreed terms to take over as head coach of Nottingham Forest, following the club’s decision to part ways with Nuno Espirito Santo According to Sky Sports on Tuesday, the 60-year-old Australian is set to return to Premier League management after finalising an agreement ahead of Forest’s upcoming clash with Arsenal. The former Tottenham boss held talks with Forest earlier this week, with both parties moving swiftly to reach an understanding. Postecoglou will become the club’s eighth permanent manager since Evangelos Marinakis took ownership in 2017. Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham at the end of last season following a dismal Premier League season when they finished 17th. However, the Australian led Spurs to a historic Europa League victory at the end of the season to end the club’s long-running trophy drought. Forest currently sit 10th in the Premier League table after their opening three games of the season. After 21 months in charge, Nuno’s last match in charge was a 3-0 defeat by West Ham before September’s international break. The 51-year-old Portuguese coach took charge of Forest in December 2023 after the dismissal of Steve Cooper and helped preserve their top-flight status. Last term he guided the club to seventh in the Premier League – their highest finish since 1994-95 – as they qualified for Europe for the first time in three decades.

Nottingham Forest have confirmed the dismissal of Head Coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, bringing an end to his spell at The City Ground after weeks of reported tension between both parties The club, in a statement on Monday, said Nuno was relieved of his duties “following recent circumstances,” while expressing gratitude for his contribution during what it described as a successful era. The statement read, “The Club thanks Nuno for his contribution during a very successful era at The City Ground, in particular his role in the 2024/25 season, which will forever be remembered fondly in the history of the Club. As someone who played a pivotal role in our success last season, he will always hold a special place in our journey.” Football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, also confirmed the development, noting that the decision followed rising tensions in recent weeks. He said, “Decision made after tension between the parties in the recent weeks, it’s over for Nuno at #NFFC, as @Record_Portugal reports.” He added that three candidates were under consideration for the job, with Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, named among them. Nuno, who was appointed Forest boss in December 2023, guided the club through a dramatic survival battle in the Premier League before overseeing one of their most memorable seasons in 2024/25. The Portuguese coach first made his name at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he secured promotion from the Championship in 2018 and established the club in the Premier League with successive top-half finishes. He later had a brief stint at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Saudi Arabia to manage Al-Ittihad. Forest’s board is expected to make a swift decision on a replacement as the club looks to steady its campaign amid growing pressure in the league.

As the excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 17 nations from around the world have officially secured their places in football’s most prestigious tournament. With the expanded 48-team format, qualification has taken on new intensity, and several countries have already emerged from their regional qualifiers victorious The three host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—earned automatic qualification, setting the stage for an unprecedented North American joint-hosting. This historic collaboration marks the first time the World Cup will be hosted across three countries, promising a diverse and wide-reaching celebration of the global game. In Asia, Japan became the first team to secure qualification on March 20, 2025, followed closely by Iran on March 25. New Zealand clinched Oceania’s guaranteed spot with a decisive 3–0 victory over New Caledonia on March 24. South America, as expected, saw heavyweights seal their places. Argentina qualified after a crucial draw between Uruguay and Bolivia on March 25. Later, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia booked their places between June and early September, ensuring strong representation from the continent. Of the countries on the radar, Australia remains the only nation yet to confirm qualification. The Socceroos are still fighting for a spot in the Asian qualifying rounds. Current List of qualified nations USA – Qualified (Host) Mexico – Qualified (Host) Canada – Qualified (Host) Japan – Qualified (March 20, 2025) New Zealand – Qualified (March 24, 2025) Iran – Qualified (March 25, 2025) Jordan qualified from Asia South Korea qualified from Asia Uzbekistan Qualified from Asia Australia – Qualified (June 5, 2025) Brazil – Qualified (June 10, 2025) Ecuador – Qualified (June 10, 2025) Uruguay – Qualified (Early September 2025) Paraguay – Qualified (Early September 2025) Colombia – Qualified (Early September 2025) Argentina – Qualified (Early September 2025) Morocco – Qualified as the first country from CAF With qualification ongoing in several confederations, the focus now shifts to Europe, Africa, and the remaining Asian teams. Football fans worldwide eagerly await the final list, promising an exciting 2026 World Cup filled with new rivalries and thrilling showdowns.

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of Tuesday’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying match against South Africa in Bloemfontein, PUNCH Online reports The striker limped off midway through the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo, after a challenge from Claude Niyomugabo. Further update from the team’s camp on Sunday revealed Osimhen will not be involved in Tuesday’s game after the team doctor assesses his injury. “Team doctor confirmed Victor Osimhen’s injury is a bruise on his chin. He woke up this morning with discomfort and will not be travelling with the squad to South Africa for Tuesday’s game,” Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe wrote in a WhatsApp message shared with our correspondent. While the striker is expected to return to Galatasaray for further tests and treatment, his absence from the Super Eagles squad against Bafana Bafana casts a doubt on the team’s strength upfront. On Saturday, he was replaced by Cyriel Dessers, but the Belgium-born forward didn’t provide much threat for the Rwandans like Osimhen. Second-half substitute, Tolu Arokodare, made the difference with his 51st-minute strike to keep Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes alive. Arokodare will be trusted by coach Eric Chelle to lead the line for Nigeria on Tuesday. The Super Eagles are at risk of missing a second consecutive World Cup due to their poor start to the qualifying series. Saturday’s win was their second in seven matches, having drawn four and lost one. South Africa is top of the group with 16 points, followed by the Benin Republic with 11 points, while the Eagles are third with 10 points. The top team in the group will join eight other African countries that top their respective groups to pick the automatic tickets to the tournament, which will be played in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has agreed a loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor The move has yet to be finalised but sources close to the player anticipate it being done in time for him to make his debut against Fenerbahce on Sunday 14 September. Turkey's transfer window is open until Friday, leaving time to get a deal completed for Onana, who is on international duty with Cameroon. Onana had been linked with another Turkish club, Galatasaray, but they opted to sign Ugurcan Cakir. Cakir, who started Turkey's World Cup qualifying win over Georgia on Thursday, joined from Trabzonspor on 2 September in a deal that could eventually be worth 36m euros (£31.2m). Trabzonspor have been assessing alternatives since that deal was completed and club sources believe Onana could have a major impact. Letting Onana or Altay Bayindir leave United has been on the cards since the club signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day. Although Old Trafford officials stressed the club were willing to have a senior squad including four goalkeepers, that was at odds with head coach Ruben Amorim's stated desire to have a smaller squad in the absence of European football. Tom Heaton is the fourth senior goalkeeper in the United ranks. Onana had, in theory, ended last season as United's number one goalkeeper given he started the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham. However, after injuring his hamstring at the start of pre-season training, he missed all United's warm-up games and was overlooked for their opening three Premier League matches, when Bayindir was chosen. Onana did start the shock second-round EFL Cup defeat by League Two Grimsby last month, when he was at fault for the Mariners' second goal. The 29-year-old was signed from Inter Milan for £47.2m in 2023, with then United boss Erik ten Hag keen to be reunited with a goalkeeper he first worked with at Ajax. Onana has rarely looked comfortable, though, and the decision to bring him in to replace four-time club player of the year David de Gea has repeatedly been questioned. A succession of mistakes led to Onana being dropped for the Premier League defeat at Newcastle on 13 April, although he was recalled for the chaotic 5-4 Europa League quarter-final win over Lyon immediately afterwards.

Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in the latest chapter of his compelling rivalry with Jannik Sinner, earning a four-set victory to regain the US Open title Spain's Alcaraz started strongly and weathered a second-set fightback from Italy's Sinner before powering to a 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory in New York. The men's final was delayed by half an hour because of extra security measures put in place due to US president Donald Trump's presence. Once under way, the pair produced another engaging contest - albeit short of the drama and quality of their French Open and Wimbledon finals earlier this year. Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz's superior serving, an area which let him down against Sinner at the All England Club, ensured he reclaimed the US Open title that he first won in 2022. The 22-year-old has now won six Grand Slam titles, making him the second youngest man behind Bjorn Borg to reach this tally. Alcaraz's victory ensures an even split between him and Sinner - who won the Australian Open as well as Wimbledon - at the four majors in 2025. After facing Sinner in a fifth final of the season, Alcaraz said: "I see you more than my family. It's great to share the court with you." Alcaraz has also wrestled the world number one ranking away from Sinner, who held the position for 65 weeks. Sinner, who was short of his best throughout most of the match, saved two championship points before Alcaraz reset to take his third opportunity. Nailing a 131mph ace out wide felt an apt way for Alcaraz to finish, given his supreme serving over the fortnight, before he broke into his familiar grin and celebrated with a now trademark golf swing.

Memphis Depay became the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer with two goals in their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania The 31-year-old, who plays for Brazilian side Corinthians, opened the scoring by turned in Cody Gakpo's cross for his record 51st international goal. He then scored the winner, a powerful header from Denzel Dumfries' cross, for his 52nd goal in his 104th cap. His former Oranje team-mate Robin van Persie scored 50, the previous record, in 102 games between 2005 and 2017. Depay played for PSV, Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid before moving to Brazil last year. He made his Netherlands debut in 2013 against Turkey and scored his first goal against Australia at the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. The Netherlands are top of Group G on 10 points from four games after the win in Kaunas. Lithuania, who had come from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 at half-time, are the lowest ranked team in FIFA's world rankings (143rd) ever to score against the Dutch.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka battled past home hope Amanda Anisimova to retain her US Open title and finally secure her first Grand Slam trophy of the year Sabalenka maintained a steadier level to win 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in a battle between two of the biggest ball-strikers in the women's game. The Belarusian dropped to her knees, overcome with emotion, after securing victory in a year where she had suffered defeat in two Grand Slam finals. Victory did not come without some tension, however. Defending champion Sabalenka was unable to serve out the match at 5-4, but recovered to dominate the tie-break and seal victory on her third championship point. The 27-year-old has again been the WTA Tour's most dominant player this season, but questions had been raised about her emotional composure in the latter stages of the majors. Sabalenka answered the critics in her final opportunity of the season with a largely assured performance to claim her fourth Grand Slam singles title. Instead, it was American eighth seed Anisimova who paid the price for not being able to maintain a consistently high level. The 24-year-old produced a better performance than her first major final - when she was thrashed 6-0 6-0 by Poland's Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon in July - but was left in tears after again coming up short.

Morocco became the first African nation to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup courtesy of a routine 5-0 win over 10-man Niger in Rabat The Atlas Lions, who made history in reaching the semi-finals at Qatar 2022, knew that three points would be enough to progress from Group E with two games to spare after Tanzania could only draw 1-1 in Congo-Brazzaville earlier on Friday. Niger's Abdoul-Latif Goumey was sent off for his second bookable offence in the 26th minute and Ismael Saibari converted Youssef Belammari's cross to open the scoring three minutes later. Saibari doubled the lead before the break when he tapped in a low ball in from Achraf Hakimi and Ayoub El Kaabi scooped in the third early in the second half from another pinpoint Belammari delivery. Former Rangers forward Hamza Igamane came off the bench to score his first international goal from a well-worked corner routine and Azzedine Ounahi completed the rout with a curling effort. It proved to be a perfect evening for Morocco as they played the first match at the redeveloped Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final next January and be used when the kingdom co-hosts the 2030 World Cup. Eight more group winners in African qualifying are guaranteed to join the Atlas Lions at the 2026 finals, with the four best-placed runners-up entering play-offs for a slot at an intercontinental tournament. Egypt are on the brink of a place at the tournament after penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush helped the North Africans to a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia. Liverpool forward Salah opened the scoring four minutes before the break in Cairo after Trezeguet was tripped in the area and Manchester City's Marmoush then converted from 12 yards in first-half stoppage time after a second spot kick was awarded for handball. The Pharaohs have a five point lead in Group A and know that victory away against closest challengers Burkina Faso on Tuesday will see them return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018. Earlier on Friday Yoane Wissa and Dango Ouattara were on target in wins for DR Congo and Burkina Faso respectively.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique will undergo surgery after breaking his collarbone in a cycling accident, the Ligue 1 club announced Enrique was involved in the Friday crash while on his bike. Emergency services rushed him to the hospital, where scans confirmed the injury. Fortunately, doctors ruled out any additional complications, but he is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the damage. In a statement issued on Friday via their official X handle, PSG said: “Following a bicycle fall that occurred this Friday, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique was attended to by emergency services and will undergo surgery for a fractured collarbone. “Paris Saint-Germain wishes to express its full support to Luis Enrique and wishes him a speedy recovery. The Club will communicate further information shortly.” The Parisians are set to face Lens on 14 September in their next league fixture before they begin their Champions League defence against Atalanta in the league phase three days later. Luis Enrique joined PSG in 2023 and has won two league titles, two French Cups and the Champions League and also guided them to the Fifa Club World Cup final in July.

President of the United States of America, Donald Trump will attend the US Open men's singles final on Sunday in what will be his first visit to the Grand Slam tennis event since 2015 Trump, who was re-elected in 2024 for a second term in office, has not been to the New York City tournament since he first came to power in 2016. He had previously visited Flushing Meadows on several occasions before being joined by wife Melania on his last visit a decade ago. A White House official confirmed to the BBC that the president was expected to attend. In 2015, Trump was greeted by American six-time major champion John McEnroe as he watched from a hospitality area. Trump, 79, was born in the Queens borough of New York City where the Grand Slam tournament is held. No American players will compete in the men's final, which starts at 2 pm (local time) on Sunday.

Jannik Sinner came through a slight injury scare to win his US Open semi-final against Felix Auger-Aliassime and set up another tantalising Grand Slam final with Carlos Alcaraz It will be the third consecutive meeting between the pair in a title decider after Alcaraz's French Open win in June was followed a month later by Sinner winning at Wimbledon. It is also the first time in the Open era that two players have contested three major finals in the same season and Sunday's match will also be for the number one ranking - which Sinner has held for 65 consecutive weeks. Defending champion Sinner was far from his best but had enough to come through 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It means Sinner, 24, has won 26 of his 27 matches at Grand Slams this year - winning titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and reaching the final of the French Open. Sinner rattled through the opening set but stumbled in the second, with an injury seemingly hindering him as a rejuvenated Auger-Aliassime drew level. The Italian took a medical timeout before returning for the third set and settled back into a rhythm without ever hitting top form. He will take on world number two Alcaraz in Sunday's showpiece after the Spaniard overcame Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 earlier on Friday. World number one Sinner was almost perfect in the opening set, making just four unforced errors, leading to the feeling that another routine win was on the cards. But errors began to creep into Sinner's game in the second and Auger-Aliassime, who was appearing in just his second Grand Slam semi-final and first since 2021, grew in confidence - feeding off the energy of the crowd to get a foothold. Auger-Aliassime passed up three break points for the chance to lead 2-0 but went on to break for 5-3 before serving out for the set. There had been no real indication that Sinner was carrying an injury until he left the court for treatment, although his first-serve accuracy had dropped slightly. He landed just 10 of 25 (40%) in the third compared to 10 of 22 (45%) in the second set and 13 of 25 (52%) in the first. Auger-Aliassime was unable to fully capitalise on any potential problem, though, and a break of serve at 5-3 was enough to take the set. By the time the fourth began, Sinner appeared the fresher of the two - barring a few moments of resilience from his opponent. Victory means Sinner is just the fourth player in the Open era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a single season after Rod Laver, Roger Federer and Djokovic. Sinner trails Alcaraz in their head-to-head record, losing nine of their 14 meetings, including three of their four encounters in 2025.

Carlos Alcaraz used his youth, athleticism and creativity to assert himself against the much more accomplished, but also much older, Novak Djokovic and beat the 24-time major champion 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 at the U.S. Open on Friday for a berth in his third consecutive Grand Slam final By the end, Djokovic was “gassed out,” as he described it afterward, and seemed resigned to the result. The 38-year-old from Serbia reached the semifinals at all four Slams this season but exited in that round each time, three via losses to No. 2 Alcaraz, 22, or No. 1 Jannik Sinner, 24. Alcaraz will face either defending champion Sinner or No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime for the championship on Sunday, when President Donald Trump plans to attend. Sinner is trying to become the first repeat men’s champion in New York since Roger Federer won the hard-court tournament five years in a row from 2004 through 2008. Alcaraz hasn’t dropped a set as he pursues his sixth major title and second at Flushing Meadows. He defeated Sinner at the French Open in June and lost to his rival at Wimbledon in July. Go back to April, and Alcaraz is 44-2, making it to the finals at each of his last eight tour-level events. Alcaraz had lost his two most recent matches against Djokovic — in the gold-medal final at the Paris Olympics last year, and in the Australian Open quarterfinals this January. Djokovic’s bid to become the first player in the sport’s history to get Slam No. 25 was blocked again, and he thinks part of the issue is trying to overcome much younger men in best-of-five set matches. Alcaraz and Sinner have combined to collect the past seven major championships and nine of the last 12. Djokovic won the other three in that span, most recently at the 2023 U.S. Open. Djokovic’s shots were not quite on-target early and, but for a brief interlude in the second set, his usual verve was not present. He rolled his eyes after one miss, grimaced after another. At changeovers, he flexed or stretched his neck, which bothered him earlier in the tournament, and also was looked at by a trainer. There also was the occasional bit of brilliance, including a two-handed backhand passing shot that drew raucous roars from the crowd, which often cried out his nickname, “No-le!” and seemed to want to will him to at least make things more competitive, if not win. Djokovic celebrated by strutting to his towel box while shaking his right hand over and over, as though to say, “Hoo-boy! How nice was that?” Djokovic even managed to steal one of Alcaraz’s service games while taking a 3-0 lead in the second set. Might this portend a long, tight match? Nope. Alcaraz immediately snapped to, taking the next three games, including one scooped cross-court forehand passing winner that was so superb even Djokovic felt compelled to applaud with his racket.

Former world champions Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to compete in an exhibition bout next year The event will be put on by CSI Sports/Fight Sports but details regarding the date, location, broadcasters and rules are yet to be announced. Tyson, 59, is a former undisputed heavyweight champion while Mayweather, 48, retired undefeated after 50 fights, winning multiple titles across a number of weight classes. Tyson is competing for the first time since ending his 19-year retirement in November in a controversial defeat by Jake Paul. He spent the entirety of his career, which yielded 50 wins from 59 fights, at heavyweight while the latter stages of Mayweather's career were at welterweight. Mayweather, who has won titles across five weight classes, has competed in a number of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 with his last outing coming against John Gotti III last August. Formal winners are not usually declared in exhibitions and the results do not count towards either fighter's career record.

Tottenham have announced that Daniel Levy has stepped down from his role as executive chairman Levy was appointed as Spurs chairman in March 2001 and leaves after the club won the Europa League last season as they ended a 17-year wait for a trophy. "I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community," said Levy. "I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years. I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn't always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately."

Jannik Sinner continued his US Open title defence in dominant fashion as he swept past fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semi-finals in New York Labelled an "artificial intelligence" player by Alexander Bublik in the last round, Sinner's scintillating form carried on as he won 6-1 6-4 6-2. Musetti, ranked 10th, was unable to convert any of his seven break points, while he hit just 12 winners to his compatriot's 28 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. In a ruthless first set, Sinner rattled through the first five games and conceded just five points before Musetti eventually held serve to get himself on the board for 5-1. Sinner closed out the opener after just 27 minutes, but his momentum slowed in the second set as Musetti stepped up his level. But the top seed managed to grab the decisive break at 4-4 and served it out comfortably before breaking twice in the third to secure the win just before midnight at Flushing Meadows. He has now won 26 consecutive matches at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments. The 24-year-old will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in Friday's semi-final after the Canadian defeated Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Amanda Anisimova says she rewatched her heavy Wimbledon final defeat by Iga Swiatek to inspire her to "the most meaningful victory of my life" over the second seed in the US Open quarter-finals Fifty-three days ago, Poland's Swiatek demolished Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to win the title in a one-sided showpiece at SW19. But the American showed her true capabilities with a 6-4 6-3 victory in a high-quality match in New York. Eighth seed Anisimova said she watched the final back for the first time the night before their Flushing Meadows match-up. "I watched them [highlights] back, as painful as it was, just to see what I can avoid or what went wrong. Then after I had to watch some good highlights to remove that from my brain!" she said. It was something Anisimova may not have done after previous tough losses. But since taking a break from the sport to protect her mental health, Anisimova's attitude towards setbacks on the court has changed. Anisimova will face four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, after she beat 11th seed Karolina Muchova. Anisimova has surprised even herself with how quickly she moved on from her loss at the All England Club. Having gone out in the early stages of the hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati, Anisimova said her early-round matches in New York were played with "a little bit of fear". However, her confidence has grown across the fortnight - as shown in her brilliantly fearless ball-striking against Swiatek. When Swiatek took her serve in the opening game, flashbacks of Wimbledon surfaced. But this time around Anisimova did not waver - attacking the six-time major winner's serve to immediately break back. Anisimova displayed superb skill on the backhand side and moved impressively throughout, hitting 23 winners as her big-hitting game flustered Swiatek. She enjoyed success on the Pole's second serve - winning 12 of 17 points from it - and found the break at the crucial moment to take the opening set. Swiatek left the court between sets and returned full of intensity, again breaking immediately but this time consolidating with a hold. Anisimova could be forgiven for thinking back to Wimbledon but she kept her cool and rescued the break two games later. Heavily backed by a home crowd, Anisimova broke in the eighth game to serve for victory - which she did in composed fashion to reach a third Grand Slam semi-final.

Celtic have confirmed the signing of Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho on a one-year contract 24 hours after his deal with Sevilla was terminated The 28-year-old arrives on a free transfer, with the Scottish champions inserting an option for an additional year. Iheanacho reunites with Brendan Rodgers, under whom he enjoyed the most prolific season of his career at Leicester City, scoring 19 goals in all competitions during their FA Cup-winning 2020–21 campaign. “Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kelechi Iheanacho on a one-year deal, subject to international clearance, with the club having the option of a further year,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday evening. His arrival comes after criticism from supporters over the club’s failure to sign a forward before transfer deadline day. Iheanacho began his professional career at Manchester City, where he won the League Cup in 2016, before making over 200 appearances for Leicester. He lifted the FA Cup with the Foxes in 2021 and later joined Sevilla in 2024, finishing last season on loan at Middlesbrough.

Saudi Women’s Premier League outfit, Al Hilal, have announced the signing of Super Falcons star, Asisat Oshoala, on a two-year deal Oshoala joined Al Hila from the National Women’s Soccer League side, Bay FC, ending her stint with the USA club after one-and-a-half years. She was unveiled in a series of posts via the club’s social media handles on Tuesday after undergoing medicals on Monday in Riyadh. “Welcome Asisat Oshoala. Countless achievements, and more to come,” the club said. She joins Super Falcons teammates Ashleigh Plumptre and Francisca Ordega in Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal finished sixth in the 2024/25 season, with the competition expanded from eight to 10 teams. Meanwhile, Bay FC have also announced her departure. “Bay FC and Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal have agreed to terms on a transfer for Asisat Oshoala. Thank you for everything you’ve given to this club.” Oshoala left Bay FC after joining the NWSL expansion team last season, making 23 starts in 25 games. She tallied seven goals during the regular season and contributed one assist. This season, she has, however, seen her game time wane, coming in more often than not off the bench, making five starts over 12 matches with no goals or assists before her departure. Before now, the two-time Ballon d’Or nominee spent five seasons at Barcelona, where she scored 107 goals in 149 appearances, winning five Liga F titles and two Women’s Champions League trophies. She also played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Chinese club Dalian Quanjian after beginning her career with Nigerian sides FC Robo and Rivers Angels. The six-time Africa Women’s Player of the Year was also part of Nigeria’s historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, starting just two games.

Real Betis announced the signing of Brazil international winger, Antony, from Manchester United on Monday on a five-year deal, which follows his successful loan spell in Seville in the second half of last season Betis did not announce the size of the transfer fee but various Spanish media have reported a figure of 25 million euros ($29.3 million). Some British media reported that part of the fee was made up of add-ons while United retain a 50 percent sell-on clause. The move had been expected throughout the summer window after Antony, who failed to impress United boss Ruben Amorim after he took over the helm at Old Trafford in November, had shone on loan at Betis. “His impressive performances in green and white yielded nine goals and six assists in 26 appearances, playing a decisive role in the club’s qualification for European competition and in reaching the historic UEFA Conference League final,” Betis said in a statement. The deal had been announced on Friday but hit a snag after Betis claimed it was off, reportedly due to a dispute over Antony’s salary reduction when moving to Spain. The 25-year-old was a huge disappointment at Old Trafford after his 95 million euro move from Ajax in 2022. He scored just 12 goals in his 96 matches for United in all competitions but eight of those came in his first season, after which his form dipped dramatically.

The Premier League transfer window shut on Monday after a record-breaking summer of signings across the division Liverpool led the way with blockbuster swoops for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, but Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United also spent big. Here are the 10 of the most intriguing deals: Alexander Isak (Newcastle to Liverpool) The Reds finally look set to get their man, ending a long-running transfer saga with a British record swoop for the Sweden striker, whose reported £125 million ($169 million) signing will take Liverpool’s remarkable spending spree to more than £400 million. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool) Signed for an initial £100 million in a deal that could rise to £116 million, the Germany playmaker immediately set his sights on “winning everything every year” with the Premier League champions. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester City) Just months after playing a key role in winning PSG’s maiden Champions League crown, the Italy goalkeeper has reportedly been lured to the Etihad Stadium in a £30 million deal after City boss Pep Guardiola decided to move on from his long-serving number one Ederson. Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig to Manchester United) The Slovenia striker’s £73 million arrival from Leipzig completed Ruben Amorim’s overhaul of his misfiring attack, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha the other new faces in a £200 million revamp that will make or break their manager’s reign. Jack Grealish (Manchester City to Everton) Four years after City paid a then British record £100 million to sign Grealish from Aston Villa, the flamboyant England winger’s stock had fallen so far, amid poor performances and concerns about his penchant for late night partying, that he was allowed to make a season-long loan move to Everton. His improved form suggests a career renaissance is possible. Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal) Entranced by Arsenal’s dazzling 5-1 victory over Sporting last season, the Sweden striker set his heart on a move to the Emirates and was rewarded with a £64 million switch as Mikel Arteta finally landed a prolific target man to serve as the fulcrum of his attack. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United to Chelsea) After falling out of favour with Manchester United boss Amorim, the Argentine winger will hope to relaunch his career at Stamford Bridge following a £40 million move that gives Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca the dynamic presence he craves on the flanks. Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart to Newcastle) The Germany striker was signed for a Newcastle club-record fee of £69 million to replace the departing Alexander Isak, putting huge pressure on the shoulders of a 23-year-old who stands 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) but is known as much for his creativity as his aerial prowess. Xavi Simons (Leipzig to Tottenham) The skilful Dutch midfielder is the standout signing for new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, who paid £51 million to bring the 22-year-old to north London after he scored 22 goals and assisted 24 times in 78 appearances for Leipzig. Jadon Sancho (Manchester United to Aston Villa) Following in the footsteps of United teammate Marcus Rashford — now at Barcelona after a temporary spell with Villa last term — England winger Sancho is reportedly completing the formalities of a loan move to Birmingham. He will hope Villa boss Unai Emery can reinvigorate his stalled career after last season’s disappointing loan spell with Chelsea.

‎Chelsea have agreed an improved package for striker Nicolas Jackson to join Bayern Munich After an on-off transfer saga, the 24-year-old is set to complete an initial loan move for £14.3m (16.5m euros), which crucially includes a mandatory obligation to buy for £56.2m (65m euros) through a minimum number of appearances. It's a deal on slightly improved terms as the one initially agreed and now worth in excess of £70m. Personal terms are already in place for a future five-year permanent contract for Jackson, whose deal with Bayern was in doubt after Chelsea instructed him to return when Liam Delap was injured in Saturday's Premier League win over Fulham. The Senegal forward joined Chelsea from £32m from Villarreal in 2023 and scored 30 goals in 81 matches. To boost their own attacking options, Chelsea have signed Argentine Facundo Buonanotte, 20, on a season-long loan deal from Brighton for a £2m fee. Jackson had been an automatic starter until his red card at St James's Park in April - his second dismissal of the season - which left the club without a striker as they were competing for a place in the Champions League. Jackson was then sent off within four minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute in the 3-1 group-stage defeat by Flamengo at the Club World Cup, Fifa's expanded competition which Chelsea ultimately won. Strikers Liam Delap and Joao Pedro arrived to replace him during the tournament. Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation said Jackson ultimately lost the trust of manager Enzo Maresca and some of the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge, prompting Jackson to seek a move. It was a shift in mood as Maresca said earlier in April that the frontman was his "perfect number nine" and wanted "a copy of Nico" rather than to replace him. Jackson could face Chelsea on September 17 in Munich as Uefa rules allow loanees to face their parent clubs in the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a season-long loan deal for Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani ‎ The 26-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs for several months, with interest from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham. He is set to move to Tottenham on transfer deadline day after personal terms were agreed with Thomas Frank's side. Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, scoring eight goals in 16 Serie A games. The former Nantes and Eintracht Frankfurt forward joined PSG in September 2023 and has won two Ligue 1 titles. Kolo Muani also has 31 senior caps for France, scoring in the 2022 World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco and playing in the final defeat by Argentina. Kolo Muani is set to be Tottenham's fourth senior signing of the summer, following Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Xavi Simons. Along with wingers Kudus and Simons, centre-forward Kolo Muani could help form a new look strikeforce for Spurs as they prepare for a Champions League return. The signings come at the end of a window which has been difficult at times for Tottenham, with failed move for targets including Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze - who joined Arsenal instead.

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign England centre-back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace ‎The 25-year-old will complete the formalities of his move, including a medical, in London on Monday before signing a long-term contract with the Premier League champions. The deal was agreed after the clubs reached a compromise on the fee for Guehi, with Liverpool having originally tabled an offer of £35m, plus a 10 percent sell-on clause. He is set to be Liverpool's second major signing on transfer deadline day, after the Reds agreed a £125m deal with Newcastle for striker Alexander Isak. Guehi captained Palace to a 3-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday night in the last of his 162 games for the London club, scoring a spectacular second goal. Guehi has been a key target for Liverpool this summer after Jarrell Quansah left Anfield for Bayer Leverkusen. There have also been concerns about the solidity of Liverpool's defence after they conceded six goals in their first three games of the season. They lost the Community Shield on penalties to Palace - who Guehi captained at Wembley - and gave up two-goal leads in the Premier League to Bournemouth and Newcastle before fighting back to win. After also bringing in Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni, the Guehi deal will take Liverpool's spending to about £451.2m without add-on fees - the highest total in Premier League history. It is only the second time that an English side has shelled out more than £400m in a summer window, following Chelsea's £401.2m outlay in 2023. Meanwhile, the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton and Ben Doak have recouped an initial amount of about £190m.

‎World number two Carlos Alcaraz maintained his quest for a second US Open title with a straight-set victory over unseeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round The 22-year-old, who is through to the last eight in New York for the fourth time in five years, is still yet to drop a set at this year's tournament, coming through 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-4. The Spaniard will face Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals after the Czech 20th seed beat Adrian Mannarino in four sets. Alcaraz had to be at his magical best at times, producing 36 winners to 11 unforced errors, chasing down several drop-shots and even producing an extravagant round-the-back return to counter Rinderknech's attacking approach. Despite both players serving below 50% on their first serves, there was not a single break point in a tight opening set, with Alcaraz eventually taking the tie-break 7-3. An untimely double-fault from Rinderknech, who hit 17 unforced errors in the first set, sparked a run of five successive points for his opponent, who then converted the second of his four set points. The 2022 champion had to wait until the sixth game of the second set for his first break points of the match, converting the second with a smash winner to take a 4-2 lead. He then wobbled on his serve to hand Rinderknech two opportunities of his own, but held firm before closing out the second set 6-3. Rinderknech halted Alcaraz's momentum in the opening game of the third, saving a break point with a deft backhand volley, and with both players having rediscovered their first serves, the set seemed destined for a tie-break. However, in the ninth game, Alcaraz once again brought out his flair, lashing a backhand passing shot en route to three break points. While Frenchman Rinderknech saved the first, he sent a forehand long on the second and Alcaraz held to wrap up the win. Lehecka survived a fightback from Mannarino to reach his first US Open quarter-final, triumphing 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 2-6 6-2 against the unseeded Frenchman.

Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen just over three months after he was appointed, according to Fabrizio Romano ‎The Dutchman joined the Bundesliga side in May as the replacement for Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid, hoping to rebuild his reputation after a difficult spell at Manchester United. But he took charge of just three first-team games, a 4-0 DFB-Pokal win at Grossaspach and the Bundesliga clashes with Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen. The Hoffenheim game ended in a 2-1 defeat while Leverkusen drew 3-3 at Bremen on Saturday but squandered a 3-1 lead against 10 men in the closing half hour. It has been a tricky summer or Leverkusen with several members of the team that swept to the Bundesliga title under Alonso in the 2023/24 campaign leaving the club. Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka have all left the club with replacements like Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah and Loic Bade coming in. Ten Hag joined United in the summer of 2022 and performed well initially, leading the club to third in the Premier League and their first silverware in six years after winning the EFL Cup. His second season was a mixed bag with an eighth-placed finish offset by winning the FA Cup. But things started to turn sour at the start of the 2024/25 campaign. United won just three of their opening nine league games and the axe fell following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham in October.

Novak Djokovic continued his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title in style as he stormed past qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the US Open quarter-finals ‎Despite twice receiving medical attention, the Serb rarely looked troubled as he raced to a dominant 6-3 6-3 6-2 victory in under two hours. While the win was further evidence of Djokovic's pedigree, questions still remain over the 38-year-old's physical condition. Djokovic is playing his first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, having skipped ATP Masters events in Toronto and Cincinnati. He looked fatigued in his opening two matches in New York, while he struggled with a lower back injury in his third-round win over Britain's Cameron Norrie. Again, there were signs of wear and tear as he called for the physio to treat a neck issue and then a problem with his right forearm against German Struff. However, the setbacks did not appear to harm his tennis as he dictated play with relentless hitting - firing 33 winners and 12 aces, with no double faults. The world number seven highlighted his serve for keeping him out of trouble on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic will face American home hope Taylor Fritz in the last eight after the fourth seed claimed a commanding straight-set win over Czech Tomas

Liverpool have agreed a British transfer record fee of £125m to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United ‎ According to reports, an agreement for the Sweden international to move to Anfield is now in place. Newcastle sources claim the deal could be worth as much as £130m with add-ons. Isak is expected to undergo a medical on Monday before signing a six-year contract. Liverpool had an original £110m offer rejected in August but are now set to land their first-choice target of the summer. The protracted saga involving the 25-year-old appears set to come to an end on the final day of the summer transfer window, and it follows Newcastle having signed striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart last week. Liverpool have already broken their club transfer record this summer by signing Germany attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz in a deal worth an initial £100m, with a further £16m in add-ons. Isak's arrival would top that outlay. After also bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi and Giovanni Leoni, the deal would take the club's spending to about £416m without add-on fees. Liverpool could still add to the spree, with the Reds working on a deal to sign England defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, the departures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyler Morton and Ben Doak have recouped an initial amount of about £190m.

Here is another weekend, and we are ready to serve you all the juicy predictions that will make you smile to the bank, with predictions from the major leagues in Europe ‎ The peak of the bunch this weekend is in England, as Arsenal will be traveling to the Merseyside to take on the defending champions, Liverpool at the Anfield Stadium. Below are our predictions for the weekend: Chelsea vs. Fulham - O1.5 Tottenham vs. Bournemouth - O1.5 Man Utd vs. Burley - 1X Brighton vs. Man City - GG Liverpool vs. Arsenal - GG Real Madrid vs. Mallorca - 1 Vallecano vs. Barcelona - X2 Lecce vs. Milan X2 Napoli vs. Cagliari - 1 Inter Vs Udinese - 1 August vs. Bayern Munich - O2.5 Dortmund vs. Union Berlin - O2.5 Toulouse vs. PSG - 2 NOTE: Bet with what you can afford to part away with. Bet wisely!

Manchester United have accepted a bid from Real Betis for Antony, according to reports from Old Trafford ‎While sources at Betis say there are still issues to resolve, as far as United are concerned the transfer is agreed, to the point where Antony has been given permission to travel to Spain to complete his medical. The 25-year-old helped guide the La Liga club to a European spot during a loan spell in the second half of last season and was part of the side who were beaten by Chelsea in the Conference League final. He had been earmarked for a transfer by United this summer, being one of the five players - alongside Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia - who trained separately from the rest of the squad. Ruben Amorim's side have already offloaded Rashford, who has joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho is set to be unveiled as a Chelsea player after a £40m deal was agreed. The so-called 'bomb squad', a reference to their being bombed out of the first team, have not been allowed to access United's Carrington training ground until Amorim and his squad have left for the day. The Brazil international scored five times and assisted two more in his 17 La Liga appearances for Betis after joining them in January. A permanent move will bring to an end what has to go down as one of the most disappointing transfers in United history. Antony arrived from Ajax for £81.3m in August 2022 and is the second-most expensive signing the club have made, behind Paul Pogba. After a bright start to his United career he faded badly. His last Premier League start was in the 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, while his last league goal was against Burnley the week before. In an interview with TNT Sports Brazil, Antony said he found happiness again at Betis and that his situation in England affected his family life, describing the period as "very hard days for me".

Tottenham have signed the Netherlands attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for £51.8m ‎The 22-year-old, who has been chased by several European clubs this summer, said he has "been dreaming of this for a long time" after completing his medical and joining Thomas Frank's side. Simons scored 22 goals and assisted 24 others in 78 appearances for Leipzig, who he joined on loan from Paris St-Germain in 2023 before signing permanently in January of this year. He has also scored five goals in 28 appearances for the Netherlands, having made his debut at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Simons added: "I'm really happy and can't wait to get going. It's a great club and when I met the head coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me." Spurs manager Frank said Simons, who has signed a "long-term deal", is a "great addition" who "already has good experience" despite his age. The midfielder follows Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus as summer arrivals at Spurs. Chelsea held talks with Leipzig over a move for Simons this summer but are set to complete a £40m move for Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho. Spurs failed in their bid to sign Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer, while one of their main targets Eberechi Eze chose to join rivals Arsenal from Crystal Palace.

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Fenerbahce after just over a year in charge ‎ The Portuguese's departure comes two days after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica. In a statement, Fenerbahce said Mourinho had "parted ways" with the club, before thanking the 62-year-old for his efforts and wishing him well. A club official later confirmed to the BBC that he had been sacked. Mourinho, who has managed 10 clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, guided Fenerbahce to second in the league during his sole season in charge, but his tenure was punctuated by controversy. Champions Galatasaray said they would "initiate criminal proceedings" against Mourinho, after accusing him of making "racist statements" following a 0-0 draw in February. Mourinho denied the allegations, saying he is the "opposite" of racist, and filed a lawsuit against the club seeking damages worth 1,907,000 Turkish Lira (£41,000). Mourinho was a frequent critic of the standard of officiating in Turkey, and was handed a four-match ban - later reduced to two matches - for his comments about referees after the match against Galatasaray. Following a 1-1 Europa League draw with United in October where Mourinho was sent off, he said he wanted to manage a team "at the bottom of the table in England" after leaving Fenerbahce so he does not have to play in Uefa competitions. Mourinho joined Fenerbahce following a three-year spell at Roma, where he won the Conference League in 2022 - the club's only European trophy. He previously had two spells at Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles, and was a Champions League winner at Inter Milan and Porto. In 2017, he guided Manchester United to Europa League success - the first time they had won the competition and their most recent European trophy.

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been sacked by Turkish club Besiktas ‎ The 52-year-old took charge of the Istanbul club in January and steered them to a fourth-placed finish last season. But after defeat by Swiss side Lausanne in the Conference League play-offs on Thursday meant the club would not be playing European football this season, the club dismissed the Norwegian. They said: "Our contract with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been terminated following a decision made at a board meeting. Following the meeting, our chairman, Serdal Adalı, thanked Solskjaer for his services to date." Besiktas were knocked out of Europa League qualifiers by Shakhtar Donetsk. Nuri Sahin, the former Borussia Dortmund player and manager, has been linked with the job.

Former Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany, who is the current Bayern Munich manager, lamented the spending power of Premier League clubs, as reports emerged of one-time Munich target Nick Woltemade signing with Newcastle ‎Speaking at a press conference in Munich on Friday, the Bayern boss, who won four league titles with Manchester City and won promotion to the English top flight with Burnley, was asked to explain the Premier League’s appeal. ‎”Money,” Kompany said smiling, before comparing the financial power of promoted clubs in England to some of the continent’s best. ‎”When we got promoted with Burnley, the TV rights came in and it was 100 million pounds (115 million euros, $134 million) — for a promoted team. With Burnley, we were competing on the market with Frankfurt for players and with Wolfsburg. When Sunderland are buying players, they’re buying them from Leverkusen,” he said. ‎One of the few clubs who can compete with the Premier League’s big guns, Bayern missed out on their main target this summer when Florian Wirtz moved to English champions Liverpool for a fee of 125 million euros (145 million dollars) plus bonuses. ‎Woltemade was another major Bayern target but Stuttgart refused to sell when Bayern did not meet their asking price. ‎German and English media reported Woltemade will sign with Newcastle for a club-record fee of 85 million euro, plus bonuses. ‎‎With the summer transfer window still open, Premier League clubs have collectively bought players for an estimated 2.7 billion pounds (3.1bn euros, 3.6bn dollars) before the season started. ‎Along with Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko have all left the Bundesliga for England. ‎Sitting alongside Kompany, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said the money Premier League clubs can spend is “brutal” and “extreme.” ‎”Newcastle is a good club, but hasn’t been in the top tier in recent years. It says something fundamental when you see how many players are moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League — and the sums of money involved.” ‎Despite the departures, a handful of players have moved in the other direction, some on big money deals. ‎Bayern signed Luis Diaz from Liverpool for a fee of up to 75 million, Leverkusen brought in English centre-back talent Jarell Quansah, also from Liverpool, while Dortmund recruited four players from the Premier League including Jobe Bellingham and Carney Chukwuemeka. ‎In 2023, Bayern set a new club record fee when they paid 95 million euros to sign England captain Harry Kane from Tottenham.

The draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was conducted in Monaco on Thursday, ushering in the second season of the competition’s expanded format Thirty-six clubs will now compete in a single league table instead of the traditional group stage. Each team will play eight matches; four at home and four away, against opponents drawn from four seeding pots. Two opponents are drawn from each pot, with one match played at home and the other away. With the new format, clubs from the same country cannot face each other, and no team can be paired with more than two opponents from any one association. The top eight teams in the final standings will qualify directly for the round of 16. Clubs finishing 9th to 24th will contest a two-legged knockout play-off to decide the remaining places, while teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated from Europe entirely. A total of 29 clubs qualified automatically through their league positions, while the remaining seven places were secured via the play-off round. Below is the full seeding list for the draw: Pot 1 (Top Seeds): Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge Pot 3: Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodø/Glimt, Marseille Pot 4: Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Athletic Club, Newcastle United, Pafos, Kairat Almaty Full Fixture List Pot 1 Teams Real Madrid Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Marseille, Monaco Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty Manchester City Home: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Galatasaray Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco Bayern Munich Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos Liverpool Home: Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabağ Away: Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Galatasaray Paris Saint-Germain Home: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Tottenham, Newcastle Away: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP, Athletic Club Inter Milan Home: Liverpool, Arsenal, Slavia Prague, Kairat Almaty Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise Chelsea Home: Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, Pafos Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Napoli, Qarabağ Borussia Dortmund Home: Inter Milan, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club Away: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Copenhagen Barcelona Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, Copenhagen Away: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Newcastle Pot 2 Teams Arsenal Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty Away: Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club Bayer Leverkusen Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven, Newcastle Away: Manchester City, Benfica, Olympiacos, Copenhagen Atlético Madrid Home: Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise Away: Liverpool, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray Benfica Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Qarabağ Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Ajax, Newcastle Atalanta Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise Villarreal Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Ajax, Copenhagen Away: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Pafos Juventus Home: Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Sporting CP, Pafos Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco Eintracht Frankfurt Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Tottenham, Galatasaray Away: Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Qarabağ Club Brugge Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Marseille, Monaco Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Sporting CP, Kairat Almaty Pot 3 Teams Tottenham Hotspur Home: Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Copenhagen Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco PSV Eindhoven Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Union Saint-Gilloise Away: Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Newcastle Ajax Home: Inter Milan, Benfica, Olympiacos, Galatasaray Away: Chelsea, Villarreal, Marseille, Qarabağ Napoli Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting CP, Qarabağ Away: Manchester City, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Copenhagen Sporting CP Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Marseille, Kairat Almaty Away: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Napoli, Athletic Club Olympiacos Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos Away: Barcelona, Arsenal, Ajax, Kairat Almaty Slavia Prague Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club Away: Inter Milan, Atalanta, Tottenham, Pafos Bodø/Glimt Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Monaco Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Slavia Prague, Galatasaray Marseille Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Ajax, Newcastle Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise Pot 4 Teams Copenhagen Home: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Kairat Almaty Away: Barcelona, Villarreal, Tottenham, Qarabağ Monaco Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Galatasaray Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt, Pafos Galatasaray Home: Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise Away: Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Monaco Union Saint-Gilloise Home: Inter Milan, Atalanta, Marseille, Newcastle Away: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray Qarabağ Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Copenhagen Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Napoli, Athletic Club Athletic Club Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Qarabağ Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Slavia Prague, Newcastle Newcastle United Home: Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise Pafos Home: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Monaco Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty Kairat Almaty Home: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Pafos Away: Inter Milan, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Copenhagen Matches will run from September 16, 2025 to January 28, 2026, with UEFA expected to release the full fixture calendar before the weekend.

