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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to defy age and expectations after being named among the 26 finalists for the 2025 FIFPRO Men's World 11 on Monday. The Argentina and Portugal superstars have been rewarded for their efforts in 2024-25 by being included on the star-studded list alongside Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

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  Messi and Ronaldo the most decorated players in FIFPRO World 11 history

  Messi and Ronaldo are in contention to make yet another Men’s FIFPRO World 11 after being included among the list of nominees for the 2025 edition. Inter Miami forward Messi has featured in 17 previous iterations of the FIFPRO World 11 – more than any other player – while Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo has made the second most appearances with 15. The latest nominations are a testament to the longevity of both players, with Messi having turned 38 in June and Ronaldo set to turn 41 in less than four months’ time.

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• Argentina captain Messi nominated after receiving MLS Golden Boot

  With the FIFPRO World 11 taking into account performances between 15 July 2024 and 3 August 2025 inclusive, Messi has been nominated for his remarkable efforts for Argentina and Inter Miami in that period. The former Barcelona forward helped his country book their place at the 2026 World Cup in March, while he also received the 2025 Major League Soccer Golden Boot after scoring 29 goals in 28 regular-season matches for Inter Miami.

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  Portugal star Ronaldo on brink of joining Messi & Argentina at World Cup

  Meanwhile, Ronaldo scored an incredible 35 goals in 41 matches for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2024-25, while he has also found the back of the net seven times in eight games this season. The ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United man is on the brink of joining Messi at the World Cup, with Portugal – who lead Group F on 10 points – poised to qualify for next summer’s tournament. The Selecao will directly qualify for the competition if they beat the Republic of Ireland in their next qualifier on 13 November, or if they avoid defeat and second-placed Hungary do not beat Armenia on the same day.

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• The full list of nominees

  The 2025 FIFPRO World 11 finalists:

  Goalkeepers:

  Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)

  Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)

  Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/Manchester City, Italy)

  Defenders:

  Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid, England)

  Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)

  Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

  Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)

  Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil)

  Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

  William Saliba (Arsenal, France)

  Midfielders:

  Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)

  Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli, Belgium)

  Luka Modric (Real Madrid/AC Milan, Croatia)

  Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

  Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)

  Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)

  Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)

  Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

  Forwards:

  Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

  Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)

  Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)

  Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)

  Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)

  Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)

  Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)

  Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

Manchester United’s victory over Chelsea on Saturday evening will no doubt paper over the cracks at Old Trafford, with pressure still firmly on manager Ruben Amorim.

The 40-year-old is nearing a year at the helm after taking the reins back in November 2024, but his spell in charge has certainly been one of disappointment to date.

He’s only registered a 40% win rate to date, losing 20 of his 48 outings, a tally which resulted in the Red Devils registering their worst ever Premier League finish in 2024/25.

However, his philosophy has also come into question as of late, with Amorim reluctant to move away from his current 3-4-2-1 system, which has yet to take off.

It’s not the only questionable thing conducted by the former Sporting CP boss in recent times, with his treatment of one first-team player also coming into question.

Kobbie Mainoo’s current situation at Man Utd

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo looked as though he would be a key member of the United first-team squad a couple of years ago – but it’s safe to say Amorim has halted his progression.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the Englishman made 32 appearances across all competitions, subsequently finding the back of the net five times – including in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

However, last season the 20-year-old was restricted to just 20 league starts, often having to resort to minutes off the substitutes bench to make an impact at Old Trafford.

This time around, the academy graduate has only racked up 76 minutes of English top-flight action, with the player himself also requesting a move away from his boyhood club.

The Englishman wanted regular game time away from the Red Devils to continue his development, but such a move was rejected, with Mainoo needing to once again establish himself as a first-team regular.

His lack of minutes is a surprise to many, given his previous success in the first-team squad, with one former player now ahead of him as a result of his decline in action.

The former United star who’s now outperforming Mainoo

The United academy has been a conveyor belt for talent over the years, subsequently aiding numerous managers in their quest for success at Old Trafford.

The Class of ’92 will undoubtedly remain as one of the most iconic, with the quintet of talents amassing over 3000 appearances between them during their respective careers.

Since the talents emerged in the early 90s, very few have gone on to achieve such heights, but some have still managed to make a successful career at the top level of the European game.

