Neymar has hit back at his critics and "made-up stories" concerning his fitness after he was a notable absentee from Santos' 2-2 draw with Mirassol. The 34-year-old was expected to feature in the Brasileirão clash but was ultimately left out of the matchday squad to undergo a specific workload management program, sparking a fresh wave of speculation regarding his physical condition ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said the country’s national team cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup following recent military conflict involving the United States and Israel. Speaking on Iranian state television, Donyamali said the current circumstances mean participation in the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is not possible.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has painted a bleak picture of the current state of affairs at the club following a humiliating 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Dutch centre-back did not hold back in his assessment of a match that saw Spurs trail by four goals within the opening 22 minutes, describing the collapse in the Spanish capital as nothing short of a "doomsday scenario" for the Premier League side.
Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) has resigned from his positions on the supervisory board and administrative advisory board of FC Bayern Munich with immediate effect.
Antoine Griezmann rolled back the years on Tuesday night, spearheading a 5-2 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16. Despite the emphatic scoreline, though, Griezmann noted that Diego Simeone’s side were able to exploit a "slippery pitch" that caused Spurs to make high-profile errors throughout the first leg.
Antonin Kinsky's name will live in Tottenham and Champions League infamy for ever more. The Spurs goalkeeper was thrust into the line-up for Tuesday's last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid, only to last just 17 minutes after twice gifting goals to Diego Simeone's side in what will go down as one of the worst goalkeeping performances in the history of Europe's premier club competition.
Victor Osimhen was overcome with emotion ahead of Galatasaray's Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night. Moments before kick-off at a raucous Rams Park, the home supporters unveiled a massive, poignant tifo featuring a portrait of the Nigerian striker alongside his late mother. The banner was accompanied by a powerful message that clearly resonated with the 27-year-old forward: "We are family and family is everything."
The yellow cards deliberately earned by Kimmich and Olise were a curious side note to Bayern's gala performance in Bergamo. It would be easy to prevent this from happening again. A commentary.
Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has sensationally defended his tactical approach despite witnessing his side suffer a devastating 6-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich. The Champions League round of 16 first leg turned into a nightmare for the Bergamo outfit, but the manager remained steadfast in his footballing philosophy, refusing to entertain the idea of adopting a more defensive setup against the German giants.
Wrexham's dreams of a historic rise to the Premier League have been hit with a major setback following the news that star striker Kieffer Moore is set for a spell on the sidelines. The Wales international, who is the Red Dragons' leading marksman with 13 goals this term, sustained a hamstring injury during the thrilling 4-2 FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Chelsea. The 33-year-old missed Tuesday's defeat to Hull City and is expected to sit out at least another three crucial Championship fixtures, leaving a significant void in Phil Parkinson's attacking arsenal.
Michael Olise was named player of the match at FC Bayern's gala in Bergamo, establishing himself as a contender for the Ballon d'Or. English TV experts actually made him laugh afterwards, with coach Vincent Kompany comparing him to a fellow countryman.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has pulled no punches in his assessment of Antonin Kinsky’s conduct during Tottenham’s 5-2 Champions League collapse against Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old goalkeeper was hauled off after just 17 minutes following a series of high-profile errors, but rather than taking a seat on the bench, he headed straight for the dressing room.
FC Bayern celebrates an impressive victory against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The press has nothing but praise for Munich's performance, but also harshly criticises Bergamo.
Tottenham's crisis has deepened following their humiliating 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The result has left the club's fanbase in open revolt, with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) demanding "emergency action" as the side endures the worst losing streak in its entire 143-year history.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted he was left shocked after seeing Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into their Champions League clash. The 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper endured a nightmare evening at the Metropolitano, committing massive errors that left Spurs trailing 3-0 in under a quarter of an hour. Simeone, usually known for his own touchline intensity, confessed that the decision to haul off a goalkeeper so early was a first for him to witness in the dugout.
Eden Hazard has predicted that Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior could retire from football early, drawing startling comparisons between the Brazilian’s current experience and his own time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite injuries limiting their time on the pitch together to just 27 matches, Hazard spent four seasons sharing a dressing room with Vinicius and believes he has a unique insight into the player's mindset.
Bayern's Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich each received yellow cards in the first leg of the round of 16 against Atalanta Bergamo and are therefore suspended for the second leg. But when are yellow cards actually cleared in the Champions League? Here you can find the rule.
Antoine Griezmann has finally broken his silence regarding his future at Atletico Madrid, following months of intense speculation linking him with a move to MLS outfit Orlando City. After a vintage performance in the Champions League against Tottenham, the 34-year-old made it clear where his immediate priorities lie.
Eddie Howe whisked away the frustration of a "soft" late equaliser to focus on what he described as an "outstanding" Newcastle United performance against Barcelona. St James' Park was rocking as the Magpies went toe-to-toe with the Catalan giants, only to be denied a first-leg advantage by a controversial late penalty that leaves the Champions League round of 16 tie on a knife-edge heading into the second leg at Camp Nou.
Julian Alvarez has sent shockwaves through the Metropolitano by admitting he is unsure if he will still be an Atletico Madrid player next season, amid links with Barcelona and Arsenal. Despite the club's efforts to dampen exit talk, the Argentina international declined to give a definitive answer regarding his future following a standout performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain were by far the best team in Europe last season. Luis Enrique's side stormed to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in France, and swept aside the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal before thrashing Inter in the Champions League final to finally claim the club's first continental crown.
