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 was among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
The World Cup final is finally upon us, and Sunday's showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey promises to be an absolutely enthralling encounter between the two best teams in the tournament - with the emphasis very much on 'teams'.
Lautaro Martinez was unable to contain his emotions on the pitch after firing Argentina into the 2026 World Cup final with a dramatic winner against England. The Inter captain broke down in tears during a post-match TV interview in Atlanta, reflecting on a journey that has taken him from his humble beginnings to the verge of a second global crown.
The fact that Lionel Messi already has five goals at the 2026 World Cup is obviously a great thing for Argentina. The worry, though, is that none of his team-mates have even managed to score one. Admittedly, relying on Messi was always part of the plan. As striking legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Fox Sports, "Messi isn't just Argentina's best player. He's Argentina's system."
Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, and then added another goal for good measure, as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in a bad-tempered game in Dallas to maintain their winning start to their title defence. The greatest player of all time should have broken Miroslav Klose's record after just eight minutes of play, when the Albiceleste were awarded a penalty for a Stefan Posch foul on Lautaro Martinez, but Messi dragged his spot-kick wide.
We are now just days away, and World Cup fever is gripping the globe as teams from 48 countries descend on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest tournament FIFA have ever staged. Managers are making their final plans ahead of the opening round of group games, but for some there are still massive decisions to be made.
The European football season is almost over. Just one game remains - the Champions League final, as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain prepare to do battle in Budapest on Saturday. Both sides come into the game having won their own domestic titles, with PSG looking to defend the crown they won for the first time last season, while the Gunners are aiming to secure their first European Cup.
Lautaro Martinez has named Harry Kane as the best centre-forward in world football ahead of Erling Haaland. The Inter Milan captain praised Kane’s all-round game while also reflecting on his partnership with Marcus Thuram and his own development in Italy.
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has explicitly committed his long-term future to the club, revealing a desire to retire at San Siro eventually. The prolific Argentine striker has been strongly linked with Barcelona, but now insists that he cannot envision playing his football anywhere else.
Inter have secured their first domestic double in 16 years following a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico. Captain Lautaro Martinez led the celebrations, praising the transformative impact of head coach Cristian Chivu in guiding the Nerazzurri back to the pinnacle of Italian football this season.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has emphatically shut down any talk of a move away from San Siro, insisting he has no intention of entertaining interest from Europe’s biggest clubs. Despite perennial links to the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal, the Argentine forward remains fully invested in the project in Milan.
Lautaro Martinez remains a cornerstone of Inter, but his heart still beats strongly for Racing Club. The striker, who left Argentina in 2018 to join the Nerazzurri, remains an iconic figure for Racing fans and has confirmed his long-term goal to 'convince' wife to return to the Argentine giants in the future.
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