Mainoo is just one player who has shown glimpses of his quality, but Angel Gomes is another; however, he was one who managed to slip through the club’s net in recent years.

The Englishman joined the club at the age of six, spending a decade within the youth system, before making his Premier League debut at the tender age of just 16 back in 2017.

He would only make nine further senior appearances between his debut and the summer of 2020 – before departing on a free transfer at the end of his contract in pursuit of added minutes elsewhere.

The youngster would join Lille on a free transfer after his departure from Old Trafford, spending four years in France and racking up over 100 appearances – leading to his maiden England call-up last year.

Whilst he’s since moved to Marseille this summer, his figures from last season highlight his development in recent years – even outperforming Mainoo in the 2024/25 campaign.

Gomes, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, completed more key passes per 90, whilst registering more passes into the final third – showcasing his incredible ability when in possession.

He also completed more of the take-ons he attempted, whilst making more carries into the final third per 90, subsequently allowing him to provide those ahead of him with endless chances.

However, despite the 25-year-old’s dominance with the ball, he also managed to thrive without it, winning more of the aerials he entered – potentially being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of Amorim’s side.

Given his remarkable rise away from the Red Devils in the last couple of years, it’s no surprise that the club will regret their inability to tie him down to a new contract when they had the chance.

However, Gomes will now remain a case of what could’ve been, potentially being a crucial member of the side ahead of Mainoo had they kept hold of him five years ago.

Earns more than Bruno: INEOS must brutally cash in on Man Utd "monster"

Manchester United must ensure this high-earning star is taken off the books ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 22, 2025

Looking to spend big once again, Liverpool are reportedly going head-to-head with Paris Saint-Germain to sign an £80m talent who’s been compared to the French club’s own young superstar Desire Doue.

Liverpool international round-up

For a set of players that entered the international break off the back of three straight defeats in all competitions, Liverpool’s stars have enjoyed an impressive couple of weeks away with their nations.

Just last night, Dominik Szoboszlai found himself in the right place at the perfect time to tap home a last-gasp equaliser for Hungary against Portugal. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister also found the back of the net for Argentina, and Cody Gakpo has also been in free-scoring form for the Netherlands.

In fact, almost every Liverpool star has enjoyed at least one moment to savour for their nations during the break. Virgil van Dijk found the back of the net, Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a penalty for Georgia and Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Those moments should act as the perfect antidote to Liverpool’s recent form as they prepare to welcome rivals Manchester United to Anfield this weekend. It’s a game that the Reds must win as they look to regain some composure in the early days of their Premier League title defence.

Liverpool eyeing Upamecano alternative who's missed 426 days of action with knee injuries

The Reds still need a centre-back.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 14, 2025

The international break may have also allowed Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to plan ahead. They already smashed Liverpool’s transfer record twice in the summer to sign Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but are now going head-to-head with PSG to sign an £80m star.

Liverpool racing PSG to sign Rogers

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now racing PSG to sign Morgan Rogers, who Aston Villa value at as much as £80m ahead of next summer.

Whilst the England international still has five years left on his current deal, those at Villa Park still have plenty of PSR concerns to think about and may not have any choice but to accept a big-money offer if it arrives.

For a player of Rogers’ talent, that £80m fee could prove to be worth every penny for Liverpool, who have lacked a missing piece to their title-defending puzzle so far this season.

Compared to PSG star Doue for his unpredictability, dribbling and directness, Rogers has every chance of reaching the same level as the Frenchman with a move to Anfield.

Whether Unai Emery is keen to let his star man go is another question, however. Described as “excellent” by England boss Thomas Tuchel, Rogers is vital to any ambitions that those in the Midlands have already set their sights on.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix were on target as Al-Nassr comfortably thrashed Neom 3-1 to extend their lead over Al-Taawoun to three points at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. After a quiet second half, the floodgates opened with Gabriel's powerful shot before the Portuguese icon doubled the lead. Felix then scored the final goal to seal a memorable win for the Saudi giants.

• Al-Nassr's eighth consecutive win

  Al-Nassr and Neom played out an exciting first half, albeit goalless, as both teams had numerous chances to break the deadlock. Al-Nassr, of course, dominated proceedings with each of Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Sadio Mane coming close to opening their account in the game but they failed to keep the ball inside the goal.

