Aitana Bonmati has won each of the last three Ballons d'Or Feminin - but the accolade will go to someone else in 2026. Will it be two-time winner and fellow Barcelona star Alexia Putellas who reasserts herself as the best player in the women's game? Or could there be a new name on the honour roll when the Golden Ball is handed out in Paris in October?
There has been a shake-up among the leaders in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking. England moved up one place, while Spain and the United States held on to the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Germany, meanwhile, slipped to fourth, highlighting continued movement among the top teams in the world.
Sarina Wiegman has issued a stern warning to her England squad, insisting there is no room for complacency despite a hard-fought victory over Iceland. The Lionesses maintained their perfect start to World Cup qualifying, but the head coach is under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead on the road to Brazil.
Lauren Hemp was the hero at Wembley as early as the third minute, but the Manchester City winger admitted she was sweating over whether her decisive strike had actually crossed the line. The Lionesses secured a vital 1-0 victory over world champions Spain in their 2027 World Cup qualifying clash, moving three points clear at the top of Group A3.
Spain's devastation after defeat in last summer's European Championship final was palpable. There is perhaps no crueller way to lose than on penalties and that theory was backed up by the heartbreak on show by La Roja's players and staff after England fought back to take the game in Basel to extra time and then defeat the world champions 3-1 via spot-kicks. "Very cruel," was how Aitana Bonmati, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, put it. "It will hurt for some time."
Chelsea were founded on March 10, 1905, following Gus Mears' acquisition of the Stamford Bridge in 1904. Several names were put up for consideration: Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC, and London FC. However, all these names were rejected and the name Chelsea F.C. was finally selected.
Who are the owners of Chelsea?
Chelsea are co-owned by an American consortium consisting of Todd Boehly, Mark Walter. Hansjorg Wyss, and Behdad Eghbali-led Clearlake Capital. Boehly, Walter, and Wyss each own a 12.8% stake in the club, while Clearlake Capital are the majority shareholder with a 61.5% stake.
What is Chelsea's stadium called?
Chelsea's stadium is known as the Stamford Bridge and has been the club's home venue ever since their inception in 1905. Interestingly, the Stamford Bridge was owned by a separate company after businessman Ken Bates bought the club in the 1980s, when they were on the verge of bankruptcy and stuck in the second division. In 1992, however, after a long-fought legal battle and a 'Save The Bridge' campaign from the fans, Chelsea regained ownership of the stadium.
What is Stamford Bridge's capacity?
The Stamford Bridge has a capacity of around 40,000.
How many trophies have Chelsea won?
Chelsea have won an impressive 32 trophies throughout their history, including two Champions League titles and six English top-flight titles.
How many Premier League (top flight) titles have Chelsea won?
Chelsea have won the English top flight on six occasions, with their most recent title coming at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Who has made the most appearances for Chelsea?
Legendary defender Ron Harris holds the record for making the most appearances for Chelsea, featuring for the club in 795 games, ahead of Peter Bonetti and John Terry. The latter two are the only other players along with Harris to make over 700 appearances for the club.
Who is Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer?
Frank Lampard, arguably the greatest Chelsea player ever, is the club's leading goalscorer of all-time, netting the ball into the net 211 times in 648 games. The fact that he was a midfielder makes the feat all the more impressive.
Which famous players have played for Chelsea?
Didier Drogba, John Terry, Eden Hazard, Claude Makelele, Arjen Robben, Petr Cech, Michael Ballack, and David Luiz are some of the most famous players to have represented Chelsea.
Which famous managers have been in charge of Chelsea?
Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Maurizio Sarri are among the biggest managerial names to have been a part of Chelsea's eminent history.
What is Chelsea's nickname?
Chelsea are called The Blues, which is a reference to the colour of their kit since the early 20th century.