Julian Alvarez has revealed that he channelled his inner Lionel Messi to produce a moment of magic during Atletico Madrid’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona. The Argentine forward curled a sublime free-kick into the top corner at the Spotify Camp Nou, evoking memories of his legendary international team-mate.

Liverpool icon Vladimir Smicer has urged Mohamed Salah to snub the riches of Saudi Arabia in favour of a move to MLS, suggesting the Egyptian could reach the same heights of global superstardom as Lionel Messi in the United States. The former Reds midfielder also believes he has identified the tactical reason behind Salah's uncharacteristic dip in form under Arne Slot this season.

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race got going.

Will the Portuguese star leave through the front door? The question echoes around the stadium and beyond. Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential departure from Manchester United is the talking point of the football world. Having arrived in 2003 as a raw teenager with a mohawk and departed a decade later as a Ballon d’Or winner, he returned in 2021 eager to add more silverware to his collection. Yet here we are, less than two years on, with rumours swirling that he could once again walk out of Old Trafford. So what does it mean to “leave through the front door”? In football parlance, it is a phrase that suggests departing on good terms, head held high, reputation intact. It implies gratitude for the memories, respect for the club and its supporters, and a clear path to the next challenge. For a player of Ronaldo’s stature, it also means acknowledging his own legacy while leaving room for the next generation to flourish. The alternative—slinking out the back way—is unthinkable for a man who has b