Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany heaped praise on Lennart Karl on Tuesday, explaining his diminutive stature makes it difficult for defenders to get close to him. Kompany also acknowledged Karl's "relaxed attitude" as one of the keys to his dramatic rise. The 17-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Bavarian giants this season and has scored in back-to-back games, setting up a few records.
Zenit St. Petersburg star Andrei Mostovoy narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping after a group of men tried to drag him into a van as he left a grocery store. The 27-year-old managed to fight off his attackers with the help of a friend before authorities later discovered the same group had successfully abducted another man for ransom.
The reasons behind Gary Lineker leaving Baller League UK have been revealed, with the ex-England international and Match of the Day host absent in the dugout as the new season got underway on Monday night. Lineker's team, Deportrio, finished first in the league standings in the inaugural campaign before being eliminated in the last four stage of the final tournament.
Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United for allowing homegrown striker Danny Welbeck to leave Old Trafford for Arsenal back in 2014, branding the decision “an absolute balls-up”. The former United captain, who shared the dressing room with Welbeck for several seasons, believes the club made a huge mistake by sanctioning the £16 million ($21m) transfer, a move he insists never should have been allowed to happen.
Juventus legends Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Capello have been vocal in their endorsements of Luciano Spalletti to take over as head coach following the sacking of Igor Tudor.
The ex-Italy and Napoli coach is reportedly in talks to with the Serie A side, who are in a desperate scramble to salvage their season amid the eight-game winless run that resulted in the Croatian's dismissal.
Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves has surprised fans by appearing as a preacher at a church in Girona, Spain, declaring that he has “made a pact with God.” The 42-year-old, who was acquitted of sexual assault this year, spoke emotionally about finding faith after “the worst moment” of his life, marking a remarkable turn in his post-football journey.
Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez was involved in a tragic accident on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of an 81-year-old man in a wheelchair near the club’s training base. The incident occurred in Fenegro, in the province of Como, as the Spaniard was driving to training. Despite immediate emergency response, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nicklas Bendtner has backed Rasmus Hojlund to thrive under Antonio Conte at Napoli, praising the Italian’s "killer mentality and relentless desire to win". The former Juventus forward believes Conte can unlock his compatriot’s full potential as the young striker rebuilds confidence following a mixed spell at Manchester United.
Manchester United flop Andre Onana has responded to words of praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as he continues to revive his career on loan at Trabzonspor. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, whose time in England was defined by blunders and plummeting confidence, is now experiencing an upturn in form in Turkey. He is quietly piecing his career back together, thousands of miles away from the glitz of the Premier League, and his performances are beginning to remind fans why he was once one of Europe’s most sought-after stoppers.
Vinicius Junior has been told his behaviour during El Clasico will "negatively impact" his prestige at Real Madrid after his "disrespectful" reaction to being subbed off in the 72nd minute of the 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Barcelona. Vinicius appeared to ignore Real boss Xabi Alonso and headed straight down the tunnel instead of joining his team-mates on the bench.
FIFA began the second phase of World Cup ticket sales on Monday, putting one million tickets into a randomized draw that runs through Friday and includes a domestic priority window for residents of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Fans worldwide can enter the draw but those in the three host countries who are selected will receive an exclusive time slot.
Jurgen Klopp has reportedly held secret talks with Hoffenheim sporting director Andreas Schicker, as RB Salzburg seek a replacement for Rouven Schroder. The former Liverpool boss, now Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer, is keen to secure Schicker’s signature for the Austrian club after months of behind-the-scenes discussions.
Former Manchester United first-team coach Benni McCarthy has claimed that he'd be willing to "chop a hand off" to bring Harry Kane to Old Trafford. The Red Devils were linked with the prolific striker throughout his record-breaking spell at Tottenham, but each summer ended with disappointment. Kane stayed loyal to Spurs until 2023, when he finally took the plunge and joined Bayern Munich in search of the silverware that had eluded him in England.
Borussia Monchengladbach star Jens Carstop has apologised for his dangerous tackle on Luis Diaz that saw him sent off in the first half of his side's 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday. Carstop admitted his foul looked "really stupid" as he paved the way for another defeat for the Bundesliga bottom-dwellers.
