Torneo de Verano Mandante | Goal.com Brasil

BDO Power Rankings: Majestic Messi catapults into contention

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

Crystal Palace FC v FC Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Semi-Final Second Leg

Shakhtar in talks over playing Champions League games in England

Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk could play their home Champions League fixtures in England next season after launching exploratory talks with a Premier League club. The ongoing conflict in their homeland has forced the displaced side to evaluate alternative European venues, with London emerging as a strong potential destination.

'Counts as nine!' - Mourinho jokes about invincible ‘title’

José Mourinho has joked, during an exclusive appearance on the Beast Mode On Podcast, that he considers an ‘Invincibles’ campaign with Benfica in 2025-26 to be his ninth league title. No silverware was secured in Lisbon at the end of an unbeaten season, but the newly-appointed Real Madrid manager is rightly proud of an achievement that few clubs at the highest level can claim to have emulated.

Why Mbappe vs Haaland hasn't reached Messi-Ronaldo levels

Kylian Mbappe versus Erling Haaland was billed as the next great footballing rivalry to follow Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's two decades of dominance, but as the France and Norway superstars prepare to go head to head at the 2026 World Cup, it's fair to say that their individual tussle has yet to really take off in the way many people expected.

Saliba has 'forgotten' CL loss after being 'teased' by team-mates

William Saliba has admitted that he has already put Arsenal’s Champions League final heartbreak behind him as he shifts his focus to international glory. The Frenchman was a key figure for the Gunners during their run to the showpiece event in Budapest, only to suffer a painful defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

England v Costa Rica - International Friendly

Eze insists he won't change stuttered penalty run-up after UCL final miss

Eberechi Eze has declared he will not abandon his trademark stuttered penalty run-up if called upon to take a spot-kick for England at the 2026 World Cup. Despite the pain of a recent miss in the Champions League final with Arsenal, the playmaker remains steadfast in his approach ahead of the tournament in North America.

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