Barcelona have spent more than two seasons away from Camp Nou due to a renovation project that has been beset by delays, but a phased re-opening of the iconic venue is getting closer to becoming reality. The Blaugrana await permission from the city council, with Joan Laporta claiming that everything else is now in place for the team's return.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has finished ahead of big names such as Arsenal's Declan Rice, Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings. The Scotland international is ranked in 18th place after a stellar season that saw him score 12 Serie A goals and help deliver the Scudetto for Napoli.
Vinicius Junior’s dramatic decline in the Ballon d’Or rankings has raised eyebrows, with the Real Madrid star slipping all the way down to 16th in 2025, just a year after finishing runner-up to Rodri. The Brazilian had vowed to come back stronger following last year’s controversy, but his fall from grace has coincided with Real Madrid’s ongoing rift with UEFA and the awards ceremony.
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaif has jetted into the French capital from America for the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony after originally planning to stay Stateside. His club's star forward Ousmane Dembele is the favourite to be crowned the best player in the world on Monday night in Paris but faces competition from Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has admitted he was worried for Ruben Amorim’s side after Chelsea were reduced to 10 men early on in Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford. The Red Devils went on to win 2-1 against the Blues, but Rooney has revealed he was concerned his former club would lose to the 10 men which would have brought even more pressure on Amorim.
England captain and Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane has been placed 13th on the Ballon d'Or standings, and fans are furious with the disgraceful ranking. There was also some outrage that Chelsea' Cole Palmer finished ahead of Kane despite having a forgettable 2024-25 Premier League season, which was covered up by a good Club World Cup campaign.
The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.
Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres has caused a stir after landing the Gerd Muller award at the prestigious Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he was crowned Europe's best striker. Many have been left wondering how he could land such an illustrious title and complained online, but Gyokeres has pipped all the challengers by virtue of his goals tally for previous club Sporting Lisbon and for Sweden.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal was quick to congratulate Ousmane Dembele after seeing the Paris Saint-Germain star beat him to the 2025 Ballon d’Or award. The teenager finished second in the rankings but didn’t go home empty-handed as he won the Kopa Award for a second year running, and his father is confident that it will be a different story next year.
Keylor Navas’ arrival has transformed Pumas' defense, with the veteran goalkeeper providing much-needed leadership for their backline. Since the former Real Madrid goalkeeper took over in net, Efraín Juárez’s side has surged. The Universitarios stretched their unbeaten run to seven with a 1-1 draw against Tigres, climbing to seventh in the table.
Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has claimed that his side are not a well-oiled machine after they registered a slender 3-2 win over Pisa in Serie A last night. Although Gli Azzuri sit comfortably at the top of the league table having won all four of their games, such a statement from the Serie A winner comes as a shock after their latest win.
Dayot Upamecano has reignited his dream of joining Real Madrid, telling his agent to push for a Bernabeu move when his Bayern Munich deal runs out in 2026. Faced with a repeat of the David Alaba transfer to the Spanish giants, the Bundesliga champions now face a familiar dilemma - meet his demands, sell early, or risk losing another cornerstone for free.
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone defended his decision to bring off Julian Alvarez for Alexander Sorloth during their most recent La Liga fixture by claiming that the Argentine is "the best player we have." The Colchoneros' boss also reflected on the referee's decision to show a red card to Sorloth just 10 minutes after he was brought on for Alvarez.
Lamine Yamal may have fallen short in the Ballon d’Or race against Ousmane Dembele, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the setback will only fuel his hunger to claim the award in future. The teenager made history with back-to-back Kopa Trophies, while Aitana Bonmati continued her dominance by lifting a third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Former Paris Saint-Germain star and fan-favourite Presnel Kimpembe has revealed how his injury played a part in him bidding farewell to the French club. The initial signs of the injury appeared before the 2022 World Cup and later on forced him to stay out of action for two years. After signing for Qatar SC, the defender has finally opened up on his struggles.
Michael Olise is one of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's favourite players ever, with the Bayern Munich sensation paired with club legends Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Luca Toni. Olise has become among the best players in the world since his sensational switch from Crystal Palace to Bavaria in 2024. A phenomenal debut season at the Allianz Arena was rewarded with a Ballon d'Or nomination this year.