Record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid have been given a daunting draw for this season's competition after being handed matchups against Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City on Thursday Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain also face a tough journey to reach the knockout phase with matchups against the champions of Spain, Barcelona, and German champions Bayern Munich as well as Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. Madrid will visit English champions Liverpool in what could be a first return to Anfield for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined the Spanish giants this summer after 20 years at his boyhood club. Madrid, who got two English opponents from the pot of highest-ranked teams, lost 2-0 at Anfield in the league phase last year. Xabi Alonso's side will host 2023 winners Man City, whom they beat in the knockout playoffs last season. Madrid also will face Juventus in a repeat of their 2017 final win, and two Ligue 1 opponents, Marseille and Monaco -- where superstar forward Kylian Mbappé started his career. If that wasn't enough, they also face a 4,000-mile journey to Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty. Other high-profile league-phase fixtures drawn in Monaco on Thursday include two-time winners Chelsea hosting Barcelona, while Arsenal, who were semifinalists last year, will face the beaten finalists in May, Inter Milan. As well as welcoming back Alexander-Arnold and Madrid, Liverpool face away trips to the vibrant stadiums of Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray. The draw offered another chance of a notable return, with Man City legend Kevin De Bruyne set to head back to the Etihad with his new club Napoli. City will also travel north of the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt of Norway. This is the second season of the league phase format with 36 teams playing eight different opponents on a weighted schedule through January, and ranked in a single-standings table. The weighted schedule gave each team two opponents drawn from each of the four seeding pots. Teams were seeded based on their ranking over five seasons of results in UEFA competitions. Four newcomers to the main stage of the Champions League are: Bodo/Glimt, Kairat Almaty, Russian-owned Pafos and Belgian champion Union Saint-Gilloise. Games in Bodo and Almaty shape to be the longest-ever trips for visiting teams, and their home games in January among the coldest in competition history. Bodo plays on a heated artificial turf field. The computerized draw gave each team two opponents drawn from each of the four seeding pots. Teams are seeded based on their ranking over five seasons of results in UEFA competitions. Games start on Sept. 16 and the final league phase matchday is Jan. 28. On that Wednesday evening, all 36 teams play in 18 games kicking off at the same time. The top eight teams in the final standings advance to the round of 16 in March. Joining them will be winners of eight knockout playoffs, featuring teams ranked ninth to 24th, scheduled in February. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.

Ruben Amorim has apologised to Manchester United fans after Wednesday’s shock defeat to League Two (fourth division) side Grimsby Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup United lost to Grimsby 12-11 on penalties after the match ended 2-2. The Red Devils were 2-0 down by 30 minutes before Bryan Mbeumo pulled a goal back and Harry Maguire leveled things up late in the game. In the shootout, new signing Matheus Cunha missed the chance to win the match on the final kick of the regular five penalties, followed by every subsequent player converting their chances before Mbeumo saw his effort came off the bar which knocked out United. After defeat to Arsenal and a draw against Fulham in the new English Premier League season, the shock defeat to Grimsby has raised fresh questions over Amorim’s future at the club as he struggles to turnaround things. “I think this is a little bit the limit. I think something has to change. I think the team and the players spoke really loud today, so that’s it. [Tonight] I think the best team won, the only team that was on the pitch,” Amorim said after defeat to Grimsby. “I think the players spoke really loudly about what they want today. I just want to apologise to our fans. Something has to change and you’re not going to change 22 players again. “I think it’s really clear what they spoke, so let’s move on from this day. I think it was clear for everybody what happened. The way we start the game without any intensity, we were completely lost.”

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League phase is officially set after Benfica, Club Brugge, Qarabağ and Copenhagen sealed the final four spots in Wednesday’s play-off second legs The quartet’s victories complete the expanded 36-team line-up, with the draw taking place on Thursday (today) at 18:00 CET in Monaco. Kairat Almaty carved their names into football history on Tuesday night, booking a maiden UEFA Champions League group-stage berth after outlasting Celtic 3–2 on penalties in Almaty. Norway’s Bodo/Glimt secured a group-stage place despite losing 2-1 at Sturm Graz, progressing 6-2 on aggregate after last week’s emphatic 5-0 home win. In Cyprus, Pafos FC also celebrated a first-ever berth after edging Red Star Belgrade 3-2 on aggregate. At the Estádio da Luz, Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s 35th-minute strike sent Benfica through with a 1-0 aggregate win over Fenerbahçe. The Turkish side came close when Youssef En-Nesyri’s header struck the bar, but Benfica held firm as former Eagles forward Talisca was dismissed late on. In Baku, Qarabağ secured only their second-ever Champions League appearance after surviving a late scare from Ferencváros. Goals from Leandro Andrade and Abdellah Zoubir overturned an early deficit before the visitors fought back through Barnabás Varga and Alex Tóth. The Azerbaijani champions ultimately prevailed 5-4 on aggregate. Danish champions Copenhagen overcame Basel 2-0 (3-1 agg.), with Andreas Cornelius heading home just after half-time and Youssoufa Moukoko converting a late penalty. The hosts impressed throughout, with goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski producing key saves to keep another clean sheet. In Bruges, it was a rout. Club Brugge demolished Rangers 6-0 on the night (9-1 agg.), led by goals from Nicolò Tresoldi, Hans Vanaken, Joaquin Seys (2), Aleksandar Stanković and Christos Tzolis. The Belgian giants booked their eighth Champions League campaign in the last ten seasons. Full 36-Team Line-Up Ajax, Arsenal, Atalanta, Athletic Club, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern München, Benfica, Bodø/Glimt, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Club Brugge, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Galatasaray, Inter, Juventus, Kairat Almaty, Leverkusen, Liverpool, Man City, Marseille, Monaco, Napoli, Newcastle, Olympiacos, Pafos, Paris, PSV, Qarabağ, Real Madrid, Slavia Praha, Sporting, Tottenham, Union SG, Villarrea. The league phase draw takes place today in Monaco at 18:00 CET, using UEFA’s software-assisted system to pair each club with eight unique opponents. The fixture schedule will follow by Friday, 30 August.

Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev has been handed a substantial fine for his behaviour in a extraordinary first-round exit Medvedev, 29, was knocked out of the Grand Slam tournament after a meltdown sparked by a photographer walking on to the court during his defeat by France's Benjamin Bonzi. The former world number one has been fined almost £31,500 ($42,500) by the United States Tennis Association. He was docked $30,000 for unsportsmanlike behaviour and another $12,500 for obliterating a racket against a chair. It means the Russian will have to forfeit about 40% of the first-round prize money he received. After the incident on Sunday, Medvedev said he was prepared for a hefty punishment. "I'm getting a big enough fine, so if I speak, I'm in big trouble, so I'm not going to speak," he said. As the Russian faced match point at 5-4 in the third set, a photographer encroached the playing surface between Bonzi's first and second serves. Medvedev, who won the New York title in 2021, was incensed when umpire Greg Allensworth awarded another first serve to Bonzi following the bizarre moment. Staring defeat in the face, Medvedev marched over to the official and incited a frenzied New York crowd before shouting at Allensworth. The match was delayed for more than six minutes before the crowd calmed down sufficiently for Bonzi to resume. He was unable to serve out in a febrile atmosphere and Medvedev fought back to take the match into a deciding fifth set. After eventually losing a chaotic encounter, Medvedev brutally destroyed a racquet before sitting dejectedly on his chair for several minutes until eventually leaving the court.

Bayern Munich are ready to sign Chelsea striker, Nicolas Jackson and are close to agreeing a loan deal According to a report obtained from BBC Sports on Tuesday, the 24-year-old Senegal international is reportedly set to join the Bundesliga side after both clubs reached an agreement, according to reports from Bild in Germany. Jackson’s absence from Chelsea’s squad for their match against West Ham on August 22, 2025, and earlier friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, has fueled speculation about his future. Chelsea’s recent signings of strikers Joao Pedro and Liam Delap have pushed Jackson down the pecking order, making a transfer more likely. He scored 13 goals in 37 appearances last season and has a contract with Chelsea until 2033. He has played four seasons for Chelsea and Villarreal, with a record of 48 wins, 26 draws, and 26 losses, scoring 36 goals and providing 14 assists in 100 appearances. His recent performance includes 10 goals and five assists in 30 matches for Chelsea in the 2024-25 season.

Carlos Alcaraz unveiled a striking new hairstyle before giving towering Reilly Opelka the chop at the US Open on Monday The 22-year-old arrived on Arthur Ashe Stadium sporting a severe military-style crew cut for his night match with the American. While Alcaraz’s new look failed to impress some — close friend and fellow player Frances Tiafoe called it “terrible” — it did not distract the streamlined Spaniard from the task at hand as he motored to a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 first-round victory over the 6ft 11in Opelka. Alcaraz could not hide his delight with his performance against his big-serving opponent. Alcaraz revealed that his new haircut had arisen from a botched attempt at a trim by his brother. “My brother just misunderstood the machine. He just cut it. Then, you know, the only way to fix it is just shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that bad, I guess. Some people like it. Some people don’t like it. To be honest, I’m just laughing about the reactions of the people,” Alcaraz said. Alcaraz, who won the first of his five Grand Slam singles titles at the US Open in 2022, took control with a break in the fifth game of the first set, retaining that advantage before serving out to love. After saving two Opelka break points before holding for 3-3 in the second set, Alcaraz seized his chance in the 11th game, breaking for a 6-5 lead before holding to take a 2-0 stranglehold on the contest. The third set went with serve until the ninth game, when Alcaraz once again scored a decisive break to take a 5-4 lead. A long forehand return from Opelka gave Alcaraz three match points, and he converted the first with a scorching forehand down the line to advance. Alcaraz will face Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the second round.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti did not recall Neymar and Vinicius Junior for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next month, with Lucas Paqueta returning to the national team The 33-year-old Neymar, who returned to Santos in January, has not worn the Brazil jersey for nearly two years due to repeated injuries. “Neymar had a small problem last week,” Ancelotti told a press conference on Monday, without providing further details. According to the Brazilian press, Brazil’s leading all-time scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches, has experienced thigh discomfort during training. His absence from the squad for the final two World Cup qualifying matches was, however, played down by Ancelotti with the five-time champions having already booked their ticket to next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “Neymar, we don’t need to test him. Everyone knows him. Like the others, he must arrive in good physical condition to help the national team give its best at the World Cup,” said the Italian coach. Neymar had been called up by Ancelotti’s predecessor Dorival Junior for matches in March — a 2-1 victory against Colombia and a 4-1 defeat to Argentina — but was forced to withdraw due to a thigh injury. In the first two matches under the Italian’s guidance in June, Brazil drew 0-0 in Ecuador before beating Paraguay 1-0, thanks to a goal from Vinicius to seal their place in the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid forward will be absent from the next training camp. Suspended for the match against Chile on September 5 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazil staff preferred to spare him the trip to play at altitude in Bolivia on September 9. Paqueta, meanwhile, is returning after being cleared of betting charges by an independent commission of the Premier League last month. The West Ham midfielder had been absent from the national team since November 2024. Also returning is Joao Pedro, who has been in great form since joining Chelsea in July. The 23-year-old centre-forward shone in July at the Club World Cup, scoring both goals that eliminated Fluminense, his youth club, in the semi-finals, and the third in the 3-0 victory in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. Brazil squad: Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool/ENG), Bento (Al-Nassr/KSA), Hugo Souza (Corinthians) Defenders: Alexsandro (Lille/FRA), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Monaco/FRA), Douglas Santos (Zenith St-Petersburg/RUS), Fabricio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal/ENG), Marquinhos (PSG/FRA), Vanderson (Monaco/FRA), Wesley (Roma/ITA) Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea/ENG), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle/ENG), Casemiro (Manchester United/ENG), Joelinton (Newcastle/ENG), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham/ENG) Forwards: Estevao (Chelsea/ENG), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal/ENG), Joao Pedro (Chelsea/ENG), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Luis Henrique (Zenith St-Petersburg/RUS), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United/ENG), Raphinha (Barcelona/ESP), Richarlison (Tottenham/ENG)

Bukayo Saka is set to miss Arsenal's game at Liverpool on Sunday as well as England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia next month The 23-year-old went off with a hamstring injury in Saturday's home win against Leeds United and it is estimated the forward will be unavailable for up to four weeks. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is doubtful for the match at Anfield as a result of a shoulder injury suffered in the victory against Leeds. Odegaard looked in pain as he was replaced in the first half of the 5-0 win and the former Real Madrid attacking midfielder is understood to have left Emirates Stadium with his shoulder in a sling. The Norway playmaker has not yet been ruled out of the game against the Premier League champions and there is optimism at Arsenal that neither the 26-year-old or Saka will be long-term casualties. There is particular relief regarding Saka, who missed three months of last season with a hamstring injury. Arsenal have a much deeper pool of attacking talent this season though, having signed Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze this summer. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta also has Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman to mitigate the absences of Saka and Odegaard.

A devastated Daniil Medvedev was knocked out of the US Open after a meltdown sparked by a photographer walking on to the court during his first-round defeat by Benjamin Bonzi Medvedev has produced some extraordinary moments at Flushing Meadows over the years – but what happened on the 2021 champion's way to another humbling defeat was perhaps the most incredible. As the Russian faced match point at 5-4 in the third set, the cameraman walked on to the playing surface between his French opponent Bonzi's first and second serve. Cue bedlam as the incident - and Medvedev's reaction - changed the course of the match. Medvedev, 29, raged after umpire Greg Allensworth decided Bonzi could have another first serve, whipping the New York crowd into a frenzy and forcing a delay of six minutes and 24 seconds. Bonzi understandably lost focus as boos rained down and could not serve out victory. Almost two hours later, shortly before 1am local time, he eventually secured a remarkable 6-3 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 0-6 6-4 win. "I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision, and then the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much," said Medvedev, who has won just one Grand Slam match this year. It was fun to witness." The photographer, who appeared to be trying to find a position in the long-lens pit at the side of the court, was later escorted out of Louis Armstrong Stadium by security. "His credential has been revoked for the 2025 US Open," United States Tennis Association organisers.

Defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka grew in power and confidence as she began her US Open title defence with victory over Rebeka Masarova in New York World number one Sabalenka overcame a shaky start to see off Swiss opponent Masarova 7-5 6-1. She was watched on from her box by Max Mirnyi - a 10-time Grand Slam doubles champion brought in to act as support to coach Anton Dubrov. Mirnyi - nicknamed 'the Beast' during his playing career because of his 6ft 4in height and fearless play - has been working with Sabalenka on her net skills as she bids to end the Grand Slam season on a high. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to successfully defend the singles title in New York. She has reached at least the last four in each of the three Grand Slams so far this season, losing the finals of both the French and Australian Open. But the three-time Grand Slam singles champion arrived at Flushing Meadows on the back of an unconvincing Cincinnati Open display, where she scraped past Emma Raducanu before losing to Elena Rybakina. In an uneasy start, Sabalenka was broken in the fifth game of the first set by Masarova, before responding immediately to level at 3-3. It remained on serve until Sabalenka earned a set point at 6-5 up - one which Masarova thought she had saved, only for the top seed to produce a stunning defensive return to the Swiss's overhead smash. It forced Masarova into a lobbed return, which Sabalenka sent crashing down the line with a roar to take the first set. Masarova, the world number 108, was deflated from there on and held serve just once in the second set as Sabalenka raced to victory. The Belarusian will face Polina Kudermetova next, the Russian advancing after opponent Nuria Parrizas-Diaz of Spain retired with injury. Last year's semi-finalist Emma Navarro came through a tight first set to claim a 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 victory against China's Wang Yafan. The American, 24, came back from 5-3 down in the opening set and had to save three set points before eventually closing out the tie-break. Those missed opportunities played on Wang's mind in the second set, with 10th seed Navarro going on to set up a meeting with compatriot Caty McNally. Elsewhere, former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova beat Russia's Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to set up a second-round match against American McCartney Kessler. Jelena Ostapenko will face either Taylor Townsend or Antonia Ruzic in the next round after the Latvian beat China's Wang Xiyu 6-4 6-3.

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of England international, Eberechi Eze, on a long-term contract, bringing the 27-year-old back to north London where his football journey first began The attacking midfielder, who rose through Arsenal’s academy before making his name at Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace, arrives after a five-year spell at Selhurst Park in which he made more than 150 appearances and played a pivotal role in the club’s historic FA Cup triumph earlier this year. In May, Eze etched his name into Palace folklore by scoring the decisive goal in their 1-0 FA Cup final win over Manchester City. Eze’s career has been one of steady progression. After shining in the Championship with QPR—where he was named Player of the Year in 2020—he moved to Palace that summer and developed into one of the Premier League’s most dynamic playmakers. On the international stage, he has earned 11 senior England caps since his debut in 2023, scoring his first international goal in a 3-0 victory over Latvia during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. All these were disclosed in a statement on the club’s website on Saturday. Sporting Director Andrea Berta said: “We are so pleased to have completed this deal to bring Eberechi to Arsenal. Eberechi is a creative and explosive talent with huge technical quality – also a big-game player, with his experience at international level with England also underlining his quality and character. The England international will wear the number 10 shirt and is set to link up with his new teammates after Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Leeds United this weekend. The move remains subject to regulatory processes, the statement concluded.

Here is another weekend, and we are ready to serve you all the juicy predictions that will make you smile to the bank, with predictions from the major leagues in Europe Last weekend, we started with the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, and the French Ligue 1, now this weekend, the Italian Serie A and the German Bundesliga have resumed. The number one fixture for this weekend has to be the game at the Etihad stadium between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Below are our predictions for the weekend: Manchester City vs. Tottenham - 1X West Ham vs. Chelsea - X2 Arsenal vs. Leeds Utd - 1 Fulham vs. Man Utd - GG Newcastle vs. Liverpool - X2 Athletico Madrid vs. Elche - 1 Levante vs. Barcelona - O2.5 Oviedo vs. Real Madrid - 2 Milan vs. Cremonese - 1 Atalanta vs. Pisa - 1 Inter Milan vs. Torino - 1 Juventus vs. Parma - 1X Bayern vs. RB Leipzig - 1 Leverkusen vs. Hoffenham - 1X NOTE: Bet with what you can afford to part away with. Bet wisely

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has signed a two-year contract extension The 28-year-old's previous deal had been set to expire in 2027 but his new deal will take him to 2029, with the option of a further 12 months. The Portugal international joined City from Benfica for a fee of £65m in 2020 and was named Premier League player of the year at the end of his first season. The defender has helped City to four league titles, the Champions League, the EFL Cup and the FA Cup during his five years at Etihad Stadium. "I am incredibly happy today. I love Manchester - it is my home now - and I love the Manchester City fans," said Dias. "When I think about the trophies we have won and the way we have played our football during my time here, I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else." Hugo Viana, City's director of football, said Dias is "a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch". The club are likely to switch their attention to the futures of John Stones and Bernardo Silva in the coming months as both have one year left on their deals, while Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson both have less than 12 months remaining on their contracts. Spanish midfielder Rodri, England playmaker Phil Foden, Swiss defender Manuel Akanji and Dutch centre-back Nathan Ake all have two years to run on their deals. Defender Rico Lewis is close to signing a new five-year deal.

Liverpool summer signing, Jeremie Frimpng faces several weeks out of action with a hamstring injury, Reds manager Arne Slot said Thursday Frimpong suffered the setback during the Premier League champions’ 4-2 opening win over Bournemouth at Anfield last Friday. The former Bayer Leverkusen full-back, a reported £29.5 million ($39.6 million) replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, went off after an hour of his home league debut for Liverpool. “The medical team were completely right about Jeremie to tell me to take him off because he is out until the end of the international break (September 10), and that happened during the game,” Slot told a pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s game against Newcastle on Monday. The Dutch boss added, “I think I got criticised for taking him off, didn’t I? “It had nothing to do with how he played but we felt he had an issue with his hamstring and by we, I mean the medical staff. It was a good call to take him off, otherwise he would have been out for longer. We expect to have him back after the international break.” Conor Bradley, Liverpool’s other option at right-back, only returned from injury to training on Thursday. The build-up to Monday’s match at St. James’ Park has been dominated by Liverpool’s pursuit of unsettled Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, with the Magpies reported to be demanding a British record transfer fee of £150 million ($202 million) for the 25-year-old Sweden international.

Brentford have turned down Newcastle's improved bid of £40m for striker Yoane Wissa The Magpies were proposing a £35m initial fee plus a further £5m in add-ons. Newcastle reopened talks with Brentford on Wednesday but sources told BBC Sport that the latest bid fell below the Bees' valuation of Wissa. It is understood Wissa held talks with Brentford's owner Matthew Benham on Tuesday, a development that prompted the discussions. The Magpies' previous bid for the 28-year-old was worth up to £30m. Earlier this week, Wissa removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account, external as his future took a fresh twist. The DR Congo forward wants to join Newcastle but so far Brentford have refused to sanction his exit. He scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season. It was first to reveal that Wissa had flown home early from their pre-season camp in Portugal in July after which he threatened not to play or train for the club again if they did not sanction his protracted move to St James' Park. Since then there had been a slight thawing of relations resulting in Wissa returning to first-team training while continuing to make absolutely clear he wanted to join Newcastle. Wissa believed that Brentford would sanction his transfer north once they signed his replacement. Indeed, Wissa has been expecting Brentford to agree his move to Tyneside this week after the west London side completed the signing of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth. Brentford have already lost fellow forward Bryan Mbeumo this summer to Manchester United.

Ademola Lookman will face heavy sanctions from Atalanta after embarking on a two-week training strike in a bid to force through his desired move to Inter, a transfer that ultimately collapsed, with talks between player and club now scheduled following his return to Zingonia The Nigerian forward resurfaced at Atalanta’s training headquarters, where he met with CEO Antonio Percassi to discuss his future after Inter formally withdrew their interest according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The Nigerian forward has resurfaced at Atalanta’s headquarters in Zingonia,” the outlet reported, confirming that the highly anticipated move to Inter has now collapsed beyond repair. The saga had dragged on for weeks, with Inter and Atalanta locked in tense negotiations. Inter had already agreed personal terms with Lookman, offering him a five-year deal, but CEO Percassi stood firm, insisting that while he had promised to allow the player to leave in 2025, he would not sanction a sale to another Italian club. This position infuriated Lookman, who accused the club of breaking their word. In protest, he staged a two-week strike, refusing to attend training or present a medical certificate, while also deleting all Atalanta-related photos from his social media accounts. Atalanta, however, refused to bow to pressure and rejected Inter’s latest €45m bid. That prompted the Nerazzurri to walk away from the deal, with sporting director Piero Ausilio and president Beppe Marotta opting to shift focus to other areas of the squad. “Negotiations with Atalanta are completely frozen,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported, confirming that Inter had told Lookman’s representatives the deal was “OFF.” Lookman’s tactics left Atalanta deeply unimpressed. La Gazzetta dello Sport noted, “Lookman complicated matters further by going missing in recent weeks without informing the club or presenting a medical certificate.” “Atalanta kept a low profile during his absence, despite Lookman removing Atalanta photos from his social media and openly requesting a transfer,” the paper added. But the Bergamo side are now reportedly preparing to take disciplinary action. “They will not let it slide. Sanctions are coming. The club will fine him for failing to notify his absence and dock his wages for the days he missed at Zingonia, applying the punishment at a time of their choosing,” La Gazzetta stated. Calciomercato further reported that Lookman will be required to issue a public apology as part of the disciplinary process. Despite the tension, Atalanta may choose not to push their star too far. Head coach Ivan Juric has privately expressed concerns about losing too much firepower after the shock sale of Mateo Retegui, Serie A’s top scorer last season. Juric reportedly warned that the team would “lose 90 per cent of their goals” if Lookman were also allowed to leave. This has left both Atalanta and Lookman in a delicate position, balancing discipline with pragmatism as the club cannot afford to diminish his market value or while he cannot also leave himself unprepared ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in December. As such, a reintegration plan remains on the table, with the possibility of restoring him to the starting XI once disciplinary matters are settled.

Premier League side, Newcastle United have responded to the ‘broken promises’ statement from want away striker, Alexander Isak Alexander Isak said in his statement that promises have been "broken" by Newcastle United and "the relationship can't continue" as he looks to force through an exit this summer In a later statement, a "disappointed" Newcastle said: "We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer. "We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. "As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. We do not foresee those conditions being met." Isak has been the biggest talking point of the summer window, which closes on 1 September. But Liverpool are yet to return with an improved offer for the 25-year-old. Will the Reds bid again? Will he rejoin first-team training in the meantime? What happens if a deal is not completed by the 1 September deadline day?

Alexander Isak says promises have been "broken" by Newcastle United and "the relationship can't continue" as he looks to force through an exit this summer Nineteen days have passed since Newcastle rejected Liverpool's £110m bid for the Sweden international, who remains in a stand-off with the club over his future. Isak believed he would be allowed to leave Newcastle if a big club came in for him and offered the right price. On Tuesday, Isak posted a statement on Instagram to explain why he was not in attendance at the Professional Footballers' Association's awards gala, where he was named in the Premier League team of the season. "I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors," he wrote. "The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now - and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself."

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has won the Professional Footballers' Association men's player of the year award, with Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers named young player of the year Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate is the 2025 recipient of the PFA merit award for his contributions to football and achievements with the national side. Salah, 33, is the first player to win the accolade on three occasions after playing a key role in Liverpool's title success last season. The Egypt international was the Premier League's top scorer in 2024-25 - registering 29 times and providing 18 assists. Reds team-mate Alexis Mac Allister, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice were also on the shortlist. Salah also won the 2024-25 Premier League player of the season award and was named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) footballer of the year.

Ademola Lookman has returned to Bergamo, and is preparing to train with his Atalanta teammates Lookman shunned training for several days without permission to force a move to Inter Milan. The winger also released a statement accusing his employers of breaking promises and treating him poorly as a ‘human being and professional footballer’. Inter Milan have decided to withdraw from the race to sign him this summer after they could not reach an agreement with Atalanta. Dea CEO Luca Percassi later confirmed that there was an agreement in place that allowed Lookman to leave the club under the right conditions this summer, but only for ‘big’ teams that are located outside Serie A, which complicated a deal between Inter and Atalanta. According to Sky Sport, the Nigeria international was accompanied to training on Tuesday by his father and a friend. The 27-year-old will now await sanctions by the Bergamo club. Atalanta will get their league campaign underway with a visit from newly-promoted Pisa on Sunday evening.

Portugal winger, Rafael Leao will miss AC Milan’s opening league fixture of the season against Cremonese after suffering a calf injury, the Serie A club said on Tuesday Milan said that Portugal winger Leao had suffered a “strain to his right calf” during Sunday’s 2-0 Italian Cup win over Bari. Leao left the field against Bari shortly after opening the scoring in the 14th minute at the San Siro. Milan face Cremonese on Saturday, hoping for a better season under new coach Massimiliano Allegri. Last term, they finished eighth and missed out on European football.

Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Cincinnati Open title on Monday after defending champion Jannik Sinner retired due to illness during the first set Ailing world No 1 Sinner threw in the towel after Alcaraz roared into a 5-0 first set lead. Monday’s showdown was the fourth time Alcaraz and Sinner have met in a final this season. Defending champion Sinner ruthlessly subdued 136th-ranked qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 while Spanish second seed Alcaraz defeated an ailing Alexander Zverev, who was suffering badly from the 32 Celsius heat and humidity, by 6-4, 6-3 to set up Monday’s final.

Third-ranked Iga Swiatek captured the Cincinnati Open title for the first time by defeating No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 on Monday night Swiatek had failed to advance past the semifinals in her six previous appearances at the Cincinnati Open. She reached the semifinals in Cincinnati each of the past two years, but lost to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024. Swiatek has won all six meetings against the Italian, dropping only one set in those matches. Paolini jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set but Swiatek roared back to go ahead 5-3. Paolini broke serve to get even at 5-5, but Swiatek closed out a first-set victory in 56 minutes. Swiatek's eighth ace of the match gave her a 5-3 lead in the second set. Paolini broke serve twice in the second set and was within 5-4, but Swiatek was able to serve out the match for her 24th career singles title. Swiatek had seven double faults to two for Paolini. But she also had nine aces, while Paolini had none. Paolini is the first Italian woman to reach the finals in Cincinnati. Since she was a qualifier at the Cincinnati Open in 2023, Paolini has reached two Grand Slam singles finals, won a Grand Slam doubles title and an Olympic gold medal. The Cincinnati Open is considered a tuneup for the U.S. Open, which begins Sunday in New York. The last two years, both the men’s and women’s Cincinnati Open champions went on to win the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.

World number three Iga Swiatek powered to a straight-set win over Elena Rybakina to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open where she will face Jasmine Paolini Their meeting will be a repeat of last year's French Open final - won by Poland's Swiatek in dominant fashion. Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, swept past Kazakhstan's Rybakina 7-5 6-3 on Sunday to reach her first Cincinnati showpiece. Rybakina - who beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals - started brightly but failed to exploit an early break in the first set before Swiatek took control. Italy's Paolini battled past Russian Veronika Kudermetova in her semi-final 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-3. Paolini served for the match in the second set only to see her advantage slip away, but the story of the encounter was Kudermetova's tally of 75 unforced errors. The final takes place on Monday night.

Nigerian born Sloviakian/British boxer, Moses Itauma condemned Dillian Whyte to a first-round defeat in their heavyweight contest at the ANB Arena in Riyadh; Elite prospect Itauma was stepping up against a former world title challenger who had previously boxed Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker and more Moses Itauma blazed through Dillian Whyte with consummate ease to take out the former world title challenger in the first round. The rising star was relaxed but quick. He found openings and badly shook up Whyte with a solid right hook. He didn't hesitate to finish. Itauma hammered Whyte off his feet, and the Londoner could not regain his balance, with the referee waving off the bout inside the first round. Itauma was looking to mark himself out as the future of the heavyweight division against a seasoned veteran, and he delivered the performance he needed. Having previously dazzled against the likes of Mariusz Wach and Demsey McKean, Itauma was moving up a level to take on a former world title challenger. Whyte, at 37, is at an advanced stage of his career, but he has boxed Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua, as well as fighting Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight world title at Wembley Stadium. After a 2023 rematch with Anthony Joshua was called off due to his adverse finding in a pre-bout drug test, Whyte was cleared to box and in December beat Ebenezer Tetteh. Looking to recapture his previous form, Whyte weighed in the lightest he had in a decade, but he could not stave off the younger man. Itauma flicked out his southpaw jab. He drove in his left cross to test Whyte's body. He feinted too, and Whyte was reacting too obviously. The Londoner attempted to stick out a long jab but rapid right hooks hurt Whyte. Itauma wobbled him and then swarmed in with blazing punches. He smashed Whyte over, knocking him down to the canvas. The veteran campaigner struggled upright as the referee counted, but then stumbled back into a corner. Robbed of his balance, he was too badly dazed to continue. The fight was closer than two of the scorecards suggested, but Ball won unanimously, 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113 for the judges.

Roma have made a £20m offer to sign England winger Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, where he remains excluded from training with the first-team squad The 25-year-old, who has been told to find a new club before the transfer window closes on 1 September, joined United for £73m four years ago. Juventus, who unlike Roma have qualified for this season's Champions League, are also known to be interested in Sancho. The former Borussia Dortmund wide man returned to United in the summer after Chelsea paid a £5m penalty to get out of an obligation to buy him, having spent last season on loan at Stamford Bridge. There have also been suggestions that Roma would be interested in a loan, containing clauses that could be triggered at the end of the season. However, that issue is complicated by the fact that Sancho's United contract expires next summer. The club does have an option to extend it by an additional year, although given Sancho's salary, it is debatable whether they would be willing to do that. United are determined to sell Sancho. However, the closer to September they get without a deal in place, the more likely they are to consider a potential loan move, given it would at least take a significant sum off their wage bill. Four players - Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrrell Malacia - have been training away from boss Ruben Amorim's squad since the start of pre-season last month as the club believes they will have left before the window closes.

World number two Coco Gauff beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-2 6-4 to book her place in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open The two players had progressed to the last 16 in contrasting ways, with Gauff having won her only match in straight sets before a walkover against Dayana Yastremska in last round. Bronzetti, on the other hand, had come through in three sets in her previous three rounds and the world number 61 quickly found herself 3-0 down. Gauff was broken in the fifth game but it proved a brief blip as she went on to win the opening set in 33 minutes. The American went 2-0 up in the second set but suffered another lapse when she was broken to love by the Italian in the third game. Bronzetti raised her game and had a break point at 2-2, only to send a backhand return long as Gauff managed to hold. The second set was a more competitive affair but Bronzetti double-faulted twice when serving to stay in the match and Gauff went on to break and secure victory. Gauff will next face Italy's Jasmine Paolini, who won 6-1 6-2 against Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic. Two-time Grand Slam champion Krejcikova, who needed a medical timeout in the second set, was beaten in 71 minutes.

League football is back, and we are ready to serve you all the juicy predictions that will make you smile to the bank, with predictions from the major leagues in Europe, as we start with the Premier League, La Liga, and the Ligue 1 this weekend The number one fixture for this weekend is Arsenal taking on Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the best bet in that clash will be for both teams to score. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City are also hitting the grass this weekend. In the La Liga too, there’s a Catalonia vs Madrid clash as Espanyol will host Atletico Madrid, champions, Barcelona will go away to Mallorca, and Real Madrid will be playing next Tuesday, while PSG will be away to Nantes in France. Below are our predictions for the weekend: Liverpool vs. Bournemouth - 1 Man United vs. Arsenal - GG Tottenham vs. Burley - 1 Wolves vs. Man City - 2 Aston Villa vs. Newcastle - GG Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace - GG Athletic club vs. Sevilla - U3.5 Españyol vs. Athletico Madrid - X2 Mallorca vs. Barcelona - X2 Real Madrid vs. Osasuna - 1 Nantes vs. PSG - X2 NOTE: Bet with what you can afford to part away with

The 2024/2025 football season ended with a the new format of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Premier League side, Chelsea winning the title. After weeks of waitng, the top league in Europe are about to resume the 2025/2026 campaign, and BetCompare will serve you all you need to know about betting tips, predictions and contents about the league Defending champions Liverpool will kick of the Premier League with a clash against Bournemouth at Anfield, while the biggest game in England will be the battle at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Arsenal. World champions Chelsea will be playing a London derby at home against Crystal Palace. The remaining Premier League fixtures are Brighton vs Fulham, Sunderland vs West Ham, Tottenham vs Burnley, Wolves vs Manchester City, Nottingham Forest vs Brentford, Leeds United Vs Everton, and Aston Villa vs Newcastle. In the Spanish La Liga, defending champions Barcelona will start with an away match against Mallorca, while Real Madrid’s first league game will be played on Tuesday, as they got extra days' rest due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup. The remaining La Liga fixtures are Villarreal vs Real Oviedo, Deportivo Alaves vs Levante, Valencia vs Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo vs Getafe, Athletic Club vs Sevilla, Elche vs Real Betis, and Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid The French League One is also resuming this weekend, and the fixtures are Nantes vs PSG, Rennes vs Marseille, Lens vs Lyon, Monaco vs Le Havre, Nice vs Toulouse, Brest vs Lille, Auxerre vs Lorient, Angers vs Paris FC, and Metz vs Strasbourg. So, keep following betCompare and you will get premium content on your favourite leagues.

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique has joined an elite team, following PSG’s UEFA Super Cup win over Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur Luis Enrique led Paris Saint-Germain to beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties, after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. Goals from Mickey Van de Ven (39th minute) and Cristian Porro (48th minute) put Spurs 2-0 ahead. With five minutes left Lee Kang-in reduced the deficit before substitute Gonzalez Ramos made it 2-2 in the 94th minute. With the victory Enrique is now the fifth different coach to win the UEFA Super Cup with two different sides. He had led Barcelona to the title in 2015 and has now followed in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Venus Williams is set to become the oldest US Open singles player in 44 years after being given a wildcard for Flushing Meadows The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, 45, returned to the sport in July, winning her first-round match at the Washington Open on her first appearance in 16 months, before going out in round two. Victory over fellow American Peyton Stearns meant Williams become the oldest player to win a WTA Tour singles match in more than 21 years. Now the former world number one will appear once again at Flushing Meadows in New York, where she won two of her Grand Slam titles, in 2000 and 2001. Williams is set to become the oldest player to compete in singles at the US Open since 47-year-old Renee Richards in 1981. It will be 577th-ranked Williams’ first appearance at one of the sport’s four majors since the 2023 US Open, where she lost in the first round. Williams will also play in the revamped mixed doubles alongside fellow American Reilly Opelka.

Real Madrid have strongly rejected plans to play Villarreal's La Liga match with Barcelona in the United States, saying it sets an unacceptable precedent The fixture is scheduled for 21 December at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved the proposal on Monday to host the game in America. The RFEF will now seek permission from FIFA and UEFA to switch it to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is set to host seven matches at the 2026 World Cup. But Real Madrid have expressed their "strongest rejection of the proposal" to play the match outside Spain. In a statement, the club, external said: "If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football."

Villarreal's La Liga match against Barcelona in December could become the first European league fixture to be played abroad after the Spanish football federation approved plans to host the game in the United States The RFEF will now seek permission from Fifa and Uefa to move the game to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is scheduled to host seven matches at the 2026 World Cup. The game is currently scheduled to be played at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica on 21 December. "At its meeting on 11 August 2025, the RFEF board of directors received a request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to play their match on matchday 17 of the first division in the United States," the RFEF said. "The Royal Spanish Football Federation will submit the request to Uefa to begin the process for subsequent authorisation by Fifa for the match to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 20 December 2025." The Spanish football supporters' association FASFE has joined with Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups to express their "absolute, total and firm opposition" to the plans. In a joint statement, they urged the RFEF and the national sports council to "stop this madness", warning they would "take appropriate legal action" if it went ahead. Other one-off matches, such as the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, have been held abroad in recent years. AC Milan are hoping to play their Serie A match against Como in Perth, Australia in February, as the fixture clashes with their San Siro stadium hosting the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. However, the plans have yet to receive approval from Fifa, Uefa, Football Australia and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). FIFA's rules currently do not allow domestic league matches to be played abroad, but last year it set up a working group to look into the matter. Last year, La Liga said it wanted to hold Barcelona v Atletico Madrid in Miami before dropping the idea because of time constraints. In 2019, Barcelona also planned to stage a league match against Girona in Miami, but the idea was scrapped after opposition from the RFEF and its players' union. The Premier League has previously said it has no plans to play games overseas. In 2008, then Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore proposed playing an extra round of fixtures abroad, but the plans were shelved after criticism from fans and the media.

Cristiano Ronaldo has gotten engaged to his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez She announced the news on social media alongside a picture of a large ring, writing "Yes I do. In this and in all my lives" in her native Spanish. No further details have been shared. Ronaldo, who is the most followed person on Instagram, has not yet made a comment about their engagement. The couple have been together for nine years, after they met at a Gucci shop in Madrid where Rodríguez was working. He was playing at the Spanish club Real Madrid at the time. Georgina Rodríguez via Instagram Two hands are pictured on top on one another, The top hand has fingers splayed with a long french manicure, and an enormous diamond-style ring on the fourth finger.Georgina Rodríguez via Instagram. "She said siu!" was one of the top comments, a nod to the footballer's famous goal celebration where he shouts yes in Portuguese or Spanish The Portugal and Al-Nassr player has five children in total, two of whom he shares with Rodríguez. Their youngest daughter Bella was born in April 2022, alongside a baby boy who was stillborn. Rodríguez has also helped to raise Ronaldo's other three children. The 31-year-old, who starred in her own Netflix reality show I Am Georgina, previously addressed speculation around her engagement status. On the programme, she said her friends were "always joking about the wedding." "Since Jennifer Lopez's song 'The Ring Or When' came out, they started singing it to me. And well, this is not up to me," she added. Famous faces including Kim Kardashian have liked the engagement announcement on social media. Piers Morgan, who interviewed Ronaldo in 2022, wished them "as much success in their marriage as he's had on the football pitch!" Celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury commented that it was "fabulous news". Lauren Sanchez-Bezos, who married Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in June, said she was "so happy" for the couple. The family currently live in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, where the Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr. He joined the club in December 2022 for a reported annual salary of £177m. In June 2025, it was announced that the 40-year-old's contract had been extended until 2027 after speculation that he was preparing to retire. In a post on X, Ronaldo wrote: "A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together."

Crystal Palace have lost their appeal against being demoted from the Europa League and will play in the Conference League this season Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over a move to sign Brazil winger Savinho. Discussions have been held between the two clubs in recent days over a possible deal for the 21-year-old. Negotiations are at an early stage and it remains to be seen whether City will sanction a move for the Brazil international. Reports claim that City are not looking to sell Savinho and that it would take offers of more than £50m for the club to consider doing so. Should City obtain a fee in that region, the club would make a substantial profit on a player they signed from French club Troyes for £30.8m just a year ago. Savinho was a regular under Pep Guardiola last season, scoring three times in 48 appearances across all competitions. But City signed France winger Rayan Cherki from Lyon in a £30m deal this summer, which could limit Savinho's opportunities at the Etihad. Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank is keen to bolster his attacking options after Son Heung-min was sold to Major League Soccer side LAFC last week. Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55m deal from West Ham earlier this summer, while the club failed to secure a £60m deal for Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White. Spurs' need for attacking reinforcements has been heightened since midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the upcoming season with a knee injury. The England international sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during a pre-season friendly draw against Newcastle United in Seoul, South Korea, earlier this month.

Crystal Palace have lost their appeal against being demoted from the Europa League and will play in the Conference League this season The ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) also means Nottingham Forest's spot in the Europa League is confirmed, having been promoted in Palace's place. The news comes just a day after Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley. The Eagles qualified for the Europa League after winning the FA Cup last season but were punished by UEFA for breaching multi-club ownership rules. American businessman John Textor owned a 43% stake in the club until he sold it in June and is the majority owner of Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League. Palace had until 1 March 2025 to show UEFA proof of multi-club ownership restructuring, but the club missed that deadline. In July, Palace submitted an appeal to CAS against UEFA - which issued the punishment - as well as Lyon and Nottingham Forest. In the ruling, CAS said: Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date, as Palace claimed. Textor still had decisive influence over both clubs at the time of Uefa's assessment date. The panel also dismissed Palace's argument that they received unfair treatment in comparison to Nottingham Forest and Lyon. UEFA rules state clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European tournament. Palace argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence at the club, but UEFA did not accept the Premier League side's defence. Palace will face either Norwegian side Fredrikstad or Midtjylland of Denmark in the Conference League play-off round later this month.

Erik ten Hag might have had a public falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo but he claims the Portuguese was ‘not the problem’ at Manchester United The Dutch boss and the highest goalscorer of all-time parted ways in November 2022 when the latter had his contract torn up at Old Trafford. At the time, Ronaldo was struggling after a high-profile 2021 return to Man United. He had only been featuring as a substitute, despite the club sitting fifth in the Premier League under Ten Hag. A bombshell interview with Piers Morgan then saw the club cut ties with the iconic Portugal international. In it he was queried over whether he was being forced out of the club. He replied: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.” When asked if he really felt senior club executives were trying to oust him, Ronaldo replied: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year, but last year too.” Fast forward to this weekend and Ronaldo is enjoying a swansong in Saudi Arabia – scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 pre-season win over Rio Ave. And Ten Hag, being grilled by the media (via talkSPORT) after a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, was queried about his former player. He was asked: “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the players with the best shape right now. He scored a hat-trick yesterday. Is he still the problem?” The Dutchman replied: “For me he’s no problem. He was never the problem and I think that’s the past. I think it was what happened. It’s the past and after that, we won two trophies at Manchester United. I wish him all the best for the future and I wish him the best of luck.”

Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw. The centre-back is due to fly to Tyneside on Sunday night to finalise his move to St James' Park. Newcastle have missed out on several targets this summer, including Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford, but Thiaw is keen to join the club. The Germany international will undergo a medical before completing a deal reportedly worth up to £34.62m (40m euros), including add-ons. Bringing in a new centre-back was a priority for Newcastle this summer as manager Eddie Howe looks to increase competition and lower the average age of an experienced squad. Although Howe did not comment directly on Thiaw over the weekend, the head coach has previously referred to the 24-year-old as a "very good player". Howe said he was "hopeful" of making a breakthrough in the transfer market before Newcastle's opening day clash against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is reportedly uninterested in a transfer to Premier League side Arsenal, but is adamant on remaining in the Italian top-flight as he pushes for a move to Inter Milan The 27-year-old Nigerian international, who is currently at loggerheads with his current club Atalanta over their refusal to sanction his move to the Nerazzurri, has failed to report for La Dea’s pre-season training camp as the club continues preparations for the new campaign. The 2024 UEFA Europa League champions have turned down two bids from Inter Milan for Lookman’s services, as they continue to hold out for the €50m, which they believe is his full transfer value, a move which has infuriated the Nigerian. As Atalanta looks to cash in on Lookman for as much money as possible, the Bergamo-based outfit has been awaiting offers outside of Italy. However, Lookman himself has not indicated that he is entertaining interest from other clubs, at least for now. According to Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, “Lookman is absolutely set on joining Inter. The Nerazzurri have a full agreement with the Nigerian international. They have done so for some time.” The outlet added, “Inter are not pursuing any other attacking targets. This is partly to keep Lookman confident and happy, and ensure that other suitors don’t turn his head. Inter coach Cristian Chivu has made Lookman a priority target. He is ready to change the team’s formation to suit the former Leicester City forward.” Meanwhile, Atalanta are preparing to take legal action against Lookman after the Nigerian left Italy without permission and refused to attend training sessions in protest over the club’s rejection of Inter Milan’s transfer bid. The 27-year-old winger has gone on an unauthorised vacation following Atalanta’s decision to turn down Inter’s latest offer, with the club’s hierarchy considering his behaviour completely unacceptable. According to Football Italia, the Percassi family have prepared legal action that could result in a costly fine for Lookman, who has also refused to communicate with the club since departing Italy.

Crystal Palace started the new season with a suddenly familiar feeling, basking in trophy glory as triumphant underdogs at Wembley The FA Cup holders beat Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to win an enthralling Community Shield on Sunday. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was the shootout hero for Palace as he saved from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, while Mohamed Salah sent his kick over the bar. It allowed 21-year-old midfielder Justin Devenny, sent on as a stoppage-time substitute, to smash the winning penalty past Alisson. Palace, who had not won a major trophy in their history until this year, have now earned two in three months at Wembley, having snatched the first at Manchester City's expense. They are also the first club to win the Community Shield on their debut in the match for 50 years, since Derby County in 1975. Ismaila Sarr scored Crystal Palace's second equaliser in an absorbing encounter Spot-kicks provided a thrilling conclusion to one of the most exciting season openers in years, in which the drama started in just the fourth minute. Four of Liverpool's five major summer signings started, and two of those players combined to brilliant effect in the early moments at sun-drenched Wembley. Florian Wirtz, Liverpool's £116m record signing, fed Hugo Ekitike on the edge of the box and the French striker turned and struck a low right-foot shot into the far bottom right corner, beyond the diving Henderson. Palace were undaunted and deservedly equalised 13 minutes later when Jean-Philippe Mateta slotted in from the spot after Virgil van Dijk fouled Ismaila Sarr. Mateta would also score in the shootout later. But soon after, yet another Liverpool newcomer stepped up as right-back Jeremie Frimpong jinked into the Palace box and chipped what looked like a cross over Henderson, the ball hitting the far post and bouncing in. Moments earlier, Liverpool's supporters had been paying a 20th-minute tribute to Diogo Jota, the forward who wore the number 20 shirt for the club before his tragic death in a car crash last month. Ekitike should have extended the Reds' advantage in the opening minute of the second half but guided a header wide from inside the six-yard box. The new signing from Eintracht Frankfurt also blazed over from 12 yards. Liverpool were made to pay when Ismaila Sarr was played onside by Frimpong and finished clinically in off the post. Palace felt they should then have had a penalty when Mac Allister appeared to handle a cross, but the on-field decision was upheld by the video assistant referee (VAR), before Devenny was inches away from scoring the winner in the final seconds. However, Palace's Northern Ireland midfielder would soon have his moment in the sun.

Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s Major League soccer clash with Florida rivals, Orlando, on Sunday as he continues to recover from a “minor” muscle injury, coach Javier Mascherano said Saturday “No, Leo will not be available tomorrow. He is fine, but obviously it would be crazy to risk taking him to Orlando because of all that is ahead. We are optimistic that he will soon return with us,” Mascherano said. After the Florida Derby clash with Orlando, Inter will host the LA Galaxy on August 16 and three days later they play a Leagues Cup quarter-final against Mexico’s Tigres UANL. Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed the club’s last Leagues Cup group stage match after suffering the “minor muscle injury” in his upper right leg in Miami’s win over Necaxa on August 2. Inter are currently fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference, eight points behind leaders Philadelphia and a point ahead of Orlando with three matches in hand. Despite the setback for Messi, Miami have been buoyed by the arrival of his Argentine compatriot Rodrigo De Paul, who scored his first goal for the Herons in a 3-1 victory over Pumas UNAM that clinched their Leagues Cup quarter-final berth.

Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday signed French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille for a reported 40 million euros “Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to welcome Lucas Chevalier into our family,” club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on the club’s website, which added that the 23-year-old had signed until 2030. “I’m a kid who is living his dream,” Chevalier said. Chevalier has been a member of several France squads but has yet to win a senior cap. He shone as Lille reached the last 16 of last season’s Champions League, particularly in a 1-0 win at home over Real Madrid and a 3-1 victory away to Atletico Madrid. PSG, meanwhile, won the Champions League, Ligue 1 and French Cup with Italian star Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, backed up by Russian Matvey Safonov and Spaniard Arnau Tenas who are still in the squad. Chevalier is the second goalkeeper the club have signed this summer, after Italian-Brazilian teenager Renato Marin. Sources close to the club said PSG sporting director Luis Campos had assured Chevalier he would be first-choice goalkeeper. Chevalier is expected to be available as early as Wednesday when PSG face Tottenham in the European Super Cup in Udine, Italy.

Barcelona forwards, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski have been fined by European football governing body, UEFA for breaching post-match anti-doping procedures after their Champions League semi-final loss to Inter Milan The European football body’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced the sanctions on Friday, stating that both players failed to report immediately to the doping control station at the San Siro, as required by competition rules. The duo were each handed a €5,000 penalty by the European football body’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body for failing to report immediately to the doping control station, in line with competition regulations. According to reports from Spanish media, the offence was procedural and did not involve failing a drug test. It followed Barcelona’s 4-3 defeat in Milan, which sealed their elimination from the tournament. UEFA also sanctioned head coach Hansi Flick and his assistant Marcus Sorg, imposing €20,000 fines and a one-match suspension each for misconduct and breach of the body’s general principles of conduct. The pair were found to have acted improperly during and after the match. Barcelona, as a club, was fined a combined €7,750 – €5,250 for objects thrown onto the pitch and €2,500 for fireworks ignited by supporters during the semi-final. UEFA stated that the sanctions take immediate effect, with suspensions to be served in the next European fixture.

Manchester United have completed the signing of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in a move worth £73.7m The deal for the Slovenia international, who has joined on a five-year contract, includes a guaranteed payment of £66.3m, with the remainder in add-ons. He is United's third major signing in attack following the arrivals of Matheus Cunha for £62.5m and Bryan Mbeumo for £65m with £6m in add-ons, with the trio presented to the club's fans prior to Saturday's pre-season home game against Fiorentina. Sesko, 22, was also a target for Newcastle United but has chosen to join Ruben Amorim's side. United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, while the Magpies were fifth and qualified for the Champions League in a campaign in which they also won the EFL Cup.

Serie A club Atalanta are preparing to take legal action against African Player of The Year Ademola Lookman after the Nigerian left Italy without permission and refused to attend training sessions in protest over the club’s rejection of Inter Milan’s transfer bid The 27-year-old winger has gone on an unauthorised vacation following Atalanta’s decision to turn down Inter’s latest offer, with the club’s hierarchy considering his behaviour completely unacceptable. According to Football Italia, the Percassi family have prepared legal action that could result in a costly fine for Lookman, who has also refused to communicate with the club since departing Italy. “After missing a few training sessions with Atalanta, Lookman has decided to leave Italy and go on an extra summer vacation. The Percassi family have prepared legal action with a costly fine, as the striker’s attitude is considered completely unacceptable, regardless of the reasoning behind it,” a report stated. The situation has reached a complete impasse with both Atalanta and Inter Milan waiting for the other party to make the first move, creating a transfer stalemate just weeks before the new Serie A season begins. Lookman’s protest stems from what he perceives as a breach of trust, having reportedly agreed on a verbal understanding with Atalanta that he could leave this summer if a suitable offer arrived. Inter Milan have already agreed personal terms with the Nigeria international on a deal worth €4.5m net per season until 2030, but their latest bid of €42m guaranteed plus €3m in variables falls short of Atalanta’s €50m valuation. The former Europa League winners are reluctant to sell their star player to a direct Serie A rival and are hoping other interested clubs might table improved offers. Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as potential competitors for Lookman’s signature, with the north London club identifying him as a viable alternative to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo as they seek to replace departing captain Son Heung-min. However, Atalanta hold the upper hand in negotiations as Lookman still has two years remaining on his contract, meaning he would be obliged to return if no agreement is reached. The Nigerian forward enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, scoring 20 goals across all competitions. Lookman has already submitted a transfer request and unfollowed Atalanta on social media platforms, further indicating his determination to secure a move away from Bergamo this summer.

Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star defender Achraf Hakimi has said believe he deserves to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or Hakimi was instrumental in helping PSG win the treble (Ligue 1, French Cup, UEFA Champions League). Also, he played a key role as the French giants reached the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, where they lost 3-0 to Chelsea. He ranked among PSG’s leaders in assists, goals, and chances created. Hakimi, a former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player, finished the season with 25 goal contributions in 55 games. In the Champions League, the 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal winner, had a brilliant campaign — winning 87 duels and creating 36 chances in 17 games, just two fewer than Ousmane Dembele. Speaking in a recent interview with Canal+, Hakimi made said:“I think I deserve it. “As a defender, it’s more difficult. People think I’m an attacking midfielder, but no, I play as a full-back and I have to think about defending too,” he explained. Hakimi finished the season with 25 goal contributions in 55 games – quite an outstanding record for a right-back. In the Champions League, Hakimi had a brilliant campaign — winning 87 duels and creating 36 chances in 17 games, just two fewer than Ousmane Dembele. At the Club World Cup, Hakimi also showed his class — ranking among PSG’s leaders in assists, goals, and chances created. Meanwhile, Hakimi is one of nine PSG Stars nominated for the 30-man 2025 Ballon d’Or award, along with the club’s coach Luis Enrique, as France Football announced its list of nominees last week. The other PSG players shortlisted are Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has disclosed that he had a difficult period last season putting up 11 players on the pitch The Dutch tactician stated this on the backdrop of the Red Devils’ impressive win over Fiorentina in a preseason friendly game at Old Trafford on Saturday. Recall that Man United defeated the Serie A club 5-4 via penalties after the game had ended 1-1 in regulation time. Reacting after the game, Amorim told the club’s website that he’s delighted to be having a selection headache at the moment compared to last season, when he struggled to put 11 players on the pitch. “That (a selection headache) is a good thing, it is supposed to be like that, not like last season that we have to struggle to put 11 players on the pitch. This is the normal thing so I need to think and they (the players) need to fight during the week, so they can change my mind, I have an idea but they will change my mind during the week. “It is going to be tough because we try to arrange a full week of training, so we will have two really strong sessions with time to work and then we are going to break a little bit and then two days to really think about the strategy for the game and we will be ready.”

The saga involving Barcelona and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has taken several twists on Friday, and an amicable resolution having now been reached between the two parties following developments over the last 24 hours On Thursday, Barcelona confirmed that they had opened disciplinary proceedings against Ter Stegen as a result of him refusing to sign the medical document that the club intended to pass over to La Liga in regards to his surgery. Because of this, he was also stripped of the captaincy. Barcelona have been seeking to use 80% of Ter Stegen’s salary to register Joan Garcia, with their belief that the 33-year-old will be out of action for in excess of four months following back injury. The player initially refused, but he has now relented. As per an official statement (via Football Espana), Barcelona have confirmed that Ter Stegen has now signed the documentation asked of him. As a result, disciplinary proceedings have ended, and he has now been reappointed as club captain. “FC Barcelona report that Marc-André ter Stegen has signed the authorization for the club’s Medical Services to process the mandatory medical report in La Liga following his surgery. The disciplinary file is closed and the player recovers the captaincy of the first team with immediate effect.” Earlier on Friday, Ter Stegen released a statement in which he hinted at his desire to appease Barcelona’s wishes to sign the necessary documentation, and he has now done so. All parties will now be able to put this behind them, with the hope being that relations can be restored in the coming weeks. La Liga can now sign off on Ter Stegen’s absence being over four months, which would allow Barcelona to register Joan Garcia in his place. Coupled with Inigo Martinez’s imminent move to Al-Nassr, the Catalans should be able to register a number of players in time for next week’s opening fixture against Mallorca.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has suffered an injury setback and is unlikely to be "really fit" until after the September international break, says manager Pep Guardiola The Spain international spent most of the 2024-25 season sidelined as a result of suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury last September. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner returned to action when he came on as a late substitute in City's penultimate Premier League game of last season against Bournemouth. The 29-year-old was also part of Guardiola's squad at the Club World Cup in the United States during in the summer when City went out at the last-16 stage to Al-Hilal. Rodri came on as a second-half substitute against the Saudi Arabian side but went off early in extra time with what is thought to have been a groin issue. "Rodri is getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al-Hilal. He has trained better in the last few days. Hopefully after the international break, he will be really fit," said Guardiola. City open their Premier League campaign at Wolves on 16 August and then play Tottenham and Brighton before the September internationals. "Hopefully in these games, he can play some minutes, but what is important is that he doesn't have pain because we don't want Rodri coming back injured. We will try desperately to avoid that. He has been training the last two sessions with us and that's good," Guardiola added.

Harry Kane scored a goal - and missed a penalty - against former club Tottenham Hotspur as Bayern Munich won a pre-season friendly 4-0 at the Allianz Arena The England striker controlled Michael Olise's excellent long pass before slotting in Bayern's opener, but in the 15th minute he slipped as he was taking a spot-kick and it sailed over the bar. Bayern completely dominated and scored three times in the final half an hour. Konrad Laimer dispossed Djed Spence and picked out Kingsley Coman, who curled in their second. Bayern then brought on a host of youngsters midway through the second half - with Kane one of those coming off - and two of them scored. Lennart Karl, 17, hit a fantastic first-time effort from 18 yards and Jonah Kusi-Asare, 18, whipped in a fine shot from near the corner of the box. It was Kane's second game against Spurs - he featured in a friendly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year - since his £86.4m move in 2023. The 32-year-old is Spurs' all-time top scorer with 280 goals in 435 games. Luis Diaz, a summer signing for Bayern from Liverpool, also started. Tottenham's 2025-26 season starts on Wednesday, 13 August with the Uefa Super Cup against Paris St-Germain in Udine.

Wildcard Victoria Mboko won her first WTA title by coming from behind to beat four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the Canadian Open final For the second successive match, the 18-year-old Canadian had to show resilience after conceding the opening set but rallied to win 2-6 6-4 6-1. Mboko began the year ranked 333rd in the world but is projected to rise to 34 after a win that delighted her home crowd. "I was super happy to be playing in Montreal for the first time ever. I just remember feeling nervous, but really taking in the moment as much as I possibly could," Mboko said. "When I won my first round, I was super happy and super content. I would have never thought that I would have made it to the final, let alone win the tournament. I have so many emotions going through my head, I can't even express it." Mboko beat four Grand Slam champions en route to collecting the title in front of 11,000 spectators.

Besiktas have unveiled Nigeria's Super Eagless midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi after passing medicals, confirming they have entered formal negotiations with Leicester City over a potential move for the Super Eagles star. In a disclosure filed to the Public Disclosure Platform on Thursday, the club announced that discussions had commenced with both the player and his club regarding a potential transfer to the Turkish Super Lig giants. “Negotiations have started with professional footballer Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi and his club Leicester City Football Club Limited regarding his transfer,” the statement read. Ndidi, 27, has been a mainstay at Leicester City since joining from Genk in 2017 and played a key role in the Foxes’ Premier League campaign last season. With one year left on his contract, his future at the King Power Stadium has remained uncertain, attracting interest from multiple clubs across Europe. The imminent Besiktas move to acquire Ndidi is reportedly part of a wider strategy to bolster their midfield ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The club have already made several additions in the current transfer window and view the Super Eagles midfielder as a vital piece in their squad rebuild. As part of the transfer process, Ndidi underwent a comprehensive medical assessment in Istanbul earlier on Thursday. “Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi undergoes medical examination. Professional footballer Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi, with whom we have begun transfer negotiations, underwent a medical examination this morning at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital,” the club said. “Ndidi underwent comprehensive blood tests and was examined in the orthopaedics, internal medicine, ophthalmology, ear-nose-throat (ENT), general surgery, and cardiology departments. His medical checks were completed with lung and endurance tests.” It was confirmed in reports that the total agreement has been reached between both clubs and the player for a €9.5m fee.

Venus Williams rallied from 4-1 down in the first set but could not maintain momentum, the seven-time Grand Slam champion falling 6-4, 6-4 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Thursday Williams, 45, was competing for the second time in three weeks after returning to the WTA tour in Washington in her first tournament in 16 months. Williams won her first-round match in Washington before bowing out to Magdalena Frech in straight sets. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st, was thrilled by the sense of occasion on the opening day of the tournament, the last major tune-up before the August 25 start of the US Open. Bouzas Maneiro said her 87-minute win was “like a dream.” Williams was playing Cincinnati for the 11th time. She reached the semi-finals in 2012 and, in her most recent prior appearance, had lost in the second round to China’s Zheng Qinwen in 2023. She said this week that after a serious health scare last year that involved surgery to remove uterine fibroids, she is relishing her return to the courts. In results from the ATP Masters 1000 event draw, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca began with a win over China’s Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. Fonseca overcame 18 unforced errors and snapped a three-match losing streak in Masters 1000 events. Belgian Zizou Bergs defeated Britain’s Jakob Fearnley 6-1, 6-4, while there were wins for Frenchmen Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Rinderknech.

Ghana international Thomas Partey has joined La Liga club Villarreal following his release from Arsenal The 32-year-old, who signed for Arsenal in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020, left the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June. Four days later, Partey was charged with five counts of rape against two women and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. Partey, who denies the charges, was granted conditional bail on Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Under the conditions of the bail, Partey must not contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. In a statement, Villarreal said: "The club is aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England. The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him. "The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case. Due to the law in England in relation to the ongoing proceedings the club is unable to comment further." The charges against Partey followed an investigation by detectives which started in February 2022. Nearly 1,000 supporters have signed a petition set up by online content hub the Villarreal Report to protest Partey's signing. Villarreal's statement added that it "wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals". Partey, who will join up with his new club on Friday, is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 2 September. His move follows Villarreal's 3-2 friendly win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

‎Barcelona, on Thursday said they had stripped Marc-Andre ter Stegen of the captain’s armband in a continuing dispute over the German goalkeeper’s fitness status “As a consequence of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against player Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and until such proceedings are definitively resolved, the club… has decided to temporarily remove him as captain of the first football team,” Barca said in a statement. ‎They said vice-captain Ronald Araujo, a Uruguayan defender, would take over. ‎According to local media, the dispute centres on 33-year-old Ter Stegen’s refusal to cooperate with an attempt to have him classified by La Liga as a long-term injury case, which would allow the club to deduct part of his pay from their official wage bill. ‎With the new Liga season approaching, Barcelona are again struggling to satisfy Spanish financial fair play rules. If they cannot, they may not be able to register new players. ‎The club plans to partly reopen its expensively renovated Camp Nou stadium this month. ‎After two seasons marred by injury, Ter Stegen decided to undergo back surgery at the end of July. He has refused to sign a form releasing his medical data to La Liga, preventing Barcelona’s attempt to have him officially declared a long-term absentee. ‎His place is under threat from one of the summer signings, 24-year-old Joan Garcia, and 35-year-old Wojciech Szczesny, the Polish veteran who has been rewarded with a contract extension for taking over during last season’s Liga title-winning campaign. ‎The German goalkeeper, the last remaining member of Luis Enrique’s 2015 European champion team, faces heavy penalties under La Liga regulations, including the termination of his contract.

The Ballon d’Or, on Thursday, officially unveiled the 30-player shortlist for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, spotlighting the world’s finest footballers who have delivered exceptional performances over the past year Among the top contenders are Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Harry Kane, all of whom had standout seasons for club and country. The list also features experienced names such as Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, and Virgil van Dijk, alongside emerging stars like Lamine Yamal, Joao Neves, and Cole Palmer. Other notable nominees include Alexis Mac Allister, Désiré Doué, Scott McTominay, Raphinha, Florian Wirtz, Declan Rice, Achraf Hakimi, and Pedri. The Ballon d’Or remains the most prestigious individual award in world football, recognising extraordinary talent, consistency, and influence on the global game. The winner will be crowned at the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony later this year. Full list Jude Bellingham Ousmane Dembélé Gianluigi Donnarumma Désiré Doué Denzel Dumfries Serhou Guirassy Viktor Gyökeres Erling Haaland Achraf Hakimi Harry Kane Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Robert Lewandowski Alexis Mac Allister Lautaro Martinez Kylian Mbappé Scott McTominay Nuno Mendes Joao Neves Michael Olise Cole Palmer Pedri Raphinha Declan Rice Fabian Ruiz Mohamed Salah Virgil van Dijk Vinicius Jr. Vitinha Florian Wirtz Lamine Yamal

The Ballon d’Or has released the full list of nominees for the highly anticipated 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, showcasing 30 outstanding female footballers from across the globe Leading the nominations are established stars such as Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas, Pernille Harder, and Lucy Bronze, alongside rising talents including Melchie Dumornay, Temwa Chawinga, and Frida Leonardsen-Maanum. Also named in the prestigious list are Barbra Banda, Claudia Pina, Sandy Baltimore, Marta, Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson, and Esther Gonzalez, among others. The Ballon d’Or recognition celebrates the best women’s footballers for their excellence, impact, and achievements over the past season. The final winner will be announced at the official awards ceremony later in the year. FULL LIST Sandy Baltimore Barbra Banda Aitana Bonmati Lucy Bronze Klara Bühl Mariona Caldentey Sofia Cantore Steph Catley Temwa Chawinga Melchie Dumornay Emily Fox Cristiana Girelli Esther Gonzalez Caroline Graham Hansen Hannah Hampton Pernille Harder Patri Guijarro Amanda Gutierres Lindsey Heaps Chloe Kelly Frida Leonardsen-Maanum Marta Clara Mateo Ewa Pajor Claudia Pina Alexia Putellas Alessia Russo Johanna Rytting Kaneryd Caroline Weir Leah Williamson

The Ballon d’Or, on Thursday, unveiled its list of nominees for the 2025 Men’s Club of the Year and Men’s Team Coach of the Year awards Competing for the Men’s Club of the Year honour are football giants FC Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain. These clubs have been recognised for their outstanding performance and influence in global football over the past season. Meanwhile, the five contenders for the Men’s Team Coach of the Year Trophy are Antonio Conte, Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Enzo Maresca, and Arne Slot, all celebrated for their tactical brilliance, leadership, and impressive results with their respective teams. The announcement is part of the build-up to the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, which annually celebrates excellence in world football.

Some of the world’s top shot-stoppers have made the 2025 Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy shortlist, including Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma Also nominated are Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Lille’s Lucas Chevalier, all recognised for their outstanding performances over the last season. The award honours the best goalkeeper in the world each year and is named after the legendary Soviet keeper Lev Yashin. The winner will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony later this year.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie has been named among the top female goalkeepers in the world as a nominee for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy The Super Falcons star, on Thursday, was listed alongside Cata Coll (Barcelona), Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Hannah Hampton (England), and Daphne van Domselaar (Netherlands). Nnadozie’s commanding presence in goal during the Women’s African Cup of Nations and the league earned her global acclaim. Her nomination marks another major milestone for Nigerian women’s football on the world stage.

Super Falcons’ manager, Justine Madugu, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year Trophy The nomination, announced Thursday, places Madugu among the global elite of women’s football coaching, following his remarkable leadership with the Nigerian women’s national team. The accolade celebrates coaches who have demonstrated outstanding strategy, motivation, and performance in guiding their teams on the international stage. The recognition comes as Nigerian football continues to gain momentum on the global stage, with Super Falcons players and coaches increasingly drawing international attention after winning the Women’s African Cup of Nations. Madugu’s nomination is not only a personal triumph but also a moment of pride for Nigeria, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a powerhouse in African women’s football.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has refused to rule out the possibility of Nicolas Jackson leaving Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window Newcastle are reportedly interested in the 24-year-old forward, after Manchester United hijacked the Magpies' bid to sign striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. If they are to sell, Chelsea would be targeting a transfer fee of at least double the £32m they paid Villarreal for Jackson in 2023. When asked whether Jackson could leave Chelsea this summer, Maresca said: "When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. This also involves Nico's situation. "At the moment we also had two strikers arrive, Joao [Pedro] and Liam [Delap]. So we will see what happens." Joao Pedro joined from Brighton during the Club World Cup for an initial £55m and scored three goals in three games, including a strike during the 3-0 win against Paris St-Germain in the final, while Delap joined in a £30m move from Ipswich and also featured in the United States. Jackson's Club World Cup campaign was affected by his dismissal in the group match win over Flamengo, but Chelsea's valuation of over £65m is benchmarked against the Senegal international's 10 goals and five assists in 30 league games last season, following 14 goals and five assists in 35 games during his maiden season at Stamford Bridge. Jackson also signed a nine-year contract until 2033 in September 2024.

Al-Hilal have reached an agreement to sign Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez for 53m euros (£46.3m) Nunez is now expected to undergo a medical ahead of his move to the Saudi Pro League. The 26-year-old Uruguay international joined the Reds in June 2022 from Portuguese side Benfica for an initial fee of £64m. Nunez has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but only started eight Premier League games during Liverpool's title-winning campaign last season. Selling Nunez would financially boost the Reds' chances of signing Newcastle striker Alexander Isak in this transfer window. The Magpies turned down an opening offer of £110m from Liverpool last week as they value the 25-year-old Sweden international at around £150m. Liverpool's busy summer of signings include Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record £116m plus French forward Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth £79m, pushing their spending past £250m. The Reds have also sold Colombia winger Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5m and midfielder Tyler Morton to Lyon for £15m, while England Under-21 midfielder Harvey Elliott could also leave the club. Nunez has also been a target for Italian champions Napoli this summer while other European sides have shown an interest. In January, Liverpool reportedly rejected a bid worth 70m euros (£61m) from Saudi's Al-Nassr. Nunez managed just seven goals across all competitions last season, however, he has scored five goals during the club's four pre-season games, including a hat-trick inside 20 minutes against Stoke in July. Al-Hilal, who are coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season. The Saudi side features former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, ex-Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo and former Fulham and Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, as well as Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is expected to miss the majority of the forthcoming season According to reports, that Maddison is set to have surgery and will become a long-term absentee as he starts his recovery programme. The 28-year-old suffered the injury in the pre-season draw against Newcastle in South Korea last weekend. Manager Thomas Frank confirmed after the match that Maddison had injured the same knee that ruled him out of the Europa League final victory against Manchester United in May. Since returning from Asia on Monday, Maddison has undergone tests in recent days to ascertain the severity of the injury. Initial fears were that Maddison had suffered a cruciate ligament injury and those concerns have now been realised. Maddison, a 2023 signing from Leicester City, scored 12 goals in 45 appearances for Spurs last season. He has seven England caps, the most recent of which came in 2024.

The organisers of the Ballon d’Or have officially unveiled the nominees for the 2025 Kopa Trophy, an annual award recognising the best-performing player in the world under the age of 21 In a statement released on Thursday via X, the ten rising stars nominated for the prestigious accolade include Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Désiré Doué, Estevão, Dean Huijsen, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rodrigo Mora, Joao Neves, Lamine Yamal, and Kenan Yildiz. “These are our 2025 Kopa Trophy nominees!” the Ballon d’Or team announced, celebrating the emerging talents shaping the future of global football.

Clara Tauson will face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the semi-finals, after the Japanese star reached the Canadian open last four for the first time in her career Osaka beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-2 in the quarter-finals to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final since 2022. Svitolina said she received death threats following her defeat, and attributed the "shameful" behaviour to those who had bet on the match. Osaka needed just over an hour to secure victory over 10th-seeded Svitolina. The former world number one capitalised on unforced errors to break twice before holding her nerve to serve out after Svitolina earned one break back. In the men's tournament in Toronto, American second seed Taylor Fritz advanced to the semis with a 6-3 7-6 (4) victory over Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev. Next up for Fritz is compatriot and fourth seed Ben Shelton, who beat Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-4 to reach his first career Masters 1000 semi-final.

Clara Tauson reached the last four of the Canadian Open by beating Grand Slam champion Madison Keys 6-1 6-4 on Tuesday to reach just the second WTA 1000 semi of her career Danish player Tauson, seeded 16th in Montreal, secured another major scalp after beating second seed Iga Swiatek in the previous round. Upon defeating sixth seed Keys, the 22-year-old revealed she had done so while dealing with personal tragedy. Tauson, ranked 19th in the world, was clinical in the opening set against Keys, converting both of her break point opportunities and serving out in just over half an hour. Australian Open champion Keys dropped serve again early in the second and Tauson held her nerve to earn a second successive win over an opponent ranked in the world top 10.

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has reiterated his commitment to playing for the senior national team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December rather than playing in the Premier League for Fulham Recall that the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), organized in Morocco, will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. Until now, the competition was played in February, but it was shifted to December due to this busy schedule this year. With the club vs. country row set to take center stage again, the Nigerian international, in a chat with The Guardian, stated that he will choose playing for the Super Eagles in December over Fulham. “It’s not nice for us [to have to choose between the AFCON and our clubs], but with all due respect to Fulham I would like to go to the AFCON,” Iwobi told The Guardian.

The much-anticipated rematch between British rivals Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November Eubank beat Benn by unanimous decision in a thrilling middleweight contest at the same venue in April. Despite no title being on the line, the bout between the bitter foes - which took place 35 years after their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, first fought - garnered huge attention. And after Eubank was named the winner 116-112 on all three judges' scorecards, a rematch was wanted by fans and touted by promoters. A second bout had been agreed for 20 September, however it fell through amid concerns Eubank would not be ready. Now organisers Ring Magazine, which is owned by Turki Alalshikh, have announced , externalthe rematch will take place on 15 November. Eddie Hearn, Benn's promoter and chairman of Matchroom Boxing, also shared the same date via Instagram, external. Eubank and his camp have not yet commented on the announcement.

Everton have completed the signing of midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea for a fee of about £28m The fee for the 26-year-old is an initial £24m, with a further £3-4m due in add-ons. Dewsbury-Hall has signed a five-year contract with the Toffees until the end of June 2030. The Leicester City academy graduate is Everton's fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Adam Aznou. "I'm honestly very excited, my family's excited. There's a real buzz about this. It feels right for me. So just that alone gives me the motivation and the extra determination to show everybody, to prove a point and have a really successful time here," said Dewsbury-Hall.

Sky Bet Championship club Leicester City have turned down Valencia’s late offer for Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi The Foxes, according to multiple sources, have accepted Turkish Super Lig giants, Besiktas bid for the Nigeria international. Besiktas have agreed to pay €9.5m for the defensive midfielder, with only minor details left. Ndidi has also accepted to join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. Transfer expert, Ben Jacobs revealed that Leicester City rebuffed an attempt from Valencia to sign the player. The 28-year-old will sign a three-year contract with Besiktas with the option of another year. Ndidi is expected to undergo medical at the Istanbul club this week.

Tottenham Hotspur have entered the race to sign Nigerian international Ademola Lookman, as Inter Milan prepare a final offer to meet Atalanta’s €50m valuation for the in-demand forward According to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInterNews, Inter have already seen two bids rejected for the 27-year-old but remain determined to secure his signature. The Serie A giants are now ready to match Atalanta’s asking price with a new proposal that is expected to include performance-related bonuses. “Inter Milan are preparing to step up their pursuit of Lookman and are ready to increase their bid to just €50m, including bonuses, surpassing their previous €45m valuation,” La Gazzetta dello Sport reported. Inter have also reportedly reached a verbal personal agreement with Lookman and are confident of bringing him to San Siro this summer, pending a final breakthrough in negotiations with Atalanta. “Senior Inter officials have decided to wait up to ten more days in hopes of signing the Nigerian international, who has so far turned down every other offer, standing firm on his agreement with Inter. “The deal is expected to be worth €4.5m net per season until 2030,” La Gazzetta dello Sport added. However, Inter now face competition from the Premier League, with TEAMtalk reporting that Tottenham Hotspur have identified Lookman as a viable alternative to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who remains their first-choice replacement for departing captain Son Heung-min. With Son set to join Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, new head coach Thomas Frank is overseeing a major reshuffle in Spurs’ attacking department. Although Tottenham have internally discussed the possibility of signing Rodrygo, the Brazilian’s price tag, believed to be over €90m, and the difficulty of luring him away from the Bernabéu have prompted the north London club to assess other options. “An alternative to Rodrygo on Tottenham’s list is Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, who has submitted a transfer request at the Serie A club,” TEAMtalk reported. “The 28-year-old winger has caught Tottenham’s attention. His versatility and Premier League experience from his time with Everton, Leicester, and Fulham make him a strong contender to replace Son.” It was reported that Lookman has submitted a transfer request at Atalanta and unfollowed the club on Instagram, paving the way for a summer departure. Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the 2023/24 Europa League final and registered 20 goals across all competitions in 2024/25, has impressed Spurs’ recruitment team with his pace, directness, and Premier League experience from previous spells at Everton, Leicester and Fulham. While Inter have long been considered frontrunners, Spurs’ late interest could complicate matters, especially given their financial capability and the player’s familiarity with English football. Atalanta are holding firm on their €50m valuation and ideally want a total package that can potentially rise to €55m, including add-ons. Tottenham are also believed to be targeting a new number nine to provide competition for Dominik Solanke and remain in talks to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, although Everton are reportedly pushing hard to secure that deal.

South Korean star, Son Heung-min, has not even been officially announced as joining Los Angeles FC of MLS, but excited fans are already waiting to welcome him ESPN and The Athletic report that Son, who left Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, will sign with LAFC for an MLS-record transfer fee of $26 million. LAFC on Tuesday night announced a news conference for a “major announcement” on Wednesday at 2 pm local time that would seem to be the unveiling of Son. After press reports about Son’s possible arrival on Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport, about 40 fans of Son went to see if they could get an autograph or photograph or even a glimpse of their idol. They were unable to see Son, however, after his sendoff in South Korea a few hours earlier. He was wearing a gold and black LAFC jersey purchased Tuesday morning and printed with his idol’s name. In a decade with Spurs, Son scored 173 goals in 454 matches. The winger confirmed his plans to leave Tottenham in Seoul last weekend after a final match with the Premier League club. At LAFC, Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham.

Four-time Grand Slam champion, Naomi Osaka, advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA Canadian Open on Tuesday with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 triumph over 10th seed Elina Svitolina Osaka, chasing her first WTA Tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open, needed only 68 minutes to dispatch the Ukraine star and book a Wednesday semi-final with Danish 16th seed Clara Tauson, who stunned reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-1, 6-4. Tauson dedicated her victory to her late grandfather, who died on Sunday as the Dane was dispatching Polish second seed Iga Swiatek, who won her sixth Grand Slam title last month at Wimbledon. The US Open hardcourt tuneup in Montreal is the first event where Tauson has beaten two top-10 foes, with Swiatek and Keys exiting at her hand. Tauson dominated the opening set and took full advantage of Keys giving up a break on a double fault to open the second. The Dane won 12 of 19 points on her second serves and kept Keys at bay most of the night. Keys joined a scrap heap of Montreal seeds, with the top five seeds and seven of the top 10 seeds ousted before the quarter-finals. Tauson, 22, seeks her fourth career WTA title after the 2021 Lyon and Luxembourg Opens and this year’s Auckland Open, where Osaka retired after winning the first set of the final in their only WTA meeting. Osaka seeks her eighth WTA-level title, and her first since a maternity leave comeback last year. She last won a WTA-level title below the Grand Slams at the 2019 China Open. Osaka broke for a 3-1 edge in the opening set and exchanged breaks in the last three games to capture the set after 38 minutes, then cruised through the second set, taking the triumph when Svitolina hit a forehand wide. Tauson is one win away from her second WTA 1000 final, having lost the first in February at Dubai to Mirra Andreeva. The Dane dominated Keys in the first set, breaking in the fourth and sixth games, and Keys double faulted away another break to begin the second set. Tauson held from there to win, never facing a break point in the second set before holding at love in the last game to end matters after 70 minutes. Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, and 18-year-old Canadian sensation Victoria Mboko will meet in Wednesday’s other semi-final. Rybakina won their only prior meeting 6-3, 7-5 last month in the second round at Washington.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is reportedly closing in on a move to Saudi club Al Hilal, which could allow the Premier League champions to make a fresh bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak Nunez joined the Reds for an initial 75 million euros ($87 million, £65 million) from Benfica three years ago but has failed to live up to that price tag. The Uruguayan has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but slipped down the pecking order at Anfield under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Al Hilal will pay an initial 53 million euros for the 26-year-old. Nunez was likely to play even less this season after Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz as part of a 300 million euro spending spree that also includes full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. However, the club could still break the British transfer record by signing Isak, with Newcastle reportedly demanding a fee of up to £150 million for the Swedish striker. The sale of Nunez would take Liverpool’s income for transfer sales this window to nearly 200 million euros after the departures of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton. Harvey Elliott is also attracting interest from RB Leipzig, with Liverpool wanting at least 45 million euros for the England midfielder. Nunez would become the latest big name to join Al Hilal, who shocked Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the recent Club World Cup. Coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, the Saudi club’s squad includes Portuguese internationals Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly and former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Former Porto captain Jorge Costa has died aged 53 after having a cardiac arrest at the club's training centre, the Portuguese side has confirmed The defender led Porto to Champions League glory under manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 and won 50 caps for Portugal. Costa spent a season on loan at Charlton in the Premier League in 2001-02 and retired from playing in 2006. The centre-back moved into management and held positions at 16 clubs before taking up the role of Porto's director of professional football last season. "Throughout his life, both on and off the pitch, Jorge Costa embodied the values that define FC Porto: dedication, leadership, passion and an unshakeable spirit of conquest," the club said. "He left his mark on generations of fans." It is the third unexpected death of an ex-Porto player this summer following the tragic passing of former loanee Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who spent six years at the club, in July. Costa graduated from Porto's academy and went on to make 324 appearances for the club. He won 24 trophies before leaving in 2005, including the Champions League, Uefa Cup and eight Primeira Liga titles. In 2000, Costa won the Portuguese Golden Ball - an award handed out to the league's best player. His managerial career took him across the globe with stints in Portugal, Romania, Cyprus, Tunisia, India and Gabon.

Ademola Lookman has already cleared his belongings out of his locker at the Atalanta training ground as he continues to push for a move to join Inter, according to reports from Italy The 27-year-old Nigeria international submitted a formal transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to join Inter this transfer window. The reigning African Player of the Year posted a long statement on Instagram over the weekend explaining his decision to ask for a sale, pointing to “broken promises” from the Atalanta management, and poor treatment “as a human being and as a professional footballer.” Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has since confirmed that there is in fact an informal agreement allowing Lookman to leave for an appropriate fee this summer, but not for teams within Serie A, which complicates proceedings with the Nerazzurri. In protest, Lookman has failed to report for training for the last two days. And, according to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia) Lookman has already had his personal belongings emptied from his locker at the club’s Zingonia training ground. It remains to be seen what the next steps will be, but Sky describes the situation as a “total break-up” between the player and club.

Manchester United have made a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko with the overall package potentially rising to 85m euros The offer includes a guaranteed payment of 75m euros. The Red Devils are yet to get a response but believe it is an appropriate valuation for the 22-year-old Slovenia forward and that he is keen to move to Old Trafford. Newcastle United also want Sesko and have made a bid in the region of 80m euros they continue negotiations with Leipzig. The offer from Manchester United is seen as significant as there had been suggestions they did not want to firm up their interest with Leipzig without knowing the forward was prepared to join them. Manchester United are willing to let Rasmus Hojlund leave the club in order to make space for Sesko to come in. Sesko has 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig and, at 6ft 5in, he would also bring a significant physical presence to the Old Trafford club's front line. Manchester United sources have previously outlined how it is possible for them to reach an agreement on Sesko even though Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier this year there was the potential for the club to go bust by Christmas without massive cost-cutting measures. Payment arrangements for the deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford this summer, which total £130m, have been arranged in a favourable way. In addition, the entirety of Marcus Rashford's £325,000-a-week salary is being covered by his loan move to Barcelona and Manchester United received £5m from Chelsea after the Blues pulled out of a deal to sign Jadon Sancho. Manchester United have also received more than £15m in payments as part of sell-on clauses involving Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras and Maxi Oyedele.

Former Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey has been granted conditional bail after being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault The 32-year-old Ghanaian appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with five counts of rape against two women, and a charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022 when he was playing for north London club Arsenal. He was charged four days after leaving Arsenal when his contract expired at the end of June. His next appearance is at the Old Bailey on 2 September. Partey was wearing a black zip-neck jumper and carried a navy blazer as he entered court. He stood with his arms behind his back in the dock. He spoke to confirm his name and confirmed he understood his bail conditions. His bail conditions state he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel. The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which started in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape. Partey's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said he "denies all the charges against him", adding he welcomed "the opportunity to finally clear his name".

Serie A club Atalanta have denied Ademola Lookman’s claims, about any broken promises As reported by betCompare, the current African footballer of the year posted a issued a strongly worded statement on his social media page, accusing the club of breaking promises and poor treatment, now, the club have released their version of the situation. The Bergamo club claimed they pledged to sell the former Leicester City player abroad this summer, and not to a Serie A rival. Lookman submitted a formal transfer request on Sunday after Atalanta rejected Inter Milan’s offer. He protested that the club had promised to let him leave this summer if a suitable offer was made. According reports form Italian media, the version of the story given by Atalanta is different from Lookman’s submission. The promise was to let the talented winger go to a foreign club if an ambitious and lucrative bid was received. La Dea made the promise when Lookman asked to be left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid because of interest from Paris Saint-Germain. Though Atalanta are previously willing to sell to a foreign club, they are now ready to sell the Nigeria international for the right price. A €50m offer will be enough to get the deal done, rather than the current offer of €42m plus €3m in bonuses.

Lionel Messi suffered an injury and was removed in the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup penalty kicks victory over Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium The 38-year-old Argentine superstar forward appeared to be having treatment on his upper right leg or groin before making his exit under his own power and walking to the locker room. But after a 5-4 triumph in penalties after a 2-2 draw, Miami coach Javier Mascherano said it would be Sunday before exact details of the injury and the severity of the setback would be known. “Well, he felt a discomfort, and we will not be able to know until tomorrow how severe the injury is. There’s probably something there. Maybe not as important, because he was really not in pain. But he did feel a pull,” Mascherano said after the match. Messi took the ball and dribbled into the Necaxa back line, but he stumbled at the top of the box and ran into Necaxa defender Alexis Pena then tumbled to the ground, pounding the pitch in frustration as the ball was cleared away. Moments later, Herons captain Messi was alone near midfield on the left wing by himself when he went to the ground in a seated position, lying on his back briefly until trainers arrived. Mascherano elected to send in Federico Redondo to replace Messi. Inter Miami won 5-4 on penalties after the 10-man teams played to a 2-2 draw after full time. Argentine striker Tomas Badaloni was denied on the decisive penalty kick in the third round of the shootout while Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Jordi Alba, Redondo and Luis Suarez hit penalties for Miami, Uruguayan striker Suarez getting the decider on the last kick. Inter Miami Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia scored in the 12th minute, but Herons defender Maximiliano Falcon of Uruguay was shown a red card in the 17th minute. Badaloni netted the equalizer for Necaxa in the 33rd minute to lift the visitors level at half-time, and Necaxa was cut to 10 men as well when Cristian Calderon received a red card in the 60th minute. Ricardo Monreal, who came off the Necaxa bench in the 74th minute, scored in the 81st to put the Mexican side ahead only for Spain’s Alba to net the equalizer for Miami in the second minute of stoppage time. During Argentine World Cup qualifiers in March, Messi was nagged by thigh strain issues. Messi has scored 18 goals and assisted on nine others in 18 MLS appearances this season. He assisted on both Inter Miami goals in a 2-1 victory over Atlas on Wednesday in their opener in the Leagues Cup, a tournament involving MLS and Mexican League squads. Miami conclude group stage play in the event on Wednesday against Pumas. Messi led Inter Miami to the inaugural Leagues Cup crown in 2023 just after his arrival with the MLS club.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has hit out at Atalanta, accusing the Serie A club of going back on promises made over his potential summer transfer The Nigerian international issued a strongly worded statement on Sunday, confirming that he has formally submitted a transfer request following what he described as “many months of broken promises” and poor treatment. Lookman, who played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic UEFA Europa League triumph in the 2023/24 season, said he has always represented the club with dedication and loyalty, both on and off the pitch. “I’ve given absolutely everything. Not just as a footballer, but as a person. I’ve always worn the shirt with pride and tried to represent this club and the city of Bergamo with heart, passion and dedication,” the 27-year-old said, reflecting on his three-year spell in Bergamo. The former Everton and Fulham winger recalled key highlights of his time in Italy, especially the club’s European success in Dublin, where he scored a memorable hat-trick in the final. He described that moment as “one of the proudest moments of my career” and said it still gives him “goosebumps thinking about it.” However, he explained that despite his continued professionalism, issues have persisted behind the scenes. Lookman said both he and the Atalanta hierarchy had previously agreed that this summer marked the right time to seek a new challenge, provided a fair offer came in. “There have been numerous clubs that have approached Atalanta in the past, and I have previously always stayed loyal. However, myself and the ownership of the club have been in agreement that now is the right time, and the club were clear with me that if a fair offer came in, they would allow me to move,” he said. Lookman now claims the club have reneged on that position. “Despite now receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed, sadly the club are blocking the opportunity for reasons I do not understand,” he said. He added that the decision to go public came only after exhausting private discussions, saying he felt compelled to speak out for the sake of transparency and fairness. “I unfortunately feel there is now little choice,” Lookman wrote. “After many months of broken promises and what I feel has been poor treatment towards me as both a human being and as a professional footballer, sadly, I feel I have no choice but to speak out for what I believe is right.” The tensions escalated over the weekend when Lookman unfollowed Atalanta on Instagram and deleted all posts related to the club. The online reaction followed Atalanta’s latest rejection of Inter Milan’s improved offer worth €42 million plus €3 million in add-ons, with the Bergamo side reportedly holding out for their full €50m valuation. Lookman’s Instagram purge was extensive. The African Footballer of the Year removed the club’s name from his bio and deleted pictures of himself wearing the Atalanta jersey, including his profile photo. The developments underscore the breakdown in relations between the player and the club, with reports suggesting Lookman and Inter Milan have already agreed on personal terms. According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Atalanta informed Inter that their offer, which improved on an initial €40m bid, had again been rejected. The club are said to be insistent on the full asking price, including performance-related bonuses, partly because of a resale clause agreed during Lookman’s move from RB Leipzig in 2022. Under that deal, Leipzig are entitled to 10 per cent of any profit up to €20m and 15 per cent of the amount above that threshold. With Inter now considering alternative targets, including Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, Premier League clubs are also monitoring the situation, aware of the financial terms required to prise Lookman away from Bergamo. The Nigerian international was also absent from Atalanta’s squad for their pre-season match against RB Leipzig in Germany on Saturday, further fuelling speculation that his time at the club is drawing to a close. Despite the public dispute, Lookman expressed gratitude to the Atalanta fans and said he remains hopeful of reaching a peaceful resolution. “To the fans, the heartbeat of this club, I want to say this: I’m truly sorry it’s come to this. I hope you can understand this incredibly difficult situation. It’s simply about standing up for what I believe is fair and right,” he said. He concluded with a plea for cooperation, “I hope to work together with the club to find an amicable solution for all parties as soon as possible.” Lookman has scored 52 goals in 118 appearances for Atalanta since joining from Leipzig in 2022 for €10.8m. He remains a key figure in the club’s recent successes, including their first-ever European title achieved with a stunning 3–0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.

Chelsea have completed a £37m deal to sign Ajax defender Jorrel Hato The 19-year-old has finalised a seven-year contract with the Blues after a medical in London over the weekend. The Netherlands international has become the eighth signing of the summer transfer window for the Fifa Club World Cup champions. "I'm very excited, I'm so happy to be here. I thought a lot about my future and wanted to take the next step in my career. Chelsea is the best place for me to do that so I'm very happy," said Hato. Hato emerged from Ajax's famed academy, making his debut in the first team aged 16. Adept at left-back or centre-back, he captained the Dutch club at 17 and went on to make 111 appearances. Hato made his international debut for the Netherlands in 2023 against Gibraltar and has six caps.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek became the latest seed to fall at the Canadian Open as she suffered a surprise defeat by Clara Tauson in the fourth round Denmark's Tauson, ranked 19th, avenged her fourth-round loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon last month with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 victory over the second seed in Montreal. Swiatek's exit comes after top seed Coco Gauff, two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula and fourth seed Mirra Andreeva were all knocked out. Tauson will face Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the quarter-finals after the American saved two match points en route to a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Czech Karolina Muchova. Earlier on Sunday, four-time major winner Naomi Osaka lost only one game as she outplayed Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova to wrap up a 6-1 6-0 win in 49 minutes. Japan's Osaka, a winner twice at the US and Australian Opens, is seeking her first title since returning from maternity leave early in 2024. The 27-year-old parted company with coach Patrick Mouratoglou after less than a year and is now working with Poland's Tomasz Wiktorowski, former coach of Swiatek. In the men's event, Australian Alex de Minaur continued his fine form with a 6-2 4-6 6-4 win over American seventh seed Frances Tiafoe to reach the quarter-finals in Toronto. Ninth seed De Minaur, who won the Washington Open a week ago, is looking to go one better than his runners-up spot in 2023. Denmark's Holger Rune, seeded fifth, suffered a surprise exit as he was beaten 6-4 2-6 3-6 by Alexei Popyrin.

Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeated Mali 78-64 in a thrilling final of the women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday Nigeria’s D’Tigress once again proved their dominance on the continent, defeating Mali to retain their crown in the final of the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket Championship held in Ivory Coast, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The encounter started with the Nigerian ladies setting the tempo, but Mali fought back to edge the first quarter 26–21. D’Tigress responded strongly in the second quarter, leveling the score at 41–41 by halftime. The defending champions came alive in the third quarter, taking control of the game before sealing an impressive 78–64 victory after a fiercely contested final quarter. With this win, D’Tigress successfully defended their title, making it five consecutive AfroBasket triumphs — a historic feat in African women’s basketball.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim says he travelled to games last season fearful of what was going to happen to his team Speaking to reporters who are accompanying United on their pre-season tour of the United States, Amorim revealed for the first time the depth of his despair at presiding over United's worst season since the 1973-74 relegation campaign. United finished 15th in the Premier League last season - their lowest league finish since the 1989-90 campaign. Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag as manager in November 2024, oversaw a run of seven wins from 27 league games - and a shattering Europa League final defeat by Tottenham in Bilbao. Asked how he felt when he returned home to meet his wife and young family after repeated defeats - at one point his side lost four games in a row and later on won only three times in 11 matches - Amorim said it was pre-match that was the most stressful. "To tell you the truth, it's not how I returned to my house after the games, it was how I left to go to the games, because I felt that sometimes we will struggle. All the struggles we had in games, I felt it before. That was the hardest part," he said. "To go to the games and know that we are not going to be competitive - I was really frustrated." But Amorim says he does not feel like that now. He says he has a less "romantic" view of his job but also sees positives that make him "believe" better days are ahead.

Premier League giants, Manchester United are prepared to sell striker Rasmus Hojlund for £30m The Denmark striker scored twice against Bournemouth in Chicago on Wednesday. Immediately after the game he sought out waiting journalists to say his intention was to remain at United despite their ongoing interest in signing RB Leipzig's Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko. However, the situation is not straightforward. Newcastle are also keen on Sesko but are yet to strike a deal with RB Leipzig for the 22-year-old. United are waiting to decide their next move and there have been reports the player would prefer a switch to Old Trafford. United sources are adamant they could do a deal before selling players. But it is accepted that there would have to be exits to ensure they remain compliant with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. And, if Sesko arrived, Hojlund would be marginalised. If Hojlund was sold for £30m, it would be a loss for United given the forward's 'book value' is £43m as he is two years into the five-year contract he signed. United have spent almost £130m this summer on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank says the injury suffered by midfielder James Maddison during Sunday's pre-season draw against Newcastle "looks bad" The former Leicester City playmaker, 28, pulled up off the ball seven minutes from time during Spurs' 1-1 draw with the Magpies. The England international looked in clear discomfort and had to be stretchered off from the field of play, while team-mate Son Heung-min, during his final appearance for the club, was visibly emotional watching on. Frank says Maddison, who missed the Europa League final victory against Manchester United last season with a knee injury, has likely injured the same knee. "Sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal. That's what we got today. It looks like with Madders a bad injury and then on the other side unbelievable scenes for Son from his team-mates and the respect from the Newcastle players," said Frank. "We're pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before." Wales forward Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Spurs within the first four minutes in Seoul, South Korea. Former Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes equalised for Newcastle seven minutes before half-time.

Nigeria winger Ademola Lookman says he has handed in a transfer request at Atalanta after accusing the club of "breaking promises" to him The 27-year-old, a reported target for Serie A rivals Inter Milan, said he had reached an agreement with the club's board that he could leave if a "fair" offer arrived this summer. However, the England-born winger says Atalanta have reneged on that promise after "receiving an offer in alignment to what I believe had been discussed". "I feel I have no choice but to speak out for what I believe is right and I feel that enough is enough. I can confirm I have now handed in a formal transfer request," Lookman wrote on social media. Lookman said Atalanta were "blocking the opportunity" of him leaving the club "for reasons I do not understand". The Nigeria international joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig in 2022. He scored his first career hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final victory against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin. Lookman has scored 52 goals in 117 appearances for the Italian side.

Marta scored two late goals as Brazil defended their Copa America Femenina title with a penalty shootout victory over Colombia A pulsating final in Quito, Ecuador, saw Colombia take the lead three times only for Brazil to peg them back on each occasion. Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo gave Colombia a first-half lead with a low, close-range finish, before Angelina equalised from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. Brazil defender Tarciane scored a bizarre own goal when her attempted back pass went straight past goalkeeper Lorena, before Amanda Gutierres controlled a cross with her chest and volleyed into the bottom corner to level the score once more. Chelsea's Mayra Ramirez thought she had scored a late winner for Colombia, but late substitute Marta rifled in a superb equaliser from long range in the sixth minute of injury time. The 39-year-old retired from international football after Brazil won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but manager Arthur Elias recalled her to his squad for pre-tournament friendlies in May. Six-time Fifa Player of the Year Marta gave Brazil their first lead of the day midway through extra time when she connected with a teasing cross, only for Colombia midfielder Leicy Santos to curl a free-kick into the top corner and force penalties. Both sides scored four of their opening six penalties - Marta had the chance to win it but saw her effort saved by Katherine Tapia. The shootout went to sudden death with Brazil goalkeeper Lorena saving from Jorelyn Carabali to secure victory.

French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Moroccan international denies The Nanterre prosecutor’s office told AFP that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court. “It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order,” the prosecutor’s office told AFP in a statement. Hakimi, 26, played a major role in PSG’s run to their first Champions League title, the full-back scoring the opener in the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final in May. Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic progress to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March, 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman. Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday. The woman went to a police station following the encounter alleging rape and was questioned by police. Although the woman refused to make a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against the player. She told police at the time that she had met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram. On the night in question she said she had travelled to his house in a taxi paid for by Hakimi. She told police Hakimi had started kissing her and making non-consensual sexual advances, before raping her, a police source told AFP at the time. She said she managed to break free to text a friend who came to pick her up. Contacted by AFP after Friday’s development Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin described the call by prosecutors for a trial as “incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case’s elements”. “We, along with Achraf Hakimi, remain as calm as we were at the start of the proceedings. If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal,” she continued. According to Colin, her client had “been the target of an attempted extortion”. “Nothing in this case suggests an attempted extortion. My client welcomes this news with immense relief,” Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman, said. “We will not tolerate any smear or destabilisation campaign, as is unfortunately still too often the case for women who have the courage to report the rape of which they are victims,” she told AFP. The son of a cleaning lady and a street vendor, both Moroccans who have lived in Spain since the 1980s, Hakimi was born in Getafe, a southern suburb of Madrid. Hakimi came through the youth system at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018. He went on to make 73 appearances for the German club. He moved to Inter Milan in 2020 and then on to PSG in 2021 where he has established himself as an integral part of the team. In Qatar, Hakimi was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min says he will leave the club this summer after 10 years The South Korea international joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. He was captain when Tottenham beat Manchester United in the Europa League final in May to clinch their first trophy in 17 years. The 33-year-old, who is under contract with Spurs until 2026, is in advanced negotiations with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. Son described the decision as "the most difficult one I have made in my career" as he spoke to media alongside new manager Thomas Frank. "I came to north London as a kid - a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English. Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment," Son said. Tottenham are in Seoul as part of their pre-season preparations, with Son set to start and skipper the side against Newcastle in their friendly on Sunday - meaning his final appearance for the club could come in his home country. Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou as head coach in June, described Son as "a true Spurs legend" and "one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League". "If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful ending," Frank said. Tottenham also face Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup on 13 August, but Son may depart by then.

Newcastle United have rejected an opening offer from Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak The Magpies value the Sweden international at about £150m, with the Reds' offer falling below that figure. There has been no confirmation as to the level of Liverpool's bid but there are reports it is worth £110m plus add-ons. Isak was left out of the Newcastle squad for their pre-season tour of Asia as he wants to explore a move away - despite the club qualifying for this season's Champions League. The bid from Liverpool has been lodged while Isak trains alone at former club Real Sociedad, amid continued uncertainty around his future. The 25-year-old joined Newcastle in a £60m move from La Liga club Real Sociedad in 2022. It was reported in July that Liverpool were considering a move for Isak worth up to £130m. Newcastle have maintained he is not for sale this summer, but that has not prevented Liverpool from taking a major interest. The Premier League champions made an approach to Newcastle last month and have now lodged an official bid. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will make an improved bid for Isak, but manager Arne Slot is very keen to add the striker to his squad before the new season. There have already been a number of additions to the Dutchman's squad during a heavy summer of spending by the Anfield club. They have signed Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Armin Pecsi for a combined total of about £265m without add-ons. Meanwhile, regular first-teamers Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and Trent Alexander-Arnold have departed for an initial £115m.

Mohamed Salah has penned a goodbye message to his former Liverpool teammate, Luis Diaz following his move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich Diaz signed a four-year deal with Bayern to bring his three-and-a-half-year stay at Anfield to an end. The 28-year-old was left out of Liverpool’s pre-season match against AC Milan on Saturday because of speculation over his future. According to BBC Sport, having rejected Bayern’s opening offer of £58.6m earlier this month, Liverpool accepted a follow-up bid of £65.5m over the weekend and gave Diaz permission to have a medical with the club. The winger leaves the Reds as a Premier League champion, having won four pieces of major silverware during his time at the club. The Colombian international said his exit would have been the “perfect goodbye” if not for the death of team-mate Diogo Jota earlier this month. Reacting to Diaz’s move, Salah wrote on his X handle: “Your energy, drive, and passion on the pitch have left a mark that won’t be forgotten. We were truly lucky to have you at Liverpool, and it’s been an honour to share part of your journey and success story. “As a teammate, you were more than reliable — you were inspiring. As a friend, even more so. We all saw the strength it took to keep going through the tough times off the pitch. What you went through would’ve broken most, but you came back strong and gave everything for the club. That kind of resilience sets an example for others and earns nothing but respect. “Wishing you all the best for what’s next, Lucho,” Salah concluded.

New Arsenal signing Viktor Gyokeres says he just wants to do his own thing after taking the number 14 shirt previously worn by the club's all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry The 27-year-old completed his transfer - worth up to £64m (73m euros) - on Saturday, ending the Gunners' hunt for a striker to help their quest to lift a trophy for the first time since the FA Cup in 2020 in Mikel Arteta's first season. Henry's 228 goals in 377 games made him synonymous with Arsenal's number 14 shirt. And speaking before what could be his first match in Arsenal colours in Hong Kong against rivals Tottenham on Thursday, Gyokeres says it was an "easy" choice to make when selecting his squad number. "Of course I know about the history. To be honest there weren't so many numbers available. There weren't too many to pick from," said Gyokeres. "But of course, that one was available. So when I knew that it was an easy choice to take it." Henry won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Premier League Golden Boot four times with Arsenal, but Gyokeres is not worried about any comparisons that may come between the two. "I don't know. It's not really my intention to be compared with what he's achieved in his career," he said. "Especially here. I just want to do my own thing and show my qualities. Of course he was an amazing player, but different from me. I just want to try to do my own thing." Arteta said he felt the number would be a good fit for Gyokeres after their initial meeting. "I use the word conviction and that's the first thing that I noticed when I spoke to him. Someone very determined, someone that was already really attached to the club the way he was talking about the club, the history and in this case Thierry and what the shirt represented. He straight away felt it, and when you feel it - go for it," he explained. There has been a huge fan reaction to Gyokeres' signing with purchases of his replica shirt breaking club records. "Of course it's great to see. It's very nice. Of course that gives you extra motivation. I think I have enough expectations on myself. I'll just try to perform anyway," he added.

Barcelona have announced that a new four-year strategic partnership has been agreed with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) As part of the sponsorship deal, Barcelona’s professional teams will wear “R.D. Congo — Coeur d’Afrique” on the back of their training shirts for the next four seasons and the Spotify Camp Nou will host the House of the DR Congo at their facilities. “This agreement signifies a shared commitment to fostering multi-sport development within the DRC,” the Catalan giants said in a statement (via ESPN) on Wednesday. “And as part of it this collaboration the club will contribute to enriching the training of the country’s young athletes by transferring its ecosystem of values, an indisputable pillar of the Barça model and style. “FC Barcelona, through the Barça Academies system, will create and develop a program of sports activities — including camps and clinics — aimed at children in the region to encompass structured and inclusive development across several key disciplines: Football, Basketball, Handball, Futsal, and Roller Hockey.” Although Barcelona did not disclose the amount it will receive for the deal, recent reports claimed it is worth more than €40 million ($45m). Last month, Serie A giants AC Milan and Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco also agreed similar partnership deals with the DR Congo.

Victor Osimhen can’t hide his excitement after arriving in Istanbul on Wednesday night ahead of his permanent transfer to Galatasaray The Nigeria international touched down at the airport with his wife, and daughter. He was mobbed by thousands of fans and a horde of journalists. “I don’t know how to describe my feelings. I’m so excited, I’ve arrived at the place I love. I’m at home and I’m very happy. I’m happy to be back here. I thank the president, the vice president, George Gardi and Okan Buruk. I thank the fans who wanted me,” he declared. “I’m happy to continue with Galatasaray. My story continues.” Galatasaray Vice President Abdullah Kavukcu also spoke on the Osimhen transfer. “My president and I believed in this and started it in January. We worked hard to raise the money, without selling anything. We’re paying a certain portion upfront and will cover the entire amount within a year. We said Galatasaray had the capacity to pay this, and we did it,” Kavukcu said. “The final signings will be finalized on Thursday. Some people called us PR people. We expect those who did will pay us. The responsibility now falls on our fans. Galatasaray is huge! We achieved this without asking anyone for money. As for the other transfers, the fans should remain calm, believe in us, and trust us.” Osimhen will put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Turkish Super Lig champions.

The NBA is heading to Europe for at least six games in the next three years, the league announced on Wednesday That starts with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic playing in Berlin on Jan. 15 and then in London on Jan. 18 in this coming season. That game in Berlin will be the NBA's first regular season game in Germany, and it will feature German-born brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner. "To have the Orlando Magic and the NBA play a regular-season game in our hometown of Berlin means everything to us," the brothers said in a statement. "Growing up here, we dreamed of moments like this. It's a huge honor to represent Berlin and Germany and show how much the city and country love basketball. We hope we can inspire kids the way we were inspired watching games from afar."' In 2026-27, the NBA will play games in Manchester, England, and Paris, then in the 2027-28 season it will be Berlin and Paris. The games will be played at Berlin's Uber Arena, London's The O2, Manchester's Co-op Live and Paris' Accor Arena. "Announcing the next three season's regular-season games in Europe reflects the incredible momentum and appetite for NBA basketball in France, Germany, the UK, and across the region," George Aivazoglou, the NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming the Grizzlies and the Magic to Berlin and London and to engaging fans, players and the local communities through the games and the surrounding events." The NBA is banking on that appetite, as these games come while the association is working toward launching an NBA-branded league in Europe, something NBA owners seem more eager to do in the next handful of years than expanding the league to cities such as Seattle or Las Vegas. The form of this European league is still being decided — it likely would be a mix of existing teams and some new, expansion ones — and would be direct competition with the existing EuroLeague. Whatever happens with the new league, the NBA will continue to play games on the continent and will try to grow its brand and presence there. The 2025-26 season gets under way on Tuesday, 21 October.

Victor Osimhen is set to undergo his medical examination on Thursday (today) as Galatasaray prepare to finalise the Nigerian striker’s €75m permanent transfer from Napoli, with thousands of fans expected to welcome him at Istanbul airport According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Osimhen arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday with all signatures completed, paving the way for his medical to take place today before the official announcement of his move to the Turkish giants. “Victor Osimhen, on his way to Istanbul as new Galatasaray player!” the Italian wrote on X accompanied with the striker’s pictures. “Here, Victor with vice president Abdullah Kavuçku and George Gardi who worked on the deal.” The Super Eagles striker has already shown his excitement about the transfer by posting on his social media accounts. Osimhen first shared a photo featuring the Galatasaray logo and a lion image, before posting a video of himself boarding the plane to Istanbul. Galatasaray are now counting the hours to complete what they describe as ‘the bomb of the year’ after reaching an agreement on all terms with both Napoli and the player’s representatives. The Turkish publication Fanatik had reported that Abdullah Kavukcu, vice president of Galatasaray, travelled to Italy earlier this week to complete the transfer negotiations and was expected to return to Istanbul with the Nigerian star. Under the terms of the deal, Galatasaray will pay Napoli €40m upfront, with the remaining €35m to be settled in two instalments by the end of 2026. A significant clause has been inserted into Osimhen’s contract, preventing him from returning to Serie A until 2027. The 25-year-old striker has agreed to a four-year deal with the Yellow-Reds, earning an annual salary of €16m, making him one of the highest-paid players in Turkish football history. Galatasaray are planning a grand unveiling ceremony for Osimhen during their home match against Lazio on Saturday, with the club’s management eager to present their marquee signing to the passionate fanbase at the Türk Telekom Stadium. The anticipation among Galatasaray supporters has reached fever pitch, with thousands expected to gather at Istanbul airport to welcome their new star striker, demonstrating the massive excitement surrounding this transfer. Osimhen’s arrival represents a major coup for Turkish football and Galatasaray’s ambitions both domestically and in European competition. The striker enjoyed a stellar previous season with the Lions, appearing in 41 matches across all competitions, scoring an impressive 37 goals and providing eight assists. The completion of this transfer will end months of speculation about Osimhen’s future, with the Nigeria international having been linked with several top European clubs before deciding to continue his career in Turkey. With the medical scheduled for today and the paperwork already finalised, Galatasaray fans can finally celebrate securing one of Africa’s most coveted strikers on a permanent basis.

Chelsea have agreed a deal for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato for an initial fee of £37m, subject to the Dutch club's supervisory board approval The 19-year-old Dutchman is expected to sign a seven-year contract lasting until 2032 and will complete a medical, having been given the green light to travel to west London. Chelsea consider Hato a talented young option to add competition to the backline, where he is capable of playing at either left-back or in central defence. Hato made his senior debut for Ajax in February 2023 at just 16 years and 335 days old, making him the third-youngest player ever to feature in an Eredivisie game for the club He has made 75 appearances for the Eredivisie side and made his senior debut for the Netherlands in 2023. Ajax have decided to sell him, with a need to raise funds after a two-year hiatus from the substantial revenues of the Champions League. They will return to Europe's top-tier competition this season. Chelsea are believed to be close to finishing their summer business but remain in the market for another attacker, having held talks with the representatives of RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons without making a formal bid. They are also aiming to make further player sales with Christopher Nkunku likely to leave, as well as an openness to sell striker Nicolas Jackson for the right price. There also remains a squad of unwanted players training separately from Enzo Maresca's first team, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has completed a long-anticipated switch to Turkish giants Galatasaray SK in a deal worth €75 million, bringing to an end his time at Serie A side Napoli The 26-year-old forward touched down in Istanbul on Wednesday evening, July 30, 2025, to a rapturous welcome from thousands of Galatasaray fans who trooped to the airport to celebrate his return. Galatasaray confirmed Osimhen’s signing via social media posts that included footage of his arrival and images from the airport. The club had earlier teased the announcement and even livestreamed the Nigerian international’s flight to Istanbul, heightening excitement among supporters. Osimhen previously spent the 2024/2025 season on loan at Galatasaray, where his performances convinced the club’s management to push for a permanent transfer. The deal with SSC Napoli is reported to be structured around an initial €40 million payment this summer, with a further €35 million due in 2026. An additional €5 million in performance-related bonuses brings the total package to €75 million. Osimhen, who helped Napoli to a Serie A title in 2023, leaves Italy as one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe. His move to Galatasaray marks a significant coup for the Istanbul club as they prepare for a new campaign both domestically and in Europe.

Anthony Joshua’s trainer Ben Davison is not excited about a potential fight between his charge and Jake Paul, warning there is a serious risk attached to such a bout and questioning the safety aspects of the proposed matchup Davison knocked those calling for the fight, insisting that safety must come first and expressing concern that the possibility of something going wrong should be enough to stop the fight from happening. Speaking to Boxing Scene, Davison said, “I don’t like all that (a fight with Paul). First and foremost, how can people even talk about that? Two, where’s the safety aspect in boxing? Do you know what I mean? There is a serious risk with something going wrong. “Unfortunately, it might take something like that for people to be like, ‘Hold on, we’ve got to reconfigure this’. But somebody would pass it, someone would allow it, somebody would sanction it.” The YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul is coming off an impressive points decision victory over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Chavez Jr at the end of June, which saw him subsequently ranked at number 14 in the WBA cruiserweight rankings. However, Paul appears to have temporarily abandoned his pursuit of a cruiserweight world title in favour of calling out Joshua, with the two having shared exchanges both publicly and privately. Joshua suffered a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September last year and has since undergone surgery on his elbow. The former two-time heavyweight champion has been linked with several names for his comeback fight, including Martin Bakole and Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka. Promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted that Joshua’s return could take place before the end of the year, whilst a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury is being targeted for 2026. Davison agrees that Joshua may need time to ease back into competition following his extended absence from the sport due to injuries and operations, but has not ruled out jumping straight into a major fight. “I think you have to see how he feels. It’s been a long time – he’s had operations, injuries,” Davison explained. “It might be a case of he might need a tune-up. Again, in the heavyweights, the landscape can change so quickly, and if an opportunity pops up and you’re ready, you never know.”

Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Colombia international Luis Díaz from Liverpool The deal is worth €75 million ($88m), inclusive of add-ons. He becomes Bayern's third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah and Hoffenheim midfielder Tom Bischof. Díaz missed Liverpool's friendly defeat against AC Milan on Saturday due to ongoing speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield and was granted permission to leave the preseason tour of Asia on Sunday. Díaz first signalled a wish to leave Liverpool in the summer of 2024 -- with his existing deal due to expire in 2027 -- but the club held firm while assessing both the squad and the market. Luis Díaz scored 41 goals in 148 games for Liverpool. Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images Two separate attempts to agree to a contract extension failed due to a gap between offers and demands. There has been extensive interest in the player all summer, with Liverpool previously rejecting advances from both Barcelona and Bayern and insisting the player was not available. The club rejected a €67.5m bid from Bayern earlier this month but, after the German champions returned with an improved offer, Liverpool reluctantly agreed to sanction his departure. Díaz enjoyed the most productive season of his Liverpool career last term, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and helping Arne Slot's side win the Premier League title. The forward joined the club from FC Porto in January 2022 in a deal rising up to €49m and scored 41 goals in 148 appearances. His departure will help balance out some of Liverpool's spending this summer, with the Premier League champions spending around £290m on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Hugo Ekitike. It also brings the revenue generated from player transfers up to £190m under sporting director Richard Hughes, who took up the role last summer. Liverpool could now formalise their interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, whose availability Slot's slide enquired about earlier this month. The 25-year-old was left out of Newcastle's preseason tour to Asia after suffering a thigh injury but Isak has also informed the club he wants to explore a move away from St. James' Park.

Victor Osimhen will undergo his Galatasaray medical on Thursday for the €75m move from Napoli. According to authoritative transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, the Nigeria international will land in Istanbul on Wednesday (today). All documents relating to the deal have been counter-signed. Osimhen spent last season on loan with Galatasaray , scoring 37 goals and providing eight assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. The 26-year-old rejected lucrative offers from Saudi club Al-Hilal to join Okan Buruk’s side. Galatasaray agreed to activate the €75m release clause in Osimhen’s contract to seal the deal. The Yellow and Reds will pay €40m upfront , and the remaining €35m by the end of 2026. Napoli are entitled to up to €5m in bonuses and retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause. There is also crucially an anti-Serie A clause included, preventing Osimhen from joining one of their competitors within the next two years.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to return to Marseille after a season in Saudi Arabia, the Ligue 1 club said in a statement on Tuesday The 36-year-old striker will arrive in southern France late on Wednesday, according to OM. Aubameyang, a former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea forward, previously played for Marseille during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. He moved to Al-Qadsiah after Marseille failed to qualify for Europe, but has ended his contract with the Saudi Pro League side. Aubameyang is the Gabon national team’s all-time leading scorer with 35 goals. His other former clubs include AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, while he has won several major trophies, including the 2022/23 La Liga title with Barcelona. Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 last term behind champions Paris Saint-Germain to qualify for the Champions League.

The global football governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have announced the date and venue for the draw of the 2026 World Cup Las Vegas will play host to the 2026 World Cup draw on December 5, according to multiple reports on Tuesday, with The Sphere serving as the ceremony site. ESPN and TUDN’Mexico said Vegas had been picked for the draw of the expanded 48-team event, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. In all, 12 groups of four nations will be drawn. When the United States played host to the 1994 World Cup, the draw ceremony was also conducted in Las Vegas. ESPN’s report said that The Sphere, a 17,500-seat venue which opened in 2023 and boasts a screen of 54,000 square meters, was seen as the front-runner for the draw site. In 1994, the draw was staged in Las Vegas even though it was not a host city for any matches, a situation that is also the case for next year’s event.

Jake Paul’s eye-watering $40m demand has cast serious doubt over a proposed blockbuster bout against Anthony Joshua, with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn declaring the fight is not happening Barely a week ago, there was optimism around the possibility of a December showdown between the former heavyweight champion and the American YouTuber-turned-boxer. Hearn had previously suggested that Joshua was open to squeezing in a fight with Paul before a potential clash with Tyson Fury in 2026. He also confirmed that Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh had been engaged in preliminary discussions to facilitate the bout. But Hearn has since backtracked, telling Boxing Social that Paul’s financial expectations have derailed the talks. “Jake Paul wants $40m to fight Anthony Joshua. It’s not happening. I don’t believe Jake Paul is serious. I don’t trust that he would take the fight. I think Francis Ngannou would destroy him, let alone AJ,” Hearn said, expressing skepticism about Paul’s intentions. Although the search for Joshua’s December opponent continues, Paul is no longer a viable option, according to the promoter. “We want AJ to fight in December, and we’re looking at a number of names. Jake Paul just isn’t one of them right now. We are ready for December, but Jake Paul is not an easy opponent to negotiate with.” The pair, who once stood on opposite ends of a legal dispute, had seemingly patched things up after Hearn dropped a $100m defamation suit against Paul earlier this year. The legal row stemmed from Paul’s allegation that Hearn paid judge Glenn Feldman to favour Matchroom fighters. The resolution of that case paved the way for both parties to work together on the Katie Taylor–Amanda Serrano trilogy, but that temporary peace appears not to have extended to serious talks about a Joshua–Paul fight. From a commercial standpoint, a bout between Joshua and Paul would likely generate massive interest across both sides of the Atlantic. With a possible 90,000-seat Wembley gate, the financial incentive for all involved remains compelling. But Hearn insists that without a realistic negotiation framework, such hype remains nothing more than fantasy. Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), now 35, is hoping to bounce back from his shock fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois last September in a failed bid to become a three-time world champion. While no longer a central figure in the title scene, the British-Nigerian remains a massive draw and is keen to make the most of the remaining years of his career. The long-discussed all-British mega-fight against Tyson Fury may finally materialise in 2026, particularly now that Fury is no longer holding the belts. Still, it hasn’t stopped Fury from stirring the pot regarding Paul’s potential. “I think Jake Paul knocks him out. I just think Jake Paul would knock AJ out. I think AJ is a spent force, and I think Jake Paul is on the rise,” Fury told The Ring. While Fury’s comments are sure to raise eyebrows, the likelihood of Paul stepping into the ring with Joshua appears more distant than ever, unless the American drastically lowers his price tag.

Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea has disclosed that he can’t wait to face Manchester United in a preseason friendly game Recall that De Gea, after penning an initial 12 month deal last summer, has recently inked a new three-year contract to 2028. Speaking with the club’s website, De Gea, who is in England with Fiorentina for their preseason training camp, stated that he’ll be delighted to face his former club. “The match against Manchester will be very special for me. I played in England for many years and I’m happy to be able to play against English teams and obviously against Manchester.” “I like the fans, the team, and the city, which is incredible. I’m happy here and I think we can have a great season together. Being here from day one is better for me, I know all the players and it’s easier than arriving late in the transfer window. It’s wonderful to train in this weather, it’s perfect.”

Goalkeeper James Trafford has rejoined Manchester City from Burnley in a deal which the Clarets say is a new record fee for a British goalkeeper According to reports from sources around Manchester City, the move is worth £27m plus add-ons. However, Burnley sources put the figure at £31m plus add-ons and a sell-on clause. That would take the deal above the previous record of £30m which Everton paid Sunderland for Jordan Pickford in 2017. City academy graduate Trafford, 22, signed for the Clarets for up to £19m in July 2023. He impressed last season as Scott Parker's side won promotion back to the Premier League - keeping 29 clean sheets across 45 Championship games - and was named in the division's team of the year. Announcing his departure, Burnley said "the move to City is a record transfer fee for a British goalkeeper and a club record sale". City had a buy-back clause for Trafford and also matching rights, allowing them to equal any offer from another club. They moved for the player following a £27m bid from Newcastle - and Trafford opted for a return to Manchester. He has signed a five-year contract with the option for another year at Etihad Stadium, and will wear the number one shirt.

Al-Nassr have agreed a deal worth up to £43.7m for Chelsea forward Joao Felix The 25-year-old has been given permission to travel to Riyadh for his medical to complete the move. Felix will link up with fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi Pro League side after they saw off interest from his former club Benfica. Chelsea recoup the £45m they paid Atletico Madrid for Felix last summer, having also sent the attacker out on loan to AC Milan for six months in January for a £5m loan fee. The Blues, who won the Club World Cup this month, have already sold goalkeepers Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga and winger Noni Madueke to balance the books this summer. They have raised about £130m with further players like forward Raheem Sterling, left-back Ben Chilwell, midfielder Renato Veiga and striker Armando Broja currently up for sale. Chelsea have spent £212m on signings like striker Liam Delap, winger Jamie Gittens and forward Joao Pedro with interest in midfielder Xavi Simons and defender Jorrel Hato ongoing. However, they are also under pressure from Uefa to come out of the summer with a "positive transfer balance" after being initially fined £27m with conditions placed on the club to comply with rules, or risk not being able to register new signings for the Champions League this season.

Luis Diaz is set to join Bayern Munich after the German champions agreed a deal worth 75m euro including add-ons with Liverpool Liverpool rejected an initial bid of £58.6m from Bayern for the Colombia forward earlier this month. Diaz, 28, was left out of Liverpool's squad for Saturday's 4-2 pre-season friendly defeat by AC Milan in Hong Kong because of speculation surrounding his future. He has been given permission by Liverpool to fly to Europe from Asia to complete a medical in the coming days. Liverpool have signed forwards Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike already this summer and are interested in Newcastle United's Alexander Isak. Diaz arrived at Anfield from Porto in a deal worth an initial £37m in January 2022 and has scored 41 goals in 148 appearances, including 13 as the Reds won the Premier League title last season. His 17 goals in all competitions in 2024-25 was the most prolific season of his career. Bayern won their 34th Bundesliga title last season and scored a league-high 99 goals, but only made it to the last 16 of the German Cup and exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals. Diaz will provide an attacking option for the Bavarian side, who will be without forward Jamal Musiala for a "long period" after he suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle at the Club World Cup.

England cemented their place in history with a stunning penalty-shootout victory over Spain to retain their European title at Euro 2025 Chloe Kelly, who scored the iconic winner at Wembley in the final of Euro 2022, was the hero again as she converted the decisive spot-kick to seal victory after Spain had missed three in a row, with Hannah Hampton saving two of them. It is the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil and seals manager Sarina Wiegman's status as one of the world's greatest with her third successive European title - achieved with two countries. The Lionesses also became the first side to win a single-legged Euros final having been behind at half-time, proving they are the ultimate comeback queens. They looked down and out when they trailed for a fourth time at Euro 2025, having conceded first in all three knockout matches - but they would not allow their story to end in such a feeble manner. Mariona Caldentey's first-half header had put Spain in control, but it did little to dampen England's unwavering belief and they refused to be beaten. Substitute Kelly's introduction changed things when she came on for a struggling Lauren James, named in the starting XI by Wiegman despite doubts over an ankle injury in the build-up. Kelly's whipped cross picked out Alessia Russo, who headed the ball into the far corner to make it 1-1. The Lionesses then dug deep, putting in endless blocks and playing for a shootout, knowing they had what it took to deliver under pressure and complete the greatest achievement by an England team.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons came from behind to secure a dramatic 3–2 victory over Morocco in a thrilling Women’s Africa Cup of Nations clash played on Saturday Morocco took an early lead through Ghizlane Chebbak in the 12th minute, and doubled their advantage when Sanaâ Mssoudy found the back of the net in the 24th minute. However, Nigeria responded with a determined second-half performance that turned the game around. Esther Okoronkwo pulled one back for Nigeria in the 64th minute from the penalty spot, before Folashade Florence Ijamilusi levelled the scoreline with a goal in the 71st minute. Jennifer Echegini completed the comeback with a late winner in the 88th minute, sealing the Super Falcons’ win. Nigeria edged Morocco in most of the match statistics, recording 14 shots compared to Morocco’s 10, with five of those on target. The Super Falcons also held 55% possession, completed 280 passes with a 69% accuracy rate, and had five corners against Morocco’s three. Despite the high intensity, the game was fair with no yellow or red cards issued. Nigeria committed seven fouls, while Morocco had 12.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White says he wants to be "part of something special" after signing a new three-year contract at the City Ground The 25-year-old's future was uncertain after Tottenham expressed an interest in the England international. BBC Sport reported earlier this month that Gibbs-White was set to have a medical as Spurs looked to trigger a £60m release clause in his contract. But Forest have been considering legal action against the north London club, looking at whether a specific confidentiality agreement in the release clause had been breached. In a social media post announcing the new contract, Nottingham Forest described it as a "record deal" for the club. Gibbs-White had two years left on his previous deal after joining Forest from Wolves in a move worth up to £42.5m in August 2022. He has scored 18 goals and provided 28 assists in 118 games for the Reds, helping the club finish seventh last season and qualify for Europe. "I've felt at home at Forest from the moment I arrived," said Gibbs-White. "The support from the fans, my team-mates, and everyone around the club has been unbelievable. "I believe in what we're building here – and with the backing of [owner] Mr Marinakis and the enormous ambition he has, I want to be part of making something special. I'm excited for what's to come." Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said: "There was significant interest from various clubs, but we were determined to build our future with Morgan at the heart of it. "I promised our fans we would not only compete, but grow stronger and stronger every season. Today is another big step in that journey." Earlier this month, sources told BBC Sport that Forest were furious at Tottenham's conduct in their pursuit of the England international, and insisted the threat to take legal action was genuine. Forest are understood to have insisted they had not given Spurs permission to speak to Gibbs-White, and were willing to go to any necessary lengths to prevent the transfer taking place. Under Premier League rules, clubs are not allowed to talk to players under contract with another team unless they have permission. Gibbs-White returned to pre-season training as normal despite the speculation and has played in friendly matches against Monaco and Fulham.

Lionel Messi is extremely upset after he and his Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba were given one-match bans for skipping Major League Soccer's All-Star game earlier this week. Both players missed Wednesday's match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement on Friday. As a result, the duo will now miss Miami's home league fixture against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said of Messi's response to the ban: "He's very upset, extremely upset, as expected. "I'm hopeful it doesn't have an impact long-term. Will it have an impact initially, in the players' perception of how the league rules work? Absolutely no doubt." Mas said of Alba and Messi: "The reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don't understand the decision, who don't understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension. "The rule is what it is, but they don't understand it. I think that the punishment for the rule is frankly draconian." MLS commissioner Don Garber said suspending Messi was a "very difficult decision". He added: "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. "I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for MLS than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game and we had to enforce it." Argentina legend Messi, 38, has scored 18 goals in as many appearances for Javier Mascherano's side in the MLS this season, while Alba, 36, has featured 19 times in the league. The duo, who also played together at Barcelona from 2012 to 2021, were also part of the Miami side's run to the quarter-finals of the Fifa Club World Cup. Since their exit from the tournament at the hands of eventual finalists Paris St-Germain, Miami have played five matches this month with Messi scoring eight times. Speaking to ESPN earlier in the day, Miami head coach Mascherano said the forward had "showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing", adding that "players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days".

Manchester City are set to re-sign English goalkeeper James Trafford for £27m, two years after he left to join Burnley The 22-year-old City academy graduate signed for the Clarets in July 2023 in deal worth up to £19m with add-ons. He impressed last season as Scott Parker's side won promotion back to the Premier League, keeping 29 clean sheets across 45 Championship games, and was named in the division team of the year. City had a buy-back clause for Trafford but also matching rights, allowing them to match any offer from another club. They have done so following a £27m bid from Newcastle and Trafford has opted for a return to Manchester. The England Under-21 international is expected to sign a five-year contract at Etihad Stadium with the option for another year. He will be the fourth goalkeeper at City manager Pep Guardiola's disposal, with Ederson, Stefan Ortega and Marcus Bettinelli already at the club. It is anticipated Trafford will challenge Brazil international Ederson, who has been first-choice goalkeeper for eight years, for the number one spot. Ederson is in the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, yet just last month he called rumours of a departure "99% fake news". City have not received any bids for the 31-year-old yet, while there are doubts about the future of German Ortega as such competition for a place can not guarantee him game time. Trafford signed for City's academy in 2015 but never made a first-team appearance and spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers. He has appeared for Burnley 73 times, including 28 in the Premier League in the 2023-24 season. Trafford has represented England from U17s to U21 level and was part of the winning European U21 Championship squad of 2023, in which he kept six clean sheets and did not concede a goal. He received his first senior call-up for international duty in 2024 but has yet to make his debut for the senior team. If he returns to the Etihad he will be City's sixth signing of the window after midfielders Tijjani Reijnders (initial fee of £46.5m), Rayan Cherki (initial fee of £30.45m) and Sverre Nypan (£12.5m); left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (£31m) and Bettinelli (nominal fee). They also spent £200m in the January transfer window to boost their squad following significant injuries across the pitch.

Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in case Alexander Isak departs this summer Isak has not travelled with the Magpies for their pre-season tour of Asia as he considers his future at the club amid interest from Liverpool. Sesko was heavily linked with Arsenal until the Gunners shifted their focus to Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres. Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea were also keeping tabs on the Slovenia international earlier in the window. Newcastle will only attempt to sign the 22-year-old, who scored 13 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances last season, if Isak leaves. Newcastle said Isak, 25, didn't travel to Singapore with the rest of the squad due to a "minor thigh injury". Isak scored 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for Newcastle last season and his exit would leave the north east of England club outfit lacking options in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a £15million offer for captain Son Heung-min, according to reports The South Korea star’s future in North London is in doubt with him being a target for Major League Soccer (MLS) Los Angeles FC. Spurs have already been active in the transfer market for new manager Thomas Frank. The club have brought in West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus and are interested in Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White. Son, 33, could head for the exit door as SunSport understands Spurs would accept an offer between £15m and £20m. A potential switch to the MLS would still rely on the Europa League winner agreeing to the move. The former Bayer Leverkusen ace could instead decide to stay and fight for his spot at N17. Son is involved in the discussions over the transfer with all parties. However, a move will not be immediate as Son is likely to stay at Spurs for their fixtures during the pre-season tour of Asia. Last season’s 17th-placed Premier League finishers face Newcastle in Seoul, South Korea on August 3. Despite a disappointing Premier League campaign last season, Son led Spurs to win the Europa League title, thanks to a 1-0 win against Manchester United. It was Spurs’ first major trophy since beating Chelsea 2-1 after extra-time, in the 2007/2008 League Cup final. The Europa League win against United earned Spurs qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Alexander Isak wants to explore his options for a move away from Newcastle this summer after missing their pre-season tour of Asia The club has selected a 30-man squad, but said the Sweden striker "misses out with a minor thigh injury". It is understood some of Europe's top clubs have been aware Isak has been looking to take the next step in his career. A source has told BBC Sport Liverpool are still interested in the 25-year-old, despite signing Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike for an initial £69m. On Saturday Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said Isak would "absolutely" be part of the squad for the games in Singapore and South Korea. Isak scored 27 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle last season. He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Celtic in the first of their pre-season fixtures. Newcastle have maintained Isak is not for sale and, speaking at the weekend, Howe said he was "confident" the player will be at the club at the start of the season. "It's difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player," Howe said after the Celtic game. "Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players he plays with, the staff, the team and I've never had any issue with him." Newcastle had a £70m bid rejected for Ekitike, while they have an interest in Brentford forward Yoane Wissa. Meanwhile, Newcastle defender Lewis Hall, who has not featured since February with a foot injury, has been included in the tour squad. Newcastle face Arsenal on Sunday in Singapore before travelling to South Korea to play a K-League All-Star team on 30 July and Tottenham on 3 August. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said the claims that Isak's absence from their Asia tour are injury-related are "ridiculous". The former England striker, who scored a record 206 goals for the Tyneside club, believes they should have been open about the situation. "It's ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn't on the trip because of a slight thigh injury," said Shearer. "If they thought people wouldn't see through that... it was disappointing. They should have just told the truth straight away. I understand it's a very difficult situation for them, but it is what it is. "Eddie Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year. If that can't happen then it is what it is. You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150m, and if he really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way."

WBO moves fast to ensure a title fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker after Ukrainian's knockout win over Daniel Dubois; Promoter David Higgins said it would be "an outrage" if Parker did not get his chance to take on the undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to fight Joseph Parker next in a mandatory defence of the WBO heavyweight title. Usyk was crowned as the undisputed champion after a fifth-round knockout win over Daniel Dubois on Saturday July 19 and the WBO have moved fast to enforce a title fight, with both parties given 30 days to agree terms or the bout will go to a purse bid. Trilogy fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua had been mentioned for Usyk, but he will now have to face Parker next, or must vacate the WBO belt. "The WBO have actually said that the winner of the fight on Saturday, which was Usyk - that's his mandatory. That's the next mandatory due out of the four belts and it has to take place by the end of the year," promoter Frank Warren said. "Unless he vacates the belt. If he decides to vacate it, then [Parker] will have to fight the No 1." Fellow promoter David Higgins claimed after the fight that Usyk cannot call himself the greatest heavyweight boxer of his era until he fights and beats Parker. "The whole world wants to see Parker fight for a world title," Parker told Sky Sports.

Arsenal say they have secured one of the strongest young defenders in European football after completing the signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia for an initial fee in the region of 15m euros 21-year-old has joined the Gunners on a five-year contract, which has an option for a further 12 months. Mosquera can play at both centre-back and right-back and will fill the gap in the squad left by the departure of Takehiro Tomiyasu, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract earlier this month. The Spain Under-21 international joined Valencia in 2016 as a 12-year-old before making his first-team debut in 2022 when he became the youngest centre-back to play for the club. Mosquera made 90 appearances for Valencia and was a regular for them last season, playing the full match in 37 of the club's 38 La Liga games as they finished 12th. Manager Mikel Arteta described Mosquera as a player with "exciting talent and enormous potential" while sporting director Andrea Berta hailed the defender's long-term prospects. He follows Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke in being added to Mikel Arteta's squad this summer, with Viktor Gyokeres also close to joining the Gunners. Mosquera is set to join up with the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour in Asia as he had already been given permission to travel by Valencia before the deal had been confirmed. Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in Singapore in the National Stadium on Wednesday and take on Newcastle United at the same venue on Sunday. They then travel to Hong Kong to play Tottenham Hotspur before returning to London.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba could face a suspension after withdrawing from Major League Soccer’s All-Star game, multiple US media reports said on Wednesday Argentina superstar Messi and Alba had been due to start for a combined MLS team, which will face a squad representing Mexico’s Liga-MX in Austin on Wednesday. However, US media reported on Wednesday both Messi and Alba had pulled out of the squad. No reason for the withdrawal was given and it could mean Messi and Alba are given a one-game ban unless they have a valid reason for withdrawal, such as an injury. The duo’s participation in the exhibition game had been under a cloud after Miami coach Javier Mascherano indicated at the weekend he wanted Messi and Alba to rest. “The players are called up. I’d prefer they rest, but it’s not my decision,” Mascherano said. “I know how important the All-Star Game is, and as far as I know, there’s no decision from the club – everything continues as normal.” Both Messi, 38, and Alba, 36, have a history of recent injury problems, while Inter Miami has faced a gruelling schedule which included participation in the recent FIFA Club World Cup. MLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Inter Milan are preparing to step up their pursuit of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman with an improved offer, as the club’s American owners, Oaktree, are ready to financially back a fresh bid for their top transfer target According to Corriere dello Sport, the Nerazzurri remain fully focused on bringing the Atalanta player to San Siro despite negotiations reaching a deadlock after initial contacts between the Serie A clubs. Inter have offered €40m for the 26-year-old, whilst Atalanta are demanding €50m and insist on a permanent deal—ruling out any formula involving a loan with obligation to buy. The valuation gap has created an impasse, but Tribuna.com reports that Oaktree’s willingness to support an enhanced bid could prove decisive in the coming weeks. Lookman, who has a contract with Atalanta until 2027, is pushing for the move and has made it clear he wants to join Inter. His stance has already caused Napoli to drop out of the race after testing the waters with his entourage. The forward has reportedly agreed terms on a contract running until 2030 worth €4.5m per season, rejecting more lucrative offers including €5m annually from Napoli. La Gazzetta dello Sport had earlier reported that formal dialogue between the clubs represented “the first real conversation between the two club managements” after what had been a cold standoff. However, Atalanta remain firm on their stance, holding out for €50m and preferring to sell the player to a foreign club, partly due to strong interest from Atlético Madrid. With Kamaldeen Sulemana already signed, Atalanta could now be more open to a sale—provided Inter raise their offer. The Bergamo-based club would have preferred to sell abroad for financial reasons, but Lookman’s insistence on joining Inter may tip the balance. Inter are also working on player sales to boost funds. Aleksandar Stankovic has joined Club Brugge for €9.5m, and more exits are expected, with players like Kristjan Asllani or Mehdi Taremi potentially departing. A new meeting between Lookman and Atalanta’s directors is expected soon, whilst the player is recovering from injury and could be fully fit before the end of the month. The Nigerian has not forgotten last year’s failed move to PSG, which collapsed at the final stage, and is reportedly willing to push for the transfer through confrontational means if negotiations do not progress. A decisive few weeks now await as Inter prepare their next move—determined not to miss out on Lookman again, after Atalanta beat them to the signing of Gianluca Scamacca last summer.

