Spain's all-time leading goalscorer Jenni Hermoso was celebrating once again on Tuesday night after helping the national team beat Germany to win the Nations League final. The 35-year-old made an emotional return to the Spain squad in October, following a year long absence, and has crowned her comeback in style by adding more silverware to her collection.
Aitana Bonmati's season seems to be all but over after she underwent surgery on her fractured fibula, as Barcelona confirmed a lengthy recovery timeframe for the three-time Ballon d'Or winner. She landed awkwardly in Spain’s final training session before the second leg of the Nations League final. Medical tests carried out shortly after the injury confirmed the grim diagnosis, ending any possibility of her featuring in Tuesday’s decisive match against Germany in Madrid.
Aitana Bonmati has been forced to withdraw from the Spain squad after she suffered a fractured fibula in a training session. The Barcelona star could miss a number of months of football in a massive blow for both her club and national team. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner has already returned to Catalonia to begin her recovery with the Blaugrana.
Aitana Bonmati is preparing to lead Spain into another major final but insists her historic third Ballon d’Or does not change who she is. The Barcelona Femini midfielder addressed talk of being labelled the Lionel Messi of women’s football, spoke about expectations ahead of the Nations League showdown with Germany, and reflected on how she handles success on and off the pitch.
It's no wonder Camilla Kuver can't stop smiling. After making her Champions League debut only a couple of weeks prior, the 22-year-old has just won her first and second caps for Germany, starting both games against France over the last international break to help her country qualify for the Nations League final. These would be milestones worth celebrating for any player, but they are particularly special for the Wolfsburg defender, given the incredible bad luck she has had with injuries over the past four years.
Bayern Munich and Germany have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Lena Oberdorf has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee for the second time in little more than a year. The 23-year-old only returned from the first of those setbacks this past summer but is now facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines and another arduous recovery, having described the previous one as "hell".
Arsenal have won the FA Cup 14 times, more than any other club. Their most recent victory came in 2020, but there is a club from Manchester hot on their heels...
How many teams are in the FA Cup?
A total of 745 clubs will be participating in the 2024-25 FA Cup, spanning from the Premier League down to Level 9 of the English football league system, with teams from the Level 10 acting as stand-ins in case a team from the aforementioned levels drops out from the competition. The inaugural FA Cup in 1871-82 had just 15 teams participating in it.
Who has made the most FA Cup appearances ever?
Former Liverpool defender Ian Callaghan, with 88 appearances, is FA Cup's record-appearance maker in history.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the FA Cup?
The all-time top scorer in the FA Cup is Ian Rush, with 41 goals in 62 games, primarily scored during his time as a centre forward for Liverpool.
Who is the youngest player ever in the FA Cup and how old was he?
Paris Hamilton-Downes became the youngest player to ever feature in the FA Cup, debuting at 13 years, 11 months, and one day.for Carshalton Athletic in 2019.
Which famous players have played in the FA Cup?
The FA Cup has featured many football legends, including Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, and Frank Lampard. Modern-day superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, and Sergio Aguero have also made their mark on the competition.
Which famous managers have managed in the FA Cup?
Legendary managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola have guided their teams to success in the FA Cup. Notably, Wenger holds the record for most FA Cup victories as a manager, with seven titles to his name.