Marcus Rashford has singled out one of his former Manchester United bosses for special praise, with the England international opening up on a more positive time for him at Old Trafford. Rashford rose from academy product to first-team star, marked by a sensational debut season and notably scored 30 goals in the 2022-23 campaign. But inconsistent performances and disciplinary issues led to his departure on loan, first to Aston Villa, then Barcelona.
Stuttgart are exploring a surprise January loan move for Real Madrid prodigy Endrick, according to reports. The Bundesliga club hope to use coach Sebastian Hoeness' strong relationship with Madrid boss Xabi Alonso to secure the 19-year-old striker, with talks already underway ahead of the winter window.
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has opened up about his bold financial vision for the Rossoneri, revealing how he plans to make the club competitive with Premier League giants. The RedBird Capital founder has set an ambitious goal of transforming Serie A’s global standing as he insisted the Italian top-flight is "the most competitive league".
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly shut down a potential move for one of the greatest goalscorers of all time, despite manager Ruben Amorim's interest. United made significant additions to their forward line in the summer and Ratcliffe has intervened, even though the striker in question - who is approaching the end of his career - is set to become available on a free transfer at the end of this season.
Lionel Messi has revealed his GOATS from basketball and tennis while describing Argentina legend Diego Maradona as his "greatest idol". The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the various icons who helped inspire his journey from a boy in Rosario to a global superstar. In his eyes, no one stands taller in the football world than Maradona, the legendary forward who inspired the Albiceleste to the 1986 World Cup.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is reportedly playing at just half of his capacity due to a painful groin injury. Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll says the 18-year-old’s physical issue is severely restricting his movement and shooting ability, with the youngster’s ongoing struggle evident during Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.
Jonas Urbig has brushed aside any talk of anxiety over Manuel Neuer’s Bayern Munich future, insisting he is focused on developing under Vincent Kompany’s guidance. The 22-year-old goalkeeper will start against boyhood club Koln in the DFB-Pokal this week, determined to prove he belongs at Germany’s biggest club while learning from one of the best.
Manchester United are reportedly in "concrete negotiations" to seal a cut-price January transfer for 16-year-old Swedish prodigy Kevin Filling. With INEOS now firmly steering football operations at Old Trafford, the Red Devils have made youth recruitment a cornerstone of their rebuild. United’s scouts have spent months monitoring emerging forwards across the continent, and Filling, one of Scandinavia’s brightest teenage strikers, is now top of their wish list.
Jude Bellingham is once again at the heart of a controversial incident surrounding Sunday’s fiery El Clasico, which the England star played a crucial starring role in winning for Real Madrid. In the closing stages of the first half at the Bernabeu, he was involved in a brief clash with Barcelona midfielder Pedri, who called for referee Soto Grado to give him a red card, and Bellingham’s reaction has caused further fury between the two La Liga giants.
Vinicius Junior's disappointment at being substituted during Sunday's 2-1 Clasico win over rivals Barcelona drew a rather unpleasant reaction from the Brazilian, which has caused further controversy in the aftermath of the game. However, his former team-mate Toni Kroos believes "nobody can judge or imagine" the emotions the forward felt in the moment, although he urged the Real Madrid star to "keep his anger to himself a little more."
Lyon winger Malick Fofana faces several months on the sidelines after suffering a serious right ankle sprain during a 2-1 win over Strasbourg. The Belgian winger, who has attracted strong interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, will likely require surgery dealing a major blow to Paulo Fonseca’s side as they push for a top-four Ligue 1 finish.
Christian Pulisic has been told that he is not the captain the USMNT "want or need", with Alexi Lalas claiming Mauricio Pochettino's squad is lacking "bad boys" ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Lalas, never one to mince words, opined that while Pulisic may be the country’s biggest footballing name, leadership requires more than star power.
Two Premier League clubs are reportedly weighing up a controversial move for Mason Greenwood as the former Manchester United forward continues his dazzling form in France for Marseille. Greenwood left Old Trafford under a dark cloud in September 2023 after serious criminal allegations were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. He initially joined Getafe on loan before making a permanent switch to Ligue 1 giants Marseille last season.