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Champions League news

Vitinha Achraf Hakimi Ballon d'Or GFX

Why Vitinha or Hakimi deserve the BDO more than Dembele

Say what you will about the merits of the Ballon d'Or, but last year's ceremony was undeniably dramatic. The event organisers, France Football, have always insisted that "no player or club knows who has won the Ballon d'Or" before the victor is announced on stage - but Real Madrid refused to even turn up after learning hours in advance that Rodri had beaten Vinicius Jr to the men's prize.

Lamine Yamal Ballon d'Or GFX

Why world's best Yamal deserves the 2025 Ballon d'Or

If the voting process for the Ballon d'Or were truly fair, Lionel Messi would have 14 Golden Balls to his name instead of eight. The Barcelona legend was by far the best footballer in the world between 2008 and 2021, but had to concede defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo five times, and Luka Modric once, as the Real Madrid duo were rewarded for spearheading their team's unprecedented success in the Champions League.

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Ballon d'Or Power Rankings GFX

Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: Who will claim the Golden Ball?

If you thought the days of the Ballon d'Or generating headlines were over after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's era of dominance came to an end, then think again. After one of the most closely-fought races for a number of years, Rodri came out on top in 2024, beating Vinicius Jr into second place as Real Madrid dramatically boycotted the ceremony in Paris in protest at their star player missing out.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-ATALANTA

Meola expresses serious concern over Musah's continued decline

U.S. legend Tony Meola voiced concern over Yunus Musah’s recent form, calling it part of a troubling decline dating back to his final year at AC Milan. Meola urged the midfielder to change course, regain confidence and aim to develop on his potential. Musah struggled mightily in Atlanta's 4-0 defeat by PSG in a midweek Champions League match.

FC Bayern München v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

'I prefer to play Champions League games' - Maresca mocks Man Utd

Enzo Maresca mocked Manchester United as Chelsea boss bemoaned that Ruben Amorim's side have had an "entire week" to prepare for the Old Trafford showdown in the absence of Champions League commitments. The Italian couldn’t resist a jab in his press conference, insisting he’d rather have the chaos of Champions League football than a holiday week to prepare.

Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid Liverpool Champions League 2025-26

Simeone loses it at Anfield as Alonso slams fan abuse

Diego Simeone was sent off after clashing with Liverpool fans during Atletico Madrid’s dramatic Champions League defeat at Anfield. The Argentine international later admitted he regretted the incident but blamed “insults” from behind the dugout. Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso also addressed the controversy, warning that fan abuse in football has been “getting out of hand.”

FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-ATALANTA

Luis Enrique dreaming of Barcelona return

Luis Enrique may be enjoying success in Paris, but the pull of Barcelona remains strong. The Spanish coach, who guided Paris Saint-Germain to their first Champions League triumph last season, still dreams of returning to the Camp Nou one day. With two years left on his contract in France, though, a move may be far away.

Manchester City v SSC Napoli - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

'Devil in our midst' - Conte disappointed by De Bruyne's City return

Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional Etihad return lasted just 25 minutes as Napoli boss Antonio Conte sacrificed him following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card in a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City. Conte admitted both he and De Bruyne were left “disappointed” after cutting short his appearance on a night City striker Erling Haaland made more history.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Galatasaray A.S. - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Gundogan says Galatasaray were 'better team' despite 5-1 hammering

Ilkay Gundogan has lamented Galatasaray's mental fragility following their 5-1 Champions League thrashing by Eintracht Frankfurt. The ex-Manchester City star claimed his side were superior until the German team equalised, after which their "heads were hanging down". Gundogan admitted they "invited" Frankfurt to score and must improve as a group as they look to bounce back from the humiliation.

Pep Guardiola Phil Foden Man City

Pep admits he 'missed' in-form Foden after Napoli assist

Phil Foden is back to his best at the perfect time for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola full of praise for the England star ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash with Arsenal. After a difficult 2024-25 season, Foden has rediscovered his spark in recent games, scoring against Manchester United on Sunday and assisting versus Napoli in the Champions League on Thursday.

FC Bayern München v Hamburger SV - Bundesliga

Kane & Olise praised as Bayern pass Chelsea test 'with flying colours'

Harry Kane and Michael Olise inspired Bayern Munich to a statement 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Champions League, with the Englishman netting twice and the latter dazzling throughout. German legend Didi Hamann hailed Vincent Kompany’s side for “passing with flying colours” as Bayern’s attacking depth shone against the Blues’ faltering defence in Allianz Arena.

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-FRANKFURT-GALATASARAY

'Simply perfect' - Frankfurt striker amazed by UCL comeback win

Eintracht Frankfurt marked their Champions League return with a thumping 5-1 win over Galatasaray, overturning an early Leroy Sane-inspired opener. Jonathan Burkardt struck twice on his debut in the competition, while young starlet Can Uzun and Ansgar Knauff also shone in a pulsating night at Deutsche Bank Park. Coach Dino Toppmoller urged his players to “enjoy” the triumph, calling it a reward for last season’s efforts.

