Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi has not informed Barcelona coaches he will not attend training on Wednesday, according to the club's newly-appointed sporting director, Ramon Planes. Messi asked Barca Tuesday to leave the club he has been with for 20 seasons, since he was 13 years old. "Messi has not informed us that he was […]

Madrid (AFP) – If Lionel Messi's mind is made up to leave Barcelona, the question turns to where he goes next. His priority has always been to be part of a "winning project" at Camp Nou but his latest season was not only devoid of trophies, it was defined by chaos and ended in humiliation. […]

London (AFP) – Jamie Vardy has signed a one-year contract extension at Leicester City that will take him beyond his 36th birthday, the club announced on Wednesday. The Foxes have rewarded the striker after he scored 23 goals to claim the Premier League's Golden Boot last season. The deal will take Vardy, 33, to the […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi informed Barcelona coaches he was not going to turn up to training on Wednesday, according to Barcelona's newly-appointed sporting director Ramon Planes. Messi asked Barca Tuesday to leave the club he has been with for 20 seasons, since he was 13 years old. "Messi informed us that he was not […]

London (AFP) – The lawyer who represented two Greek police officers in the Harry Maguire assault case on Wednesday said it was "shocking" that there has been no apology from the Manchester United captain. Maguire was handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, attempted bribery […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave in a "bombshell" fax that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars and a fight from top European clubs eager to sign up the Argentinian. Signalling the end of […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi was the teenage prodigy who blossomed into Barcelona's record scorer and is still operating at the highest level at 33. After announcing he wants to leave the Catalan club, AFP Sport examines the career highlights of one of football's all-time greats. – Barca academy – Messi, from Rosario in Argentina, […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has defended his decision to pick players from Manchester City and Manchester United in his latest England squad despite prolonged campaigns for the two clubs. The England boss opted to call up players from the Etihad and Old Trafford for next month's Nations League fixtures away to Iceland and Denmark […]

Shanghai (AFP) – Bayern Munich are embroiled in a row with their Chinese fans just days after their Champions League triumph, accusing supporters of "hurling abuse" over a public-relations campaign gone wrong. In the build-up to Sunday's final against Paris Saint-Germain, some supporters were riled by the German club's endeavours to be endorsed by a […]

Sydney (AFP) – Footballing minnows Adelaide United issued a long-shot bid to entice superstar Lionel Messi to join its ranks Wednesday, touting the remote South Australian city as a coronavirus safehaven for playing and raising his family. Writing a "Dear Lionel" letter after news Messi wanted to quit his long association with Barcelona, Adelaide United […]

Madrid (AFP) – Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave — on a free transfer — in a "bombshell" fax on Tuesday that is expected to trigger a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi […]

Madrid (AFP) – When Lionel Messi won an unprecedented sixth Ballon d'Or in December last year, the speculation had already begun over his career at Barcelona. The 33-year-old Argentine footballing genius was increasingly unable single-handedly to rescue his imploding club, as he had done so often in the past. Barcelona, despite lifting the La Liga […]

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Former football star Ronaldinho arrived home in Brazil on a private jet on Tuesday, following more than five months in detention in Paraguay over a fake passport scandal. The former Ballon d'Or winner arrived at Rio de Janeiro's international airport from Paraguay's capital Asuncion just before 4:30 pm (1930 GMT.) […]

San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) – Two-time former winners Wolfsburg sealed a place in the Women's Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over last year's runners-up Barcelona in Spain on Tuesday. Sweden international Fridolina Rolfo stabbed in the decisive goal just before the hour in San Sebastian, one of two Basque venues for the straight […]

Athens (AFP) – Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was on Tuesday given a 21 month and 10 day suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, bribery and other charges by a court in Greece. The England international, who announced he would appeal the verdict, was arrested late last Thursday after […]