  Ronaldo possibly squandered the easiest chance of the half as he failed to keep his header on target from close range. Mane too missed a simple opportunity after miskicking the ball when inside the box.

  The Saudi giants, though, did not take much time in the second half to open their scoring as in-form midfielder and ex-Chelsea star Angelo Gabriel broke the deadlock with a picture-perfect finish. In the 48th minute, Ronaldo took a free-kick from just outside the box, which was blocked by the Neom defenders but from the rebound, Gabriel scored with a brilliant grounded shot. 

  Just seven minutes later, Neom were dealt another blow as striker Luciano Rodríguez was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge. The Uruguayan attacker was taking his position on the edge of the box to meet a cross from the left side when he intentionally elbowed an Al-Nassr player in the neck. The referee consulted the VAR before brandishing a red card. It was indeed a massive blow for Neom as they had already lost ex-Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette in the first half due to injury.

  Ronaldo soon completed his 953rd career goal after finding the back of the net from the penalty spot. In the earlier move, Ronaldo had seen his attempt saved from close range by compatriot Luis Maximiano but Joao Felix chased the second ball. The Portuguese forward tried to regain possession, but he was shoved from behind, which led to the spot-kick.

  Ahmed Abdo pulled one back for the hosts in the 84th minute as Mohamed Simakan was caught napping. Abdo received the ball behind Simakan and comfortably placed it into the goal. Neom's celebrations were, however, short-lived as Joao Felix scored the third and final goal of the game to secure crucial three points. 

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  The MVP

  Ronaldo was once again on target as Al-Nassr extended their winning streak in the Saudi Pro League to eight games. The 40-year-old veteran star displayed a lively performance throughout the 90 minutes and also scored the team's crucial second goal from a spot-kick. 

• The big loser

  Uruguayan striker Rodríguez was the main villain for Neom tonight as his reckless behaviour on the pitch led to his team being reduced to 10 men. Up until the sending off, Neom were fighting tooth and nail against the giants of the league, but his red card completely changed the complexion of the game. Rodriguez should have kept in mind that he was the team's last attacker for the night, especially after Lacazette's injury. 

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  Match rating (out of five): ⭐⭐⭐

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes enjoyed yet another stellar start against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on Monday night, as the rookie righthander struck out nine Marlins while allowing one earned run across six innings of work to earn his 10th win of the season.

After he was done for the day, Skenes, like a talented artist, took a moment to admire his work.

Cameras caught the Pirates pitcher in the dugout, with a teammate behind him, staring at the scoreboard and counting all nine of his strikeouts out loud. When he finished, Skenes smiled and turned away from the camera.

All in a day's work for Skenes, who also set the Pirates' record for the most strikeouts in a single season by a rookie since 1900 after recording his first punchout in the top of the first inning.

Skenes, 10-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 120 innings pitched, remains in the running for the National League Rookie of the Year award, along with San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.

The Los Angeles Dodgers failed in their attempt to sweep the New York Yankees in the World Series, losing Game 4 on Tuesday night, 11-4.

Freddie Freeman, however, was able to make some cool history when he became the first player in history to hit a home run in six straight World Series games.

The lefty's historic blast came in the first inning when belted a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right to give the Dodgers a quick 2-0 lead.

Later in the game, Freeman heard it from a Yankees fan during the Stand Up for Cancer moment when mics picked up someone in the crowd yelling, "You suck, Freeman!"

Freeman, as the stats and history clearly show, doesn't suck. Not even close.

Game 5 is Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new contract, Liverpool are reportedly prioritising a move to sign the Frenchman’s replacement for Arne Slot in 2026.

Update on Konate's Liverpool contract

If there was ever a time for Liverpool to sort Konate’s contract it is now. The Reds have just lost three games on the bounce under Slot, who faces the toughest task of his Anfield career so far after the international break. And in that run, Konate’s form has been one of several problems.

Carragher tells Slot to copy Real Madrid amid current Liverpool "problem"

The Liverpool legend has delivered his verdict.

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 7, 2025

His situation mirrors Trent Alexander-Arnold’s last season, before the right-back decided to join Real Madrid as a free agent. As the Spanish giants arrived, the defender’s form dropped and uncomfortable questions came to the fore. Whether or not the Madrid factor did play a part is hard to truly say, but that won’t stop those same questions from coming the way of Konate.

