Newcastle are ready to put up a fight with Real Madrid as the Magpies eye AZ Alkmaar wonderkid Kees Smit. The 19-year-old is already being viewed as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the Netherlands in recent years and has attracted attention from many of Europe’s elite. However, Newcastle believe they can push themselves into contention for his signature.
Pep Guardiola has been backed to see out the remainder of his Manchester City contract despite talk of him leaving the club next summer. The former Barcelona boss signed a new deal until 2027 at the end of last year but new reports claim he may leave the Etihad early. Now, an ex-City star has poured cold water on such speculation, while outlining why Guardiola is a better tactician than Arsenal's Mikel Arteta.
The Inter Miami star provided the assist for the opening goal before scoring the second one late in the second half. This was Messi's first return to Africa in national colours since his appearance at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. He was on the continent in 2018 with Barcelona when they came to play Mamelodi Sundowns in a friendly match.
The United States saw their FIFA U17 World Cup run end in the Round of 32 after a dramatic 1-1 draw and a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Morocco. Jude Terry’s early strike had the Americans in control for much of the match, but Abdellah Ouazane’s 90th-minute equalizer forced the shootout that ultimately sealed their exit.
Kenya were initially set to face Madagascar and Comoros, but that was later changed, and Equatorial Guinea and Senegal were lined up as their opponents during the international break. After the defeat, the South African legend is expected to receive more criticism, especially after dropping the team's captain, Michael Olunga. Kenya will now dust themselves off before their next game against Senegal on Tuesday.
South Africa are intensifying preparations for the 2025 AFCON finals with an international friendly match against Chipolopolo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The 1996 African champions' coach is using the match to fine-tune his squad as he edges closer to finalising the group he will take to the continental tournament. With competition for AFCON places still open, the game against the Copper Bullets is expected to bring out fierce performances from players eager to impress the coach. This could also be the last chance for some players to convince the Belgian tactician that they deserve a seat on the plane to Morocco.
Gary Lineker is reportedly in talks with Netflix to feature in its US coverage of the 2027 Women's World Cup. The former Match of the Day host left the BBC's flagship football show in May after a string of controversies. Now, the former England international could return to sports broadcasting in 2027, with fellow Rest is Football podcast hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards potentially also being involved.
Danny Welbeck has been backed to mentor Benjamin Sesko as the forward is sensationally linked with a return to Manchester United. The striker might be approaching his 35th birthday, but he has been backed to retrace his steps to the Old Trafford dressing room, where he will find a struggling 22-year-old Slovenian desperate to find his feet in the English top-flight.
Lionel Messi bagged a goal and an assist as Argentina earned a hard-fought 2-0 victory away to Angola. The 2022 World Cup winner is coming towards the end of his illustrious career but the veteran's quality was plain to see as he played an instrumental role in this friendly win on Friday. Both he and Lautaro Martinez scored and turned provider as the Albiceleste marched on once more.
Mic'd Up: The former MLS and USMNT forward lauded MLS for its decision to switch to a Fall-Spring calendar and insisted there are playoff upsets ahead in the semifinals.
The FIFA U17 World Cup Round of 32 delivers a clash of destiny: Japan’s precision and tactical mastery against South Africa’s fearless Amajimbos, who have already made history by reaching the knockouts for the first time. With Vela Khumalo’s side brimming with belief and Japan chasing consistency, this duel promises drama, skill, and a legacy beyond the scoreline.
Christian Pulisic has voiced strong support for USMNT teammate Gio Reyna, acknowledging the challenges the young midfielder has faced while expressing confidence in his future. Speaking ahead of the November international window, the AC Milan star offered insight into their relationship and Reyna’s potential impact on the national team.
Former Chelsea star Oscar is reportedly considering retirement after being hospitalised with a heart issue. The 34-year-old is said to have fallen ill during a bicycle test at current side São Paulo and since then, he has been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, where the blood pressure drops too low, causing people to faint. Now, reports suggest the Brazilian is weighing up whether or not to end his career.
Costa Rica’s World Cup hopes have taken a severe hit. A 1–0 loss to Haiti has left Miguel Herrera’s side on the brink in the CONCACAF qualifiers, with their direct path now hanging by a thread. Pressure around Herrera grew louder after the match as Los Ticos have a difficult path to next year's tournament.
