Lists

London City Lionesses star Freya Godfrey has been handed a maiden call-up to the England squad, as Manchester City duo Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton return to the fold. Sarina Wiegman has selected 25 players for the upcoming ‘Homecoming Series’ that will see the Euro 2025 winners take on China at Wembley Stadium and Ghana at St Mary’s in Southampton.

Manchester City star Rayan Cherki has been warned by a former France manager that he has "no chance" of playing at the 2026 World Cup in North America. After a memorable campaign with Lyon last season, Cherki broke into the France national team and he is now being picked regularly by Didier Deschamps, having made a positive first impression at City after his summer transfer from the Groupama Stadium.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac are yet to oversee a repeat of their Wrexham success in another venture with South American club La Equidad, with that team - which also includes Eva Longoria among its backers - ending the 2025 Colombian top-flight campaign in last place. There is only one way up from the bottom, with a major rebrand set to be delivered in 2026.

Veteran Brazilian defender Thiago Silva is wanted back at AC Milan, according to reports, with the Rossoneri looking to reunite the South American centre-half with his former Chelsea team-mate Christian Pulisic. Silva is now 41 years of age and back in his homeland with Fluminense, but he is not ready to retire just yet and could be lured back to European football.

A Premier League legend has delivered a brutal verdict on new Manchester United signing Benjamin Sesko, claiming the Slovenian forward "looks like an academy player". Sesko, who moved to Old Trafford from RB Leipzig in the summer for a whopping £74 million ($100m), has so far failed to live up to the hype, scoring only two goals in his first 11 Premier League appearances.

Miami Dolphins star Jack Jones delivered a nod to Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo when gracing the latest NFL International Series game. Said contest took place at Santiago Bernabeu - a venue that Portuguese GOAT Ronaldo once illuminated. Jones took centre stage on this occasion and broke out CR7’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration when delivering his own moment of match-altering brilliance.

Former Al-Nassr forward Anderson Talisca has branded Cristiano Ronaldo "the best in history" while opening up on his experience of sharing a dressing room with the Portuguese legend. Talisca and Ronaldo played together at Al-Nassr for two years before the Brazilian attacker left for Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce in January.

Neymar has been branded “washed”, with fans reacting to the “sad watch” of seeing the Brazilian icon botch two attempted rainbow flicks during Santos’ surprising win over Palmeiras. Neymar is considered to have performed admirably in that fixture, but questions are being asked of whether the 33-year-old still possesses the kind of magic in his boots that once allowed him to illuminate the world stage.

It's no wonder Camilla Kuver can't stop smiling. After making her Champions League debut only a couple of weeks prior, the 22-year-old has just won her first and second caps for Germany, starting both games against France over the last international break to help her country qualify for the Nations League final. These would be milestones worth celebrating for any player, but they are particularly special for the Wolfsburg defender, given the incredible bad luck she has had with injuries over the past four years.

Manchester United have reportedly learned the current price tag for a long-term midfield target who has been billed as a replacement for Casemiro. Ruben Amorim wants to invest in a new central midfielder after identifying the position as a weak spot in his lineup. United have prepared a six-man shortlist for the January transfer window.

Karim Benzema has revealed his true feelings about former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after taking in a supposedly frosty reunion with the Portuguese legend during their respective spells in the Saudi Pro League. Benzema and Ronaldo, who were once colleagues at Santiago Bernabeu, are now in the Middle East with Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr.

The comedian Dylan Moran once joked that Silvio Berlusconi was "so thoroughly corrupt that every time he smiles, an angel gets gonorrhoea". The former Italian Prime Minister was certainly a dubious character, right until the end of a life that was as extraordinary as it was controversial. Even while battling the health problems to which he eventually succumbed, he continued to generate headlines, in football and far beyond.

Thomas Tuchel has never looked as happy as during the eight months in which he has been in charge of the England team. But now comes the sad part: being away from the players he has grown so fond of until the next international window in March. Despite the cynicism around his appointment, the German has proved to be a fine choice of coach and has given the Three Lions the shake-up they needed.

Alisha Lehmann has seen her house in Italy burgled, with the Como Women star sharing a video on social media of her ransacked bedroom. The Switzerland international was not in at the time of the incident, but is being forced to clean up the mess left behind. Lehmann had been embracing a new challenge with Como, but will now be asking questions of her living arrangements.