Real Madrid will not change their contract offer to Vinicius Junior amid a standoff between the Spanish club and the Brazilian winger. Having been dropped twice in recent weeks by new coach Xabi Alonso, the winger is facing further scrutiny this season and the club are reluctant to match his demands for a significant pay rise.
Como coach Cesc Fabregas confirmed the Serie A club have taken an initiative to donate their proceeds from their upcoming Coppa Italia game to the local community after northern Italy was hit with torrential rain. The devastating floods have affected homes and businesses around Como and the club's head coach shared an emotional message of support for the locals.
Rafael Leao has revealed how idols like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Kaka inspired him to choose AC Milan over rivals Inter. The Portuguese winger admitted Lille once tried to push him towards the Nerazzurri, but he refused the move, staying true to his dream of wearing the Rossoneri shirt. Although currently sidelined by injury, the winger remains central to their hopes this season.
Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal showed his lighter side after the Ballon d’Or gala by buying midnight hamburgers for team-mates and friends, while president Joan Laporta admitted he even tried pressing Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta to reveal the winner. Yamal may have fallen short, but his Kopa Trophy joy kept spirits high as Ousmane Dembele took home the big prize instead.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has accused the Premier League of inflating the players' salaries and transfer fees. According to the 63-year-old, this affects the global market and other leagues including the Spanish top flight as well as he stressed the importance of "sustainability" across Europe's leagues.
Benfica might expect a reunion between newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho and one of his former players at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema. While the former French international is currently playing for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, his contract expires next year, and the club are ready to let him go if the Portuguese side pay a small transfer fee.
Vinicius Jr’s Ballon d’Or nightmare worsened as Betis mocked the Real Madrid winger after he finished 16th in the 2025 rankings. The Brazilian had once promised to win the award “ten times if needed”, but those words were brutally echoed back at him online. Now, with Xabi Alonso limiting his role, pressure is mounting on the highly-rated attacker.
Getafe are closing in on signing former Leeds and Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford. The free agent was released from his contract by the Premier League side just a few days before the deadline day after falling out of coach Daniel Farke's plans and is reportedly set to travel to Spain to discuss a possible transfer.
Marcus Rashford has been accused of "self-sabotage" after turning up late for a Barcelona team meeting. The 27-year-old scored a stunning brace against Newcastle United in the Champions League but was then dropped to the bench for the Getafe clash for his tardiness on the day of the game. Now, the Manchester United loanee has been criticised for his actions.
Barcelona have reached a breakthrough with Frenkie de Jong, who has agreed to extend his stay until 2029 on reduced wages. Talks had stalled after the Dutchman changed agents, but fresh negotiations revived the process. Joan Laporta insists good news is close, with De Jong’s renewal securing a vital pillar in Hansi Flick’s midfield.
Liverpool Women's manager Gareth Taylor paid a moving tribute to former boss Matt Beard after he passed away at just 47. Taylor admitted the shock has left a "big void" across the Reds' Melwood base and beyond. On Monday, the squad gathered in silence at training, holding a minute of reflection in his honour.
Porto president and Jose Mourinho's former assistant Andre Villas-Boas has spoken about the reception waiting for the Portuguese manager when he arrives at Dragao with his new side Benfica. The Porto supremo has also revealed the messages which were interchanged between him and Mourinho after the latter's decision to return to the Primiera Liga.
Rennes went all out to honour Ousmane Dembele after his Ballon d'Or triumph, taking out a full-page advert in L'Equipe and running tributes across social media. The Paris Saint-Germain forward fired his side to a historic treble last season and became the club’s first Ballon d’Or winner, while his boyhood team proudly reminded the world of their role in shaping his journey.
AC Milan & Inter have hired the architects behind Manchester United's new stadium to build a 71,500-capacity ground, with San Siro set to be demolished. The €1 billion project will see the two fierce rivals come together off the pitch in a once-in-a-generation move. Work is scheduled to begin in 2027, with doors opening to fans in 2030.