Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to become the first player in history to score 1,000 professional goals, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez does not view it as a "goal". The Portugal captain, whose career has been defined by shattered records and relentless ambition, has his sights set on finishing at the very top, yet those closest to him insist the pursuit of the landmark milestone is not driving his every move.
Enzo Maresca has responded to transfer speculation linking Chelsea with a move for Antoine Semenyo. The Bournemouth ace is being courted by a number of Premier League sides ahead of the January transfer window with the Ghana star's fine form for the Cherries a key reason behind interest in his services from a number of the division's big hitters this winter.
After an opening win, the next duty for Bafana is to fight for a second consecutive victory that will heavily boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage. The match against Egypt is South Africa's biggest test yet, and how they navigate that challenge will show their level of readiness to compete. Already, the match against Angola gave the coach a glimpse of the fitness level of his players, and he is set to pick the best for the upcoming showdown.
Wrexham’s Championship campaign has been dealt another blow after James McClean was handed a three-match suspension for violent conduct, following an incident during Friday night’s defeat at Swansea City. The ban removes a key leader from Phil Parkinson’s side at a critical point in the season and represents unwelcome news for club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, who have watched their team struggle for consistency since stepping up to the second tier.
The reasoning behind Manchester United's doomed pursuit of Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been revealed. Semenyo is a man in demand ahead of the January transfer window with a number of Premier League heavyweights courting the Cherries forward. United were among those keen on the Ghana star, who has scored eight league goals and provided three assists so far this season.
Marc Guehi’s future appears to be drifting further away from Barcelona after reports in Spain suggested the reigning champions have cooled their interest in the Crystal Palace captain due to his wage demands. The England international, long admired across Europe, has become one of the most sought-after defenders on the market, but the financial gap between Guehi’s expectations and Barcelona’s limits is now considered too wide to bridge.
Jadon Sancho has dropped a cryptic message on Instagram as the winger continues to struggle to reignite his stalling career. Sancho joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United over the summer with the hopes of returning to his best form having failed to make his mark following his £73m move to Old Trafford from German side Borussia Dortmund back in 2021.
In what could sound like good news for South Africa, it is reported that the Egypt head coach has decided to drop one of the Pharaohs' stars. The attacking midfielder featured against Zimbabwe in their opening game, and it has emerged that his coach has decided to bench him on Friday. South Africa and Egypt, tied on points, will meet in a showdown that is considered tough at this stage of the competition.
Forward Marcus Rashford insists he is working hard to stay at Barcelona following a strong start to life in Spain. Rashford joined the Catalan giants from Manchester United on loan for the rest of the season earlier in the year, and he's made a big impression for Hansi Flick's side. The defending champions end 2025 top of the table as they look to successfully defend their crown.
Mikel Arteta admitted it was "emotionally tough" to process Crystal Palace’s stoppage-time equaliser, before Arsenal steadied themselves to edge through on penalties in a breathless Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium. After 90 minutes the game finished level at 1-1, but the Gunners held their nerve to win the shootout 8-7, with Kepa Arrizabalaga emerging as the decisive figure.
Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven has revealed that he has sent an apology to Liverpool striker Alexander Isak after inadvertently injuring the Reds hitman at the weekend. Isak is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines having undergone successful surgery on a leg fracture earlier this week sustained during Liverpool's 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Liverpool are braced for face-to-face showdown talks with the agent of Mohamed Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah's Liverpool future was thrown into doubt earlier this month in the wake of a spectacular outburst following the Reds' 3-3 draw at Leeds, where the Egyptian forward claimed he'd been "thrown under the bus" by the defending Premier League champions.
Erling Haaland has reunited with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the Manchester City striker suggested that the Manchester United legend has been giving him advice to continue his scoring form. The Norwegian's relentless pursuit of goals shows no sign of slowing, but even the most prolific striker of his generation is searching for marginal gains as Solskjaer is once again helping to fine-tune his instincts in front of goal.
As we reach Christmas and approach the midway point in the Premier League season, the time has come to reflect on the first half of a campaign that has delivered drama and unexpected twists in abundance. It's also the opportune moment to assess those players who completed a transfer to, or within, the English top-flight back in the summer, with a decent sample size of games now under their belts.
Inspired by their 26-year-old star, the Carthage Eagles managed a convincing victory over the Uganda Cranes as their AFCON campaign started as they wished. The East Africans struck late in the second half to deny the North Africans a clean sheet. The 2004 AFCON champions now top their group ahead of Nigeria, who also won their opening game.
