- 15h ago
José Mourinho backs Kylian Mbappé for Ballon d'Or and sets squad rotation for Málaga
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho advocated for Kylian Mbappé to win the Ballon d'Or and confirmed Marc Cucurella will make his starting debut against Málaga on Sunday.
- yesterday
Jose Mourinho endorses Kylian Mbappé for the 2026 Ballon d'Or award
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho argued on Saturday that Kylian Mbappé deserves the 2026 Ballon d'Or based on individual excellence rather than tournament trophies ahead of Sunday's league fixture against Malaga.
- 6d ago
Maradona Hand of God match ball sells for $3.355 million at Heritage Auctions
The Adidas Azteca ball from Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory over England was bought in Dallas below its $10 million estimate after four decades of custody by referee Ali Bin Nasser.
- Aug 8
Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball goes to auction with $10 million estimate
The ball from Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned by Heritage Auctions from August 21 to 23, with a starting bid of $2.5 million and an estimate exceeding $10 million.
- Aug 6
Rodri Hernández rejects Real Madrid and chooses Barcelona as City and Barça negotiate transfer fee
Ballon d'Or winner and 2026 World Cup MVP Rodri Hernández has turned down Real Madrid, involving Mourinho, and chosen Barcelona, with Manchester City and Barça now negotiating a fee around €45-60M.
- Aug 4
Taddeucci wins European 10km open water gold in Seine, Caponi takes bronze
Ginevra Taddeucci sprinted away from the field with a lap and a half to go to claim the women's 10km open water title at the European Championships in Paris, with teammate Linda Caponi grabbing bronze behind Hungary's Viktoria Mihalyvari Farkas.
- Aug 1
Italian cities submit Euro 2032 bids on deadline day as Palermo secures last-minute deal
More than a dozen Italian cities sent their candidacy dossiers by the 31 July deadline, with Palermo resolving a funding impasse hours before. The FIGC now has until 30 September to shortlist five venues plus two reserves for the tournament co-hosted with Turkey.
- Jul 25
Nicolás Otamendi retires from Argentina duty at 38 after World Cup final defeat to Spain
The 38-year-old central defender, with 139 caps and a World Cup title, steps down four days after the 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in East Rutherford.
- Jul 18
England beat Argentina 31-24 in chaotic Nations Championship clash despite four yellow cards
England overcame four yellow cards and a late Argentina surge to win 31-24 in Santiago del Estero, with Ben Earl scoring twice and the TMO denying the hosts a dramatic finish.
- Jul 17
Pele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9 million at Sotheby's, second-highest football jersey ever
The blue number 10 shirt worn by a 17-year-old Pele when Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 in the 1958 World Cup final sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York to an anonymous buyer, becoming the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the Brazilian legend.
- Jul 16
Messi's last World Cup chance meets Yamal's first as Argentina and Spain contest 2026 final
Argentina and Spain meet in New York on Sunday for the 2026 World Cup final, pitting Lionel Messi, 39, against 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona prodigy he once bathed as a baby for a UNICEF calendar.
- Jul 16
Argentina beats England 2-1 with late goals, faces Spain in final amid Falklands banner row
A late double from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez overturned Anthony Gordon's opener, sending the holders into Sunday's final against Spain. Post-match, players displayed a 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' banner, echoing the 1982 war and risking FIFA disciplinary action.
