Paris (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored all the goals in Argentina's 5-0 friendly win over Estonia in Pamplona, Spain on Sunday. Messi joins a select club comprising only Juan Andres Marvezy and Manuel Moreno to score five in a game for Argentina. The seven-time Ballon d'Or scored from the spot in the eighth minute, then […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo marshalled Portugal past Switzerland in the Nations League on Sunday as Gavi made history becoming Spain's youngest ever scorer. Ronaldo scored two goals in four first half minutes and had a third ruled offside by VAR as Portugal crushed Switzerland 4-0 in Lisbon. The Manchester United striker had set up […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – It was billed as the Mohamed Salah versus Naby Keita show, but Mostafa Mohamed took centre stage with a late winner as Egypt beat Guinea 1-0 on Sunday in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Liverpool teammates and national team captains, Salah and Keita were creative but failed to score in a […]

Prague (AFP) – Gavi became Spain's youngest scorer ever and Inigo Martinez headed home a late equaliser as Spain drew 2-2 with the Czech Republic in the Nations League in Prague on Sunday. Gavi scored with a low curling left-footer at the record age of 17 years and 304 days, levelling the first-half score at […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale hailed Wales' qualification for a first World Cup since 1958 as the greatest result in their history after a 1-0 win over Ukraine in Cardiff cruelly denied the war-torn nation a place in Qatar. Bale's free-kick, which was turned into his own net by Ukrainian captain Andriy Yarmolenko, […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Gareth Bale led Wales to their first World Cup since 1958 as Ukraine's dreams of lifting the spirits of a war-torn country were cruelly denied by a 1-0 defeat in Cardiff on Sunday. Bale's free-kick, which was turned into his own net by Ukrainian captain Andriy Yarmolenko, separated the sides […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Brazil no longer rely on superstar Neymar to win games, manager Tite said Sunday, with an Olympic gold medal-winning generation looking to step up at the World Cup. Neymar underlined his importance to Tite's side by netting the 72nd and 73rd goals of his Brazil career in a 5-1 friendly thrashing of […]

The final series of home games prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar got off to a flying start for the US as they were resounding 3-0 winners against a Morocco team that will also be in Qatar this November. It saw Brendan Aaronson open the scoring, Tim Weah get back into form, and […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick as Senegal overcame Benin 3-1 on Saturday in the first match of their Africa Cup of Nations title defence, and hinted that he will not be at Liverpool next season. Speaking to the media before the Group L clash, Mane said: "I will do what they […]

Bologna (Italy) (AFP) – Germany needed a Joshua Kimmich equaliser as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with a much-changed Italy team in the UEFA Nations League in Bologna on Saturday. Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini gave the European champions the lead 20 minutes from time at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium only for Kimmich to […]

Uruguay presents an interesting opportunity for the USMNT. After all, the U.S. has little to no familiarity with frequent World Cup teams outside CONCACAF. That's not to take anything away from Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. Clearly, these are strong sides with talented players. Instead, it is simply a style of play. Nations in South […]

Budapest (AFP) – England slumped to their first defeat against Hungary in 60 years on Saturday as the hosts earned a shock 1-0 win in Budapest to launch their Nations League campaign. Dominik Szoboszlai scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Hungary celebrated their first victory over England since 1962. Defeat on penalties […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Former Argentina forward Carlos Tevez, who has been without a club for the past year, announced his retirement from the game on Saturday. "I'm retiring, it's confirmed," the 38-year-old told America TV in Argentina. "As a player I gave everything I had in my heart and that leaves me at peace […]

Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Wales captain Gareth Bale said any sympathy with Ukraine will be forgotten on Sunday as he tries to lead his country to a World Cup for the first time since 1958. Ukraine beat Scotland 3-1 in an emotional encounter on Wednesday in their first competitive match since Russia's invasion to […]

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has been called up to play for France for the first time with Raphael Varane ruled out injured for the world champions' final Nations League games. Manchester United's Varane picked up a left thigh injury in France's 2-1 defeat to Denmark in the Stade de France on Friday. […]