Arsenal shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga has revealed the secret behind his shootout heroics following the Gunners' Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night. The Spaniard was the star man as the north London side secured their spot in the semi-finals of the competition, setting up a final-four showdown with former side Chelsea.
The NWSL announced Tuesday that it will introduce a new “High Impact Player” (HIP) rule beginning in 2026, allowing teams to spend up to $1 million above the league’s salary cap on qualifying players. The decision was met with swift opposition from the NWSL Players Association, which argues the league cannot unilaterally alter compensation structures without collective bargaining.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner sought to ease concerns over Chris Richards after the U.S. international was stretchered off in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal loss to Arsenal, saying the ankle injury isn't too concerning and expressing optimism the defender could return in the new year. The 25-year-old is in the midst of a breakout campaign for the Eagles.
Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the unlikely hero on Tuesday night as the Gunners sneaked past Crystal Palace and into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after a penalty shoot-out. The Gunners went ahead late on thanks to a Maxence Lacroix own goal but were pegged back in stoppage time by Marc Guehi's equaliser. The game finished 1-1 then went to penalties with Kepa saving from Lacroix as Arsenal won 8-7 on spot kicks.
Manchester United are reportedly set to jet out to Saudi Arabia for a money-spinning friendly after fixture rescheduling created a gap in their schedule. The Red Devils' Premier League match against Everton has been moved to February 23, giving the club space in the middle of the month to travel to the Middle East for a friendly match. United have been exploring the option after missing out on European football and a game could now take place.
Sergio Canales put speculation to rest during an emotional tribute from Real Betis, making it clear he is fully committed to Monterrey. The Spanish midfielder addressed recent rumors linking him to a return to Spain after being seen with Racing Santander officials, stressing that he remains under contract and settled in Liga MX.
Manchester United have decided to delay a decision on whether to sell Joshua Zirkzee during the January transfer window. The striker has found minutes hard to come by this season, sitting firmly down the Old Trafford pecking order. Summer signings Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha have been preferred as the team's No.9 by head coach Ruben Amorim.
Facundo Mura has opted for a new challenge abroad. After weighing interest from Racing and River Plate, the right-back has reportedly agreed terms with Inter Miami, ending a four-year spell in Avellaneda and marking his first move outside Argentina. He is set to join Lionel Messi and a growing Argentine core on a deal through December 2029.
Alexander Isak has spoken publicly for the first time since he fractured his leg during Liverpool's win against Tottenham on Saturday. The Reds triumphed 2-1 in north London, with Isak opening the scoring at the start of the second half. However, in the act of shooting, he was hauled down by a late challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, which forced the striker off with injury.
Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson is being backed to win the Golden Boot award at AFCON 2025 after kicking off his campaign with a brace in a 3-0 win over Botswana in Group D on Tuesday. The Chelsea forward, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, was the star of the show as the Lions of Teranga made a victorious start to the tournament in Morocco.
South Africa’s AFCON 2025 adventure began with a spirited 2-1 win over Angola, powered by Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster. Egypt, meanwhile, needed Omar Marmoush and Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time strike to edge Zimbabwe 2-1. Now, Group B’s giants collide in Morocco, with Bafana Bafana dreaming of a Boxing Day miracle against the Pharaohs.
The Super Eagles started their campaign by collecting maximum points in Group C. They edged the Taifa Stars in a dominant performance, especially in the first half. After finishing as tournament runners-up the last time out, the Super Eagles are bidding to be crowned African champions since 2013.
Manchester City have reportedly emerged as Antoine Semenyo's preferred choice ahead of the opening of the January transfer window after Chelsea dropped out of the race to land the Bournemouth star. The Blues have walked away from a potential deal just hours after making an initial enquiry, leaving Man City to battle it out with Liverpool and Manchester United for the attacker's signature.
Liverpool have been told that it wouldn't be worth their time to sign a direct replacement for the injured Alexander Isak during the January transfer window. Isak suffered a fractured leg during Saturday's 2-1 win at Tottenham and is set for an extended period on the sidelines, but the Reds may not look to bring in another striker in his absence.
The Buccaneers went for this current international break leading the PSL table and relegating Sundowns to second place. The Soweto giants enjoy two points clear at the top, having played a game less than the Brazilians. That gives them a crucial edge ahead of the resumption of league action in January.