Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said on Wednesday that the Argentina football team, featuring famed star Lionel Messi, will visit the state next year for an international match. The minister announced during a news conference in Thiruvananthapuram that the match will be held entirely under the state government’s supervision. “All the financial assistance for organising … Read more
The much-anticipated 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony had no surprises in store as Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati secured the prestigious awards. Lionel Messi, the iconic Argentine footballer who currently plays for Inter Miami, triumphed in the men’s category, while the talented Barcelona and Spain midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, clinched the women’s title. Lionel Messi’s exceptional career … Read more
An amateur footballer in France, described as a “fanatic”, was on Friday banned from playing for 30 years for punching a referee. “The penalty is appropriate. These fanatics must not be able to set foot on a football pitch again. They have no place there,” said Benoit Laine, president of the Loiret football district in … Read more
Manchester City topped Deloitte’s Football Money League for a second consecutive year as the Premier League accounted for more than half of the top 20 clubs for the first time. Total revenue from the top 20 revenue generating clubs rose to near pre-pandemic levels of 9.2 billion euros ($9.9 billion, 8.1 billion pounds) for the … Read more
Wolves signed Spanish midfielder Pablo Sarabia from Paris Saint-Germain in a 4.4 million pounds ($5.4 million) deal on Tuesday. Sarabia agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League club, who confirmed the signing during their 1-0 defeat against Liverpool in Tuesday’s FA Cup third-round replay. The 30-year-old played under current Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui for … Read more
A youthful United side featured eight changes as Erik ten Hag had one eye on Saturday’s derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford. One of those retained in the starting line-up from Friday’s 3-1 win over Everton, Antony, made the breakthrough with a sumptuous strike on 21 minutes. Charlton were roared on by a travelling … Read more
Dejan Lovren, a centre back who has rejoined Lyon in France, on Friday denied he sang fascist songs after Croatian victories in the World Cup or made homophobic tweets. “I was attacked,” the 33-year-old former Liverpool player told AFP in an interview in Lyon, where he also played from 2010-13. “They distort in a negative … Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo described himself as a “unique player” and insisted his career was not over as he received a thunderous welcome at his new club in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The Portuguese superstar, 37, said he had done all he could in Europe and was hungry for a new challenge as he was greeted by … Read more
Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. The oceanside home of the team nicknamed “Peixe” — “fish” in Portuguese — is expecting a huge influx of fans looking to honor the “King” of football, who died … Read more
Pele’s daughter Kely Cristina Nascimento shared An emotional Instagram post in the wake of the Brazilian football legend’s death on Thursday. Moments after news emerged that Pele died at the age of 82, Ms Kely shared a photo that showed several pairs of hands clasped around her father’s hand. READ | Pele’s funeral to take … Read more
Normal service is set to resume in France on Wednesday with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both set to feature for leaders Paris Saint-German as they restart their Ligue 1 season, 45 days after it was popped on ice for the World Cup, with a home game against struggling Strasbourg. Lionel Messi, however, will not be … Read more
After the World Cup earned Qatar both plaudits and censure, the energy-rich Gulf state is now starting a marathon to secure the 2036 Olympics and a place as a pillar of world sport. Even as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scored goals and shed tears in Qatar’s multi-billion-dollar stadiums, its sports administrators were booking new … Read more
With talisman Lionel Messi rewriting history with La Albiceleste at the grandest stage of them all, his wife Antonella Roccuzzo has penned an emotional note following Argentina’s title triumph in the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup. Argentina defeated defending champions France on penalties after playing out a 3-3 draw in the FIFA World … Read more
Didier Deschamps said Saturday that France were taking “as many precautions as possible” to stop the spread of a virus that is threatening their preparations for their World Cup final showdown with Argentina. “We are trying to take as many precautions as possible, to adapt as necessary and get on with it,” the France coach … Read more
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted he was “immensely proud” after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Morocco took the holders through to another World Cup final where he said his team would try to find a way of countering a Lionel Messi in “scintillating form” for Argentina. France is aiming to become the first team in 60 … Read more