In an interview with Time Magazine published at the end of July, Erling Haaland claimed that Norway would only have a 0.5 percent chance of winning the 2026 World Cup. He added: “If we would qualify for the World Cup, it would be like another big nation winning it. It would be the biggest party ever. Scenes in Oslo would be incredible.” That party is now underway, with Norway having booked their spot at the tournament for the first time in 28 years after thumping 4-1 wins over Estonia and Italy during the November international break.

For two seasons, signing Arda Guler looked like it might have been a mistake by Real Madrid. There were, in fact, reports that they really didn't want him in the first place, and that he was instead only brought to Santiago Bernabeu because Barcelona were so keen on signing 'The Turkish Messi' from Fenerbahce. Fast-forward, though, and that assumption now seems massively misguided.

Perfection and the England men's national team never were natural bedfellows, but Thomas Tuchel has changed the narrative around the Three Lions by propelling them to a literally flawless World Cup qualifying campaign. England completed their perfect run of results by rounding off their journey to North America in 2026 with a 2-0 victory away in Albania, an eighth successive win without conceding a goal.

Harry Kane made the difference yet again with two late goals as England beat Albania 2-0 in their final World Cup qualifier and made history in the process. The captain broke the deadlock from close range in the 74th minute then netted a header eight minutes later to ensure Thomas Tuchel's side became the first European team to win every game in a World Cup qualification campaign without conceding a goal.

A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.

Arsenal dropped further off the Women's Super League title-chasing pace after being held to a goalless draw by Tottenham in the north London derby. The Gunners, who are without a win through their last three games in all competitions, find themselves stuck in fourth place - nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City - after Alessia Russo and Co posted a blank against stubborn Spurs on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves hat-tricks helped a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal qualify for the 2026 World Cup with an emphatic 9-1 win over Armenia on Sunday. The Seleccao were without their iconic forward following his red card against Ireland, but virtuoso displays from Fernandes and Neves ensured they topped UEFA Group F thanks to a thumping victory.

Germany's new star forward Nick Woltemade finally broke his silence on the 'idiots' Newcastle claim made by Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after the Bundesliga champions lost the transfer race to sign the striker from Stuttgart for £65m. After selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day, the Magpies brought Woltemade as the Swede's replacement.

Liverpool have been handed a Mohamed Salah boost after the Egyptian FA confirmed the forward will be rested for Monday's meeting with Cape Verde. Salah played the full 90 for Egypt in their surprise 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan on Friday as the Pharaohs crashed out of the Al Ain International Cup at the semi-final stage, and their exit could prove a blessing for the Reds.

Phil Foden has been forced to sell his £3.25 million mansion for a cut price, with the Manchester City star parting with said property having previously attracted complaints from neighbours. The England international has not been able to get the full asking price for his sprawling family home, but will not be left too far out of pocket after agreeing terms on a sale.

Chelsea made Women's Super League history on Sunday afternoon despite being held to a 1-1 draw. The Blues have made an unbeaten start to their title defence but their stalemate with Liverpool at the Totally Wicked Stadium means they have now failed to win back-to-back league matches for the first time since the 2021-22 season as they were pegged back by the Reds.

USWNT star Alyssa Thompson continues to shine in the Women's Super League, with another stunning goal being recorded for Chelsea. The highly-rated forward has only been in England for a matter of months, but her undoubted talent is being showcased in the best possible manner. Her second WSL goal was crashed into the top corner during a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Ibrahima Konate has revealed that a final decision on his future at Liverpool will be made soon amid strong interest from Real Madrid. The French centre-back has entered the final part of his five-year contract with the English champions that he signed in 2021. The Reds are yet to agree a new deal with the defender, with only weeks left before he can initiate pre-contract talks with foreign clubs.

Chelsea huffed and puffed but were unable to return to winning ways in the Women's Super League as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday. The Blues have now failed to win back-to-back league games for the first time since the 2021-22 season as they could only close the gap to leaders Manchester City to three points having been pegged back after taking an early lead.

Jordi Cruyff has explained how Barcelona were able to avoid losing teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal before he made his senior breakthrough, with there a serious "risk" at one stage that he could be stolen by a domestic rival. Yamal ultimately made his Blaugrana bow at the age of 15 and, after turning 18 in the summer of 2025, is now tied to a lucrative contract.