South Africa are intensifying preparations for the 2025 AFCON finals with an international friendly match against Chipolopolo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The 1996 African champions' coach is using the match to fine-tune his squad as he edges closer to finalising the group he will take to the continental tournament. With competition for AFCON places still open, the game against the Copper Bullets is expected to bring out fierce performances from players eager to impress the coach. This could also be the last chance for some players to convince the Belgian tactician that they deserve a seat on the plane to Morocco.
Former Inter striker Eder has revealed that Leicester City were interested in signing him in January 2016, but he chose to reject their offer and join Inter instead. He now admits he regrets the decision, as he struggled during his spell in Inter while Leicester went on to win the Premier League
Pedri has never shied away from praising talent, but his latest admission makes one thing clear, there’s one player he’d sign for Barcelona above anyone else and that is Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala. The midfielder, currently recovering from injury, openly hailed Musiala as a rare talent who “blows him away,” sparking fresh debate about two of Europe’s most gifted young players.
Broos yet again found himself on the receiving end of intense criticism after he named his final squad to take on Chipolopolo in an international friendly game. The Belgian failed to include a single player from Naturena, even though some Amakhosi players have been doing well in the current season. Khumalo, a Bafana legend, has named a star he believes deserved a call-up because he says the player has been outstanding.
Inter president Beppe Marotta has candidly admitted that while a return for former Manchester United and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was "mentioned," as the club searched for a new manager, he would have ultimately "regretted hiring him." Marotta praised the "courageous" decision to appoint Christian Chivu instead, highlighting the club's commitment to different values and a forward-thinking approach over relying on big-name managers.
Carlo Ancelotti believes that England will be "dangerous" at next year's World Cup, while singing the praises of former charge Jude Bellingham. The Italian got to work with the ex-Borussia Dortmund star for two seasons at Real Madrid and has seen his quality at first hand. Not only did he talk up the 22-year-old's strengths, he also lauded his humanity.
Barcelona’s are interested in signing Levante sensation Etta Eyong and with his latest comments, the forward has intensified the transfer rumours as he openly names Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o as his childhood idols, admitting playing for Barca is his dream. With six goals and three assists already this season, Eyong has become one of La Liga’s most talked-about emerging talents.
AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic scored in a 3-2 defeat to Virtus Entella in a club-organised friendly on Friday. Pulisic, who was injured during the October break, was not called up for international duty after Milan reached an agreement with the United States national team to support his recovery, giving the Rossoneri the chance to gauge his condition ahead of their next Serie A clash.
The 21-year-old centre-back is enjoying a rapid rise that mirrors the breakthroughs of his age-group peers like Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng. Just in his second season of playing Premier Soccer League football, his progress has now propelled him into becoming a full South Africa international. The player from KwaZulu-Natal is widely expected to achieve more in both domestic and international football.
A touching post-match moment inside the Wembley dressing room showed Manchester City star John Stones presenting team-mate Nico O’Reilly with his first England cap, delivering a heartfelt speech in the aftermath of the 20-year-old's dream debut. The exchange came after England’s 2-0 win over Serbia, with cameras capturing O’Reilly’s pride as team-mates applauded the milestone.
Julian Nagelsmann has broken with Germany's traditional captaincy protocol, opting to name Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah as the stand-in captain for the injured Joshua Kimmich against Luxembourg. This decision means Nagelsmann overlooked Leroy Sane, the most-capped player in the current squad, despite the customary practice of awarding the armband to the most experienced figure in the absence of regular captains.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician believes the Bucs star is a type of player that can help the national team. However, he has stated that the Sea Robber must be paired with a specific player in order to make him become even more effective. The number 10 position has been giving Broos some headaches, given that his reliable players for that role have been battling injuries.
Santiago Giménez’s future at AC Milan is becoming increasingly uncertain. The club is evaluating changes to its attack for January, and multiple reports across Europe indicate the Mexican striker could be included in a potential swap deal with West Ham for German forward Niclas Füllkrug. With form and tactical fit both under review, a move to the Premier League is emerging as a possibility.
.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