Venus Williams enters the history book, as she became the second oldest woman to win a WTA Tour-level singles match by beating Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open Williams, 45, overcame world number 35 and fellow American Stearns, who is 22 years her junior, 6-3 6-4 in the first round. Williams is the oldest woman to win a singles match on tour since Martina Navratilova at the age of 47 in 2004. Seven-time singles Grand Slam winner Williams, who gained entry to the tournament via a wildcard, had not played since March 2024. Asked if she felt satisfaction in proving people wrong, she said: "No, because I'm not here for anyone else except for me." "I have nothing to prove. Zip. Zero. I'm here for me because I want to be here. And proving anyone wrong or thinking about anyone has never gotten me a win and has never gotten me a loss." Williams, who won 14 Grand Slams in the doubles alongside sister Serena, last won a singles match in August 2023. Although Williams never said she had retired, she was listed by the WTA as 'inactive' after 16 months out. On Monday she made her return in the doubles alongside compatriot Hailey Baptiste as they beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3 6-1 in the last 16. Williams, a former world number one, had won four Grand Slam titles by the time Stearns was born in 2001. "She played some ball tonight. She was moving really well, which I wasn't expecting too much, honestly. Her serves were just on fire," Stearns said. Williams will face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the second round.

Nigeria and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been handed a two-month ban by the Italian Football Federation following a high-profile betting scandal linked to a match against Lazio during the 2023/2024 season The 24-year-old goalkeeper was found guilty of sporting misconduct after allegations emerged that he deliberately sought a yellow card during the league match against Lazio. The suspicious booking triggered an investigation into abnormal betting patterns related to that specific incident. According to a statement from the FIGC, Okoye was accused of intentionally committing an act that led to his caution in order to influence betting outcomes. The case has raised fresh concerns over the integrity of players’ conduct and the growing influence of illegal betting syndicates on professional football. Following a thorough disciplinary inquiry, the FIGC’s National Federal Tribunal officially confirmed its decision on Tuesday, announcing that Okoye would serve a two-month ban from all official matches. The ban will commence from the first official game of the 2025/2026 season. The court statement, issued by the Disciplinary Section of the National Federal Tribunal, read, “The National Federal Tribunal, Disciplinary Section, definitively ruling, imposes on Mr Emil Maduka Okoye the sanction of two (2) months of disqualification in official matches, starting from the beginning of the first official competition of the 2025/2026 sporting season.” This ruling means Okoye will miss six competitive matches, including Udinese’s season opener in the Coppa Italia against Carrarese on August 18, as well as the first five Serie A fixtures. He will become eligible for selection again from October 19 when Udinese face newly promoted Cremonese away from home. The outcome has sparked debate across both Italy and Nigeria, especially given Okoye’s national team status. It also adds to growing scrutiny on the actions of players involved in controversial betting-related misconduct in recent years. Okoye, who previously served as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper and played at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, has not yet publicly commented on the ruling. He has struggled to regain his top form since that tournament and faced criticism for inconsistent performances. The suspension now places further doubt on his chances of reclaiming a regular starting role at both club and international level.

Reigning champions England produced yet another remarkable comeback to reach the Euro 2025 final with a last-gasp victory over Italy in extra time Teenage striker Michelle Agyemang kept England in the tournament when she came off the bench to equalise in the 96th minute of normal time. And, with a minute left in the extra period, fellow substitute Chloe Kelly drilled home the rebound after her penalty was saved to send a delirious England into the final. It was a thrilling ending to another dramatic evening in Switzerland as England's substitutes stole the show once again and Sarina Wiegman's side refused to give up the defence of their title. Agyemang's fairytale story continues as the 19-year-old scored her second goal of the tournament - both from the bench - drilling the ball past goalkeeper Laura Giuliani with precision and composure. Barbara Bonansea put Italy ahead in the first half, before Wiegman turned to her trusted bench for inspiration and they delivered. Wiegman will attempt to win an incredible third straight Euros title as a manager, while her England side are into a third successive major final - and they have taken the scenic route to get there. They will play the winner of Wednesday's semi-final tie between Euro 2022 runners-up Germany and world champions Spain in Basel on Sunday.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, on Tuesday, secured a spot in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a tense semi-final clash The match, played with high intensity, saw the Super Falcons take the lead in the first half through Rasheedat Ajibade, who calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 45th minute to give Nigeria a 1-0 advantage heading into the break. Earlier in the game, South Africa were forced into a substitution in the 26th minute after striker Hildah Magaia was withdrawn due to injury, with Thubelihle Makhubela coming on in her place. South Africa responded strongly in the second half and levelled the score in the 60th minute when Linda Motlhalo converted a penalty to make it 1-1. With the game seemingly headed for extra time, Nigeria found the winner deep into stoppage time. Michelle Alozie struck in the 90+4th minute after a setup from Esther Okoronkwo, sealing a dramatic win for the Falcons. Substitutions from both sides added to the pace and physicality of the match, with the Super Falcons showing greater composure in the final moments. The victory sees Nigeria book a place in the WAFCON final, continuing their dominance on the continental stage and putting them within reach of another title.

Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon, following a full verbal agreement between all parties involved Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal on Tuesday, stating, “Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal, here we go! Verbal agreement in place between all parties involved.” According to Romano, Sporting have accepted Arsenal’s final bid of €63.5 million plus an additional €10 million in add-ons. The striker’s agent is also reported to have agreed to reduce his commission to facilitate the move. Gyökeres will put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the North London club. The 27-year-old forward, who enjoyed an impressive campaign in Portugal, was reportedly determined to make the switch to the Emirates. “He only wanted Arsenal,” Romano added. With personal terms agreed and negotiations finalised, the transfer marks another major move in Arsenal’s summer recruitment drive.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has celebrated victory in the last 16 of the women's doubles at the Washington Open after 16 months away from tennis The 45-year-old former world number one, who accepted a wildcard for the tournament, had not competed since the Miami Open in March 2024 - and last won at the Cincinnati Open in August 2023. Williams and fellow American Hailey Baptiste beat Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue 6-3 6-1. "It was inspiring to be out here," Williams told Sky Sports. "I love this game and still hitting it big." She will face another American, Peyton Stearns, in the first round of the singles competition on Tuesday. Williams, who was playing doubles for the first time in three years, joked she wished she could have partnered with 23-year-old Baptiste, the world number 50, instead of her sister Serena - the 23-time major champion. She said: "I think from the first point I could see that we were going to be a good team. We just should have started playing earlier, years ago, right? I think Serena was just in the way." Venus, who does not have a ranking, won 14 major titles alongside Serena in the women's doubles, as the Williams sisters dominated the sport for many years.

Liverpool have agreed an initial £69m fee to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike The 23-year-old Frenchman is expected to arrive in the UK on Tuesday before having a medical. Frankfurt accepted a deal worth £79m, with £69m guaranteed and £10m in add-ons. Ekitike is expected to sign a six-year contract and will fly out to join Liverpool's Asia tour later this week. Newcastle had a £70m bid for Ekitike rejected this month, while Liverpool have shown an interest in Magpies striker Alexander Isak. Ekitike scored 15 goals in 31 starts as Frankfurt finished third in the Bundesliga last season. His arrival will push Liverpool's spending past £250m this summer. They signed Florian Wirtz for a potential British record £116m, while defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have arrived for a combined £70m. Only five players bettered Ekitike's scoring record in the Bundesliga last season, and he provided eight assists. He had 117 shots on goal, more than any other player.

Nigeria's Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen is now set to undergo a medical ahead of his permanent move to Galatasaray after the Turkish club met all the conditions set by Napoli to sign this summer The agreement for the transfer of the player was reached on Sunday, a day before the deadline set by Napoli. Napoli have set a deadline of Monday (today) for Galatasaray to get their paperwork for Osimhen, having agreed terms on the anti-Serie A clause and percentage issues. Wazobia FM OAP, Onyebuchi Onokala, who has been a top source in the lingering transfer, shared the update on Sunday. “Deal done: Victor James Osimhen to Galatasaray on a permanent move. Final agreement reached between Napoli and Galatasaray for €75m as Galatasaray meets all conditions set by Napoli. “Napoli gets 10 per cent of future sale. Victor battled Napoli to accept the fifth offer. Next is to make plans for medicals.” Italian transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, also reports that the Serie A champions will also get €5m add-ons based on goals scored by the striker. The negotiations dragged on all summer after the Nigerian international spent last season in Istanbul on loan, where he scored a spectacular 37 goals plus eight assists in 41 official appearances. Galatasaray agreed to activate Osimhen’s €75m release clause and pay €40m upfront, and the remaining €35m paid in instalments by June 2026, but the move has been stalled by Galatasaray’s failure to provide bank guarantees. According to Sports Digitale in Turkey, Napoli were worried because they have a bad history with Galatasaray in getting prompt payment for the transfers of Goran Pandev and Blerim Dzemaili, which took place in 2014. Meanwhile, Osimhen has turned down the chance to return to Napoli after also refusing a move to Saudi Arabia. Crucially, Galatasaray also accepted the insertion of a clause forcing them to pay a huge fine if Osimhen is sold to another Serie A side within the next two years. Meanwhile, the €75m release clause, which has scared many suitors away, expired on July 15, but Napoli chose to retain the price. The 26-year-old has been destined to leave Napoli since last summer after falling out with the club’s hierarchy, but the move has stalled even after enjoying a good loan spell last season.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is in Spain to complete a season-long loan move to Barcelona The 27-year-old arrived in Catalonia on Sunday night after getting permission from United to complete the formalities of a move to Barcelona. Images of Rashford arriving in Barcelona on a private jet quickly circulated on social media. Talks between the Spanish giants and United have progressed swiftly in the last week, with a deal being agreed in principle over the weekend. United have now given permission for Rashford to seal the move, which is an initial 12-month loan with an option to buy. Joining Barcelona has been Rashford's preferred option since he declared in December that he was ready for a new challenge after being dropped by United head coach Ruben Amorim. The move will be Rashford's second consecutive loan spell after a six-month stint with Aston Villa in the second half of last season. The forward is expected to complete a medical with the La Liga club early this week, with the aim of being able to join Barcelona's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea on Thursday. Should Rashford join the tour, he could come up against former United team-mate Jesse Lingard. Lingard, 32, is in his second season with K League side FC Seoul, who face Barcelona on 31 July. Another of Rashford's former team-mates, Monaco midfielder Paul Pogba, told YouTuber IShowSpeed: "I'm happy for him because they (United) took his number.

Global football governing body, FIFA have officially announced Chelsea as the ‘first ever’ Club World Cup champions after their triumph in New Jersey on Sunday night Chelsea defeated Champions League winners, and favourites for the Club World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Sunday night thanks to a brace from Cole Palmer who also provided an assist for new signing Joao Pedro for the third goal. It was a shock result, but an emphatic win on the night, with Chelsea now taking home the all-new trophy, as well as a hefty cash prize. However, their success has seemingly had an impact beyond that match, with previous Club World Cup winners now known as ‘FIFA Intercontinental Champions’. As such, though the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are no longer world champions. The competition was first played in 2000 as the Club World Championship, before returning in 2005, and was played annually until 2023, before adopting its current form. This summer’s competition saw it expanded to 32 teams for the first time, having previously been fought between just six (2020) and eight (2000). Four English teams had won the Club World Cup prior to Chelsea’s second crown on Sunday, though they will now seemingly be recorded as FIFA Intercontinental Champions titles. Now according to Daily Mail, FIFA appeared to confirm the news themselves on Sunday night, as they shared a social media photo of Chelsea lifting the trophy with the caption: ‘The first ever FIFA CWC Champions.’ While City won the original competition in 2023, Liverpool lifted it in 2019 and United in 2008. Chelsea had also won it previously in 2021. Real Madrid won it the most times with five – most recently in 2022 – while Barcelona won it four times, and Chelsea, Corinthians, and Bayern Munich twice.

Manny Pacquiao says he wants a rematch against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios after missing out on the title on his return to boxing The 46-year-old Filipino, making his return to the ring four years after retiring, was held to a majority draw by 30-year-old Barrios at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. One judge scored the fight 115-113 in Barrios' favour, while the other two scored it 114-114. Pacquiao, who has won 12 world titles across eight weight divisions, was ahead on the judges' scorecards going into the 10th round but lost the last three. "I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao said. "It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight." Asked if he wants a rematch, he said: "Yes, of course." Pacquiao became the oldest fighter to win the welterweight title when he did so at the age of 40 in 2019. No fighter has won a major world title after being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame - Pacquiao was given the honour in June 2025.

Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his place as one of boxing's greats by stopping Daniel Dubois in round five to become a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium to dash Dubois' dreams of being the first Briton to unify the division in the four-belt era. Usyk, 38, put Dubois down twice in the fifth and the Londoner was unable to return to beat the count the second time round. He also stopped Dubois in 2023 and extended his perfect record as a professional to 24 victories. "I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk told DAZN. "Nothing is next. It's enough. Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest." Dubois - who beat Anthony Joshua to defend his IBF title in September - tasted defeat for the third time in 25 contests as a professional, with each of those losses coming inside the distance. Usyk reclaimed the IBF title, which was stripped from him just weeks after unifying the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts.

Nigeria Super Falcons have qualified for the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 5-0 demolition of Zambia in the quarter-finals on Friday Goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chiwendu Ihezuo and Tosin Demehin earned the nine-time champions the comfortable win. The Super Falcons have now scored eight goals and are yet to concede a single goal. So far, this is the highest scoreline recorded in the ongoing tournament. It is a third win (one defeat) in four meetings for the Nigerian team against Zambia at the WAFCON. The Second Falcons got off to the perfect start as Ohale opened the scoring in the 2nd minute as he headed home Okoronkwo’s free kick. In the 33rd minute, Okoronkwo made it 2-0 with a left-foot strike after using her chest to bring down Rasheedat Ajibade’s cross. Ihezuo added the third goal, capitalising on a poor clearance by the Zambian defence, outmuscled her marker and slotted past the keeper. Demehin got the fourth in the 68th minute, leaping high to head home Okoronkwo’s cross. Then in the 91st minute, Ijamilusi completed the rout as she simply tapped home Ajibade’s low cross. The Super Falcons will now face South Africa or Senegal in the semi-finals.

Another weekend is here again, and the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarterfinal begings as the Women’s Euros last 8 continues. We have selected some fixtures for you to put your money on. Below are our predictions for the weekend: Nigeria W vs. Zambia W - 1X Flamengo vs. Fluminense- O1.5 South Africa W vs Senegal W- 1X Morocco W vs. Mali W - 1X Algeria W vs. Ghana W - O1.5 Sau Paulo vs Corinthians - GG or O2.5 France W vs. Germany W - O2.5 Las Palmas vs. Brighton - GG Sporting Lisbon vs. Sunderland - O1.5 Kashima Antlers vs. Kashiwa Reysol - O1.5

Diogo Jota has been inducted into the Wolverhampton Wanderers Hall of Fame, in a tribute that honours both his remarkable achievements for the club and the deep impact his passing has had on the footballing world Wolves disclosed this in a statement on their website on Thursday. “The Hall of Fame, which is run independently by a committee chaired by Wolves legend John Richards, has moved swiftly to make this rare and heartfelt decision, following the tragic and untimely death of Diogo and his younger brother André,” the club stated. “Inductions into the most coveted part of the club’s museum are typically the result of detailed discussions over many weeks or months, but in this case, the decision was unanimous – a reflection of the overwhelming emotion felt by supporters and the wider football community, and the remarkable legacy Diogo leaves behind.” According to Wolves Hall of Fame chairman and club vice president John Richards:“There is such a feeling of sadness and disbelief around this awful tragedy that we wanted to make this tribute of our own as soon as we could. “Like everyone else, we’ve been stunned by events, and we remember what a wonderful player Diogo was for Wolves during that unforgettable promotion season under Nuno and our early years back in the Premier League. “His record of 44 goals at Wolves, and then 65 at Liverpool as a Premier League title winner, speaks volumes. So many fans across the game – especially in Portugal after he helped them win the Nations League this summer – are feeling his loss deeply. We saw no reason to delay this decision. “We hope it will bring a little comfort to those who were close to Diogo and André, and we trust Wolves supporters will understand that this gesture is made with real love and admiration, and also fully justified.”

Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign striker Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. According to TheAthletic, the two clubs have given the green light to a deal worth around £70 million. The contract with the player had been reached for weeks, after Mbeumo had made it clear that he only wanted a move to the Red Devils. After Matheus Cunha, who was made official a few days ago, Mbeumo becomes Manchester United's next reinforcement. Mbeumo is expected to be officially introduced in the coming days.

British boxer Daniel Dubois has expressed his readiness to beat reigning WBA, WBO, and WBC champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saturday’s undisputed world heavyweight title clash Speaking ahead of the clash, Dubois in a chat with Fox Sports, stated that he’s chasing glory and greatness on Saturday. He also noted that he’s determined to make history by silencing the doubters with a shock win against Usyk. “Right now, I just want to get it on. I’m going to write my own script. They have their own script, I am going to write my own and win these belts and be the man,” said Dubois, who has 21 knockouts in 22 victories with just two defeats on his record. “I’ve prepared right. I’m just on a different level now, I’m ready to come through whatever I need to on Saturday and get all those belts. I am chasing glory and I am chasing greatness. This is history-making and I have just got to do a real demolition job. I’m hungry and ready for it.”

England produced a remarkable comeback to continue the defence of their European title as they beat Sweden in a breathtaking quarter-final penalty shootout. Defender Lucy Bronze, England's seventh penalty taker, slammed her spot-kick into the roof of the net before Sweden's Smilla Holmberg put her effort over the bar at the end of a chaotic shootout. Sweden only scored two of their seven penalties, with England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saving two of them, while her Swedish counterpart Jennifer Falk kept out four spot-kicks and missed a chance to win it when she put her shot over the bar. Victory for Sarina Wiegman's side came after they fought back from 2-0 down with 11 minutes of normal time left, to take the game to extra time in Zurich. Sweden had gone 2-0 up after 25 minutes through captain Kosovare Asllani and Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius as England struggled to create much. But Bronze headed in Chloe Kelly's cross with 11 minutes to go and teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang calmly slotted the ball past Falk from close range moments later. England will face Italy on Tuesday, 22 July for a place in the Euro 2025 final.

Italy captain Cristiana Girelli scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as they beat Norway to set up a potential Euro 2025 semi-final against reigning champions England After a dominant first-half performance, Girelli opened the scoring in the 50th minute before Norway captain Ada Hegerberg recovered from missing a penalty to level the match. However, with the game heading towards extra time, Girelli headed home Sofia Cantore's cross to send her side through to the last four for the first time since 1997, where they will face Sweden or England, who play their quarter-final on Thursday. Italy were the better side throughout the opening 45 minutes and were left to rue missed opportunities at the break, with Arianna Caruso, Girelli, Emma Severini and Lucia di Guglielmo all going close. Girelli broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, touching in Cantore's cross with her left foot from close range, and Italy thought they had doubled their lead a few minutes later when Severini scrambled the ball over the line. However, it was ruled out for offside against Caruso. Norway were handed a golden opportunity to level in the 60th minute when Hegerberg was awarded a penalty after being hauled to the floor by Elena Linari, but for the second time in this tournament she sent her spot-kick wide. However, she made amends six minutes later, coolly slotting the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Laura Giuliani. Momentum swung in Norway's favour following the equaliser, with the best chance for a winner falling to Ingrid Engen, whose curled effort from the edge of the box went just wide, before Girelli popped up in the box late on to spark Italian celebrations.

Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona have handed Lamine Yamal the iconic number 10 Jersey The Catalan giants made the announcement in a post on their X handle on Wednesday. Yamal inherited the number next season from Ansu Fati, who completed a season-long loan move to Ligue 1 club AS Monaco earlier this month. The announcement comes as Yamal faces an investigation from the Spanish government into possible breaches of disability laws following allegations that individuals with dwarfism were hired as entertainers at his 18th birthday party. The confirmation of Yamal’s new number was made at an event with the winger and his family to celebrate his new contract, which was agreed on last month and runs until 2031. Lionel Messi wore the number 10 jersey at Barcelona from 2008 until his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The Argentine great became a legend at the Camp Nou, helping Barcelona win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues while becoming Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. Messi also took over the iconic shirt from legendary Brazilian forward Ronaldinho. Fati succeeded Messi as the No. 10 in 2021 but a series of injuries saw him struggle to maintain his place in the Barça team. Yamal helped Barcelona beat bitter rivals Real Madrid to La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup titles. Also, he played a massive role as Barcelona reached the UEFA Champions League before losing dramatically to Inter Milan in the semi-finals.

There seems to be no end in sight to the transfer saga surrounding Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, with the vice president and son of Napoli owner being sent death threats over the Nigerian’s protracted move Following the constant back and forth between Osimhen’s parent club Napoli, Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal all summer, it had appeared that the 26-year-old would be making a return to Rams Park. However, despite the assurances and bank guarantees given by Galatasaray, reports have emerged that Napoli are playing hardball in their quest to frustrate Osimhen’s impending exit. The latest development has seen Napoli vice president Edoardo De Laurentiis, son of club owner Aurelio, reportedly receiving death threats from an aggrieved Galatasaray fan via messaging platform WhatsApp, “Let Osimhen go or you are finished.” According to Italian media outlet Football Italia, “Turkish journalist Samet Çayır published a WhatsApp chat between Edo De Laurentiis and an alleged Galatasaray supporter who warned him to let Osimhen go to avoid ugly consequences for him and his father. The alleged Galatasaray fan introduced himself as a member of the Turkish Mafia before sending sickening death threats to the De Laurentiis family.” Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano had revealed via his official X account on social media that, “Galatasaray reject Napoli new conditions for Victor Osimhen deal, talks will continue if conditions change again. Napoli asked for €40m now plus €35m to be paid by 2026 plus a sell-on clause, Galatasaray want to pay €35m by 2027 and refuse to include a sell-on clause.” Okan Buruk’s side had agreed to meet the full valuation being slapped on Osimhen, but Turkish transfer pundit Yagiz Sabuncuoglu revealed that Napoli were insisting on a 20 per cent sell-on clause, which would be in addition to their demands over the payment structure, while another transfer expert Matteo Moretto confirmed that the Partenopei want the full €35m remainder paid by the end of 2026, plus the percentage of any future transfer fee. A recent update from Football Italia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà suggested that the reigning Serie A league champions want Osimhen’s €75m clause to be paid in full with a fixed fee of at least €50m. Galatasaray have reportedly offered to pay €40m upfront with the rest to be settled in instalments, but Napoli turned down that proposal, as they insist on holding out for €55m up front with the remaining €20m to be paid in instalments. The recent happenings have probably triggered the ire of the supposed Gala fan, who in turn sent the threat messages to the Laurentiis father and son duo on WhatsApp, commanding them not to oppose Osimhen’s permanent move to the Super Lig side. Osimhen spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Galatasaray, having been in Naples since the summer of 2020. He went on to score 37 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Yellow and Red as he scooped the Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup crown. He also finished as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals, five more than closest challenger Krzysztof Piatek. The Nigeria international is eager to make his move to Turkey a permanent one and has rejected several overtures and huge salary offers from Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal. Nonetheless, talks are still ongoing between Galatasaray and Napoli, with the Italian champions certain that the striker does not have a future at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Spain's Ministry of Social Rights has asked the country's prosecutor's office to investigate Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal after he reportedly hired people with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party Lamine Yamal hosted a party on Sunday at a rented property in Olivella, a small town 50 kilometres north west of Barcelona, with guests including YouTubers, influencers, and several Barcelona team-mates. It is alleged Lamine Yamal hired a group of entertainers with dwarfism, something the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE) described as "unacceptable in the 21st century". When contacted by BBC Sport, the Directorate General for People with Disabilities - part of the Ministry of Social Rights, ConsumerAffairs, and 2030 Agenda - said: "ADEE has filed a legal complaint. "Therefore, this Directorate General has asked the Prosecutor's Office to investigate to determine whether the law and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated." The ADEE said it "publicly denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as part of the entertainment," and said it would take legal action as it "perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and undermines the image and rights" of people with disabilities. In a statement it said: "These actions violate not only current legislation but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful. "The general law on the rights of persons with disabilities expressly prohibits the following practices: 'Shows or recreational activities in which people with disabilities or other circumstances are used to provoke mockery, ridicule, or derision from the public in a manner contrary to the respect due to human dignity are prohibited'." However, Spanish radio station RAC1, external broadcast an interview with someone claiming to be one of the entertainers present at the party who defended Lamine Yamal. "No-one disrespected us, we worked in peace. I don't understand why there's so much hype. We're normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way," said the artist, who asked to remain anonymous. "We work as entertainers. Why can't we do it? Because of our physical condition? We know what our limit is and we will never exceed it: we are not fairground monkeys." The performer said it lasted one hour, and afterwards the entertainers joined in with the party. "We dance, we distribute drinks, we do magic... there are many types of shows. Everyone had a great time." When approached for comment by BBC Sport, a Barcelona spokesperson said the club was "not in a position to comment on an act that falls strictly within the private sphere", but added their position would be reassessed once "concrete information" has been ascertained.

Liverpool have rejected a £58.6m opening offer from Bayern Munich for forward Luis Diaz The German club approached Liverpool earlier this month but were told Diaz was not for sale. That position was reinforced on Tuesday as Liverpool turned down the Bundesliga side's first bid for the 28-year-old Colombia international. Liverpool value Diaz, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027, in excess of £87m as a key member of Arne Slot's squad. He scored 22 goals for club and country last season, with 13 of those in the Premier League as Liverpool won the title by 10 points. Diaz attracted interest from Manchester City last summer, and also has admirers in Saudi Arabia. Liverpool are in the market for a striker and are known to have firm interest in Newcastle's Sweden international Alexander Isak. The Premier League champions have made genuine moves towards a deal to sign Isak in recent days. They have also explored the parameters for other centre-forward targets.

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has returned to full training at Premier League club Nottingham Forest Awoniyi sustained a serious abdominal injury, while in action for the Tricky Trees in May. The 27-year-old required a two-stage surgical procedure following the injury. The striker attended Nottingham Forest’s last league game of the season against Chelsea at the City Ground after leaving hospital. Awoniyi re-joined his teammates in training o for the first time since the incident on Tuesday. The Nigerian is expected to be ease back into action gradually after attaining full fitness. Forest were held to a 0-0 draw by Chesterfield in their first pre-season game last weekend.

Manchester City have extended their kit partnership with Puma for at least another 10 years, with the contract understood to be worth a minimum of £1bn, making it the largest deal in the Premier League City initially signed a £65m-a-year deal with the German kit manufacturer in 2019 but the parties have agreed an extension until at least 2035, worth a record £100m a year to the club. That figure surpasses the £90m deal signed by rivals Manchester United with Adidas in 2023, while champions Liverpool will also be with the same manufacturer from this season after agreeing a reported, external £60m a season. City have enjoyed an unprecedented period of success since 2019, claiming four Premier League titles as well as the Treble two years ago, but finished last season without a major trophy. The two parties have achieved club record sales globally, according to City. In their accounts up to 30 June 2024, City announced a Premier League record revenue of £715m, while commercial revenue increased from £341.4m to £344.7m. City Football Group (CFG) chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "We joined forces with Puma with the ambition to challenge ourselves and go beyond the expectations. We have achieved this and more over the last six seasons. "Puma have seamlessly integrated into our organisation, and we have enjoyed many historic moments together, engaging fans globally." Puma chief executive Arthur Hoeld added: "Puma's partnership with Manchester City has been a great success both on and off the pitch. "Trophies, a perfect stage for our performance products and commercial success were exceptional." Brand Finance, external head of sports services Hugo Hensley told the media that: "Brand Finance's fan research, conducted in June in 14 markets, shows that Manchester City are the sixth most followed team globally and among a top echelon of 15 clubs that carry a true global appeal. "The £100m-a-year kit deal with Puma is a huge amount of money but I would feel they are doing it with a strong knowledge of the return on investment that it has generated so far - through increased brand consideration, purchase, loyalty and price premium attached to their products. "A huge part of the investment in this partnership is about the exposure it generates - management will be hoping it helps Puma at the top of the customer funnel by improving awareness and familiarity. "Out of the top 10 clubs featured in this year's most valuable brand rankings, City has the joint-highest percentage of fans that have claimed to have purchased merchandise (70%), level with Real Madrid. This a key market that Puma are hoping to tap into, given the strong propensity for fans to purchase new replica kits on an annual basis. "As the top English football club brand, City are excelling not only in on-field success but also in brand value and strength. In 2024, Manchester City's brand value rose 7% to £1.39bn, placing them second only to Real Madrid and ahead of major competitors such as Barcelona (£1.3bn), Manchester United and Liverpool (both £1.21bn). That is a massive achievement. "Puma's long-term commitment acknowledges the firm belief that City will continue to dominate on and off the pitch for many seasons to come. On this trajectory of current commercial growth across the Premier League, the £100m price tag could soon be a bargain."

British tennis player Tara Moore has been banned for four years for a doping offence, despite being cleared by an independent tribunal 18 months ago An appeal by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The four-year ban starts immediately, but will be reduced by the 19 months Moore was provisionally suspended when the case first came to light. The 32-year-old was Britain's top ranked women's doubles player when she was provisionally banned in May 2022 having tested positive for nandrolone and boldenone at a tournament in the Colombian capital Bogota the previous month. But in December 2023 an independent tribunal ruled contaminated meat was the source of the positive test, and that Moore "bore no fault or negligence". The British player said she had suffered "19 months of lost time and emotional distress", and that her reputation had been damaged as a result of the case. But following a hearing in March, this ruling from Cas means she will not be free to play again until the start of the 2028 season. "After reviewing the scientific and legal evidence, the majority of the Cas panel considered that the player did not succeed in proving that the concentration of nandrolone in her sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated meat," Cas said in a media release. "The panel concluded that Ms Moore failed to establish that the ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation) was not intentional. The appeal by the ITIA is therefore upheld and the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal is set aside." Other than through a highly unusual procedural appeal to the Swiss courts, Cas' decision is binding on all parties. "For the ITIA, every case is considered according to the individual facts and circumstances," the ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse said. "Our bar for appealing a first instance decision is high, and the decision is not taken lightly. "In this case, our independent scientific advice was that the player did not adequately explain the high level of nandrolone present in their sample. Today's ruling is consistent with this position. "We understand that players and their support teams may have questions about this decision, and we will answer these fully once we have reviewed the details of the ruling."

Brentford have completed the signing of England midfielder and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson on a two-year contract after his recent departure from Ajax Henderson, 35, spent 12 years with Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, Community Shield, Super Cup and Club World Cup. In July 2023, he joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, managed by former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, but six months later his contract was cancelled and he joined Ajax. Last week, the Dutch club agreed to end Henderson's contract a year early. Henderson was handed an England recall in March by new manager Thomas Tuchel, having not played for the Three Lions since November 2023. He has 84 England caps. The midfielder has featured at three World Cups and three European Championships. Henderson was appointed an MBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to football and to charity. "When we became aware of Jordan's availability, it was a pretty simple decision. He's still phenomenally fit and he's still phenomenally motivated to achieve things in the game, having already achieved a lot," said Brentford manager Keith Andrews. Andrews said it was important to replace the experience lost with the recent departures of Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken and Ben Mee.

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is suing the club for alleged negligent medical advice The 27-year-old, who joined Burnley earlier this month, filed a legal claim with the High Court against United last week. It relates to a period from July 2022 involving an unknown injury and is considered a high value claim, which is understood to be more than £1m. Tuanzebe was out for 195 days in his final season at the club before he was loaned to Stoke in January 2023, where he made just five appearances. He joined the club when he was eight, making his debut in 2017, and played 37 times for them before leaving in the summer of 2023, joining Ipswich as a free agent that September. The right-back captained United at every level and his final appearance for the club was in the 2021 Europa League final loss to Villarreal, where he scored in the shootout as they lost 11-10 on penalties. The former England Under-21 international - who now represents DR Congo - also had three spells on loan at Aston Villa, while he also spent time at Napoli in 2022. Tuanzebe's lawyers, Simons Muirhead Burton, and United both declined to comment when approached by journalists.

Luka Modric has completed a move to AC Milan on a free transfer after 13 successful years at Real Madrid The 39-year-old midfielder has signed a contract until June 2026, with the Italian side having the option to trigger a one-year extension. Modric announced in May he would be leaving Spanish giants Real after the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking to Milan's social media,, external he said he was very happy "to be starting a new chapter" of his career. Real Madrid sign ex-Man Utd defender Carreras from Benfica Massimiliano Allegri, who has returned for a second stint as Milan boss after replacing Sergio Conceicao, called Modric an "extraordinary player" when confirming the Croatia captain would join earlier this month. Modric, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, won 28 trophies - including six Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles - with Real after his move from Tottenham in 2012, making him the club's most decorated player. He scored 43 goals in 597 games at Real and his final match was their 4-0 semi-final defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Club World Cup last week. Modric is keen to play at next year's World Cup, which takes place in Canada, Mexico and the US. Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on a spot in Europe.

Real Madrid signed defender Alvaro Carreras from Benfica on a six-year deal, the Spanish giants said on Monday The 22-year-old Spanish left-back, who played for Madrid’s youth academy before joining Manchester United in 2020, is reported to have cost close to 50 million euros ($58 million). “Real Madrid and Benfica have reached an agreement for the transfer of Alvaro Carreras, who will be under contract with our club for the next six seasons, until 30 June 2031,” said Los Blancos in a statement. The defender played 62 times for Benfica, scoring five goals for the club, including an initial loan spell before they signed him for six million euros from United in 2024. Carreras becomes Madrid’s fourth signing of a significant summer rebuild after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, at an estimated cost of around 170 million euros in transfer fees. After finishing last season without a major trophy coach Carlo Ancelotti departed and was replaced by Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard steered Madrid to the Club World Cup semi-finals but they were hammered 4-0 by runners-up Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal expect to reach a full agreement with Sporting inside the next 24 hours for the 73.5m euros signing of Viktor Gyokeres According to many reports, a club-to-club deal for the Sweden forward is now in place with just minor details left to resolve. All parties are working towards the signing being completed in time for Gyokeres to travel with the Gunners to Asia for their pre-season tour at the end of the week. The offer, inclusive of add-ons, is an improvement on Arsenal's previous proposal of 70m euros. Gyokeres, 27, has already agreed terms on a five-year deal. At the start of the month how Arsenal had turned their attentions to Gyokeres after hitting an impasse in their bid to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta flew to Lisbon towards the end of last week to lead negotiations with Sporting. This weekend, Sporting's president Frederico Varandas said Gyokeres was facing disciplinary action after failing to report for pre-season training. Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season, has yet to publicly explain why he has not turned up for pre-season. Varandas told Portuguese news agency Lusa that "no one is above the interests of the club". Former Brighton and Coventry striker Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal, firing Sporting to two league titles.

Boxing Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that talks are underway for a sensational bout between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, with the proposed fight receiving backing from Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman, Turki Alalshikh In an interview with Boxing News during the Ring III official weigh-in, Hearn revealed that discussions have taken a serious turn following a recent conversation with Alalshikh, the key figure behind many high-profile boxing events in Saudi Arabia. “After speaking to His Excellency last night… in this mad world that we live in, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Hearn said when asked about the possibility of Joshua facing YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The potential bout, which had previously been dismissed as fantasy matchmaking, now seems to have traction following Paul’s call-out of Joshua earlier this year. In March, the American provocateur claimed he would knock out the former heavyweight champion, sparking interest and speculation. Paul later revealed during a press conference in April that Joshua had reached out to him privately, further fuelling the rumour mill. “Our focus is to fight Tyson Fury, but (Joshua) needs a fight before then. If that’s Jake Paul and if you guys want that fight, I know the numbers would be massive, the world would want to see it,” Hearn said. He also claimed that Joshua himself is open to the idea. “I spoke to AJ about it, and he said, ‘If you want me to flatten Jake Paul, I’ll do it.’ And I know there will be a lot of happy people, but that’s what Mr Paul dines off,” Hearn added. Joshua has been out of the ring since suffering a shock defeat to Daniel Dubois earlier in the year, and while he continues to eye a blockbuster bout with Tyson Fury, Hearn admitted the 34-year-old needs a tune-up fight before any title challenge. Despite Hearn’s enthusiasm, Matchroom CEO Frank Smith struck a more cautious tone when speaking with Ariel Helwani recently. “I think there’s a chance you’ll see Anthony Joshua this year,” Smith said but dismissed Jake Paul as a likely opponent. “It’s not Jake Paul. I think if I were Anthony Joshua and I got an opportunity to fight a guy—that was a Disney star a few years back, no longer,” Smith said. Addressing Paul’s frequent call-outs, Smith added, “(Fighting AJ) is very different from fighting a 60-year-old Mike Tyson. Let’s be completely realistic about it.”

Cole Palmer inspired a stunning Chelsea performance as they downed European champions Paris St-Germain to win the first edition of the newly expanded Club World Cup The England attacking midfielder scored twice and set up a brilliant third goal for new signing Joao Pedro in a comprehensive 3-0 win over in-form PSG at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Palmer placed a low shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 22nd minute after Malo Gusto ran in behind Nuno Mendes, adding a second with a neat dummy and identical shot from the edge of the box just eight minutes later. His defence-splitting pass allowed Joao Pedro to lob Donnarumma just before half-time to stun a team branded "the best in the world" by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca before kick-off. In the second half Khvicha Kvaratskhelia immediately tested Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, while his close-range save minutes later from Ousmane Dembele was even more impressive. Substitute Liam Delap also had a good shot saved as PSG were left with too much of a mountain to climb after missed opportunities by Joao Neves and Desire Doue when the scores were level in the first half. The game was all but over on 85 minutes when matters got worse for the Parisians, as midfielder Neves was sent off after a brief VAR check for pulling defender Marc Cucurella's hair. PSG manager Luis Enrique will also face questions after appearing to slap Chelsea forward Joao Pedro in ugly post-match scenes, with unused substitute Presnel Kimpembe having to pull away his coach. Enrique later said he was trying to separate fighting players "to avoid a situation getting worse", adding: "It was a result of the pressure at the end of the match." Among the 81,118 people in attendance - the biggest of the tournament - was US President Donald Trump, who sat alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino as Chelsea took their earnings to about £90m as they became world champions.

Liverpool are to retire the number 20 shirt in honour of forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash along with his brother Andre Silva The Reds took the decision after consulting with Jota's wife Rute Cardoso and his family which means the Portugal international "will forever be Liverpool's number 20". A Liverpool statement, external said the number "will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels", including the women's team and throughout the academy. They added: "The move is recognition of not only the immeasurable contribution our lad from Portugal made to the Reds' on-pitch successes over the last five years, but also the profound personal impact he had on his team-mates, colleagues and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them." Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. He also helped them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 - also winning the latter in 2024 - and the Premier League title last season. It was Liverpool's 20th top-flight crown and the Reds posted a video on social media, external with the message 'forever our number 20' at 20:20 BST on Friday. "As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters - and we felt exactly the same way," said Fenway Sports Group chief executive of football Michael Edwards. "It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo's wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention. I believe this is the first time in Liverpool's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person. "By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal - and therefore never to be forgotten." Jota and his brother died after their car, a Lamborghini, left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle at about 00:30 local time on Thursday, 3 July. Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season and, as doctors had advised him against flying because he had undergone minor surgery, he was making the trip by car and ferry. The funeral of the brothers took place in their hometown of Gondomar last Saturday when a large Liverpool delegation were in attendance.

European football governing body, UEFA have demoted English Premier League side, Crystal Palace from the Europa League to the Conference League next season UEFA's decision stems from Palace breaching its multi-club ownership rules and UEFA said the Eagles could appeal its ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Nottingham Forest, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, could replace FA Cup winners Palace in the Europa League. Eagle Football Holdings - owned by American businessman John Textor - holds stakes in Palace and Lyon, with UEFA rules stating that clubs owned, to a certain threshold of influence, by the same person or entity cannot compete in the same European competition. UEFA's rules set a deadline of 1 March 2025 to show proof of multi-club ownership restructuring - a deadline which Palace missed. Palace argued Textor does not hold any decisive influence at the club, but UEFA have not accepted the Premier League side's defence. Lyon, who also qualified for next season's Europa League, take precedence over Palace because of their higher league position. The seven-time French champions finished sixth in Ligue 1, with Palace 12th in the Premier League but qualifying for European competition by winning the FA Cup. Earlier this week Lyon won their appeal against relegation from Ligue 1 after they were demoted for financial reasons, which affected Palace's chances of playing in the Europa League. Had Lyon's relegation been upheld, they had agreed with UEFA to be excluded from the Europa League, clearing the way for Palace to play in the competition. English football has two allocated Europa League spots, with Aston Villa securing the other after finishing sixth in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest replace Palace in the Europa League after finishing seventh, with their Conference League spot going to the Eagles instead.

It's the weekend again, and we have some special and juicy predictions for you to cash in on. Another weekend is upon us, as the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the Women’s Euros gets to the final group matches, and also the FIFA Club World Cup final between Premier League side Chelsea, and French Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-German h, we have selected some fixtures for you to put your money on. Below are our predictions for the weekend: Chelsea vs. PSG – O2.5 Nigeria W vs. Algeria W – 1 Inter Miami vs. Nashville – 1 Tanzania W vs. South Africa W – 2 Morocco W vs. Senegal W – 1X Zambia W vs. DR Congo W – 1 Italy W vs. Spain W – 2 Sweden W vs. Germany W – X2 England W vs. Wales W – 1 Netherlands W vs. France W – X2

Napoli have rejected a fresh €75m bid from Galatasaray for Victor Osimhen, despite the Turkish giants meeting the official release clause in the striker’s contract This development was disclosed by Nigerian sports journalist and transfer insider Onyebuchi Onokala, also known as Buchi Laba, who said Napoli are actively working to push the Super Eagles striker towards a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia instead. In an update posted on X in the early hours of Thursday, Onokala stated, “Napoli officially turns down Galatasaray €75m third offer for Victor Osimhen. The official Release clause Figure.” The 26-year-old Nigerian had earlier given his approval to a permanent transfer to Galatasaray, following a successful loan spell. Onokala confirmed that the forward has no interest in a switch to the Middle East and has already made his position known to the club hierarchy. “Victor James Osimhen says YES to Galatasaray and wants to continue with the Turkish team. Napoli for weeks have been pleading with Victor Osimhen to stay. Osimhen has made it very, very clear that he wants to leave,” Onokala added. According to Onokala, Napoli’s refusal to accept Galatasaray’s offer, despite it matching the contractual clause, is a deliberate strategy aimed at funnelling the striker towards a more financially lucrative deal with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, who have expressed willingness to pay the full fee outright. However, sources close to the player insist he is not open to moving to Saudi Arabia and remains fully committed to continuing his career in Europe. The striker is also said to have informed Napoli that he will not be reporting for pre-season under new manager Antonio Conte, further escalating tensions between both parties. Earlier reports from Italy, including a dispatch by Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, had confirmed that Galatasaray were front-runners for Osimhen’s signature after personal terms were agreed and a formal offer submitted. The Istanbul-based club reportedly proposed paying the €75m clause in structured instalments, but Napoli are holding out for a full upfront payment. Meanwhile, Premier League clubs appear to have cooled their interest. Arsenal are prioritising other targets, while Manchester United have shifted attention to Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, amid concerns about Osimhen’s wages. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that United’s pursuit was never concrete, citing the striker’s financial expectations and growing contentment with life in Istanbul as key reasons.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for £55m, subject to a work permit The Ghana midfielder, who had an £85m release clause, has joined Spurs on a six-year contract until 2031. West Ham rejected an initial £50m from Tottenham last week. Kudus, 24, made 65 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists. He could be joined by Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who is set to have a medical at Spurs on Friday before completing a £60m move. Kudus has been a key member of West Ham's squad since he signed in a £38m deal from Ajax in August 2023. He made his top-flight debut as a substitute in a win over Luton Town a month later before scoring his first goals for the Hammers during the Europa League group stage shortly after. In his first season at West Ham he scored 14 goals, including nine assists.

Arsenal have signed Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford in a £15m deal The 31-year-old has joined for an initial £10m - with a possible £5m in performance-related add-ons - on a two-year contract with the option of a third year. Norgaard joined Brentford from Fiorentina in 2019 and became a key player, captaining his side and making 196 appearances. He is Arsenal's third signing of the summer after deals for Spaniards Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Norgaard said he got "almost emotional" because signing for Arsenal means he will live his "dream" of playing Champions League football. Norgaard helped Brentford win promotion from the Championship in 2021, before making 122 Premier League appearances. Midfielder Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad last week in a deal worth almost £60m, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga moved from Chelsea for £5m. Arsenal are also in talks to sign Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres for £70m and have made a formal approach for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Nigeria scored a late winner against Botswana to become the first side to book a place in the quarter-finals at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Chinwendu Ihezuo netted the only goal in Casablanca in the 89th minute when she slid in to meet a low right-wing cross from fellow substitute Esther Okoronkwo and bundled the ball home past Botswana goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja. Victory put Nigeria top of Group B, with their perfect record assuring them of a top-two finish, after North African rivals Tunisia and Algeria played out a 0-0 draw earlier on Thursday. Algeria are second in the group table on four points, with Tunisia in third after securing their first point at this year's finals. Botswana have lost both their games and are on the brink of an early exit, having reached the quarter-finals on their debut in 2022. The final round of group fixtures will see Nigeria face Algeria and Tunisia take on Botswana on Sunday, with both games kicking off at 19:00 GMT. However, the situation in Group B has been complicated after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced it has opened an investigation into "alleged violations" of its statutes and regulations by Algeria at the finals. Nigeria are Africa's top-ranked side and had won 2-0 on the only previous meeting between the sides at the Wafcon finals, but it was Botswana who had the first chance of the game. However, Refilwe Tholakele's right-foot volley was well saved by Chiamaka Nnadozie, who recently signed for Brighton & Hove Albion. Ashleigh Plumptre and Toni Payne both sent efforts off target for the Super Falcons in the first half and the West Africans showed more purpose after the break. Plumptre once again came close when she hit a long-range shot that Boseja tipped over just after the hour mark. The Mares goalkeeper then made a superb save to deny Jennifer Echegini in the final 10 minutes. Just when it seemed that the contest would finish as a stalemate Ihezuo finally got the breakthrough for the record nine-times Wafcon winners, much to the delight of the Nigeria bench and their travelling fans. The Super Eagles can now look forward to the last eight, while Botswana will need to beat Tunisia to stand any chance of qualifying as one of the best third-placed sides - a feat they achieved three years ago.

