Milan (AFP) – Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic struck a stunning first-half brace as Fiorentina held off a spirited fightback from Sassuolo to prevail 2-1 and move up to seventh in Serie A on Monday. Fiorentina were missing Borja Valero through injury and had to do without Senegal striker Khouma Babacar, who headed a last-gasp winner […]

Madrid (AFP) – For the fourth time in his career Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the best player in the world by winning the Ballon d'Or on Monday. Here, AFP Sports looks at five key moments from 2016 that landed the Portuguese the biggest individual prize in football. – Snaps unbeaten Barca run Real Madrid are […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of best footballer on the planet. It was the perfect ending to another fantastic year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second […]

London (AFP) – Algerian international Riyad Mahrez' dynamic performances in Leicester's remarkable Premier League title win last season garnered him the prestigious BBC African player of the year award on Monday. The 25-year-old France-born forward — who earlier this year became the first African to win the Professional Footballers Association Player of the Year award on […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Manchester United will take on Saint-Etienne in the last 32 of the Europa League pitting world-record signing Paul Pogba against his elder brother Florentin for the first time. Jose Mourinho's side will host the French club in the first leg on February 16 at Old Trafford, with the return the following […]

Paris (AFP) – Spanish sport daily Marca was one of several media to publish a photo on Monday that appears to confirm Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of this year's Ballon d'Or. Marca published a shot of the cover of next edition of the French magazine that hands out the award, with Ronaldo on the […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola faces one of the biggest challenges of his glittering managerial career as the Manchester City boss tries to stop his side's surprising slump. As Guardiola paced the touchline during Saturday's chastening 4-2 defeat at Leicester, the exasperated Spaniard's message to his players appeared to fall on deaf ears as the […]

London (AFP) – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has launched a scathing attack on Gary and Phil Neville after the former Manchester United stars criticised the Anfield club's German goalkeeper Loris Karius. Reds boss Klopp is furious the Neville brothers have been so negative in their opinions about the error-prone Karius and on Monday he took […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jose Mourinho admits he was scared when he saw Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan stretchered off the field during his team's 1-0 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Mkhitaryan scored the winning goal against Tottenham on Sunday and is finally displaying the sort of form that had convinced United to […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Arsenal were once again drawn against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Monday, while Barcelona will also come up against familiar foes in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain. Arsene Wenger's side had hoped winning their group for the first time in five years would spare […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane looked frazzled after arriving in Japan on Monday but he has promised his side will be ready for the Club World Cup. The European champions, chasing a second world title in three years, worked out the kinks as night fell, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo leading the players […]

Nyon (Switzerland) (AFP) – Arsenal were once again drawn against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Monday, while Barcelona will also come up against familiar foes in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain. Arsene Wenger's side had hoped winning their group for the first time in five years would spare […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo looks poised to seal his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his old rival Lionel Messi in their long-running duel for the title of world's best footballer. It will be the perfect ending to another terrific year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are in the 'fight' for their first Premier League title since 2004 and insists the Gunners will maintain the pressure on leaders Chelsea in Tuesday's trip to out of sorts Everton. Arsenal have not lost in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, and had […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Real Madrid's early birds swept into Tokyo at the crack of dawn Monday to contest the Club World Cup and were greeted by hundreds of bleary-eyed Japanese fans. The European champions, led by talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, arrived a little after 5am local time and, despite the presence of around 300 supporters waiting […]