As things stand, no new contract has been signed, but negotiations are reportedly ongoing. As far as Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are concerned, they’ll want things wrapped up before January, when Konate can start negotiating a pre-contract agreement with other clubs.

Whilst his deal continues to tick down, Liverpool will no doubt be on the hunt for Konate replacements ahead of 2026. The main name on that front seems to still be Marc Guehi, who came within hours of signing for the club in the summer.

Given that other clubs are now chasing the England international’s signature on a free deal next summer, however, the Reds have reportedly turned towards alternative options.

Liverpool prioritising Diomande deal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool now see Ousmane Diomande as a key target ahead of 2026 and will target the Sporting Club defender to replace Konate. Represented by the same agency as Virgil van Dijk, the 21-year-old is one of the most promising defenders that European football has to offer. And now, a move to Merseyside could be on the horizon.

Described as a “hybrid” between Arsenal’s Gabriel and William Saliba by analyst Ben Mattinson, Diomande is certainly one to watch. Although he is yet to make his mark on the current Sporting campaign due to injury, his return should see him return to their strongest line-up as they attempt to secure a third-consecutive Liga Portugal title.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has reportedly lost more than £800,000 in a fraud case that saw funds "unknowingly" sent out of his bank account. Said losses are said to have occurred between September 2022 and June 2024, with the Spurs star initially unaware of what was going on. A suspect in the case was arrested over a ago and faces a possible prison sentence.

• Suspect in Bissouma fraud case faces threat of prison sentence

  has revealed that Bissouma suffered significant financial losses at the hands of Maurice Gomes. The 31-year-old was taken into custody during 2024 following a report to authorities from Bissouma.

  The Metropolitan Police confirmed in October 2025 that Gomes had been charged with "two counts of fraud by false representation". If found guilty, then the maximum sentence for each offence is 10 years behind bars.

  Money is said to have been moved out of the VIP bank account that Bissouma holds with Coutts – a brand used by many celebrities, including billionaire business owners and members of the royal family.

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  Bissouma may be required to give evidence

  has obtained court records that report on how Gomes is alleged to have "dishonestly transferred Bissouma’s cash to himself without the Premier League star’s knowledge or consent".

  According to prosecutors, Gomes was behind illicit transfers that total £834,334.40. He stands accused of acting "to make a personal gain", with Bissouma being left in the dark. The Spurs star is said to be on a £50,000-a-week pay packet in north London.

  It is unclear how Gomes was able to access the account in question, with any possible links to his victim yet to be revealed. Bissouma – who lives in a £1.4million, six-bedroom house in Enfield, north London – is due to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court on November 7 and is expected to give evidence if the case goes to trial.

  A source told : "This has been deeply hurtful for Yves. It’s been a tough year for him on and off the pitch, and this hanging over his head will have contributed to that."

• Spurs star had watch stolen during trip to Cannes

  Bissouma had a watch worth £255,000 stolen in June 2024 during a visit to Cannes. He was stood outside a luxury hotel in France with his partner when the incident in question took place at around 4am.

  The 29-year-old has also endured a tough time in his professional life of late, with no appearances for Tottenham being made in the 2025-26 campaign. His last outing for the Premier League giants came on May 25 against former employers Brighton.

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  January sale of free agency: What next for Bissouma?

  He has made exactly 100 appearances for Spurs since joining them from the Seagulls for £30m ($39m) in 2022, but faces an uncertain future at club level. His contract is running down, with free agency set to be hit in the summer of 2026.

  Bissouma is currently sidelined with an ankle injury. He picked up that knock a matter of seconds after stepping off the bench for Mali in a World Cup qualifying clash with Madagascar on October 12.

  Said ailment has required surgery, with Bissouma having posted on social media from his hospital bed: "Everything went well. I thank God for everything that happens to me. Everything happens for a reason I’m simply following my destiny. Grateful to God for His protection." Spurs boss Thomas Frank said: "Biss unfortunately had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that unfortunately, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle, they'll keep him out for weeks."

  Bissouma missed the start of the 2025-26 season while nursing a separate fitness problem, which scuppered any plans of a transfer to Turkish side Fenerbahce being lined up.

