Francisco Quatrin

Al Nassr finished third last season and missed out on Asia’s top club competition, prompting Cristiano Ronaldo and new coach Jorge Jesus to demand major reinforcements.

Christian Pulisic returns to the national team after missing the Gold Cup, with Pochettino praising his form at AC Milan and describing him as “fresh and ready to contribute.”

The Florida Derby heats up as Inter Miami and Orlando City meet in the Leagues Cup semifinal, with Lionel Messi’s fitness the major storyline.

Opponents drawn against Kairat will face one of the longest trips in European soccer—over 5,000 kilometers to reach Almaty, a city near Russia and China.

Lionel Messi trained with Inter Miami this week, raising hopes he could return for the Clásico del Sol semifinal against Orlando City at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi’s fitness is the big question ahead of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup semifinal against Orlando City after missing the quarterfinal win over Tigres UANL and the MLS trip to D.C. United.

Petit believes Yamal has the talent to win the Ballon d’Or, but insists the youngster must win the Champions League with Barcelona to truly establish himself among the game’s greats.

Real Madrid are monitoring Nico Paz’s future closely, with a potential return from Como expected in the summer of 2026, despite heavy Premier League interest.

Neymar’s hopes of returning to Brazil’s squad ended after he suffered a thigh injury with Santos, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to leave him out of the World Cup qualifiers.

Club president Pablo Longoria called the altercation “an act of extreme violence and seriousness,” while sporting director Mehdi Benatia said he had “never seen anything like it.”

The youngster’s release clause is set at €30 million, but Barcelona’s financial struggles mean the club may wait until Subiabre’s contract nears its end in 2026.

Mastantuono played 63 minutes at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium, showing composure beyond his years before being replaced by Brahim Díaz. His debut date—August 24, 2025—is already one for the club’s archives.

Xabi Alonso surprised everyone by leaving Vinícius Júnior out of Real Madrid’s starting lineup against Real Oviedo, marking the Brazilian’s first unexplained benching since the Carlo Ancelotti era.

After leaving Europe, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo took opposite directions—Messi to the United States and Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia. Their late-career journeys highlight a sharp contrast in impact and success.

Few debates in soccer ignite as much passion as the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi comparison, and analyzing the finals they’ve lost offers a unique lens on their resilience and careers.