Olympique Lyonnais will play in Ligue 1 next season after the French side won their appeal against relegation French football authorities demoted the seven-time champions into Ligue 2 last month because of their poor financial state. A Lyon statement said: "Olympique Lyonnais welcomes the decision to keep the club in Ligue 1. OL thanks the appeal committee for having recognised the ambition of the club's new management, determined to ensure serious management in the future. "Today's decision is the first step in restoring confidence in Olympique Lyonnais. We can now focus our attention on sporting goals, fully preparing for next season." Olympique Lyonnais will now remain in the top tier of French football, and will compete in the UEFA Europa League for next season, but will have to balance their book, to avoid another problem next summer.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss the 2025-26 NBA season after having surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon The 25-year-old had sustained the injury during the first quarter of the decisive game seven of the NBA Championship play-off finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder last month. Haliburton fell down without any contact as he attempted to drive to the basket and was in obvious distress as he was helped from the court during the game that the Pacers lost 103-91 to end their hopes of a first NBA title. Confirming the point guard's lengthy absence, Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said he hoped Haliburton "will be back better than ever". "The surgery went well. He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardise that now. So don't get any hopes up that he will play," Pritchard told WISH-TV. A two-time All-Star, Haliburton averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 73 games during the 24-25 regular season and 14 points, 5.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds during the NBA Finals. He had played the decider against the Thunder despite suffering a calf strain in game five of the finals. Haliburton became the third high-profile player to suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon in the play-offs, following the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and the Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard. A similar injury had also kept Kevin Durant out for a full season when he was hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals while playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has held face-to-face talks with Sporting in Portugal as the Premier League club move closer towards a deal for striker Viktor Gyokeres It was revealed last Thursday the Gunners had accelerated their interest in the Sweden international as their well-documented search for a new centre-forward reaches a climax. And well-placed sources have indicated that process saw Berta fly to the Portuguese capital towards the end of last week for key discussions with Sporting counterparts over a deal that could be worth around £70m. It is unclear if he returned to London over the weekend, but Berta's Portugal trip provides a clear indication towards the level of Arsenal's desire to finalise a deal quickly for Gyokeres. An agreement over personal terms with the 27-year-old is expected to be a formality. Meanwhile, Brentford captain Christian Norgaard is due to complete the formalities on his move to the Emirates in the coming days. The two clubs have agreed a deal worth up to £15m for the Denmark international midfielder. Arsenal will also decide whether to formalise a move for Chelsea attacker Noni Madueke after agreeing personal terms with the England international. Chelsea are aware of interest in the versatile winger, 23.

Colombia striker Jhon Duran has joined Fenerbahce on a year-long loan - six months after moving from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr in a £71m deal The 21-year-old scored 12 goals in 29 games for Villa last season, then after joining Al-Nassr in January he found the net 12 times in 18 matches for the Saudi Arabian side. Duran, who has three goals in 17 internationals for Colombia, joined Villa from Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023. He scored 20 goals in 78 games for the club, but 61 of those appearances came from the bench, with Duran unable to regularly displace England striker Ollie Watkins from the starting line-up. He helped Al-Nassr finish third in the Saudi Pro League last season. While he is leaving, Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is staying after signing a two-year contract with the club last month. Fenerbahce, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, finished second in the Turkish league last season.

Alexia Putellas scored twice and assisted two more goals as Spain underlined their credentials as Euro 2025 favourites with a convincing victory over Belgium at Stockhorn Arena Having opened the scoring in 87 seconds against Portugal in their first game, Spain got off to a slower start in Thun. Putellas broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a rifled finish, although the lead lasted just two minutes as Justine Vanhaevermaet rose above the Spanish defence to nod home a Tessa Wullaert corner. Spain restored their lead six minutes before the break as captain Irene Paredes, who had been suspended for La Roja's opening Group B success, found the net with a bullet header. In a lively start to the second half, the video assistant referee (VAR) was called into action to confirm Hannah Eurlings was onside when she shrugged off Ona Batlle to fire past Adriana Nanclares for Belgium's leveller. But the world champions, once again, replied instantly, with Esther Gonzalez running on to a slick through-ball from Putellas and slotting home a clinical finish, before Mariona Caldentey poked in a fourth just past the hour mark. Montse Tome's side dominated the remainder of the game, with Claudia Pina's wonderful curling strike nine minutes from time and Putellas' flicked finish rounding off an impressive display. Their progression to the knockout stages will be confirmed if Italy avoid defeat against Portugal in Monday's late Group B match. Wullaert had a late goal ruled out for offside as Belgium suffered a second successive loss in the group and will be eliminated if Italy win in Geneva.

A former Croatia international, Ivan Rakitic, who spent much of his career with Barcelona and Sevilla, announced his retirement from football on Monday at the age of 37 “Football, you gave me more than I ever dreamed of. You gave me friends, emotions, joy and tears,” Rakitic wrote in a letter reflecting on his career on social media. “Now it’s time to say goodbye. Because even if I walk away from you, I know you’ll never walk away from me. Thank you, football. For everything.” Rakitic, who began his career with Basel and later moved to Schalke, played 106 times for Croatia and started his country’s World Cup final loss to France in 2018. He was part of Barcelona’s treble-winning side in 2015 and twice won the Europa League with Sevilla. Rakitic had a short spell with Saudi club Al Shabab last year before one final season at Hajduk Split.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has reached an agreement on personal terms with Turkish giants Galatasaray, with a contract set to run until June 2028, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Monday. Osimhen has reportedly given his approval for a move to the Istanbul-based club, but the deal now rests on ongoing negotiations between Galatasaray and Napoli. Acoording to Romano via X, Galatasaray’s latest bid for the 25-year-old forward stands at €50 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Napoli, however, are holding out for a higher fee, with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal also still in the race. Al Hilal have expressed their willingness to trigger Osimhen’s €75 million release clause but are yet to reach an agreement with the player. Despite Al Hilal’s interest, Osimhen is said to be keen on a return to Galatasaray, where he reportedly maintains strong ties. The Turkish champions now face the challenge of matching Napoli’s demands to finalise the deal. The outcome will depend on whether Galatasaray can bridge the financial gap with Napoli, who remain firm on their valuation of the striker.

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz produced an impressive fightback to overcome Andrey Rublev and set up a Wimbledon quarter-final against Britain's Cameron Norrie Alcaraz edged a step closer to becoming only the fifth man in the Open era to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over the Russian 14th seed under the Centre Court roof. The 22-year-old Spaniard clinched his only break point in both the second and third sets to turn the match around, before a single break of serve again proved enough to end Rublev's admirable resistance in the fourth. Alcaraz will face Norrie for a semi-final place after the British number three withstood a fightback from Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry to win in five sets.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a battling Elise Mertens to reach the quarter-finals and stay on course for a first Wimbledon title The 27-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023, won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and will next face world number 104 Laura Siegemund for a place in the last four. This has been a tournament in which many seeds have tumbled and Sabalenka was the only top six seed remaining in the women's draw. It hasn't been plain sailing for Sabalenka as she came through a tough match against British number one Emma Raducanu to set up her meeting with Mertens. This again was perhaps tougher than expected, particularly as Sabalenka had beaten 24th seed Mertens nine times in a row prior to meeting at Wimbledon. It did initially look like being a comfortable win for Sabalenka as she got an early break on her way to racing into a 4-1 lead, but Mertens got a break back as she started to move her opponent around the court more. Sabalenka broke Mertens again to take the opening set - but the Belgian continued to cause problems with her aggressive tennis. She was rewarded for her brave play when she got her first break of the match early in the second set, taking advantage as Sabalenka struggled to get her first serve working before thumping down a backhand winner, and then holding to lead 3-1. Sabalenka broke back two games later but Mertens was undeterred, the two going toe-to-toe all the way to a tie-break. But there Sabalenka showed her quality, fighting back from 2-0 down to win and progress.

Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala will be out for a "long period" after suffering a broken leg and dislocated ankle in a horrific clash with Gianluigi Donnarumma during Saturday's Club World Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain The 22-year-old was injured in the first half when he was caught by keeper Donnarumma while chasing down a ball near the byeline. Musiala, who screamed in agony as he clutched his left ankle, covered his face with his shirt when he was taken off on a stretcher. The attacking midfielder was taken to hospital for assessment and has now flown back to Munich for surgery. "This serious injury and the long absence are a real shock for Jamal and all of us. This hits FC Bayern hard," said Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl. "Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he plays for our team. Furthermore, the human impact is incredibly bitter; we all feel for him: Jamal has just recovered from an injury and will now be out for another long period. "He will get everything he needs from us. We will support him intensively and be by his side, and we are already looking forward to him being back on the pitch." Donnarumma averted his eyes after looking over at Musiala's injury, while Bayern's players were distraught as the Germany international was attended to by club physios. Following the match, Donnarumma said "all my prayers and well wishes are with you Jamal" in a social media post.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a deal worth almost £60m The Spain midfielder is the Gunners' second signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrival of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea for £5m. They are also in talks to sign Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres for £70m. Zubimendi, who rejected an approach from Liverpool last summer, came through the ranks at Real Sociedad before becoming a regular in their first team. The 26-year-old deep-lying midfielder - who played 236 times for the Spanish club, scoring 10 goals - has signed a five-year deal. Last season Zubimendi was part of the side beaten 4-1 at Old Trafford as Sociedad, who finished 11th in La Liga, were knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United. He helped his country win Euro 2024, coming on for Manchester City's Rodri at half-time in the final against England as Mikel Oyarzabal's goal claimed the trophy for Spain. He has 19 caps and has become a regular for Spain as a result of Rodri being sidelined last season by a serious knee injury. Zubimendi scored in the recent Nations League final against Portugal before Spain lost on penalties. Arsenal have also agreed a deal with Brentford to sign midfielder Christian Norgaard for an initial £10m.

Nigeria kicked off their quest for a record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with a confident 3-0 victory over Tunisia in Casablanca Former Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring for the Super Falcons in the fourth minute when the 30-year-old pounced on a low inswinging free-kick delivered by Rinsola Babajide from the left flank and bundled the ball home amid a scramble in the Tunisian box. Babajide, who previously featured for England at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2023, doubled the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The winger fired clinically past Tunisia goalkeeper Soulaima Jobrani, marking her first ever goal at a senior international tournament. Chinwendu Ihezuo got Nigeria's third at the Stade Larbi Zaouli with six minutes remaining after converting a cross from Ashleigh Plumptre. The win puts Nigeria top of Group B on goal difference ahead of Algeria, who beat Botswana 1-0 thanks to Ghoutia Karchouni's 10th-minute effort. Nigeria will face Botswana on Thursday, with Tunisia seeking their first point against North African rivals Algeria earlier same day.

NBA star Kevin Durant has joined the Houston Rockets from the Phoenix Suns in a record-breaking trade deal involving seven teams The move was first announced last month but was confirmed on Sunday when the league's new year officially started. The Atlanta Hawks, the Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers are also involved in the deal, which involves 13 players and several future draft picks being exchanged. The previous record for the largest trade in NBA history was six teams, set last summer when Klay Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks. Durant, 36, was named the 2014 Most Valuable Player, won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors, and is a 15-time All-Star. He also won four Olympic golds with the US basketball team. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said: "His skill level, love of basketball, and dedication to his craft have made him one of the most respected players of his generation, and my staff and I are excited to work with him." Houston finished second in the Western Conference last season but were knocked out of the play-offs in the first round.

Another weekend is upon us, and we have selected some fixtures from the FIFA Club World Cup, Women African Cup of Nations, and the Women Euros Below are our predictions for the weekend: Fluminense vs. Al Hilal - GG Palmeiras vs. Chelsea - GG PSG vs. Bayern Munich - GG Real Madrid vs. Dortmund - 1 Nigeria vs. Tunisia – 1 Morocco vs. Zambia – GG German Women vs. Poland Women - 1 France Women vs. England Women - GG Wales Women vs. Netherlands Women - X2 Norway Women vs. Finland Women - 1X Switzerland Women vs. Iceland Women - O2.5 Spain Women vs. Belgium Women - 1

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic outclassed Dan Evans in what could be the British veteran's final appearance at Wimbledon Evans, now ranked 154th in the world and given a wildcard to play at the All England Club, lost 6-3 6-2 6-0 in their second-round match. Serb great Djokovic, 38, produced a serving masterclass which even left Evans shaking his head in disbelief at several points. The 35-year-old home favourite, who was willed on by an encouraging Centre Court crowd, won just nine of his 58 receiving points (16%) in the match. Djokovic, seeded sixth this year, also demonstrated why he is still one of the best returners in the men's game by converting six of his 16 break points. It was an impressive display from the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is aiming to equal his rival Roger Federer's record tally of Wimbledon men's singles titles. Djokovic is also trying to finally land a standalone record 25th major, having not claimed one of the sport's most prestigious prizes since the 2023 US Open. Djokovic's win teed up an all-Serb contest against Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round, with a place in the last 16 on the line. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal having retired, Djokovic is the last of the 'Big Three' still playing. Eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic said he has no time to think about joining his former rivals in retirement.

An Afghanistan coach, simply known as, Ashgar, has died at a youth training camp run by Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in Riesa, Saxony According to media reports (Diesachsen) the honorary coach collapsed on the pitch of the Feralpi Arena during the lunch break on Monday and later died in hospital despite intervention of the emergency services. A total of 119 boys and girls from Riesa and the surrounding area had been looking forward to five days of training with the Bayern coaches. “Ashgar (…) collapsed on the pitch of the Feralpi Arena during the lunch break. In the afternoon, we received the sad news that Ashgar lost his life in hospital,” BSG Stahl Riesa, which has a three-year contract with the Munich team to run the camps, announced on its website. Out of respect and sympathy for the deceased and his family, Bayern ended the campus training session early. Bayern React To Death Of Coach At Youth Training Camp The Bavarians released a statement confirminh the details of the tragic death on request. “We are all dismayed and shocked by the tragic incident during our FC Bayern Campus training session in Riesa,” Bayern wrote in an email to the parents. “There are no words for such a situation, our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family, relatives and friends.” The children, parents and coaches have also been offered psychological support. The deceased coach had been in charge of an U-13 youth team in Austria. His home club TSV Hartberg wrote on Instagram: “With his always friendly, helpful and professional manner, he was very popular with all players, parents, colleagues and officials. His sudden death tears a deep hole in our club.” In the early hours, Liverpool and Portugal forward Diego Jota died in a car accident in Spain. Jota died alongside his younger brother who is also a footballer.

Peter Rufai, legendary goalkeeper of the Super Eagles, has been reported dead, reports BSNSports.com.ng According to Radio Nigeria, Rufai, 61-year-old, passed away on Thursday morning, July 3, 2025, after a long illness that kept him out of the public eye for some time. Meanwhile, the family is yet to announce his death, but a top Lagos State Government official confirmed it. Regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers, the former Stationery Stores and Go Ahead Eagles shot stopper had an illustrious career, earning 65 caps for the national team, including appearances in two World Cups and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph.

Prior to his death, Diogo Jota rewrote the history books at Liverpool, breaking or matching an impressive club and Premier League records that reflect his status as one of the game’s most clinical forwards. Fastest Premier League sub goal: Jota tied the record for the quickest goal by a Liverpool substitute in the Premier League, scoring just 21 seconds into his appearance against Nottingham Forest in January, 2025, making it the fastest since records began in 2006–07. Scored Liverpool’s first under Slot: Jota netted Liverpool’s first goal under Arne Slot’s management, marking a new tactical era at the club. First Liverpool player to score in first four home league matches: Jota became the first player in club history to net in each of his first four home Premier League appearances since joining in 2020. Scored Liverpool’s 10,000th goal: He proudly struck Liverpool’s 10,000th goal across all competitions during a Champions League match against Midtjylland in October 2020. 10+ headed Premier League goals: Jota joined an elite trio, including Haaland and Watkins, by scoring more than 10 Premier League goals with his head, right foot, and left foot. FIFA eSports #1: Jota ranked #1 on FIFA 21’s Champion Leaderboard, proving his competitive spirit extended online. Top goal conversion rate among recent Reds: Statistically praised as Liverpool’s most efficient Premier League finisher, he leads the pack with a conversion rate of 19.3%, surpassing legends like Salah and Suarez. Top-five substitute goalscorers: With his quick-fire equaliser, Jota edged past players like Ryan Babel and Divock Origi, entering Liverpool’s top five all-time for goals scored off the bench. Crucial role in unbeaten home run: His first-half header against Leicester contributed to Liverpool’s record 64-match unbeaten home league run. 11th most expensive player: The former Portugal international is Liverpool’s 11th most expensive transfer, following his 2020/21 move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, which cost €44.70m.

Liverpool forward and Portugal international Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, popularly known as Diogo Jota, passed away at the age of 28 His untimely death has sent shockwaves throughout the football world, coming just days after what seemed to be the peak of his personal and professional life. The Spanish sports newspaper MARCA reported the incident on Thursday, confirming that Jota died at the scene of the accident. Born on December 4, 1996, in Porto, Portugal, Jota rose through the football ranks with determination and flair, earning respect across Europe for his explosive performances and versatility in attack. The right-footed attacker, who could also play as a left or right winger, began his professional journey in Portugal before gaining international acclaim. Jota joined Liverpool FC on September 19, 2020, from Wolverhampton Wanderers and became a crucial part of the Reds’ attacking options. As of May 2025, his market value stood at €40 million, peaking at €60 million in December 2021. He extended his Liverpool contract in August 2022, which was due to expire in 2027. During his career, Jota amassed 398 club appearances across major competitions, scoring 136 goals and providing 66 assists. He played 190 Premier League matches, scoring 63 goals and registering 24 assists. His goal-scoring prowess was also seen in the UEFA Champions League (6 goals), Europa League (9 goals), and domestic cups. The striker had just recently gotten married on June 28 to his partner, Rute Cardoso.

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died following a car crash in northern Spain at the age of 28 - and just two weeks since he married his childhood sweetheart The Portugal is believed to have been travelling in a car with his brother Andre, 26, who is also a footballer and feared dead. Jota had just married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, and described himself as the luckiest man in the world in an interview released yesterday. The crashed occurred on the A-52 in the province of Zamora. The road in Spain is a key route taken by drivers leaving northern Portugal. Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash. “The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire,” a statement read. “1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.” The tragic news comes just two weeks after Jota married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso in Porto.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will come out of retirement in 2026, Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh appeared to claim on Wednesday Fury, 36, retired from boxing in January after losing a title fight rematch with Oleksandr Usyk by unanimous decision the previous month. "The 'Gypsy King' will be back. I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt." Alalshikh said in a post on X. Fury often referred to Usyk as a "rabbit" in the build-up to their title fights, both of which were held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The Ukrainian won their first encounter in May 2024 by split decision to become the heavyweight division's first undisputed four-belt champion. In a post on Instagram, Fury wrote "Let's see what 2026 brings" over a photo of him shaking hands with Alalshikh, who is chairman of Saudi Arabia's general entertainment authority. Alalshikh has been a key figure in the rise of boxing in Saudi Arabia, bringing a string of high-profile fights to the country. However, earlier on Wednesday Fury suggested he might be more interested in fighting on home soil. "Who would I rather fight, right now? Usyk. Because I want my revenge in England," he told reporters at an International Boxing Association event in Istanbul. "I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times. That's all I want. I want a fair shout, and I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times. That's the one I want, but if I don't get that then it'd be [Anthony] Joshua, the biggest British fight that will ever happen. "It would break all records, and it would sell out 100,000 at Wembley in an hour. And it's a fight I think can happen, for sure, if I decide to come back." Fury is yet to fight Joshua, who was stopped by compatriot Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September, his most recent outing. Usyk will become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion should he defeat Dubois at Wembley on Saturday, 19 July.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka put this year's record number of Wimbledon upsets out of her mind in a hard-fought victory over Marie Bouzkova. Eight top-10 seeds across the men's and women's singles draws went out across the opening two days - the most at a Grand Slam in the Open era - but Sabalenka avoided that same fate with a gritty 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over the world number 48. The Belarusian is aiming to add a maiden Wimbledon title to her three other Grand Slam triumphs at the US and Australian Opens. After her win, the top seed told the Centre Court crowd: "I hope it is no upsets anymore in this tournament, if you know what I mean!" Sabalenka, 27, has reached the final of both majors so far this year, but lost to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at the French Open. Sabalenka could face Emma Raducanu in round three, should the British number one overcome 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova later on Wednesday. Meanwhile, American Keys breezed into the third round with a comfortable 6-4 6-2 win over Serbia's Olga Danilovic. If the sixth seed and Sabalenka continue to progress they could meet in the quarter-finals in a repeat of their Melbourne final.

Chelsea signed Brazil striker Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal worth a reported £60 million on Wednesday Pedro jetted to the United States, where Chelsea are playing in the Club World Cup, on Sunday after the terms of his eight-year contract were agreed. With the transfer now confirmed following a medical, Pedro is available to play for Enzo Maresca’s side in their Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia. FIFA has given clubs involved in the Club World Cup knockout phase until July 3 to register new players for the tournament. Pedro, who joined Brighton for £30 million from Watford two years ago, scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for the Seagulls and has been capped three times by Brazil. The 23-year-old missed Brighton’s final two matches of the season after being dropped due to a training ground altercation with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke. Pedro is the fourth player Chelsea have signed from Brighton in recent years after Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez. Chelsea, who qualified for next season’s Champions League, have already splashed out on striker Liam Delap, midfielder Dario Essugo and defender Mamadou Sarr since the end of last term. Brazilian rising star Estevao Willian, 18, will join the Blues after his Club World Cup campaign with Palmeiras. Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens could also be a Chelsea player soon after a deal worth up to a reported 65 million euros ($76 million) was agreed for the 20-year-old on Saturday.

Liverpool have rejected a formal approach from Bayern Munich for forward Luis Diaz, telling the Bavarians that the Colombian is not for sale Bayern director of sport Max Eberl has been informed that the Premier League club have no intention of selling Diaz and will not enter into discussions for the attacker. Diaz, 28, was the subject of a similar approach from Barcelona earlier this summer which the Premier League champions also rebuffed. Liverpool are adamant that Diaz is not for sale at any price this summer, given his key contribution to the team since his arrival from Porto in 2022. The Colombia international scored 22 goals for club and country last season as he emerged as an integral member of Arne Slot's title-winning side. He scored 13 goals and made seven assists in the league as Liverpool won the title by 10 points. Diaz, who has two years left to run on his contract at Anfield, attracted interest from Manchester City last summer and also has admirers in Saudi Arabia. "I'm very happy at Liverpool - I've always said so," said Diaz when on international duty earlier this summer. "The transfer market is opening, and we're trying to arrange what's best for us. I'm waiting to see what happens. If Liverpool give us a good extension or I have to see out my two-year contract, I'll be happy. It all depends on them. I'm here to decide and see what's best for us and the future." Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed former Netherlands international Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be joining the club as an assistant coach to manager Arne Slot. Van Bronckhorst succeeds John Heitinga, who left the Premier League champions to become the head coach at Ajax. Fifty-year-old Van Bronckhorst, who played in the Premier League for Arsenal, has managed Rangers, Besiktas and Feyenoord.

Bayer Leverkusen have signed defender Jarell Quansah from Liverpool in a £35m deal The 22-year-old centre-back has joined the German Bundesliga club on a five-year contract. Quansah was part of the England side that won the European Under-21 Championship by beating Germany in the final on Saturday. His move is the third deal between the clubs this summer after Liverpool signed midfielder Florian Wirtz and defender Jeremie Frimpong. Newcastle wanted to sign Quansah last summer, as part of a deal to send winger Anthony Gordon to Liverpool, but the Reds turned down the proposal. As Quansah is a homegrown player, the fee Liverpool received from Leverkusen will be recorded as 'pure' profit with regards to profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Quansah came through the Liverpool academy and made 58 appearances for the club, scoring three goals. He helped the Reds win the League Cup in 2024 and made 13 league appearances last season as Arne Slot's side won the Premier League. Liverpool are interested in Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, amid uncertainty over Ibrahima Konate's future. The France centre-back has 12 months left on his contract at Anfield and is yet to agree an extension, while Joe Gomez's future is also unclear.

Novak Djokovic overcame physical issues to join Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon second round, but third seed Alexander Zverev was stunned by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Seven-time champion Djokovic, who could meet Sinner in the semi-finals, began his latest pursuit of an outright-record 25th major title by overcoming Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court. The Serb appeared to struggle early in the third set - later confirming that "something was off with the stomach" - but rediscovered his form following a medical timeout to win 10 of the final 12 games. Contesting his first Grand Slam match since losing one of the all-time great French Open finals to Carlos Alcaraz last month, world number one Sinner lost just seven games in a dominant a 6-4 6-3 6-0 win over fellow Italian Luca Nardi. But Germany's Zverev became the fourth top-10 ranked men's player to exit the tournament across the first two days of action. Defeats for third seed Zverev and Italy's Lorenzo Musetti came on a day when French Open champion Coco Gauff became the third top-five seed to lose in the women's draw.

American second seed Coco Gauff suffered a stunning Wimbledon defeat as the French Open champion was beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 by Ukranian world number 42 Dayana Yastremska on Tuesday. Gauff was expected to make a strong run at the All England Club after her triumph at Roland Garros in June. But instead of building on her success on the Paris clay, the 21-year-old endured her earliest Grand Slam exit since another first-round loss at Wimbledon in 2023. Yastremska powered to victory in 78 minutes on Court One, with Gauff joining third seed Jessica Pegula and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen as high-profile departures from the tournament on Tuesday. Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has failed to get past the fourth round in each of her six visits to Wimbledon. She paid the price for an unusually error-strewn display featuring nine double-faults, 29 unforced errors and just six winners. Yastremska has previously claimed she has an allergy to grass, but the 25-year-old’s shock success against Gauff extended an impressive recent run on the surface. Known as one of the more glamourous players on the women’s tour for her high-profile Instagram modelling, Yastremska made the Nottingham final and the Eastbourne quarter-finals in June.

Arsenal have completed the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga for a fee of five million pounds Spain international Kepa joins the Gunners on a three-year deal after spending last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he made 35 appearances. The 30-year-old is still the world's most expensive goalkeeper, having moved to the Blues in 2018 from boyhood club Athletic Bilbao for £71m. His arrival at Emirates Stadium will provide competition for compatriot David Raya. Neto was on loan at Arsenal from the Cherries during the 2024-25 campaign but they elected not to sign the Brazilian on a permanent basis. Kepa played 163 times for Chelsea and was in the squads that lifted the Champions League, Europa League and Club World Cup. He also spent a year on loan at Real Madrid and helped them win La Liga and the Champions League during the 2023-24 season.

World number one Jannik Sinner cruised into the second round at Wimbledon with a dominant straight-set win over fellow Italian Luca Nardi. Contesting his first Grand Slam match since losing one of the all-time great French Open finals to Carlos Alcaraz last month, the top seed lost just seven games as he dismissed 95th-ranked Nardi. The 23-year-old, a three-time major winner, comprehensively outclassed his opponent in a 6-4 6-3 6-0 victory on Court One. After completing an efficient victory in one hour and 48 minutes on the UK's hottest day of the year, Sinner will face Australian Aleksandar Vukic next.

Defending champion of Wimbledon, Barbora Krejcikova avoided a first-round upset with a hard-fought victory over promising youngster Alexandra Eala. The Czech had been an injury doubt coming into the tournament but showed her experience in a 3-6 6-2 6-1 win on Centre Court. Krejcikova beat Italian Jasmine Paolini in last year's final to lift the trophy but has been hampered by injury problems this year. She endured a lengthy lay-off with a back injury, then had to pull out of Eastbourne last week because of a thigh injury. Many anticipated her lack of match fitness - she has only played six matches this year - had laid the foundations for an upset at the All England Club against up-and-coming 20-year-old Filipino Eala.

Two-time semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev took his frustration out on his racquet after he suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon. The Russian world number nine lost 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to the 64th-ranked Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi before slamming his racquets against his chair and his bag. It is the first time Medvedev, who made the last four in the past two years, has failed to reach the second round in seven Wimbledon appearances. It was a first ever victory over a top-10 ranked opponent for Bonzi, 29, who has matched his best Wimbledon result by reaching the second round. Medvedev was not the only men's seed to fall on day one as Danish eighth seed Holger Rune lost a five-setter and Greece's Stefanos Tsitispas retired injured. Elsewhere on Monday, Greek former world number three Tsitsipas, 26, retired because of a long-standing lower back injury after the 24th seed fell two sets down against French world number 113 Valentin Royer. Tsitispas said he had no answers to his ongoing fitness problems that were showing no sign of easing. Meanwhile, world number eight Rune let slip a two-set lead against world number 143 Nicolas Jarry of Chile, losing 4-6 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4. Italy's Matteo Berrettini, the 32nd seed and 2021 finalist, is also out after losing 4-6 6-2 6-4 5-7 6-3 to Kamil Majchrzak of Poland.

Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided a seismic shock against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the Wimbledon first round to set up a meeting with British qualifier Oliver Tarvet. Alcaraz dug deep to win 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 2-6 6-1 as he opened the Centre Court play on a sweltering first day of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. The 22-year-old Spaniard quickly secured victory when an entertaining contest resumed after a 15-minute pause in the deciding set. A spectator who had been sitting in the sun was taken ill, with Alcaraz going over with a bottle of cold water to help their recovery. Alcaraz, who is the second seed behind Italian rival Jannik Sinner, struggled on serve and made uncharacteristic errors off the ground throughout a four-and-a-half hour contest in temperatures topping 32C. In his final Wimbledon appearance before his planned retirement, 38-year-old Fognini twice fought back to force the decider but Alcaraz regained control to extend his winning streak to 19 matches. Alcaraz claimed his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this month - beating Sinner in an all-time classic final - before lifting the Queen's trophy on his return to the British grass. Alcaraz roared in relief when he finally ended Fognini's resistance, breaking into a broad smile and sharing a friendly embrace with his opponent. Next he will face 21-year-old Tarvet, who gets a shot at one of sport's superstars after beating Switzerland's Leandro Riedi on his Wimbledon debut.

LeBron James is set to play in a record 23rd NBA season after his agent said the 40-year-old has exercised an option to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Rich Paul said James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, was targeting a fifth Championship after activating a $53m (£41m) player option for the 2025-26 season. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all," he told ESPN. "We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him." James currently shares the NBA season record with eight-time All-Star Vince Carter. His tally of 1,562 regular-season appearances is just 50 short of breaking former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish's NBA record. In 2023 he broke Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing points record of 38,387 to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. His current tally stands at 42,184. James' NBA career began in 2003 when he was drafted first overall by hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The forward joined the Miami Heat in 2010, winning two titles, before returning to lead Cleveland to their only NBA title with a 2016 success. He has been with the Lakers since 2018 and helped them win the 2020 title, which was also the fourth time James was named NBA finals MVP. His 20-year-old son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in the summer of 2024 and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game in October.

Kylian Mbappe has accused his former club Paris Saint-Germain of moral harassment in a legal filing, the Paris prosecutor’s office told AFP on Thursday as it confirmed an investigation had been opened. France captain Mbappe is also embroiled in a court battle with PSG to obtain the 55 million euros ($64.4 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses he says the club owes him. Mbappe’s latest grievance is related to the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season, when he was made to train with players the club were trying to offload. He believes the club sidelined him after refusing to agree to a new contract, a practice which has also affected other footballers and prompted the French players’ union to complain last year. Mbappe was not invited to a 2023 pre-season tour of Asia and missed the first game of that season but was later restored to the team after holding talks with the club. The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer after seven seasons with PSG. He scored 256 goals in 308 games for the French club, who won the Champions League last month for the first time following the striker’s departure.

The revamped Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, saw some nail-biting fixtures like a 4-4 draw between Porto and Al Ahly, while some were one-way street matches. The group stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has come to an end, with top teams from around the world battling for a place in the quarter final in the United States. This revamped 32-team edition has produced some nail-biting encounters — like the thrilling 4-4 draw between Porto and Al Ahly — as well as one-sided contests, such as Auckland City’s 0-10 defeat to Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich. After Salzburg lost 0-3 to Real Madrid, the fixtures for the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup have been finalised. Which teams have qualified for the round of 16 at FIFA Club World Cup 2025? Following are the teams that have qualified for the Round of 16 of FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Palmeiras Inter Miami Paris Saint-Germain Botafogo Flamengo Chelsea Inter Milan Monterrey Dortmund Fluminense Bayern Munich Benfica Juventus Manchester City Real Madrid Al Hilal FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 schedule: Palmeiras vs Botafogo – June 28 Benfica vs Chelsea – June 28 Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami – June 29 Flamengo vs Bayern Munich – June 29 Inter Milan vs Fluminense – June 30 Manchester City vs Al Hilal – June 30 Real Madrid vs Juventus – July 1 Dortmund vs Monterrey – July 1

Al Nassr have parted company with their Italian coach, Stefano Pioli, the Saudi side announced on Wednesday No official reason was given for the split after only nine months in the post but Pioli’s name has been linked with joining Fiorentina for a second spell in charge of the Serie A side. “Al Nassr announces that Mr Pioli and his staff no longer coach the first team,” Cristiano Ronaldo’s club posted on social media. “We would like to thank Mr Pioli and his staff for their work last season,” added Al Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League. Pioli, who guided AC Milan to the 2022 Serie A crown, only joined Al Nassr in September 2024. Prior to his near five-year stint at AC Milan, the 59-year-old coached several other Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.

Barcelona announced on Wednesday their long-awaited return to the new Camp Nou for an August 10 friendly after years of work to expand and modernise the iconic stadium The traditional pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy match will only mark the stadium’s partial reopening, with construction work continuing in various areas, the current Spanish champions said in a statement. This includes the completion of the new third tier, the dual VIP ring, the roof installation, interior spaces and development of the stadium’s surrounding area. The Catalan giants have not confirmed the initial capacity, but local media reported that the available stands can hold 35,000 fans. “Barcelona takes a symbolic and emotional step into the future, reclaiming its home in a new era that will culminate with the complete inauguration of the new stadium,” the club said. Barca will have another month to continue work on the stadium after requesting to play their first three La Liga games of the upcoming season away from home. After suffering several delays since beginning in 2023, the project dubbed “Espai Barca” is due to finish in the summer of 2026 and boost the Camp Nou’s capacity to 105,000. Barcelona have, in the meantime, played their home games at the smaller Montjuic Olympic stadium.

World football governing body, FIFA, has opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral after allegations he made a racist comment to Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger The incident happened towards the end of the game between the two teams at the Club World Cup on Sunday. “Following an assessment of the match reports, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against CF Pachuca player Gustavo Cabral in relation to the incident involving him and Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger during the FIFA Club World Cup game played in Charlotte on 22 June,” FIFA said on Tuesday (as per NDTV Sports). Rudiger was visibly angered following an exchange of words with Argentine Cabral and spoke to Brazilian referee Ramon Abatti Abel. Cabral denied he had racially abused the German centre-back. When asked about the incident in the post-match press conference, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said: “In football there is no tolerance for this, and if it happened, then measures should be taken. This is what Antonio has told us and we believe him. It’s being investigated now.” Cabral spoke after the game and said his words had been misinterpreted by Rudiger. The 39-year-old Argentine said he had called the defender a “coward”, with the Spanish phrase he used similar to another which is linked to racist abuse. “The referee made the racism sign but I was telling him the same thing the whole time — (coward),” said Cabral. Pachuca have already been eliminated in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup after losing their opening two groups matches to Madrid and Red Bill Salzburg. The Mexican club will take on Saudi Arabia outfit Al Hilal in their final group tie on Thursday. Also on Thursday Madrid, on four points and who top the group, will face second-placed Salzburg.

Lois Boisson beat three seeded players on her way to the French Open semi-finals, where she lost to eventual champion Coco Gauff Breakout Roland Garros star Lois Boisson saw her hopes of a maiden Wimbledon main-draw appearance ended in the first round of qualifying. The 22-year-old rose to 65 in the world following her fairytale run to the French Open semi-finals as a 361st-ranked wildcard at the French Open. However, the cut-off to enter the main draw is about six weeks before the tournament - when Boisson was still ranked outside the top 400. That meant she had to go through qualifying, where on Tuesday she suffered a 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 defeat by Canada's world number 197 Carson Branstine. Branstine will face compatriot and long-time friend Bianca Andreescu for a place in the third and final round of qualifying. Former US Open champion Andreescu, currently ranked 147th following a series of injuries and illnesses, comfortably beat Brazil's Laura Pigossi 6-2 6-1. The pair won the Australian Open girls' doubles title together in 2017 and will face each other in a senior singles match for the first time.

Bayern Munich and Germany legend, Lothar Matthaus believes Barcelona goalkeeper and captain, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will depart the club to join Manchester City Matthaus in a chat with Sky Deutschland stated that the arrival of Joan Garcia from Espanyol and the imminent contract renewal of Wojciech Szczesny may force him to leave this summer. “Since Szczesny will probably renew his contract, I expect Ter Stegen to leave Barcelona. Galatasaray would be one of several options: they have underlined their ambitions by signing (Leroy) Sané and will play in the Champions League next season. “Then next season there will be six English clubs playing in the Champions League, and none of them have a goalkeeper strong enough to say: ‘Ter Stegen is not of interest to us’.

French club, Olympique Lyonnais have been demoted to Ligue 2 because of the poor state of their finances The club were provisionally demoted by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football clubs, in November. Lyon officials including owner John Textor, met with the DNGC on Tuesday but failed to convince the body that the club had sufficiently improved their financial situation to lift the punishment. Last October, his Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £422m. In a statement, Lyon said the DNGC's decision was "incomprehensible" and confirmed they would appeal. Lyon's relegation could prove significant to Crystal Palace's hopes of playing in the Europa League next season. Their participation is currently in doubt because of Uefa rules, which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European competition. Textor owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on Monday.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso says defender Antonio Rudiger complained of a racist incident during their Club World Cup win against Mexican side Pachuca. Rudiger clashed with Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral in stoppage time after claiming he had been fouled. Rudiger spoke to referee Ramon Abatti Abel, who crossed his arms in front of his chest to signal that FIFA's anti-racism protocol had been activated. Cabral denied he racially abused Rudiger, saying he had used an expletive and called him a "coward". The match in Charlotte, North Carolina, ended soon after the incident - Real won 3-1 - and players argued again following the final whistle. Fifa's three-step process for racism is stopping a match, suspending it and abandoning it if the problem continues. Asked what happened and if a racist insult was made against Rudiger, Alonso said: "Toni has informed us about something. "We have to wait and see now. I think the FIFA protocol has been activated to investigate. But if something did happen measures need to be taken and we support Antonio because this is something unacceptable. "There's no tolerance for this at any level of football and whenever it occurs measures must be taken. That's what Antonio has told us and we believe him." Cabral said: "It was a fight. We collided. He said that I hit him with my hand, and then there was an argument and the referee made the racism sign, but I was telling him the same thing the whole time." In 2021 Rudiger, then at Chelsea, said "nothing ever really changes" after anti-discrimination campaigns in football, but that he will "continue to fight" against racist abuse. Last week campaigners criticised FIFA after it appeared to drop anti-racism messaging at the Club World Cup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capped a dominant season as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Championship after beating the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the play-off finals. The Canadian, 26, scored 29 points and had 12 assists in their 103-91 success over the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma to clinch the series 4-3 - the first time since 2016 that the finals had gone to a deciding seventh game. He was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) to add to his NBA regular season MVP award and scoring title, just the fourth player and the first since Shaquille O'Neal to achieve the rare treble in one season. It is the Thunder's first title since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City from Seattle in 2008 after Seattle won the 1979 crown. Pacers lost key player, Tyrese Haliburton to a leg injury just seven minutes into the contest when he slipped and fell while driving towards the basket, but still held a narrow 48-47 lead at half-time. However, the Thunder, who with an average age of 25.6 are the youngest side to win an NBA Finals title since the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, out-scored them 34-20 in the third quarter and pushed the lead out to as many as 22 points (90-68) in the fourth. Thunder completed a franchise record 68-win season, just four years after they recorded only 22 victories across a Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign, their first under coach Mark Daigneault, who took over in November 2020.

Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant will join the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster move from the Phoenix Suns. The 36-year-old forward will join the Rockets at the start of July in a deal involving eight other players. In exchange, guard Jalen Green and small forward Dillon Brooks will move to Phoenix - who will also gain the 10th pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft and five future second-round picks, according to reports in US media. Speaking at a media event in New York on Sunday Durant told reporter Kay Adams: "Being part of the Houston Rockets, I'm looking forward to it. "Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I'm glad it's over with. They had a great season last year. Love their leadership. I felt like I'd be a good addition." Durant is a four-time Olympic champion with the United States and was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2014. Last season the Suns could only finish 11th in the Western Conference, with Durant averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocked shots a game. The Rockets finished second in the Western Conference but were knocked out of the play-offs in the first round. They are coached by Ime Udoka, who signed a long-term deal last week to remain as Houston's coach. Durant and Udoka previously worked together with the Brooklyn Nets and on the US Olympic squad. Durant is the seventh highest-scoring player in NBA history and won his two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, taking the NBA Finals MVP award on both occasions.

Nottingham Forest have officially tied down head coach Nuno Espírito Santo to a new contract running until 2028, rewarding the Portuguese manager after a record-breaking campaign. In just 18 months at the helm, Nuno has transformed Forest from relegation battlers to European contenders. Last season’s seventh-place finish – the club’s highest in three decades – sealed their return to European football for the first time since 1995/96. “I am delighted to be able to continue our journey at this fantastic football club,” Nuno told Forest’s official website on Saturday. “We have worked extremely hard to create a special bond between the players, the fans and everyone at the Club, which helped us achieve great things last season.” Since taking over in December 2023 with Forest languishing in 17th, Nuno has overseen one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Premier League history. His side not only survived that season but thrived the next, defeating champions Liverpool at Anfield – their only home loss – and collecting three Manager of the Month awards, more than any other coach in 2024/25. Nuno also paid tribute to club owner Evangelos Marinakis, saying, “It is important to me to share a strong relationship with our ownership and we have thoroughly enjoyed working together ever since I arrived at Forest.” Forest will kick off their 2025/26 campaign at home to Brentford on Saturday 16 August, before turning their attention to UEFA Conference League qualification – a testament to the club’s remarkable rise under Nuno’s leadership.

Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has announced that she will retire from tennis at the end of this summer. The Czech player won the ladies' singles titles in 2011 and 2014 and also reached the final of the Australian Open in 2019. Kvitova was stabbed by an intruder at her home in 2016, which damaged tendons and nerves in her left hand, threatening her career. In recent years she has fallen down the rankings and last made the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam in 2020. She missed the whole of 2024 to have her first child Petr and only returned to action in February. It took her five tournaments to register her first victory, which came against Irina-Camelia Begu on clay in Rome, but that so far remains her only win. Kvitova said on X that she had surpassed her dreams during her career and will retire after September's US Open. She said, external: "I never imagined becoming a professional tennis player, being able to travel the world and play in the most beautiful stadiums around the world. "I've been privileged to reach incredible heights over the past 19 years and accomplished more than I could have ever imagined. As with all phases in life, there comes a day that it is time for a new chapter, and that time for me has come now. "I am excited and very much looking forward to soak in the beauty of playing The Championships, Wimbledon one more time, a place that holds the most cherished memories in my career for me. And while I am not entirely sure yet what my hardcourt swing in the US will look like, I am intending to finish my active playing career at the US Open in New York." The former world number two was the only non-British player named in the initial batch of Wimbledon wildcards announced on Wednesday.

Real Madrid striker, Kylian Mbappe has been released from the hospital in the United States after suffering a stomach bug, the Spanish giants said on Thursday. Mbappe, who is in the USA at the Club World Cup, had what the club called “an acute case of gastroenteritis” and was taken in for tests and treatment. “Our player Kylian Mbappe was discharged from hospital this afternoon and has returned to the Real Madrid training camp,” Los Blancos said in a statement. “Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team’s activities,” they added. French striker Mbappe missed his team’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw in Xabi Alonso’s first game at the helm. Alonso said on Tuesday the 26-year-old forward had been “feeling a little better” after illness in the run up to the match in Miami. Madrid B-team player Gonzalo Garcia, 21, started in Mbappe’s stead and opened the scoring for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents. Madrid’s second match in Group H is on Sunday June 22 against Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte.

Manchester City have been fined over £1m by the Premier League after repeatedly kicking-off or restarting matches late last season. Nine of City's matches last season started or restarted late, with the longest delay coming before the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024 which resumed two minutes and 24 seconds later than billed. The Premier League said City had accepted and apologised for the breaches, external, with the fines totalling £1.08m. They have 14 days to pay. Last season the club were fined £2.09m for delaying 22 matches, and manager Pep Guardiola said he would try and make his team talks shorter. A Premier League statement said: "Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs. "It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule." City are awaiting a verdict on 115 charges of alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation. It is alleged City breached its financial rules between 2009 and 2018. City strongly deny all charges and have said their case is supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".

Ander Herrera on Thursday has been suspended for four matches following his red card during the Club World Cup clash between Boca Juniors and Benfica. The midfielder was sent off after attempting “to intimidate the referee” while a VAR review was in progress. The situation escalated to the point where security personnel had to step in to de-escalate the tension. The disciplinary committee imposed the suspension citing “unsportsmanlike conduct and interference with officiating procedures.” Herrera will now miss the next four competitive fixtures, dealing a blow to his side’s campaign in the tournament.

Barcelona have reached an agreement on personal terms with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, sealing a contract that would keep the Spanish international at the Camp Nou until June 2031. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Thursday via X, the six-year contract includes a salary package in the range of €7 to €8 million net per season. While personal terms have been finalised, Romano reports that Barcelona are now focused on reaching a financial agreement with Athletic Bilbao to complete the transfer. Romano stated, “Nico Williams and Barça have agreed on personal terms on 6 6-year deal. Agreement sealed on player’s contract until June 2031 with the salary in the region of €7/8m net per season. Barça are currently working on financial terms to get the deal done with Athletic.” The 22-year-old winger has been one of the standout performers in La Liga and was part of Spain’s squad at the Nations League 2024. His potential move to Barça has been widely anticipated as the Catalan club looks to reinforce its attacking options for the coming season.

Kylian Mbappe is in the US with the Real Madrid squad at the Club World Cup; he missed Real Madrid's opening match against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday. Mbappe is in the hospital receiving treatment for gastroenteritis; Madrid face Pachuca on Sunday in North Carolina. The Real Madrid striker was taken to the hospital at the Club World Cup over a serious stomach bug, and he is receiving treatment for gastroenteritis, Real Madrid have announced. Mbappe missed Real Madrid's opening Club World Cup match against Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Wednesday, with head coach Xabi Alonso revealing he had a fever. Now the club has confirmed the severity of the illness, with the player undergoing tests in a bid to determine his treatment. The statement read: "Our player Kylian Mbappé has acute gastroenteritis and has been hospitalized for various tests and treatment." According to the NHS website, gastroenteritis is a common mild stomach bug characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting, often related to food poisoning. It typically lasts less than a week. Mbappé has been instrumental for Real Madrid this season, scoring 31 LaLiga goals since his high-profile summer move from Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid enter the tournament as one of the favourites, having dominated European football over the last decade, winning five of the last 10 Champions League titles. However, they drew 1-1 with Al Hilal without Mbappe. They sit second in their group after the opening round of fixtures, two points behind Red Bull Salzburg, who beat Pachuca 2-1 in Cincinnati during the early hours of Thursday morning. Madrid return to Club World Cup action on Sunday, facing Pachuca in North Carolina.