  While he is set to become available for noting at the end of the current campaign, there remains a chance that a sale will be sanctioned by Spurs in January – allowing them to generate a fee for a player that no longer forms part of long-term plans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The New York Yankees fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, on Monday night to fall into a 0-3 hole in the World Series. The Dodgers' win in the Bronx put them on the cusp of their second title in the last five seasons.

The disappointing loss for the Yankees in their first World Series home game in 15 years was quite reminiscent of the first two games of the series for star slugger Aaron Judge. Judge went 0-3 at the plate with another strikeout—his seventh in 13 World Series at-bats. He's now batting .088 in the Fall Classic, a total disappearing act from a historic offensive season that saw him hit .322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBI.

"You want to be getting the hits. You want to be doing your job, but I'm not doing my job right now," Judge said. "I've got to pick it up."

Judge is running out of time this postseason to burst out of his slump. He's hitting just 6-for-43 (.140) across 12 playoff games and is 3-for-22 (.136) with runners on base and 0-for-10 with six strikeouts with runners in scoring position throughout the playoffs. The numbers are staggering for one of the best hitters in baseball.

Game 4 between the Yankees and Dodgers is set for Tuesday night in New York, as the Bronx Bombers look to avoid the catastrophic sweep, while Los Angeles looks to capture another World Series title.

The schedule for Euro 2028 has been released, with England – if they qualify – set to take in their first game of that tournament away from Wembley at the Etihad Stadium. The home of Manchester City will play host to the Three Lions after a competition opener that heads to Wales and the Principality Stadium – with the countdown on to an event that will also see fixtures take place in Scotland and Ireland.

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  England in Manchester: Three Lions head to the Etihad

  The Three Lions have made light work of recent qualification campaigns – last failing to reach a major international tournament in 2008 under Steve McClaren. They are now aware of what their path will be when chasing down continental glory in 2028.

  England will be looking to reach a third consecutive Euros final there – having suffered heartache against Italy and Spain in the last two competitions. Their bid for the ultimate prize will be opened in Manchester – as the Etihad stages an England men’s game for the first time since May 2016, when the Three Lions were beaten 2-1 by Turkey in a friendly.

  Said contest will take place on Saturday June 10, 2028. From there, England will return to Wembley Stadium for their two remaining fixtures in the group stage. If they were to top Group B then they will head to St James’ Park in Newcastle for a last-16 match, or Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium if they finish second in their pot.

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• Euro 2028: Nine host stadiums across UK & Ireland

  Wales have been made aware that, if they are able to qualify, Cardiff will have the honour of hosting the opening game on Friday June, 9. The Republic of Ireland have games heading to Dublin, while Hampden Park will welcome fixtures to Scotland. Both semi-finals and the final will take place at Wembley in north London. Two automatic qualification spots will be held back for host nations that do not reach the finals through the normal routes.

  Villa Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium complete the list of nine host venues – with each of those set to figure in at least one knockout match. The quarter-finals will be split across the national stadiums of the four host nations. The qualifying draw will be held in Belfast, with Northern Ireland missing out on games after it was revealed that Casement Park could not be redeveloped in time.

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  Euro 2028 final: Change to kick-off time

  The final – on Sunday July, 9 – will kick-off at 5pm. That is three hours earlier than the last Euros showpiece to take place at Wembley in 2021 – with that clash between England and Italy being marred by fan unrest as supporters broke through barriers and forced entry.

  The Football Association’s chair, Debbie Hewitt, has said of moving that game forward – in line with changes to Champions League final kick-off times: “It's easier to get there – we all know what happens to public transport late on a Sunday night.

  “Also we hope that the fans will want to celebrate after the game and so it allows that to happen. And of course, you have safety and security too. So all of those factors come together and it's a common sense decision.”

  She added on working with UEFA to ensure that ticket prices will be as fair as possible: “It will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the game – its passion and ability to bring people together.

  “We're not a fan of dynamic ticketing pricing and I think UEFA have heard that loud and clear. There's been no pushback from UEFA. They're great partners. They understand, and have at their core, too, that we want to make this the most accessible Euros. So we're giving a lot of thought to ticket pricing, how we make sure that the accessibility metrics are delivered on.”

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• Euro 2028: Dates for qualifying draw & group stage

  The qualifying draw for Euro 2028 will be held on December 6, 2026. The group stage will then run from March 2027 until November 2027, with the play-offs being held in March 2028. Ultimately, 24 teams will take part in the tournament.