Barcelona Femeni have taken a monumental step towards securing their seventh consecutive Liga F crown following a dominant 3-0 victory over eternal rivals Real Madrid. Goals from Ona Batlle and Alexia Putellas, alongside an unfortunate own goal, highlighted a totally one-sided Clasico that leaves the Catalan giants sitting comfortably at the summit of the league table.
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas is demanding clear sporting guarantees from Barcelona before committing to a new contract. With just three months left on her current deal, the 32-year-old midfielder is evaluating highly lucrative foreign offers. However, her priority remains staying with the Catalan club, provided it presents a compelling, winning project for the future.
When Sydney Schertenleib sat in front of the national media last summer, before playing in her first European Championship for hosts Switzerland at the age of 18, and declared that her "biggest goal" was to win the Ballon d'Or one day, some may have rolled their eyes.
Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Sydney Schertenleib are the winners of NXGN 2026 after coming out on top in GOAL's annual lists of football's top teenagers (players born on or after January 1, 2007). It marks the second straight year that Barca have provided the No.1 player on both lists, following Yamal and Vicky Lopez's triumphs in 2025.
The annual NXGN lists are back for 2026, as GOAL ranks the world's top teenage talents in men's and women's football, crowning winners that will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Lena Oberdorf and Linda Caicedo in being recognised as the best young footballers on the planet.
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?
Who has won the most European Championship titles?
Spain are the most successful side in the European Championship, having lifted the coveted title four times. Their first-ever title came in 1964. After a long wait of 44 years, La Roja won the trophy in 2008 and successfully defended it in 2012 under the-then boss Vicente del Bosque. They won the most recent edition in 2024 and set a record of winning every single game en route to glory.
How many teams are in the European Championship?
There are 24 teams in the European Championships ever since the expansion in 2016. Initially there were only four teams in the Euros, before that number was doubled to eight in 1980, and then to 16 countries in 1996.
Who has made the most European Championship appearances ever?
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo has made 30 appearances in the European Championship, having featured in six consecutive editions. He won the tournament in 2016.
Who is the all-time top scorer in the European Championship?
No player has scored more goals in the European Championship than the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. The 39-year-old has scored 14 goals in 30 games in total, five more than any other player.
Who is the oldest player ever in the European Championship and how old was he?
Portugal centre-back Pepe was aged 41 years and 130 days when his team took on France in the quarter-final of the 2024 edition, thus becoming the oldest player to ever feature in the European Championship.
Who is the youngest player ever in the European Championship and how old was he?
Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal has been creating a host of records since breaking out at Barcelona in 2023. He was a crucial contributor in Spain's EURO 2024 victory, and also became the youngest player ever to feature in the European Championship finals, making his debut in the tournament at the age of 16 years and 338 days.
Which famous players have played in the European Championship?
Paolo Maldini, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Manuel Neuer, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Eden Hazard, Michel Platini, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Gareth Bale are some of the most prominent names to have represented their nations at the European Championship.
Which famous managers have managed in the European Championship?
Roberto Mancini, Ronald Koeman, Guus Hiddink, Dino Zoff, Antonio Conte, Andriy Shevchenko, Luis Enrique, Miguel Munoz, Kevin Keegan, Frank Rijkaard, Arrigo Sacchi, Julian Nagelsmann, etc are some of the most famous managers to have managed in the European Championship.