The majority stake of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball franchise is being sold in what will mark the most expensive sale of a US sports team in history, according to a source familiar with the deal. The Buss family has owned the team - one of the most iconic in sports globally - since 1979 and now has made a deal with TWG Global CEO Mark Walter, the source said. The sale is reportedly worth an estimated $10 billion (£7.45bn) - though it could increase once finalised. Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professional US baseball team that won the World Series last year. A spokesperson for Mr Walter's company confirmed the billionaire financier was in the midst of a deal with the Lakers. "Mark Walter is entering into an agreement to acquire additional interests in the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, of which he has been a stakeholder since 2021," the spokesperson said. In 2021, Mr Walter became a co-owner of the team with a 20% stake. He has investments with various sports teams globally, including the Chelsea Football Club and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which is set to enter racing in 2026. The deal comes after the March sale of the Boston Celtics basketball team to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion - which at that time was dubbed the priciest sale of a US sports franchise. It had surpassed the 2023 sale of the Washington Commanders American football team for $6.05 billion. US media reported Wednesday that the National Basketball Association team's valuation is at least $10 billion. Its sale will surpass those record-breaking deals by about $4 billion. Jerry Buss bought the team in a $67.5 million deal in 1979 that included the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and a Los Angeles arena, known as the Kia Forum. Since that year, the Lakers have won more championship titles than any other NBA team. They've appeared at the NBA Finals 17 times under the Buss family ownership and won the championship 11 times. The team - currently led by superstar LeBron James - made it to the playoffs the last three seasons but was eliminated. After Mr Buss died in 2013, ownership was passed to his six children in a trust. The family owns a 66% stake in the franchise. Jeanie Buss has served as the Lakers' governor since that time - a position she's reportedly going to keep under the terms of the sale to Mr Walter. The Los Angeles Times reports the trust required the majority of the six children to agree on any sale of the team. Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who previously owned a stake in the team, said fans should be ecstatic about the sale and that Mr Walter will carry on the team's legacy - noting his ownership of the Dodgers led to a World Series win. "I just talked to my sister Jeanie Buss to tell her congratulations, and that I'm so happy for her and family," Mr Johnson said on X. "She's witnessed him build a winning team with the Dodgers and knows that Mark will do right by the Lakers team, organization, and fans!" he said in another post. "Both are extremely intelligent, visionaries, great leaders, and have positively impacted the greater Los Angeles community!"

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has won the Turkish Super Lig Goal of the Season. The 28-year-old won the award for his spectacular acrobatic kick against Antalyaspor in October 2024. Osimhen netted the superb goal in the closing stages of the game. It was the powerful striker’s third league goal of the season for the Yellow and Reds. The 26-year-old finished as top scorer in the league with 26 goals. He was on target 37 times across all competitions for Okan Buruk’s side. Osimhen joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal from Napoli last September.

The English Premier League have released fixtures for the 2025/26 season, and some opening day fixtures have already caught the attention of football fans, especially the Old Trafford clash between Manchester United and Arsenal. Champions Liverpool will host Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with Manchester United playing Arsenal at Old Trafford. Liverpool, who won the league in Arne Slot's first season in charge, will begin their title defence at Anfield in the curtain-raiser on Friday, 15 August. Newly promoted Sunderland, back in the top flight for the first time since 2016-17, start their campaign at home against West Ham the following day. Championship winners Leeds welcome Everton to Elland Road for the Monday night game, while Burnley - promoted back to the top flight at the first time of asking - travel to Europa League holders Tottenham, who will be led by Thomas Frank in a league match for the first time. Everton fans will have to wait until the second round of fixtures for their first league game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, when they will face Brighton. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will hope to bounce back from a rare trophyless season with a strong start against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The season, which consists of 380 games over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds, will conclude on Sunday, 24 May. The Premier League has said the start date of 15 August - 82 days on from the end of the 2024-25 season - "allows for the maximum player rest time available". During the festive period, clubs will not be asked to play twice in less than 60 hours. It will be the first season with the new Premier League TV deal in place, with every game outside of the Saturday 3pm blackout to be broadcast live by either Sky Sports or TNT Sports. Premier League opening-weekend fixtures in full Friday, 15 August Liverpool v Bournemouth Saturday, 16 August Aston Villa v Newcastle Brighton v Fulham Nottingham Forest v Brentford Sunderland v West Ham Tottenham v Burnley Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City Sunday, 17 August Chelsea v Crystal Palace Manchester United v Arsenal Monday, 18 August Leeds v Everton

Tottenham are in regular contact with winger, Manor Solomon after the midfielder was left stranded in Israel because of the ongoing conflict with Iran. The 25-year-old Israel international married long-term partner Dana Voshina in his homeland last Thursday. However, the couple have been unable to leave the country after the Israeli military closed airspace to civilian traffic following aerial attacks from Iran last week. Solomon, who spent last season on loan at Leeds United, is due to return to pre-season training with Spurs in early July. The midfielder joined Spurs from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 but made just six appearances for the club before a season-ending knee injury. After 12 months on loan at Fulham, Solomon joined Leeds United on a season-long loan deal in 2024. He scored 10 times in 39 Championship matches last season as Leeds were promoted back into the Premier League. Solomon married partner Voshina last Thursday - 24 hours before Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites. The two countries have been exchanging airborne attacks ever since.

Jalen Williams scored 40 points for Oklahoma City Thunder as they held off an Indiana Pacers comeback to win 120-109 and take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. The Pacers reduced an 18-point deficit from the second quarter to two points in the fourth quarter before Williams, whose tally was a career best in a play-off game, and team-mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped guide the Thunder to victory. NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander provided 31 points along with 10 assists as home side Oklahoma moved one win away from securing the NBA title in the best-of-seven series. The Pacers had overcome a 15-point deficit in game one to win but could not repeat the feat in game five. Game six will take place in Indianapolis on Thursday at 20:30 local time, with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton insisting he will be ready for the contest. Haliburton scored just four points in 34 minutes of action in game five, with Indiana coach Rick Carlisle saying the player was not 100%.

Aryna Sabalenka says she wrote to Coco Gauff to apologise for her "completely unprofessional" remarks after the American beat her in the French Open final. World number one Sabalenka put in an error-strewn performance in a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 loss to Gauff earlier this month. The Belarusian said afterwards it was the "worst final I ever played", adding: "I think she won the match not because she played incredible [but] just because I made all of those mistakes." Speaking 10 days on from the Paris final, Sabalenka said she "absolutely regretted" her remarks. "That was just completely unprofessional of me. I let my emotions get the better of me," the 27-year-old told Eurosport Germany. "I'm just a human being who's still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we lose control. I wrote to Coco afterwards - not immediately, but recently." "I was super emotional and not very smart at that press conference," Sabalenka added. "It took me a while to revisit it, to approach it with open eyes and to understand. I realised a lot about myself. Why did I lose so many finals? I kept getting so emotional. So it was a tough but very instructive lesson for me." Sabalenka begins her grass-court season at the Berlin Open, where she is the top seed, before Wimbledon gets under way on 30 June.

Four people have been handed suspended jail sentences after being found guilty of committing hate crimes against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. The quartet were found guilty of hanging an inflatable effigy of Vinicius Jr over a bridge near Real Madrid's training ground in January 2023, shortly before Atletico Madrid's Copa Del Rey match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. A banner above the effigy read: "Madrid hates Real". Three of the group were sentenced to 14 months in prison, while one was given a 22-month sentence for distributing images of the act online. However, the sentences have been suspended after all four signed a letter of apology to the Brazil international, Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish football federation (Rfef). The sentence included a restraining order preventing the quartet from coming within 1km of Vinicius, his home or Real Madrid's training ground, as well as a blanket ban on attending La Liga or Spain national team matches. According to Real Madrid, 14 people have now been convicted of racist attacks against the club's players. "This criminal conviction comes in addition to the several already handed down in recent months for racist insults received by Real Madrid players at the stadiums in Valladolid, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid," the club said in a statement. "Real Madrid have joined its player in prosecuting this case, and in many others currently underway, and will continue to work to protect the values of our club and to eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport." Vinicius Jr has regularly been the victim of racial abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018 from Flamengo. The Brazilian, who has made 316 appearances for the club, was subject to racist chanting by Atletico fans during a La Liga match in September 2022. The 24-year-old was targeted again later that month during a match against Real Valladolid, with five people later being handed suspended prison sentences. In December 2022 - one month before the effigy was put up - Vinicius urged La Liga to act on banning those found guilty of racist chanting from attending matches.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder came from behind late on to beat the Indiana Pacers and level the NBA Finals. The Thunder won 111-104 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2. They trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Indiana 31-17 in the last period, closing with a 12-1 run in the last three minutes. Thunder coach Mark Daigneaul gave Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's Most Valuable Player, a break late in the third quarter rather than his usual rest early in the fourth. The Pacers led 101-97 with less than four minutes remaining, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of the Thunder's final 16 points and ended the game with 10 free-throws from 10 attempts. Jalen Williams scored 27 points and made seven rebounds for the Thunder, while Alex Caruso added 20 points off the bench. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton 18. The Thunder host game five at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 19:30 local time on Monday.

Unbeaten heavyweight Moses Itauma will face fellow Briton Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia on 16 August. The 20-year-old, seen as one of British boxing's top prospects, has stopped 10 of his 12 opponents since turning professional. The bout marks a major step up for the Kent fighter, with Whyte, 37, a former world-title challenger and seasoned contender. In the co-main event in Riyadh, Liverpool's WBA featherweight champion Nick Ball, 28, defends his belt against Australia's Sam Goodman. Also on the card, former super-featherweight world champion Anthony Cacace, 36, takes on American Raymond Ford, while British heavyweight David Adeleye, 28, faces Croatia's Filip Hrgovic.

Real Madrid have signed South American wonderkid, Franco Mastantuono, the youngest player to ever feature in a competitive match for Argentina, from River Plate. River Plate will receive 45m euros (£38.5m) after the 17-year-old's release clause was triggered, which sets a new record for the Argentine club. The attacking midfielder has regularly played for River Plate's first team over the past two seasons and is the youngest player to have scored in their derby with Boca Juniors. Last week, he became Argentina's youngest debutant in a competitive fixture when he was brought on as a late substitute in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Chile. His six-year deal begins on 14 August, the day he turns 18. He is Real's third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.

Brazil forward Matheus Cunha said his "dream" had become a reality after completing a £62.5m move to Manchester United. Man United activated a release clause in Cunha's Wolves contract this month. The deal, which was subject to a visa and a medical, has now been completed. Cunha has signed a five-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months. "It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player," he said. "Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother's house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt. I want to thank my family and everyone who has helped me make that dream a reality." Cunha scored 31 goals in 76 games in all competitions for Wolves after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2023. "Bringing in Matheus was one of our main priorities for this summer, so we are delighted to have completed his signing so early in the window," said United director of football Jason Wilcox.

Kevin de Bruyne has completed his move to Napoli after the Belgian midfielder left Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season. De Bruyne will link up with former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, who is head coach of the Italian champions. In moving to Italy on a free transfer, De Bruyne rejected an offer from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, and the switch means he can play in the Champions League next season. Napoli announced the signing of the 33-year-old with a computer-generated image, external of De Bruyne sitting on a throne wearing a crown, captioned "King Kev is here". He left Manchester City after 10 years at the club, winning 19 major trophies after joining from Wolfsburg in 2015. Kevin de Bruyne made 422 appearances for Manchester City, scoring 108 goals De Bruyne notably helped City to win six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups - plus their first Champions League title in 2023, completing the Treble as Pep Guardiola's team became only the second English side ever to achieve the feat. His departure from City was announced before the end of the season, and De Bruyne bid an emotional farewell at Etihad Stadium following his final home league match against Bournemouth in May. He also briefly appeared at Fulham in City's final game of the domestic season. "It's been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I had with everything that happened here. It's been an unbelievable ride and an absolute pleasure," De Bruyne said of his City exit. "It was a joy working really hard to try and help create something that brought the club the success we enjoyed. I'm super proud to have played a part in that. Manchester has been my home and my family's home for these past 10 years." City have moved quickly to fill the creative gap left by De Bruyne, signing midfielders Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon. They could face De Bruyne in the Champions League next season, with the Belgium international continuing his career at the top level. He joins up with former Premier League midfielders Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour in a Napoli side who narrowly prevailed in a thrilling Serie A title race last season.

Michal Probierz has resigned as Poland manager in the wake of Robert Lewandowski saying he would not play for the country under him. Lewandowski, who is Poland's record goalscorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances, quit his national team on Sunday after Probierz replaced him as captain with Piotr Zielinski. Probierz's decision to resign also follows Poland suffering a 2-1 loss in Finland in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. The defeat left Poland third in their group on six points after three games, with the Netherlands second on six points after two games and Finland top on seven points having played four games. "I have come to the conclusion that in the current situation the best decision for the good of the national team will be my resignation from the position of coach," Probierz said in a statement. "Performing this function was the fulfilment of my professional dreams and the greatest honour in my life." Probierz, 52, took over as coach in September 2023 but his side finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 and were the first country to be knocked out of the tournament. In his 21 matches in charge he won nine, drew five and lost seven. He added: "Thank you, of course, to all the footballers I have had the pleasure of meeting along the way. I will keep my fingers crossed for all of you, because the national team is our common national asset."

Tyrese Haliburton praised a team effort from the Indiana Pacers after they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Haliburton scored 22 points and made 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Pacers overturned a five-point deficit going into the fourth quarter in game three of the best-of-seven series. The Pacers bench outscored the Thunder by 49-18, with reserve Bennedict Mathurin contributing 27 points at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Pacers, who went into the game after a 123-107 defeat in game two, extended a run of not losing consecutive games since March. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, scored 24 points for the Thunder but only three in the fourth quarter. Jalem Williams top-scored for the visitors with 26 points, while Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and made 10 rebounds for a Thunder side that gave up 19 turnovers which led to 21 points for the Pacers. Game four will take place at the same venue at 20:30 local time on Friday.

Lawrence Okolie and Lewis Edmondson have been added to the undercard of Daniel Dubois' undisputed world heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk on 19 July at Wembley Stadium. Okolie, 32, fights seasoned heavyweight contender Kevin Lerena while 29-year-old Edmondson faces Daniel Lapin at light-heavyweight. Both contests will be over 12 rounds and are the first undercard bouts to be added to the Usyk-Dubois 2 undercard. Okolie continues his run at heavyweight having moved up to the weight last December after being a world champion at cruiserweight. The Londoner must move quickly if he is prove himself a world title contender, with the heavyweight division stacked with impressive talent waiting for their shot at belts. South Africa's Lerena, 33, has 31 wins and three losses in his career while Okolie has a 21-1 record. Dubois aims to become the first British heavyweight to hold all four major world titles in the four-belt era, while Usyk aims to become undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time. Edmondson, the Commonwealth and British light-heavyweight champion, faces Lapin with both undefeated in 11 fights. The Ukrainian often trains with Usyk. 'Have my house' - Usyk invites Trump to witness Ukraine war Usyk v Dubois 2 undercard Lawrence Okolie v Kevin Lerena - WBC silver heavyweight title Daniel Lapin v Lewis Edmondson - IBF inter-continental light-heavyweight title

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for an initial fee of £46.5m on a five-year contract. The Netherlands international is Pep Guardiola's fourth summer signing with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli and Rayan Cherki having also joined. Reijnders, 26, was signed in time to be eligible for this month's Club World Cup in America and could make his debut on 18 June against Wydad FC. "I am ecstatic to be signing for Manchester City," Reijnders said. "City are one of the biggest teams in the world, with the best coach, world-class players and outstanding facilities. "Under Pep Guardiola, City have won so many titles and I want to help keep that going with a lot more success in the coming years." The midfielder has been capped 23 times by the Netherlands but was left on the bench during Tuesday night's 8-0 thrashing of Malta. He scored 15 goals in 54 matches across all competitions for Milan last term and was named Serie A's midfielder of the season. With Kevin de Bruyne departing the club, Reijnders will strengthen the centre of the pitch for Guardiola as they look to improve on their third-placed Premier League finish last season.

Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior scored the only goal as Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America with a lackluster 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign. The five-time world champions punched their ticket to the finals in Canada, the United States and Mexico thanks to Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid star poked in from close range in the 44th minute in Sao Paulo after a cross from new Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha. It was the perfect gift for the Italian Ancelotti on his 66th birthday, having seen his new side held 0-0 by Ecuador last week in his first game as coach. Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Venezuela in Montevideo had raised the prospect of qualification for both Brazil and Paraguay at Corinthians Arena. Paraguay needed only a point to qualify while Brazil knew they could advance with a win. In the event it was Brazil who seized the opportunity presented by Venezuela’s loss with Vinicius scoring the only goal just before half-time. Brazil had struggled to create many chances up until that point, with Cunha squandering a golden chance in the 35th minute after heading wide from point-blank range. Cunha made up for it with a key part in the goal, capitalizing on good work from Raphinha to dart into the box and whip in a low cross for Vinicius, who stabbed home the finish. The win lifted Brazil into third place in the South American standings with 25 points from 16 games, guaranteeing them a top-six finish and an automatic qualifying berth. The defeat left Paraguay with 24 points, meaning they need one point to secure their first World Cup appearance since 2010. Surprise package Ecuador joined Brazil by sealing qualification with a point following a 0-0 draw with Peru in Lima. In other games, Uruguay edged closer to qualification with their win over Venezuela while Chile were eliminated with defeat to Bolivia. Goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta secured all three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay to leave the two-time world champions firmly on course for a place in next year’s finals. Like Paraguay, Uruguay need only a point from their final two games to qualify. Venezuela, who are bidding to reach the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history, are seventh with 18 points from 16 games. Argentina, who have already qualified, came from behind to frustrate Colombia with a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires. Liverpool star Luis Diaz fired Colombia into the lead with a superb 24th minute goal, and the Colombians were given a further boost midway through the second half when the world champions were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez’s dismissal. But Colombia’s hopes of a vital win were dashed nine minutes from time when Thiago Almada weaved into the box and found the target to level. The top six finishers in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed team advancing to an intercontinental playoff. Bolivia defeated Chile 2-0 to end the former South American champions’ hopes of qualification. It is the third straight World Cup that Chile have missed out on. The loss continues a dramatic fall from grace for “La Roja”, who won back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016.

Manchester City have signed Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for £31m. The 24-year-old Algeria defender has signed a contract until 2030 and is available for the group stage of the Club World Cup. City begin their campaign in the newly expanded tournament against Moroccan club Wydad AC on 18 June. Algeria international Ait-Nouri joined Wolves in a £14.9m deal from Angers in 2021, having spent the previous season on loan at Molineux, and made 41 appearances in all competitions last term as the club avoided relegation, scoring five goals and adding seven assists. He is Wolves' second high-profile departure of the summer, with Manchester United having agreed to sign Brazil striker Matheus Cunha for £62.5m. City have already agreed a £46.3m deal to sign AC Milan's Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, adding to the £200m spent in the January transfer window. Ait-Nouri said: "City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the chance to play for the club is a dream come true. I am excited about working with and learning from Pep Guardiola and his coaching team and getting to train and play alongside such a world class group of players." City are also in talks to sign English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea. The 33-year-old has been third choice at Stamford Bridge for the past four seasons and City will aim to complete a deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Earlier, City announced veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.

Champions League runners-up Inter Milan have appointed former player, and Parma boss Cristian Chivu as manager. The 44-year-old, a former defender and youth team coach at Inter, leaves Parma after only 13 games in charge and replaces Simone Inzaghi. The former Romania international was appointed by Parma in February - his first senior coaching role - winning three games as he steered Parma to Serie A safety. Inzaghi left Inter after the 5-0 Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain on 31 May and has taken charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Chivu, who has signed a contract until 2027, won three league titles during seven years as an Inter player. Inter said, external he has "gone through experiences and challenges of enormous importance, events that have shaped him as a man and a professional, binding him inextricably to the black and blue colours". Chivu will take charge of Inter during the Club World Cup. They begin their campaign against Mexican side Monterrey on 17 June.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from two sets down - saving three championship points on the way - to beat Jannik Sinner in an incredible French Open men's singles final. France's Lois Boisson, a surprise French Open semifinalist, has jumped 296 places in the latest WTA rankings released Monday to a career-high 65. Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff hold the top two spots after their run to the finals in Paris where American Gauff defeated world No 1 Sabalenka in three sets. Boisson received a wildcard entry a year after undergoing surgery on her left knee, playing her first Grand Slam ranked 361th in the world. The 22-year-old beat world No 3 Jessica Pegula and sixth ranked Mirra Andreeva before falling to Gauff in the semifinals. Iga Swiatek, the defending three-time French Open champion, falls two places to seventh after her semifinal defeat to Sabalenka. China's Zheng Qinwen moves up to fifth after reaching the quarterfinals in Paris where she won Olympic gold last year. WTA RANKINGS Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 11 553 pts Coco Gauff (USA) 8 083 Jessica Pegula (USA) 6 483 Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 4 805 Zheng Qinwen (CHN) 4 668 (+2) Mirra Andreeva (RUS) 4 636 Iga Swiatek (POL) 4 618 (-2) Madison Keys (USA) 4 484 Paula Badosa (ESP) 3 684 (+1) Emma Navarro (USA) 3 649 (-1) Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 3 358 Diana Shnaider (RUS) 3 168 Elina Svitolina (UKR) 3 035 (+1) Karolina Muchova (CZE) 2 929 (-1) Amanda Anisimova (USA) 2 804 (+1) Daria Kasatkina (AUS) 2 801 (+1) Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) 2 724 (-2) Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 2 390 Ekaterina Alexandrova 2 378 (+1) Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 2 200 (+1) … Lois Boisson (FRA) 951 (+296)

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to extend his stay with Saudi pro side Al Nassr and is even prepared to sign a new deal. According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on X on Monday, the Portuguese have dismissed rumours of leaving Al Nassr. The post read, “Cristiano Ronaldo confirms plan to stay at Al Nassr by signing a new deal. Recall that the 40-year-old on Sunday helped his national team to secure the Nation’s League for the second time four years after the Nation’s League was unveiled. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December 2022 on a record-breaking deal, has played a transformative role both on and off the pitch. His arrival marked a turning point for Saudi football, drawing global attention to the Saudi Pro League and triggering a wave of high-profile signings across the league. During his time at Al Nassr so far, Ronaldo has delivered impressive performances, scoring consistently and helping the club remain competitive at the top level. His presence has not only boosted the club’s visibility but also played a key role in the league’s growing popularity worldwide. The announcement of his continued stay is seen as a significant boost for Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League as a whole. It also signals Ronaldo’s long-term commitment to the ambitious football project unfolding in the region.

Poland's record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski says he will not play for his country while Michal Probierz is manager after being replaced as captain. The 36-year-old striker has 85 goals in 158 appearances for his country but is not part of his national team's squad during the current international window. A statement from the Polish FA, external on Sunday said Probierz had "personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision" to appoint Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski as the new captain. Following this decision, Barcelona's Lewandowski wrote on social media: "Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge. "I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world." The Poland FA also said, external Probierz will answer questions at a news conference on Monday prior to Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Finland, and will be joined by Zielinski, 31. Probierz, 52, took over as coach in September 2023 but his side finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 as they became the first country to be knocked out of the tournament. However, Poland are top of their World Cup 2026 qualifying group after two wins from as many games, with Netherlands third on three points after one game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 123-107 in game two of the NBA Finals to level the series at 1-1. The Pacers snatched victory in the final second of the opening game on Friday week, but on Sunday the Thunder dominated from start to finish. Gilgeous-Alexander's first basket at Paycom Center in Oklahoma took him to 3,000 points for the season, making him the 12th player in NBA history to reach the milestone. Game three of the best-of-seven series, external takes place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 01:30 BST on Thursday, the first time Indianapolis has hosted a finals game in 25 years. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, added five rebounds and eight assists. The Thunder's Jalen Williams scored 19 points, Aaron Wiggins had 18 and Chet Holmgren recovered from a disappointing six points in game one to score 15 points with six rebounds. The Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton was limited to 17 points, three rebounds and six assists. Haliburton walked out of the post-game news conference with a slight limp. Seven Pacers players scored in double figures, including Myles Turner with 16 points and Pascal Siakam with 15.

Portugal have made history by becoming the first team to win the UEFA Nations League after defeating Spain in the final of the 2025 edition. Portugal beat neighbours Spain in a penalty shootout to settle a frantic final in Munich and win their second Nations League trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Portugal level at 2-2 in the 61st minute, but there was nothing else to separate the two sides when the referee signalled the end of normal time. Subbed off before extra time, the Portugal captain dropped to the floor and sobbed tears of joy on the sidelines after Ruben Neves slotted home the winning penalty following Diogo Costa's save from Alvaro Morata's spot-kick.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from two sets down - saving three championship points on the way - to beat Jannik Sinner in an incredible French Open men's singles final. Alcaraz's reign on the Roland Garros clay looked to be over when world number one Sinner closed in on victory at 5-3 in the fourth set. But the 22-year-old Spaniard showed extraordinary fight to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes - the longest French Open final in history. In an electrifying atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz produced the finest performance of his career to claim a fifth major title. The world number two had never previously won a match after losing the opening two sets. Alcaraz is the first man to win a Grand Slam title after saving match point since Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the 2019 Wimbledon final. Sinner, who was bidding for his maiden Roland Garros triumph, was denied his third successive major after a gruelling, gritty and glorious encounter. The first Grand Slam showpiece between the two dominant players on the ATP Tour had been a tantalising prospect - and it surpassed the hype. Both men pushed themselves - and each other to the limit - in a classic contest which showcased all of their shot-making, athleticism and resilience. The majority of the 15,000 fans were jumping to their feet after every point in a thrilling finale, where both players continued to execute top-quality shots that often defied belief. Alcaraz flew out of the blocks in the first-to-10 match tie-break of the fifth set, sapping every last bit of energy of Sinner before sealing victory with a whipped forehand winner down the line. He fell flat on his back before Sinner trudged around the net for a warm, heartfelt embrace. Alcaraz somehow found the energy to sprint off court, climbing up the stands to celebrate with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, the rest of his team and family members including his parents.

Real Madrid striker, Kylian Mbappe bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before half-time, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the halfway line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. The French showed their incredible depth, while Mbappe again demonstrated his finishing and pace. France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni praised his club and international teammate Mbappe, saying “he’s a very important player for us and when he plays like he did today, it’s just amazing.” For Germany, which lost two straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. Striker Niclas Fuellkrug lamented his side’s wastefulness, telling DAZN: “If we had taken our first chance and scored, it could have been three or four-nil for us.” In the lead-up to Sunday’s encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany “isn’t the most important game for us,” with a clear focus on next year’s World Cup. Deschamps made eight changes from the semi-final loss to Spain, with only captain Mbappe, goalie Mike Maignan, and midfield veteran Adrien Rabiot keeping their starting spots. Nagelsmann also rotated heavily, making four changes, including bringing Fuellkrug back into the starting XI. The Germans had a wealth of chances in the opening half. Karim Adeyemi won a penalty, but it was overturned by VAR for diving. Florian Wirtz hit the post. Mbappe struck just before half-time. The Real Madrid man collected a pass which floated over the 1.77-metre tall Joshua Kimmich’s head, took a touch and hammered a shot home with his preferred right foot. Nagelsmann replaced rookie striker Nick Woltemade with Deniz Undav at half-time. The move seemed to have paid immediate dividends. Undav had the ball in the net, but his effort was chalked off for a foul in the build-up. Germany dominated possession and field position, but that left them vulnerable on the break to France’s lightning-fast forwards, led by Mbappe. Marcus Thuram hit the post on 58 minute. Then Mbappe and substitute Olise, who plays in Germany for Bayern Munich, combined to seal the match for France. The French captain pounced on a poor Robin Koch clearance on the halfway line and ran goalwards, squaring for the onrushing Olise to tap home with six minutes remaining. Later on Sunday, reigning Nations League and Euros champions Spain face Portugal in Munich to decide this year’s crown.

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has rejected a €75m offer to join Saudi Arabia side, Al Hilal. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano on his X account on Sunday, “Despite agreement between club to club with Napoli for €75m fee, Osimhen says no to the Saudi Pro League club. Galatasaray will insist on signing him with the race now open again.” Recall that, throughout his loan spell at Galatasaray, Osimhen has been instrumental in the team’s success, scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances. His impressive performance has made him a fan favorite, and the club is optimistic about retaining him. It was that Al-Hilal were inching towards signing Osimhen after increasing their offer to €75m to meet Napoli’s demands, and are looking to have the player’s medical soon, but with the latest development, Osimhen is yet to decide on his future.

Coco Gauff battled back from a set down to beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a Grand Slam final for the second time with a dramatic victory in the French Open showpiece on Saturday. The second-ranked American dug deep to claim a 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory and her second major title after also defeating Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open. The 21-year-old more than made amends for her emotional 2022 final loss to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros, outlasting Sabalenka over two hours and 38 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. It was a second straight Grand Slam final loss for Sabalenka after her defeat by Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January. Gauff was rock solid after falling a set down, while Sabalenka made 70 unforced errors in windy conditions in a match that followed a very similar pattern to Gauff’s victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago. Belarusian Sabalenka was aiming to become the only current women’s player to win three of the four Grand Slam events after her US Open triumph last year and back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024. But Gauff instead moved 6-5 ahead in their head-to-head record, proving the more consistent player in the first women’s Slam final between the world’s top two since Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep in Melbourne in 2018.

Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo says he will not play at this month's Club World Cup after turning down offers from participating teams. The 40-year-old is out of contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr at the end of June. In May, Fifa president Gianni Infantino raised the prospect of Ronaldo joining a team involved at the Club World Cup after Al-Nassr's failure to qualify. "I will not be at the Club World Cup," said Ronaldo. "Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can't try and do everything. You can't catch every ball." Ronaldo posted on social media that "the chapter is over" following Al-Nassr's final league game of the season in May, leading to speculation he was set for a move. However, sources have told BBC Sport that the club are confident of extending Ronaldo's deal. Speaking before Portugal's Nations League final against Spain on Sunday, Ronaldo said a decision on his future was "almost final". The striker joined Al-Nassr in 2023 after the termination of his deal with Manchester United. He has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances for the club, including 35 times in 41 matches last term. Ronaldo scored the winner in a 2-1 victory against Germany on Wednesday to book Portugal's spot in the Nations League final.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo said Saturday the individual honour should be awarded to a player who won the Champions League. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Nations League final in Munich between Portugal and Spain, the veteran said “trophies” should determine who wins the Ballon d’Or. “In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a team that has won trophies. The Ballon d’Or winner should be in a team that has won the Champions League,” the 40-year-old forward told reporters. First awarded in 1956 by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the player considered the best over the previous season. Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 thumping of Inter Milan in the Champions League final last Saturday led to growing calls for Ousmane Dembele to win this season’s gong. Spain starlet Lamine Yamal’s superb display in Thursday’s 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France, however, had some arguing the teenager should be awarded the Ballon d’Or, which would make the 17-year-old the youngest winner in its history. France coach Didier Deschamps backed Dembele for the award, saying, “Considering the season Ousmane is having, he deserves it and that’s all I wish for him”. At a press conference in Stuttgart on Saturday, France captain Kylian Mbappe told reporters he backed Dembele. “Does anyone need me to explain? Right now we’re talking about Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, but I’m voting for Dembele.” Ronaldo said he “cannot tell you who deserves it” this season. Ronaldo’s five wins are bettered only by Argentinian Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. The duo had a monopoly on the award for a decade from Ronaldo’s first win in 2008 to his last in 2017. The current holder is Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

Kylian Mbappe says he is not bitter over Paris St-Germain's Champions League victory less than a year after leaving the club for Real Madrid. The forward left PSG as the club's record goalscorer but was unable to win European football's premier club competition in seven seasons with the French giants before signing for Madrid on a free transfer in July 2024. PSG cruised past Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title on 31 May. "I didn't leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road," said France captain Mbappe, who scored 256 goals for PSG. Speaking on Saturday at a news conference before France's Nations League third-place match with Germany, Mbappe added: "I tried everything, and it was destiny that meant it had to happen without me. "PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn't affect me. I was happy - I think they deserved it. They've had so many years where they struggled. I've been there too; I've played in every Champions League stage in Paris except for the victory. "They're the best team in Europe. I don't remember seeing a team win 5-0 in a major final." The closest Mbappe came to Champions League success with his boyhood club was a runners-up medal following defeat by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final. Mbappe's Madrid, who were knocked out by Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of last season's Champions League, ended the campaign without a trophy for the first time in four years. The 26-year-old did enjoy some success, though, after scoring 31 La Liga goals to win the European Golden Shoe.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz moved into his second successive French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured in the fourth set of their semi-final. Spanish second seed Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 when Italy's Musetti, aiming to reach his first major final, was forced to end the match early. Eighth seed Musetti needed treatment for a thigh problem at the end of the third set. The pair have been the leading clay-court players on the ATP Tour this year and showed why in two high-quality, competitive sets. But once he levelled, 22-year-old Alcaraz unleashed his attacking shots to devastating effect to take control of the match. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who won Roland Garros for the first time last year, will face either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner in Sunday's final. Serb sixth seed Djokovic, 38, continues his bid for a standalone record 25th title when he faces Italian world number one Sinner later on Friday.

Tyrese Haliburton scored in the final second as the Indiana Pacers snatched victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one of the NBA Finals. His 21-foot shot put the Pacers in front for the first time in the match, with 0.3 seconds remaining as they secured a 111-110 win. The Thunder, with home court advantage for the first two games, had led by 15 points during the fourth quarter, and in the closing seconds the ball was in the hands of NBA most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, he missed a two-point attempt with 12 seconds remaining and the Pacers grabbed the rebound, passed the ball to Haliburton and he drove down the court before hitting the winning points. It's the fourth time in the 2025 play-offs that the 25-year-old has recorded a big-time score - three times to win a match and once to force overtime. Indiana won despite turning the ball over 25 times, with 20 of those coming in the first half. Team-mate Myles Turner said of Haliburton: "Some players will say they have it, but there are other players that show it. He wants to be the one to hit that shot. He doesn't shy away from that moment." Gilgeous-Alexander was the game's leading scorer with 38 points, while Pascal Siakam top scored for the Pacers with 19 points, followed by Obi Toppin with 17. Game two of the best-of-seven series is also in Oklahoma and will start at 19:00 local time on Sunday, 8 June.

Barcelona winger Raphinha was named LaLiga Player of the Season on Friday, after the Brazilian played a major role in his side winning the domestic treble, with club teammate Lamine Yamal named Best Under-23 player. Raphinha contributed 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 club games across all competitions, with Barca winning the league title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. The 28-year-old signed for Barcelona in 2022 from Leeds United and recently signed a contract extension keeping him at the Spanish club until 2028. Raphinha scored a late goal to put Barcelona ahead in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, only for the Italians to level in stoppage time and net an extra-time winner. That was Raphinha’s 13th goal in 14 games of this season’s competition. Yamal, still only 17, confirmed his status as one of the world’s top talents after last season’s breakthrough campaign, with the winger netting nine league goals along with five in the Champions League.

Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match ban after covering an anti-homophobia message on his shirt with tape. The Serb, 36, concealed an anti-homophobia display on his sleeve during Lyon's 2-0 win over Angers on 17 May. The anti-homophobia message is part of a Ligue 1 campaign which is now in its fifth year. Typically, players are asked to wear rainbow-coloured symbols while banners are also displayed in stadiums. However, former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Matic and Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan, 32, both covered the messages on their sleeves with tape. Ligue 1 issued the pair with two-match bans and a further two matches suspended. Matic's contract with Lyon expires at the end of June and he is yet to agree new terms with the French club. The annual awareness campaign has been met with resistance in recent years, with some players citing religious beliefs for choosing not to take part. Nantes and Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed, 27, withdrew from his side's crunch relegation-decider against Montpellier on the final day of the season. "I believe in mutual respect - the respect we owe others but also the respect we owe to ourselves and our beliefs. For me, there are deep-rooted values linked to my background and my beliefs that make my participation in this initiative difficult," Nantes' Mohamed said on Instagram before the match. Last season, the then-Monaco midfielder Mohamed Camara, 25, was banned for four matches for taping over an anti-homophobia logo on his shirt. Some Toulouse players missed a match in 2023 with the club saying they had "expressed their disagreement with the association of their image with the rainbow colours representing the LGBT movement".

David Beckham is set to be awarded a knighthood in King Charles' Birthday Honours. The former England football captain, 50, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003. But BBC Sport has been told he is now in line to receive further recognition for both his football career, and his contributions to British society, with the list of recipients to be published next week. Beckham played 115 times for his country as well as for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, Paris St-Germain and AC Milan, retiring in 2013. Beckham was reportedly first nominated for a knighthood in 2011. In 2017 several British newspapers printed details of leaked emails in which Beckham allegedly criticised the honours system and the honours committee. A spokesperson for Beckham said at the time that the emails were "hacked", "doctored" and "private". The former footballer married singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham in 1999. The couple share four children - Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven. Beckham played a key role in securing the London 2012 Olympics, and has been an ambassador for Unicef since 2005. Unicef - which supports vulnerable children around the world - launched 'The David Beckham Unicef Fund' in 2015 to mark a decade's partnership between the two. Beckham became an ambassador for The King's Foundation in 2024, supporting King Charles' education programme and efforts to ensure young people have a greater understanding of nature. He is also part-owner of League Two side Salford City, as well as president and co-owner of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami in the United States. He helped set-up the Inter Miami CF Foundation - a community driven not-for-profit enterprise that looks to empower underserved communities, using football as a catalyst. A Government spokesperson said: "We do not comment on speculation on honours." Beckham's representatives declined to comment.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka moved a step closer to a maiden French Open title by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster semi-final. Sabalenka will meet second seed Coco Gauff in Saturday's showpiece after the American ruthlessly ended French wildcard Lois Boisson's incredible run. Belarus' Sabalenka earned a 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 6-0 victory to end fifth seed Swiatek's 26-match winning run at the tournament. After a slow start on the Roland Garros clay, Poland's Swiatek fought back to level but Sabalenka dominated a 24-minute deciding set. Sabalenka, whose three Grand Slam titles have all come on hard courts, has never reached the Paris final before. Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek in 2022, won 6-1 6-2 against world number 361 Boisson, who was appearing in her first Grand Slam main draw. For the first time since 2011, fans had a home player to cheer in the women's semi-finals - and nobody could have guessed it would be Boisson. The 22-year-old's journey from an unknown player returning from serious injury to a Grand Slam semi-finalist competing with the world's best is extraordinary. Boisson was set to be a wildcard entry last year but had to pull out after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament just a week before the French Open began. But 12 months on, she returned to make a remarkable run that will never be forgotten by French fans. Taking the scalps of third seed Jessica Pegula and sixth seed Mirra Andreeva put her into a first career semi-final on the biggest stage of all. However, Gauff proved to be a step too far. Despite having the backing of a raucous crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, the energy provided was not enough to compensate for Boisson's lack of quality. Gauff dominated the rallies, breaking Boisson's serve six times before wrapping up victory in one hour and nine minutes.

Chelsea Football Club has confirmed the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town in a deal worth £30 million The England Under-21 striker has penned a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until June 2031. Delap, 22, chose Chelsea ahead of more than six offers this summer after an impressive Premier League season with Ipswich, in which he scored 12 goals and was shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year award. In a statement on the club’s official website, Delap said, “I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach. It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.” Delap began his career at Derby County’s academy before moving to Manchester City in 2019. There, he played under current Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca in the Elite Development Squad and made a strong impression, scoring 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 games. He made his senior debut for City in the League Cup and featured in the Premier League before going out on loan to Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City. He joined Ipswich Town for the 2024/25 season and made 37 appearances. Delap has also been a regular presence in England’s youth setups, most recently appearing for the Under-21s in March. Chelsea welcomed the forward with the message, “Welcome to Chelsea, Liam!”

Top seed Jannik Sinner cruised into the French Open semi-finals with a ruthless straight-set victory over Alexander Bublik, bringing the Kazakh's remarkable run in Paris to an end. Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title by swatting aside third seed Alexander Zverev to reach the French Open semi-finals. The 38-year-old sixth seed won 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a meeting with world number one Jannik Sinner on Friday. Djokovic, who has three Roland Garros titles, lost the opening set to 2024 runner-up Zverev after being broken in the first game of the match. But the Serb great did not drop serve again, although he had to survive a 41-shot exchange on break point at 3-2 in the fourth set on his way to sealing a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semi-final appearance. There he will face Sinner, who cruised into the last four with a ruthless straight-set victory over Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik earlier on Thursday. The Italian is still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros after winning 6-1 7-5 6-0 and bringing 62nd-ranked Bublik's remarkable run to an end. Sinner is hunting a first title on the Paris clay after previously only gone as far as the semis, losing a five-set thriller to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz last year. Djokovic or Sinner will meet the winner of defending champion Alcaraz and Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who also play on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero, as Portugal came from behind to defeat Germany 2–1 in the UEFA Nations League semi-final on Wednesday in Munich, booking their place in Sunday’s final at the Allianz Arena, ending their 25-year wait to beat the Germans. Germany took the lead early in the second half through Florian Wirtz, who finished a header from Joshua Kimmich’s cross in the 48th minute, but the lead lasted just 15 minutes before Portugal mounted a swift comeback. Francisco Conceição levelled the score with a screamer in the 63rd minute after being set up by Rúben Dias. Five minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo scored what proved to be the winner, converting a pass from Nuno Mendes in the 68th minute to complete the turnaround. The match saw a flurry of yellow cards, with Rúben Neves and Portugal coach Roberto Martínez booked in the 52nd minute, and Germany’s Jonathan Tah cautioned in the 80th. Both Wirtz and Portugal’s Dias received yellow cards in the 84th minute, as did Niclas Füllkrug. With the 2–1 win, Portugal advanced to the final on Sunday at 1900 GMT in Munich. The third-place play-off will be held earlier the same day at 1300 GMT at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. The second semi-final between Spain and France is scheduled for Thursday in Stuttgart.

Top seed Jannik Sinner cruised into the French Open semi-finals with a ruthless straight-set victory over Alexander Bublik, bringing the Kazakh's remarkable run in Paris to an end. The Italian was in imperious form and is still yet to drop a set at Roland Garros as he won 6-1 7-5 6-0. Sinner is hunting a first major title on the Paris clay having previously only gone as far as the last four, losing a five-set thriller to Carlos Alcaraz last year. World number 62 Bublik has enjoyed something of a career rejuvenation at the French major, but shook his head and smiled ruefully as he was unable to find any answers to Sinner picking apart his unconventional style. Victory extended Sinner's winning run at the majors to 19 matches after triumphs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January. He will meet either sixth seed Novak Djokovic or German third seed Alexander Zverev in the last four. They face each other at 19:15 BST on Wednesday, after Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti booked a showdown in the other semi-final.

Middlesbrough have sacked former Manchester United interim manager, Michael Carrick after two-and-a-half years in charge as their head coach . The former England midfielder, 43, took over at the Championship side in October 2022 for his first role in management. He guided the team to a play-off finish in 2022-23 but they have missed out on the top six in the past two campaigns. Carrick's assistants Jonathan Woodgate and his brother Graeme Carrick have also left the club. Boro spent much of the 2024-25 season challenging for a play-off spot but one win in their final six matches proved to be costly. They stayed in the hunt for a top-six place until the final game of the season but defeat at Coventry saw them finish 10th. His departure means that 17 of last season's 24 Championship teams have changed manager since August last year. Carrick started his coaching career with Manchester United, with whom he won five Premier League titles in his playing days, after retiring in 2018. He had a spell in caretaker charge of the team in November 2021 after the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but left when Ralf Rangnick was appointed in December. Boro turned to him in October the following year after a disastrous start to the season saw them sack Chris Wilder with the club in the relegation zone. Carrick immediately turned their fortunes around as they flew up the table and into promotion contention. They ultimately finished fourth for a first play-off campaign in five years but were beaten by Coventry in the semi-finals. They fell just short of another Premier League push in the following season, as they finished eighth, four points off sixth. Last season was similar as they headed into the final six games in the play-off spots but came up short in the end.

Manchester City have agreed a 55m euros deal with AC Milan for Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The 26-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Etihad Stadium after agreeing personal terms with City. The deal, which is subject to a medical, includes additional payments if certain clauses are met. City hope to complete a deal for Reijnders in time for the Club World Cup, which kicks off on 14 June. His arrival will strengthen an area of the pitch that has been weakened by injury to Mateo Kovacic, who has been ruled out of the 32-team tournament in the United States after undergoing Achilles surgery. Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is also expected not to be involved in the tournament, with a move to Serie A champions Napoli looking increasingly likely.

Jadon Sancho has officially left Chelsea and returned to Manchester United, with a £5 million penalty clause paid as part of the deal. The winger, who had spent a stint at Stamford Bridge, confirmed his departure and expressed gratitude to the London club for his time there. “Grateful for the experience. Big love to everyone at Chelsea who made me feel at home: teammates, staff and the fans. Wishing the club all the best moving forward,” Sancho said. The move marks a return to Old Trafford for the England international, as both clubs finalised the agreement with the payment of the clause. Sancho was on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory against Real Betis as they clinched the UEFA Conference League in May.

Inter Milan and manager Simone Inzaghi have parted company "by mutual agreement" three days after their Champions League final thrashing by Paris St-Germain. The 49-year-old, who was appointed by the Serie A club in 2021, has been heavily linked with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. "The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a four-year journey, during which I gave everything," said Inzaghi, who won six trophies with Inter. "I want to dedicate one last word to the millions of Nerazzurri (Inter) fans who cheered me on, cried and suffered in difficult moments and laughed and celebrated in the six triumphs we experienced together. I will never forget you." The announcement of his departure followed a meeting between Inzaghi and Inter officials on Tuesday. "The club and Simone Inzaghi are parting ways," said an Inter Milan statement. "This is the decision taken by mutual agreement." Inter president Giuseppe Marotta added: "I would like to thank Simone Inzaghi for the work done, for the passion shown and also for the sincerity in the discussion that led to the common decision to separate our paths. "Only when we have fought together to achieve success day by day, can we have a frank dialogue like the one that happened." Inzaghi won one Serie A title, two Coppa Italias and the Supercoppa Italia three times during his spell at San Siro. He twice guided Inter to the Champions League final but they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in 2022-23 then suffered a record 5-0 defeat against PSG on Saturday. They also missed out on the 2024-25 Serie A title by a point to Napoli. Inzaghi's departure comes before Inter's participation in the newly expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which takes place in the United States between 14 June and 13 July. Al-Hilal will also be involved in the competition.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster French Open semi-final between two title contenders. Sabalenka edged a tight quarter-final against China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 on a blustery Court Phillippe Chatrier on Tuesday. Poland's Swiatek then came through 6-1 7-5 against Elina Svitolina to set up a fascinating last-four encounter. Belarusian Sabalenka replaced fifth-ranked Swiatek as world number one in October last year. The pair have met 12 times, with Swiatek leading the head-to-head 8-4 - but they have not met at a major since the 2022 US Open semi-finals. Swiatek has won four of the past five Roland Garros titles, while Sabalenka is bidding for her first Paris trophy.