GFX Pedri Jack Grealish Paul Scholes

'A joy to watch!' - Pedri stuns Grealish & becomes Scholes' new favourite

Barcelona’s midfield brilliance stole the spotlight in their 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle, with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong running the show. Jack Grealish labelled the pair “a joy to watch,” while Manchester United legend Paul Scholes called Pedri his “new favourite footballer.” Their dominance set the platform for Marcus Rashford’s decisive brace.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Galatasaray A.S. - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

'You lost to Slovakia!' - Galatasaray boss hits back at Sane criticism

Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk has fired back at Germany national coach Julian Nagelsmann over his comments about Leroy Sane. The national team boss has said Sane will have to perform beyond his usual expectations to make the squad after he joined the Turkish giants from Bayern Munich. Buruk, though, pointed to the recent loss to Slovakia as proof Germany aren't as good as Nagelsmann believes.

Erling Haaland Cristiano Ronaldo Champions League

Haaland backed to smash Ronaldo's Champions League record

Erling Haaland is being backed to rise above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League goal stakes, making more history in the process. The prolific Manchester City striker has become the fastest man to 50 efforts in elite European competition, with Pep Guardiola expecting the Norway international to go on and set a new all-time benchmark.

Marcus Rashford Barcelona 2025-26 Champions League

'It's difficult' - Rashford opens up on Barcelona struggles

Marcus Rashford admits it has been "difficult" for him to settle quickly at Barcelona, after completing a loan move from Manchester United, but he is up and running on the competitive goal front. That account was opened when netting a stunning brace for the Liga giants in their first fixture of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign away at Newcastle.

FBL-EUR-C1-MAN CITY-NAPOLI

Haaland makes history as quickest to reach 50 UCL goals

Erling Haaland has become the quickest player to reach 50 Champions League goals, after he scored the opener in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Napoli. The Norwegian reached the tally in just 49 games, easily surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy's previous record. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid marksman reached his half-century in his first 62 appearances in the competition.

Newcastle United FC v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

📽️ | Fernandes left STUNNED as Rashford scores screamer

Bruno Fernandes was left stunned as Marcus Rashford scored a screamer against Newcastle. The English forward delivered a Champions League masterclass in Barcelona colours, leaving even his Manchester United teammates in awe. The on-loan forward silenced St James’ Park with two goals of pure class as the Spanish champions edged the Magpies in a dramatic European opener.

General Aerial View Of The Camp Nou

Barcelona confirm new venue for PSG Champions League clash

Barcelona’s return to their spiritual home has been pushed back yet again, with the club confirming that their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1 will take place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuic. The Camp Nou, which has been undergoing a massive €1.5 billion facelift since June 2023, remains off-limits. Hopes of reopening in time for the new campaign have collapsed, leaving the Catalan giants scrambling for alternative venues.

Frequently asked questions

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have won the Ligue 1 title 12 times, more than any other club. Their first win was in 1986, and they claimed their record-breaking 12th title in 2023, surpassing AS Saint-Etienne.

The Ligue 1 consists of 18 teams since the 2023-24 season, prior to which 20 teams took part in the league. The inaugural season of the French first division in 1932-33 also consisted of 20 teams, divided in two groups of 10 teams each.

Mickael Landreau holds the record for the most Ligue 1 appearances, with 618 matches as a goalkeeper. His career spanned nearly two decades, playing for clubs like Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, and Bastia.

Delio Onnis holds the record as the all-time top scorer in Ligue 1 with 299 goals. Playing as a centre-forward, his remarkable goal-scoring feats spanned the 1970s and 1980s, where he starred for clubs like AS Monaco and Reims, making him a legend in French football.

As of 2024, Dimitri Payet holds the record for the most assists in Ligue 1 history, with a total of 130 assists. The attacking midfielder achieved this milestone during his successful stints with several clubs, including Marseille and Lille.

Pierre Braine holds the record of being the oldest player in Ligue 1 history, aged almost 45 years in a Ligue 1 game in 1945.

At 15 years and 225 days, Kalman Gerencseri is the youngest player in Ligue 1 history. The Frenchman played for Lens against Monaco in a Ligue 1 game in 1960.

Notable players who have graced Ligue 1 include legends like Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.

Prominent managers in Ligue 1 include Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc, Carlo Ancelotti, Adi Hutter, Luis Enrique, etc.

The Orange Velodrome in Marseille is the largest stadium in Ligue 1, with a capacity of 67,394 spectators. Home to Marseille since 1937, it is renowned for its electric atmosphere and hosting significant football events in France.

Neymar is indeed the most expensive player in Ligue 1 history. His transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 was valued at a record €222 million, which remains the highest transfer fee ever paid for a player.