Champions League news

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.

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.

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.

The esteemed Golden Ball has been elusive to so many great footballers down the years, but who deserved it the most?

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.

GOAL US writers discuss the Champions League, which featured high-profile matches and last-second heroics

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 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.”

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.

Marcus Rashford struck twice in nine minutes to sink Newcastle and reignite his career on the Champions League stage with Barcelona. Anthony Gordon grabbed his first goal in the competition but instead chose to praise his fellow England international along with midfield duo Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, who ran the show in the 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

Barcelona have confirmed their highly anticipated Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain will not be played at the Camp Nou, with the iconic venue still not ready to host matches. Instead, the fixture will be staged at the stadium in Montjuic, extending the Blaugrana’s exile from their historic home.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.