Lionel Messi was named FIFA’s best men’s player for 2023 during an awards event in London on Monday. Messi won the Ballon d’Or for the third time, but the eight-time winner was a surprise winner ahead of Erling Haaland on an otherwise spectacular night for Manchester City. The award was only valid from the time … Read more
Japan came from behind to defeat Vietnam 4-2 in their Asian Cup Group D opening on Sunday at the Al Thumama Stadium, with five goals coming in the first half and Takumi Minamino scoring twice. Japan grabbed the lead in the 11th minute via Minamino, but Vietnam stunned the four-time winners with two goals from … Read more
The host Ivory Coast started proceedings at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 2-0 win against Guinea Bissau in Abidjan on Saturday, but jubilant fans crowded the streets and partying lasted late. Fans lined the road from the Alhassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in the city’s north to crowd their team’s bus as coach … Read more
Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford are forming a powerful combination, according to Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, after the forwards both scored in Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League tie with Tottenham Hotspur. Richarlison canceled out Hojlund’s early strike before Rodrigo Bentancur leveled for Spurs after Rashford had put United back in ahead. Hojlund has just … Read more
Sanjida Akhter of the Bangladesh women’s football team has accepted an invitation to play for East Bengal FC in the present Indian Women’s League. The 22-year-old will join her national team captain Sabina Khatun, who arrived in India today to join second-placed Kickstart FC in the same division. “We have already given her a NOC … Read more
South Korea defeated Bahrain 3-1 in their Asian Cup Group E opening on Monday, with Paris St. Germain’s Lee Kang-in scoring twice in the second half. With the score equal at 1-1 thanks to goals from Hwang In-Beom and Bahrain’s Abdullah Al-Hashsash, Lee cranked up the heat with two devastating strikes that had the South … Read more
An Israeli footballer who was seized after flashing a message relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict during a first division match was freed awaiting trial by a Turkish court on Monday. Sagiv Jehezkel, 28, celebrated scoring a goal for Antalyaspor against Trabzonspor on Sunday by holding up a bandage that said “100 days. 07/10” next to … Read more
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez slammed his squad after a humiliating 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. The Spanish champions were hammered by their fierce Clasico opponents in Saudi Arabia, and Xavi believes his squad provided a poor performance. “We were lacking in every way and have to apologise … Read more
Vinicius Junior said he was “no saint” after scoring a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 thumping of rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Opponents often criticize the Brazilian winger, 23, for going down easily, criticizing referees, and embarrassing them with dribbles. Ronald Araujo, a Barcelona defender, was sent off after receiving two yellow … Read more
AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud shone in a convincing 3-1 Serie A win at home to AS Roma on Sunday, due in large part to the Frenchman, who scored one goal and assisted on another. Giroud, 37, was in the ideal position to head in their second goal before his fantastic back-heel flick put up … Read more