A change has been made to the rules governing penalty kicks, following the controversial disallowance of Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez’s spot-kick against Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League shootout in March. The previous ruling, which invalidated the goal due to a ‘double touch’, has now been amended. Going forward, if a penalty taker unintentionally strikes the ball with both feet and scores, the penalty will be retaken instead of being declared void, a significant shift from the earlier regulation which considered such attempts as misses. The initial decision played a role in Atlético Madrid’s elimination from the competition, prompting the club to lodge a formal protest with UEFA. In response, UEFA referred the matter to FIFA and the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for football’s rulebook. Following deliberations, IFAB stated that, “When the penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick: If the kick is successful, it is retaken rather than rule out. “If the kick is unsuccessful, an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee plays advantage when it clearly benefits the defending team) or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), the kick is recorded as missed. “This situation is rare, and as it is not directly covered in Law 14, referees have understandably tended to penalise the kicker for having touched the ball again before it has touched another player, thus awarding an indirect free kick to the opposition or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), recording the kick as missed.” This adjustment addresses concerns about fairness and aligns the laws with the realities of match situations, where such accidental occurrences can happen under pressure. Julián Álvarez thought he had successfully converted his penalty during Atlético Madrid’s Champions League round-of-16 second-leg shootout against Real Madrid, with the scoreboard briefly showing a 2-2 tie. But the celebrations were short-lived. Real Madrid players quickly appealed, claiming Álvarez had made contact with the ball using his standing foot. A VAR review confirmed the double touch, and referee Szymon Marciniak ruled the goal out. Following the decision, Atlético missed more penalties, allowing Los Blancos to progress to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain clinched their maiden UEFA Champions League crown on Saturday with an emphatic 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan, the most lopsided scoreline ever recorded in a final since the tournament’s inception in 1956. The commanding performance capped off a remarkable season for the French side, completing a treble that also included titles in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. Achraf Hakimi set the tone early, scoring in the 12th minute against his former club. Rising star Désiré Doué, just 19 years old, netted twice to become the first teenager to bag a brace in a final since the legendary Eusébio led Benfica past Real Madrid 5-3 in 1962. PSG’s dominance continued as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and substitute Senny Mayulu added their names to the scoresheet, sealing a night of glory for the Parisian giants.

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois will miss this month’s Club World Cup due to a back injury. In a statement issued by Real Madrid, it stated that the Belgian goalkeeper has been diagnosed with sacroiliitis, an inflammation of the sacroiliac joints where the lower back meets the pelvis. “The medical staff of Real Madrid and the Royal Belgian Football Association have discussed Thibaut Courtois’ back problems intensively in the past period,” the Belgian association wrote in a statement. “Both medical staff have come to the conclusion that the goalkeeper is not fit for the upcoming internationals.” Real Madrid will start their Club World Cup campaign in Miami on June 18 against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

The captain of Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes, has rejected the Saudi club, Al-Hilal offer while opting to stay in his club. This was disclosed by Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano on X on Tuesday. According to him, Fernandes rejected the club’s significant contract proposal. “Despite crazy contract proposal from the Saudi Pro League club, Bruno Fernandes wants to continue playing football in Europe. Man United Captain wants to play at top level in Europe. Decision made,” he wrote.

Australian Nick "Bad Boy Nick" Kyrgios says he will miss this year's Wimbledon after suffering a "small setback" on his latest return from injury. Kyrgios, who was beaten in the 2022 final at the All England Club by Novak Djokovic, has played very little tennis over the past two years because of a troublesome wrist that required surgery. In March at the Miami Open, the 30-year-old won his first singles match since 2022 but later pulled out of the French Open with a knee injury, where he had been scheduled to play men's doubles. The Australian wrote on Instagram: "I've hit a small setback in my recovery and unfortunately I won't make it back for grass season this year. "I know how much you've been looking forward to seeing me out there and I'm genuinely sorry to disappoint. This is just a bump in the road though and I'm already working hard to get back stronger than ever." Wimbledon gets under way on 30 June.

Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha has offered guidance to Victor Osimhen as speculation intensifies over the forward’s next move following a record-breaking loan spell at Galatasaray. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT Spor via Haberler, the former Fenerbahçe playmaker urged Osimhen to consider the emotional and professional satisfaction he has found in Turkey, suggesting that staying at Galatasaray could be a wise decision, even if it means making personal sacrifices. “Turkey is a great place to play and live football,” Okocha said. “Sometimes, you may need to make sacrifices when making decisions in football. Osimhen had a great season at Galatasaray. Ultimately, he is happy there. Why shouldn’t he stay with the team? I love Turkey. He loves it too.” Osimhen, who recently concluded his loan spell from Napoli, scored his 37th goal of the season in Galatasaray’s 2–0 win over İstanbul Başakşehir on Saturday, ending a sensational campaign that saw the Turkish giants claim a league and cup double. Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk acknowledged that the player’s future remains uncertain, but praised his contribution and expressed hope that he would remain with the club. Meanwhile, Galatasaray fans have taken matters into their own hands, launching a global #staywithus campaign that included a billboard message in Times Square. While Osimhen has yet to comment publicly on where he will play next season, his agent has reportedly received a new contract offer from Galatasaray worth €15m per year, a €3m increase on his current earnings, which would make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. Asked whether he had any inside knowledge on Osimhen’s next destination, Okocha remained reserved. “I don’t know,” he replied. “Wherever he decides to go, I wish him the best.” Okocha, who played for Fenerbahçe between 1996 and 1998, also reflected on his own time in Turkey, calling it “a wonderful two years” and fondly remembering the fans and local cuisine. He concluded his remarks with a nod to his old club, telling fans, “The greatest is Fener.”

Novak Djokovic ended Cameron Norrie's encouraging French Open run with a straight-set victory over the Briton to reach the quarter-finals. Djokovic, bidding for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title, beat Norrie 6-2 6-3 6-2. Norrie, playing in the last 16 at Roland Garros for the first time, was looking for another scalp in Paris after stunning 11th seed Daniil Medvedev in the first round. However, the world number 81 never seriously looked like causing an upset against the 38-year-old great. If Norrie had taken his chances - particularly in a second set where he led by a break - it would have applied more pressure on the Serb. Sixth seed Djokovic will face third seed Alexander Zverev next - having lost to the German in January's Australian Open semi-finals after suffering a hamstring injury.

Britain's Jack Draper says it feels like a "missed opportunity" to reach the French Open quarter-finals after a surprise defeat by world number 62 Alexander Bublik. The 23-year-old was given a reality check as Bublik, the second-lowest ranked player left in the draw, claimed an inspired 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4 win. World number five Draper lost his way as the maverick Kazakh produced one of the finest displays of his career. The British number one was largely expected to continue his sharp rise on the clay and tee up a potential quarter-final against top seed Jannik Sinner, who later won his last-16 match against Andrey Rublev. However, Bublik unleashed an array of spectacular shot-making - using the drop-shot to devastating effect in particular - on his way to a superb victory. It is Draper's worst defeat by ranking since his first-round exit at Roland Garros last year. A tense finish saw 27-year-old Bublik spurn one match point - and save five break points - before eventually getting over the line. Draper's loss ended British interest in singles after Cameron Norrie was beaten by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has put Wolverhampton Wonderers defender, Rayan Ait-Nouri at the top of his list to solve his side's problematic left-back spot. City have been operating without a specialist left-back since Benjamin Mendy left. He made his last appearance for the club in August 2021. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joao Cancelo and Josko Gvardiol are among the players who have had extended stints in the position. Youngster Nico O'Reilly then filled the role towards the end of last season, including the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace. However, Guardiola is keen to address the issue this summer and Wolves defender Ait-Nouri is the man he wants. No agreement is in place yet for the 23-year-old Algeria international but sources are confident it will happen. Ait-Nouri has been named in Algeria's squad for their friendlies against Rwanda (5 June) and Sweden (10 June). City would need to complete the transfer before 10 June in order for Ait-Nouri to be available for the group stage of the Club World Cup.

World number 361 Lois Boisson pulled off the biggest shock of this year's French Open with a stunning fourth-round victory against third seed Jessica Pegula. The French player, given a wildcard into the main draw after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in her knee last year, came through 3-6 6-4 6-4 against the US Open runner-up. Boisson is making her debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam and had never played an opponent ranked in the world's top 50 before this week. The 22-year-old had to stave off four break points as she served for the match at 5-4 in the third set before sealing victory with a thumping forehand winner. She will play sixth seed Mirra Andreeva for a place in the semi-finals in Paris. After a successful series of performances on the third rung of the women's tennis tour, Boisson was given a wildcard for her home Grand Slam. However, a week before the clay-court tournament began, Boisson tore the ACL in her left knee. She was unable to bring herself to watch last year's French Open and subsequently missed nine months of the season. To speed up her recovery, Boisson did neurovisual training, which included sight tests, buzzer reaction tests and using virtual reality headsets to keep her reactions sharp. She made her WTA Tour return at April's Rouen Open against Harriet Dart, where the Briton apologised for asking the umpire to tell her opponent to put on deodorant. Boisson later made light of the issue, posting an edited photo of her holding some deodorant and telling toiletries company Dove that they "apparently need a collab". Able to use the wildcard that injury denied her last year, Boisson beat 24th seed Elise Mertens in her opening match and overcame a second-set 'bagel' to beat compatriot Elsa Jacquemot in the third round. A tattoo of the word 'resilience' on Boisson's right elbow is there to remind her that the hard work is worth it - and victory over Pegula is conclusive proof of that. Outplayed and overawed in the first set, a superb backhand winner gave the Frenchwoman a crucial break in the second set. After serving out to love, Boisson went a quick break up in the third before Pegula hit back. However, at 4-4 Pegula again blinked first. Boisson broke and served out the match by saving break points with a mix of deft touch and devastating power. She let out a roar of celebration as she secured victory and stood in the middle of the court with her arms aloft to soak in the atmosphere. Boisson is the lowest-ranked player to reach the French Open fourth round since Serena Williams, who was then world number 451 as she made her return from maternity leave, in 2018. She is also the lowest-ranked player to reach a major quarter-final since world number 418 Kaia Kanepi at the 2017 US Open.

World number two Coco Gauff continued her pursuit of a first French Open singles title with another impressive straight-set victory to reach the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old American dismantled Russian 20th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0 7-5 in Paris. The opening set lasted just 29 minutes, with Gauff dropping just five points across the first five games. It is the fifth consecutive year that 2022 runner-up Gauff has reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. She will face the winner of the all-American fourth-round meeting between Australian Open champion Madison Keys and Hailey Baptiste. Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva also progressed to the last eight in straight sets. The sixth seed defeated Australian 17th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 7-5 and will play either American third seed Jessica Pegula or French wildcard Lois Boisson next. Gauff made a commanding start against Alexandrova but came under pressure as she served for the first set. She had to withstand five break points in a sixth game lasting almost 10 minutes before she eventually converted her third set point. Gauff was the first to face break points in a competitive second set but struck first against an improving opponent to lead 4-3. Alexandrova, competing in the fourth round in Paris for the first time, offered resistance with an immediate response - but Gauff finished the stronger and sealed victory with a run of three straight games. It is a fourth consecutive straight-set win for Gauff at this year's tournament. She has also become the youngest player to reach as many as five women's singles quarter-finals at a single major since Venus Williams at the 2001 US Open.

Indiana Pacers reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000 as they beat the New York Knicks 125-108 in game six of the Eastern Conference finals. Pascal Siakam maintained his impressive form to be named MVP of the series after recording 31 points and three blocked shots on Saturday in Indianapolis. Siakam scored over 30 points in three of four victories for the Pacers, who won the series 4-2. The Pacers will face Western Conference winners the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday. Siakam, a nine-year veteran who won the title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, said: "After a bad game five, we wanted to bounce back and I have 100% belief in my team-mates. Whenever we're down, we find a way, and we did that tonight." Tyrese Haliburton also starred for the hosts, adding 21 points, 13 assists and three steals, while Obi Toppin scored 18 points off the bench. For the Knicks, OG Anunoby top-scored with 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points as the visitors fell short after conceding 18 turnovers. The first quarter was a tight affair as the Pacers led 25-24 before stretching their lead to four points by the end of the first half. Pacers took control in the third quarter, which began with a 9-0 run, to end the Knicks' resistance and claim the series win.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a battle "in the mind" to reach the French Open quarter-finals after an entertaining four-set win over American Ben Shelton. The 22-year-old Spaniard produced his best performance of the tournament so far to claim a 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. After three hours and 19 minutes of high-class action, a thumping forehand down the line sealed Alcaraz's 100th clay-court win on the ATP Tour. The second seed will face another American, Tommy Paul, in the last eight after the 12th seed beat Australia's Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3. Having said he "didn't enjoy" his battling win over Damir Dzumhur in the third round, Alcaraz was far closer to his best on Sunday and had to be against the big-hitting Shelton. Later, American 15th seed Frances Tiafoe defeated Germany's Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). He will face eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals after the Italian beat Denmark's 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 in Sunday's night session. It is just the second time 2024 Wimbledon semi-finalist Musetti, 23, has progressed beyond the fourth round of a Slam.

Inter were welcomed back to the city of Milan by one single supporter after suffering the heaviest ever defeat in a Champions League final on Saturday night. The Nerazzurri were hammered 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Munich on Saturday evening, the heaviest ever loss in a European Cup final, with goals from Achraf Kahimi, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu. Inter returned home via Milan Malpensa airport on Sunday. Waiting for them on the ground was one single supporter named Marco, according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m the only idiot here, but they still deserve applause,” the lonely Nerazzurri supporter could be heard shouting on the tarmac. Inter’s return to the city was described as ‘silent’, with just the one supporter turning out to welcome the squad back home aside from the police escort and airport staff. None of the Nerazzurri squad on their way from the plane to their team coach. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there was one single nod from Francesco Acerbi as he got onto the team coach. There were shouts to both Simone Inzaghi and Marcus Thuram, but neither of them felt able to muster up a response.

IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has told former rival Anthony Joshua he should retire from professional boxing following their explosive encounter at Wembley Stadium last year. Dubois made the first defence of his IBF World Title against Joshua, knocking his countryman out in the fifth round of their showdown at Wembley Stadium in London, handing the two-time unified champion the fourth defeat of his career. Speaking to Seconds Out months after the fight, Dubois was blunt in his assessment of Joshua’s future prospects, saying, “Does he want some more? He should retire in my opinion.” The devastating knockout defeat has sparked widespread debate about whether the 35-year-old from Watford should call time on his professional career, which began in 2013 just months after he captured Olympic gold at the London Games in 2012. Despite the calls for retirement from boxing fans, pundits, and now his conqueror, Joshua appears determined to fight on and is edging closer to a return to the ring with talks underway for a two-fight deal that could begin later this year in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion has been out of action in 2024 following elbow surgery, which was successfully completed in May. However, he has been actively planning his comeback behind the scenes. Earlier this month, Joshua revealed in an interview with ESPN Mexico that he was targeting a December return, dependent on his recovery. Momentum is now building around a potential deal with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season to stage his comeback. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed current discussions involve a two-fight plan, telling Boxing Scene, “We are actually discussing a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season. “Turki Alalshikh said that on the night of Canelo’s fight on May 3, when we had our meeting. And that’s the plan really, we want to box sometime this year, October, November, December.” One option for Joshua could be a rematch against Dubois, who is currently in preparations for a second encounter with former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium on July 19. However, should Dubois beat Usyk, he will be ordered to face a mandatory challenger, with Joseph Parker first in line. Whether he would drop a belt to make a lucrative rematch with Joshua remains to be seen. At the top of Joshua’s hit list is Tyson Fury, but ‘The Gypsy King’ has been in retirement since January and is adamant he will not be fighting again. In a recent video message, Fury firmly stated his retirement stance, saying, “I hear a lot of talk about the Gypsy King returning to boxing and I ask this question: for what? “What would I return for? I’m in no rush at all to come back to boxing and get my face punched in. I am retired and I am staying retired.” Hearn confirmed that Joshua’s camp is keeping a watchful eye on the outcome of Dubois versus Usyk, as well as the uncertain future of Fury. “We’ll see what happens with Dubois-Usyk, we’ll see what happens with Fury,” Hearn said. “And if we don’t fight those guys, we’ll fight someone else, and then maybe follow one of those guys next year.” Despite the setback against Dubois, Joshua’s financial standing remains robust. The British-Nigerian boxing star has emerged richer than England football captain Harry Kane and heavyweight rival Tyson Fury, with his net worth soaring to €232m according to the newly published Sunday Times Rich List.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka produced another devastating display to reach the French Open fourth round and continue her pursuit of a first Paris title. The three-time major winner stamped her authority on the match early on by winning the first five games against Serbia's Olga Danilovic. The 27-year-old Belarusian went on to complete a 6-2 6-3 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a meeting with American Amanda Anisimova. Defending champion Iga Swiatek also secured a spot in the last 16 with a 6-2 7-5 victory over Romania's Jaqueline Cristian. Sabalenka, who has reached at least the quarter-finals at each of the past nine Grand Slams she has contested, has lost just 10 games in her first three matches in Paris. Now in her 40th consecutive week as the top-ranked women's player, Sabalenka thanked her team for helping to lay the foundations for her continuing success. Sabalenka lost to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals last year after reaching the semi-finals in 2023. The loss marked the first time Sabalenka did not reach the last four at a major since the 2022 US Open - highlighting the remarkable level of consistency she has achieved in the past four years. Iga Swiatek has reached at least the quarter-finals on each of her past five appearances at the French Open Swiatek breezed through the opening set against the unseeded Cristian in just 35 minutes, breaking at the first opportunity and repeating that feat in the eighth game to take the lead. But world number 60 Cristian dug her heels in and proved much tougher to crack during the second set on Court Suzanne Lenglen. Poland's Swiatek successfully defended six break points, having not faced a single one in the first set, before breaking at 6-5 to wrap up victory in one hour and 56 minutes. Swiatek will face Kazakhstan's 12th seed Elena Rybakina or Latvian 21st seed Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round. The 23-year-old, who won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is known as the 'Queen of Clay' after winning four of the past five French Open titles. Swiatek comfortably dispatched Britain's Emma Raducanu in the second round but has endured a mixed clay-court swing - reaching the semi-finals of the Madrid Open but suffering early exits in Stuttgart and Rome - and has been facing questions about her form. China's Zheng Qinwen also continued her charge through the field with a third successive straight-set victory. The eighth seed beat 18-year-old Grand Slam debutant Victoria Mboko of Canada 6-3 6-4 and will face Russian Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for 35m euros on a five-year deal. Just hours after the Anfield club confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be joining Real Madrid in time to play in the Club World Cup, the Premier League champions have ratified their move for Dutch international Frimpong after activating the 24-year-old's release clause. Versatile right-footer Frimpong is widely viewed as Alexander-Arnold's replacement in Arne Slot's squad. He played an integral role in helping Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023-24 and made 53 appearances in all competitions as they finished second in 24-25. Frimpong will have competition at right-back from Northern Ireland defender Conor Bradley, who recently signed a new four-year contract with the club. The Dutchman came through the youth ranks at Manchester City and went on to join Celtic in September 2019 before a move to Leverkusen in January 2021. Frimpong joins a Dutch contingent of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool. Liverpool are also in talks with Leverkusen over signing Florian Wirtz. The club have entered into advanced negotiations for Germany forward Wirtz, submitting an offer of around £109m inclusive of add-ons. Wirtz, 22, is a key target for Liverpool and there is now a sense that discussions over a deal are in its final stages, with a growing hope an agreement is within reach.

AC Milan have reappointed former manager, Massimiliano Allegri as their new head coach, following the sack of Sergio Conceicao. The 57-year-old Italian previously managed the Serie A club from June 2010 to January 2014. Allegri succeeds Sergio Conceicao, who was sacked on Thursday after only six months in charge of the Rossoneri. "The club extends a warm welcome and best wishes to Massimiliano and his staff," a Milan statement read. Milan finished 2024-25 in a disappointing eighth position and lost to Bologna in the final of the Coppa Italia, which means they will not play in Europe next season. The last of their 19 Serie A titles came in 2021-22 under Stefano Pioli. Allegri won the Scudetto in his first season of charge of Milan in 2010-11 - the club's first since 2004 - before he was sacked. He then enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in charge of Juventus between 2014 and 2019, where he won the Serie A title in five consecutive seasons. During that time Juve were also twice beaten in the final of the Champions League before he left by mutual consent. After two years out of management, Allegri returned for a less successful stint with the Turin club between 2021 and 2024. Allegri also previously managed Aglianese, SPAL, Grosseto, Sassuolo and Cagliari.

Anthony Joshua is edging closer to a return to the ring, with talks underway for a two-fight deal that could begin later this year in Saudi Arabia. The 35-year-old former heavyweight champion has been out of action in 2024 following elbow surgery, which was successfully completed in May. Despite his absence from the ring, Joshua has been actively planning his comeback behind the scenes. Earlier this month, Joshua revealed in an interview with ESPN Mexico that he was targeting a December return, dependent on his recovery. Now, momentum is building around a potential deal with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season to stage his comeback. Reports from NoSmoke Sport initially suggested a three-fight deal was on the table, but Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has refuted that claim, clarifying that current discussions involve a two-fight plan. “That’s not true,” Hearn told Boxing Scene. “We are actually discussing a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season. Turki Alalshikh said that on the night of Canelo’s fight on May 3, when we had our meeting. And that’s the plan really, we want to box sometime this year, October, November, December.” Joshua has not fought since suffering a fifth-round knockout defeat to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium. That result has reshaped the heavyweight picture, with Dubois now set to face champion Oleksandr Usyk in another Wembley blockbuster. Hearn confirmed that Joshua’s camp is keeping a watchful eye on the outcome of Dubois versus Usyk, as well as the uncertain future of Tyson Fury. “We’ll see what happens with Dubois-Usyk, we’ll see what happens with Fury,” Hearn said. “And if we don’t fight those guys, we’ll fight someone else, and then maybe follow one of those guys next year.” Amid speculation of a high-profile rematch or grudge match, the prospect of Tyson Fury’s return to the sport had circulated. But the former WBC champion shut down such rumours in a video message, firmly stating his retirement stance. “I hear a lot of talk about the Gypsy King returning to boxing and I ask this question: for what? What would I return for?” Fury said. “I’m in no rush at all to come back to boxing and get my face punched in. I am retired and I am staying retired. I have nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to return for.” While clashes with the likes of Usyk or Fury remain uncertain, other potential opponents for Joshua have been named, including American heavyweight Jared Anderson and long-time British rival Dillian Whyte. “Two guys that have been discussed, but nothing concrete,” Hearn confirmed. Anderson recently returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision over Marios Kollias in February, after suffering a knockout defeat to Martin Bakole in Los Angeles.

Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of England international Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a six-year contract. The agreement, reached between both clubs, will see the 26-year-old defender remain with the Spanish side from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2031. In an official statement released by the club on Frivia via its site, Real Madrid confirmed, “Real Madrid C.F. and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will be linked to our club for the next six seasons.” Alexander-Arnold arrives at the Santiago Bernabéu after a highly successful spell with Liverpool, where he won nine major trophies. His honours with the Reds include one UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and one FA Community Shield. A product of Liverpool’s academy, Alexander-Arnold has spent his entire professional career at Anfield. He made his senior debut for the England national team in 2018 and has represented the Three Lions at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. On the individual front, he has been recognised globally for his performances. He was named in the FIFA FIFPro World 11 in 2020, included twice in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (2018/19 and 2021/22), and selected three times in the Premier League Team of the Season (2018/19, 2019/20, and 2021/22). In addition, he was voted the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season for 2019/20. Alexander-Arnold is expected to feature for Real Madrid in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States beginning June 14.

AC Milan have sacked coach Sergio Conceicao after just six months in charge of the Serie A club. Former manager Massimiliano Allegri - who spent four years in charge at San Siro between 2010 and 2014 - is reportedly set, external for a return. Conceicao, 50, was handed the job last December after the the sacking of Paulo Fonseca and signed an 18-month deal. He won won 11 trophies in six years at Porto and won the Italian Super Cup with Milan just a week after taking the job. But they lost the Coppa Italia final to Bologna and their league form never really picked up. Under Conceicao, they finished in eighth place - meaning no European football next season - while rivals Inter play Paris St-Germain in this weekend's Champions League final. Milan said:, external "The club would like to thank Sergio and his staff for their commitment, professionalism and dedication in leading the team in recent months. The Rossoneri family bids farewell to the coach who contributed to the conquest of the 50th trophy in Milan's history, wishing him the best for his future."

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points as the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers to keep alive their hopes of reaching the NBA Finals. Indiana remain one win from clinching the Eastern Conference finals but the Knicks claimed a 111-94 home win to cut their deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Karl-Anthony Towns played through a knee injury to record 24 points and 13 rebounds as the third-seeded Knicks led throughout. Bennedict Mathurin registered 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the fourth-seeded Pacers, who host game six on Saturday. Towns had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the first half as New York led 56-45 at half-time, before pushing their advantage to 90-73 heading into the final quarter. Indiana crept to within 12 points with just over eight minutes remaining, but Josh Hart answered with consecutive baskets and Mikal Bridges hit a jumper to make it an 18-point margin. Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton had 30 points and 15 assists in game four but was kept to eight points on Thursday, with six assists.

Chelsea came from behind to beat Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final and become the first team to complete a clean sweep of European club trophies. With the Blues 25 minutes away from defeat in Wroclaw, Cole Palmer turned on the class to set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson with crosses from the right. Fernandez nodded in from Palmer's inswinger and Jackson then bundled in with his chest at the near post five minutes later. Jadon Sancho made it comfortable with a lovely curling finish from fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's pass. And Moises Caicedo added a fourth in injury time with a deflected effort from 20 yards out. The Blues had deservedly trailed at the break when Abde Ezzalzouli fired home following a pass by the classy Isco. The turnaround win in Poland justified Enzo Maresca's decision to put out his strongest XI in any Conference League game this season. It makes the Blues the first team to win all five Uefa club tournaments - the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup and the defunct Cup Winners' Cup. And it brings to an end a remarkable run - with Chelsea the first foreign team to beat a Spanish side in a final since 2002. Spanish teams had won the past 27 finals in men's European club or international football to involve a side from that country.

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to community development after being named as one of the Professional Footballers’ Association Community Champions for the 2024/25 season. The Nottingham Forest forward, who is currently recovering from a serious injury, received the accolade for his dedication to supporting local communities throughout the campaign. Nottingham Forest stated on Tuesday via X, expressing their pride in Awoniyi’s recognition as their PFA Community Champion, highlighting his ongoing efforts to impact communities off the pitch positively. His PFA Community Champion award is given annually to players who go beyond their sporting duties to support community-based initiatives and charitable causes. It forms part of the PFA’s wider commitment to encourage footballers to engage meaningfully with their communities and use their influence to inspire social change. In addition to Awoniyi, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Maya Le Tissier were also honoured for their contributions to community projects through the Manchester United Foundation. Diallo notably participated in events such as a Black History Month workshop and visits to local schools, aiming to inspire the next generation and promote cultural awareness. His involvement with disabled supporters and community outreach programmes further demonstrated his dedication to giving back. The Nigerian forward was placed in an induced coma following urgent abdominal surgery after colliding with a post during his side’s draw with Leicester City. The injury occurred after an assistant referee delayed raising an offside flag, prompting the PFA to seek discussions with football’s lawmakers to review the rules surrounding flag delays, with player safety and welfare as the priority. The PFA is now preparing to engage with key football governing bodies, including the International Football Association Board and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, to examine whether the current protocols on delayed offside flags, designed to balance fairness and player safety, require revision in light of Awoniyi’s injury. While the union’s immediate concern remains Awoniyi’s health and recovery, they intend to consult with all parties involved, including the player and Nottingham Forest, to ensure lessons are learned and future risks mitigated.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a blip in form to beat Fabian Marozsan and reach the French Open third round - but 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas is out. Spaniard Alcaraz started strongly but dropped the second set before recovering to wrap up a 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2 win over his Hungarian opponent. But there was no such fortune for Greek 20th seed Tsitsipas, who was stunned by world number 167 Matteo Gigante of Italy, losing 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4. Victory was Alcaraz's 17th in 18 matches on clay this year as he looks to become the first man since compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2020 to retain the Roland Garros title. Alcaraz won titles in Monte Carlo and Rome in the build-up to the French Open and mirrored that form at the start as he broke three times to win the first set inside 28 minutes. Marozsan, looking to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the first time, broke early in a scrappy second set before fending off the second seed to level. But Alcaraz - a four-time Grand Slam champion - responded well to breeze through the rest of the match. He will face unseeded Damir Dzumhur in the third round after the Bosnian's 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 4-6 6-4 win over France's 31st seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. It was another early Grand Slam exit for Tsitsipas, who lost in the 2021 final to Novak Djokovic in an epic five-setter. The 26-year-old has now failed to make it past the second round in his past four appearances at a major, while it is his earliest defeat at Roland Garros since 2018. The defeat means Tsitsipas is set to drop outside of the world's top 20 for the first time since August 2018. By claiming the biggest win of his career, Gigante - who is making his debut at the French Open after going through qualifying - is rewarded with a third-round meeting with American 13th seed Ben Shelton. Elsewhere, American 12th seed Tommy Paul pulled off an impressive comeback after being two sets down to beat Hungary's Marton Fucsovics 4-6 2-6 6-3 7-5 6-4. Paul will face Russian 24th seed Karen Khachanov, who booked his place in round three with a 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-6 6-2 win against Austria's Sebastian Ofner. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Musetti, the Italian eighth seed, went through to the third round with a 6-4 6-0 6-4 win against Colombia's Daniel Galan. In the men's doubles competition, Jacob Fearnley, who won his first French Open singles match on Monday, safely cruised into the second round alongside Canadian Gabriel Diallo with a 6-0 6-2 win over Nicolas Barrientos and Rithvik Bollipalli of Colombia and India respectively. Briton Luke Johnson reached the second round of a Grand Slam for just the third time as he and his Dutch partner Sander Arends beat Brazilian-Chile pairing Marcelo Demoliner and Nicolas Jarry 3-6 6-3 7-6 (10-6).

Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, continued her impressive record over Emma Raducanu, who said she was not feeling "demotivated" despite her miserable record against the fifth in a one-sided French Open battle. The British number two was outclassed in a 6-1 6-2 second-round exit which means she has lost all five of her matches against the world number five. It was another reminder of the gulf that still exists between 41st-ranked Raducanu and the leading players on the WTA Tour. Raducanu, who has never won a set against Swiatek, says she feels the 23-year-old from Poland is "always fired up" when they meet. After being unable to convert a break point in the opening game, Raducanu quickly lost her way as Swiatek rattled off five games in a row. The Briton's second serve was placed under serious pressure and her groundstrokes became increasingly ragged as the defending champion took the opening set in 35 minutes. Swiatek, who has won four of the past five Roland Garros titles and is known as the 'Queen of Clay' because of her formidable record here, quickly moved a break ahead at 2-1 in the second set. After a below-par clay-court swing, though, there are some questions about her form and they resurfaced when Raducanu threatened to break back immediately. But Swiatek managed to maintain her intensity under pressure - one of the key differences between players of her status and her opponent - to save three break points in a lengthy fourth game.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim believes it will do his players good to leave Kuala Lumpur with the sound of boos ringing in their ears after a 1-0 loss to ASEAN All-Stars. After ending a desperate Premier League campaign with a victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, the club flew 6,600 miles to Malaysia only to find there was no respite from their troubles. Less than 24 hours after Wolves striker Matheus Cunha was cleared to have a medical before completing a £62.5m move to Old Trafford, United's old goalscoring failings struck again in the first match of the post-season tour to Asia. In temperatures of more than 30 degrees and high humidity, Amorim's side failed to take a succession of chances despite regular substitutions which meant they ended up using 25 outfield players. A second-half goal from Myanmar winger Maung Maung Lwin was enough to give a South East Asia XI victory in front of an official attendance of 72,550 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, triggering boos from a substantial portion at the final whistle from fans who had paid up to £260 to watch United on their first visit to Malaysia since 2009. The United boss would not offer any update on the Cunha situation, stating firmly: "You have to wait for that for the next season. United finished 15th in the Premier League, on 42 points - accepted to be the club's worst campaign since the 1973-74 relegation season. They also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham 1-0 in Bilbao to miss out on a place in next season's Champions League. It is thought the trip will generate about $10m (£7.8m) for the club, but comes at the end of a season where United have played 60 games in all competitions.

Lamine Yamal has signed a new six-year Barcelona contract following a breakout season in which he helped the Catalan club win a domestic treble. The 17-year-old Spain winger's existing deal was set to expire at the end of the 2025-26 season but his new contract keeps him with Barca until 2031. Yamal, who made his Barca debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, scored 18 goals and made 25 assists in 55 appearances as Barca won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup in Hansi Flick's first season as manager. Barca said Yamal signed the new contract on Tuesday in the presence of club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco. "Yamal's renewal is a demonstration of the solidity of Barca's project. His emergence on to the world football scene is like few others," the club said. "The lad from Mataro near Barcelona has exploded on to the stage that is world football with performances that are already part of Barcelona history." Yamal has scored 25 goals in 115 games for the club, becoming the youngest scorer in the history of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Yamal, who will turn 18 in July, is also the youngest player to reach 100 appearances for Barca. He has also earned 19 caps for Spain and was part of the side that won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in the final in Berlin. The youngster has drawn comparisons with Barca legend Lionel Messi, having also come through the club's famed La Masia academy. Barca have also extended contracts of their manager Flick and Brazil forward Raphinha in recent weeks.

Tyrese Haliburton produced an electric first-half performance as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks to move to within one win of reaching the NBA Finals. Haliburton registered 20 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the first half of a 130-121 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana. Haliburton finished with 32 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds without a turnover, making him the first player to record stats of 30-15-10-0 in an NBA post-season game. The Pacers lead 3-1 in the Eastern Conference play-off finals. Victory in game five at Madison Square Garden in New York at 01:00 BST on Friday will secure their place in the Finals for the first time since 2000. Pascal Siakam scored 30 points and Bennedict Mathurin 20 off the bench for fourth-seeded Indiana. Jalen Brunson scored 31 points for New York, while Karl-Anthony Towns, who injured his left knee for the second consecutive game and was hobbling at the finish, scored 24 points and OG Anunoby 22. The winners of the best-of-seven series will play the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals, which begin on 5 June. The Thunder lead 3-1 in the Western Conference play-off finals.

Novak Djokovic began his latest bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title with a commanding win over Mackenzie McDonald. The former world number one ended his wait for his 100th ATP singles title in Geneva last week and maintained his recent upturn in form with a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over the 98th-ranked American. Djokovic - who turned 38 last week - has now won all 21 of the first-round matches he has played at Roland Garros. Sixth seed Djokovic will next play Corentin Moutet, who beat fellow Frenchman Clement Tabur in straight sets in the first round. Djokovic arrived in Geneva without a win on clay in 2025, having suffered first-round exits in both Monte Carlo and Madrid. But with his wait for a 100th Tour-level title finally over - one which had gone on since he completed the career 'Golden Slam' at the Paris Olympics last summer - the Serb will feel he is beginning to gain real momentum on this surface. The one-sided victory over McDonald, completed two minutes short of the two-hour mark, was his fifth successive win following a run of three straight losses.

Mohamed Salah says he can play until he is 40 years old and is still in talks about a possible future move to the Saudi Pro League. The Liverpool forward, 32, had a superb season, scoring 29 goals and delivering 18 assists as the Reds won the Premier League title. Sources told BBC Sport that Salah was in line to earn at least £500m in Saudi Arabia before he decided to sign a new contract at Anfield last month after a season of speculation. Speaking to Egyptian television channel ON Sports, external before supporters were injured when a car ploughed into crowds at the club's trophy parade on Monday, Salah said: "I will stop playing when I have that feeling. "If you ask me for my opinion, I think I can play until the age of 39 or 40 but if I felt before that I wanted to stop, I would quit. I have achieved a lot of things. My contract was up at Liverpool and I would have gone to Saudi but we finalised the deal with Liverpool." Salah has scored 186 Premier League goals for Liverpool and Chelsea and sits fifth on the all-time list - one goal behind former Newcastle and Manchester United striker Andrew Cole. The Egypt international has indicated he could still play in the Middle East after his contract at Anfield expires in 2027. "I still have a good relationship with them and I always stay in contact with them. Yes, we were talking to each other," he added, with reference to clubs in Saudi. "I don't know what is going to happen but I am happy here in Liverpool and I am staying here for the next two years. Then I will see what I will do next."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander produced a stunning performance as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves to move within one win of the NBA Finals. Oklahoma led 65-57 at the break and 90-85 at the end of the third quarter, but had to survive a late Minnesota fightback to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-game series. Gilgeous-Alexander - who scored 40 points, grabbed nine rebounds and provided 10 assists - made five of six free throw attempts in the final 15 seconds to seal a 128-126 victory. Jalen Williams added 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, while Chet Holmgren finished with 21 points on nine-for-14 shooting. The performance of Mark Daigneault's side was an impressive response to the 143-101 thrashing they suffered in game three. Timberwolves pushed Oklahoma City all the way, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 23 points off the bench, Jaden McDaniels contributing 22 points, and Donte DiVincenzo finishing with 21. Victory in game five in Oklahoma on Wednesday will secure the Thunder a place in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, where they would face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente called up Real Betis midfielder Isco on Monday for the Nations League final four, six years after his last appearance for La Roja. The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb season with Betis, helping them reach the Conference League final, where they will face Chelsea on Wednesday. Euro 2024 winners Spain face France in the semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against Germany or Portugal. Real Madrid’s new defensive signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, who impressed in the quarter-final win over the Netherlands, returns to the squad, while Barcelona midfielders Gavi and Fermin Lopez also make the cut. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal and playmaker Pedri are the key figures, along with Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams. Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri was not included despite his recent return to fitness, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi set to start at the base of midfield. Full Spain squad for Nations League final four: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad) Defenders: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Pedri Gonzalez, Dani Olmo (all Barcelona), Isco (Real Betis), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal) Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Samu Omorodion (Porto), Alvaro Morata (Galatasaray)

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, has ignited widespread speculation about his future at Saudi club Al Nassr with a cryptic message posted on X. “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all,” he posted late Monday night. This statement comes as Ronaldo’s contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr approaches its end this summer. The timing of his message has fueled rumours about a potential departure from the club. This might be connected to a pivotal Saudi Pro League clash on Monday, May 26, 2025, where Al Nassr’s aspirations for AFC Champions League qualification were dashed following a 3-2 defeat to Al Fateh. Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 25th goal of the season, bringing his tally to 99 goals for Al Nassr, but his efforts were insufficient to secure victory. Despite leading at one point, Al Nassr’s defense faltered, allowing Al Fateh to capitalize and clinch the win. This loss, coupled with Al Hilal’s triumph over Al Qadsiah, eliminated Al Nassr from Champions League contention. Their remaining hope for continental competition hinges on Al Ittihad winning the King Cup, which would grant Al Nassr a spot in the secondary AFC tournament. The defeat marks a significant setback for Ronaldo and his team, who now face an uncertain path forward Ronaldo’s illustrious career includes stints at Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, as well as a record-breaking international tenure with Portugal. His recent achievements, such as reaching 900 career goals and playing his 1,200th professional match, underscore his enduring impact on the sport. While Ronaldo has previously used similar language to signal transitions in his career, the current message leaves fans and analysts eager to see where his journey will lead next. Whether it’s a return to European football, participation in the upcoming Club World Cup, or another venture, the football world awaits his next move with anticipation. As Ronaldo himself puts it, “The story? Still being written.” Meanwhile, Ronaldo and Al Nassr have yet to release an official statement on the duo’s relationship and future.

Kylian Mbappe has won the European Golden Shoe for the first time after scoring twice in Real Madrid's 2-0 defeat of Real Sociedad on Saturday. The France international scored 31 league goals in his debut season in Spain, meaning he also won La Liga's top scorer prize. A double in Real's final game of the season secured Mbappe top spot in the rankings ahead of Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres (39 goals) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (29 goals). Though Gyokeres scored eight more league goals than Mbappe, he finished runner-up because a weighted-points based system decides the rankings. Goals scored by players competing in Europe's top five leagues - Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 - are worth two points. Goals from those who play in leagues ranked sixth to 22nd in Uefa's coefficient, including the Portuguese Primeira Liga, are worth 1.5 points. Mohamed Salah needed a hat-trick in Liverpool's final Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday in order to share the prize with Mbappe. The Egypt international scored once in a 1-1 draw. Mbappe is just the third Real player to win the award, after Hugo Sanchez (1989-90) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2010-11, 2013-14 and 2014-15). Gyokeres - who has been heavily linked with a summer move to Arsenal - had no chance of catching Mbappe because Sporting's league campaign ended the previous weekend. After scoring in his side's 3-1 defeat of Lisbon rivals Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final on Sunday, the Sweden international finished the season with 53 goals in 51 games in all competitions. The top five in the rankings were as follows: Mbappe (62 points), Gyokeres (58.5), Salah (58), Robert Lewandowski (54), Harry Kane (52).

The season may not have gone the way Real Madrid wanted, in terms of trophies, but their summer signing, Kylian Mbappe, ended with such good numbers, putting his name in the history books. He scored 31 goals in his debut season for Madrid, becoming the fourth player to reach 30+ in his first season in the history of the competition, after Pruden in 1940/1941 (33), Romário in 1993/1994 (30) and Ronaldo Nazário in 1996/1997 (34). This tally also sees him win the European Golden Shoe for the first time. The last Frenchman to win the award was Thierry Henry in 2004-05, and the last Real Madrid player to win it was Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014-15 He is also the 4th Real Madrid player to score 30+ goals in a LaLiga season after Cristiano Ronaldo (6 times), Hugo Sánchez (2 times) and Alfredo Di Stéfano In addition, he also became the Real Madrid player with the most goals in his debut season with 43 goals, surpassing the 37 scored by Iván Zamorano in the 1992-93 campaign. Mbappe won a trophy with Real Madrid in his debut game, scoring in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Italian Serie A side, Atalanta, who won the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League. Will Kylian Mbappe lead Los Blancos the the UEFA Champions League title next season? We will find out in a few months.

After losing two games at home in New York, New York Knicks produced a stunning comeback to claim a first win in their NBA Eastern Conference play-off finals against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. Defeat would have left the Knicks 3-0 down in the seven-game series, but New York - who were 20 points down towards the end of the second quarter - now only trail 2-1. Karl-Anthony Towns starred with 20 points in the fourth quarter to snatch a crucial 106-100 victory. With his side trailing 80-70 at the end of the third quarter, Towns - who played fewer than 28 minutes in game two - scored 15 points in the first four minutes of the quarter before adding a further five. New York survived a late Pacers surge to hold on for a hard-fought win, with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart securing the victory with scores in the final seconds. Game four will take place in Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Italian Open winner, Jasmine Paolini, did not have it easy in the first round, as the fourth seed had to dig dip to survive a big scare to seal her place in the second round. The Italian recovered from a break down in the final set to inch past world number 87 Yuan Yue 6-1 4-6 6-3. Paolini, runner-up at both the French Open and Wimbledon last year, was made to work for her win over China's Yuan on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. The Italian was broken at 2-2 in the final set but recovered superbly to take the next four games by winning 16 of the match's final 19 points. The 29-year-old world number four is one of the favourites for this year's tournament having won the Italian Open title last week. Last season she reached her maiden Grand Slam final at Roland Garros where she was beaten by Iga Swiatek. Her opponent Yuan, 26, was three games away from advancing to the second round of a Grand Slam for only the second time.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka dropped only one game as she beat Kamilla Rakhimova to get her French Open campaign under way in emphatic style. Sabalenka needed just one hour to beat Russian Rakhimova 6-1 6-0 in Paris. The Belarusian ramped up her performance as the match went on, winning nine games in a row to close out the match. Opening the first day's play on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sabalenka served up five aces, hit 30 winners and broke her opponent's serve five times on her way to a dominant victory under the roof. She could face Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen - who beat 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 6-3 in her opening match - in the quarter-finals and three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semis. Before then, Sabalenka will first have to beat Jil Teichmann for a place in the third round, after the Swiss player beat Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini 6-4 6-4.

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has claimed "there are discussions" over Cristiano Ronaldo playing at the Club World Cup this summer. Ronaldo's club, Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, failed to qualify for the expanded 32-team tournament in the United States. But Infantino says the 40-year-old Portugal forward, who is out of contract this summer, could still feature in the new-look event. During an interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, Infantino talked about Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi playing in the tournament's opening game on 14 June for his Inter Miami side. He then added: "And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. "There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup... who knows, who knows." Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United mid-season and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's contract expires on 30 June. This year's Club World Cup will be the first to be played in the summer and the first to feature more than eight teams. World football's governing body Fifa has therefore introduced an additional transfer window from 1-10 June, allowing clubs to complete deals in time for the tournament.

Egypt and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah has been named Premier League player of the season. It is the second time the 32-year-old Egyptian has won the award, which is decided after votes from the public are combined with those from a panel of football experts, having also claimed it in the 2017-18 campaign. Salah, who led the Reds to the Premier League title this season, beat off the challenge from team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch, who was named young player of the season. Dutchman Gravenberch, 23, leads all Premier League midfielders this season for interceptions with 59, and ranks top among Liverpool players for the times he has won possession. Also shortlisted for the main honour were Arsenal's Declan Rice, Newcastle's Alexander Isak, Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo, and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood. It is the first time since 2018-19 that a Manchester City player has not won the award. Liam Delap (Ipswich), Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) and William Saliba (Arsenal) were also on the young player shortlist. Going into Sunday's final game of the season against Crystal Palace, Salah has 28 league goals - five more than anyone else - as well as 18 assists - six more than any other player and two off the record of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. This season he also became the highest-scoring overseas player in Premier League history, overtaking Sergio Aguero's 184 goals, and signed a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027. This month Salah was named Football Writers' Association footballer of the year for the third time after receiving more than 90% of the votes.