Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi has left Barcelona with the cash-strapped Spanish giants unable to afford the new deal to keep the Argentinian superstar and Paris Saint-Germain emerging as the favourites for his signature. Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Friday he was not prepared "to put the club at risk" by renewing Messi's contract, […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Christine Sinclair, the all-time leading scorer in international football, enjoyed the crowning moment of her career Friday as Canada won Olympic gold for the first time. The 38-year-old Sinclair debuted for the national team as a teenager in 2000, and her 187 international goals are the most in the history of […]

Madrid (AFP) – News of Lionel Messi's departure is a hammer blow for Barcelona, but it is also a disaster for the prestige of La Liga. Not so long ago the very best players in the world played in Spain. Gradually, though, things have changed. Neymar left Barcelona in 2017 for Paris Saint-Germain before Cristiano […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets said the shock of Lionel Messi leaving the Spanish giants had yet to sink in as he thanked the Argentine for all he'd done for the club on Friday. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi had been expected to sign a new five year deal with Barcelona on […]

Paris (AFP) – With Manchester City appearing to close the door on a move for Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain may be the most likely next destination for the Argentinian superstar after Barcelona said they could not afford to give him a new contract. Even a 50 percent pay cut was not enough for Barca's number […]

London (AFP) – England captain Harry Kane insisted on Friday that he had "never refused" to train at Tottenham Hotspur in spite of failing to show up for pre-season tests on Monday. The 28-year-old forward, who remained on holiday in the Bahamas this week before travelling to Florida amid speculation that he was trying to […]

Yokohama (Japan) (AFP) – Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe saved two spot-kicks in a nail-biting shootout as Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 on penalties to clinch Olympic women's football gold for the first time Friday in Yokohama. Stina Blackstenius scored her team-best fifth goal of the tournament to give Sweden the lead, but Jessie Fleming's penalty in the […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will only make a move to sign Harry Kane if Tottenham are willing to negotiate over the England captain's price tag. Kane snubbed his scheduled return to pre-season training with Tottenham this week in a bid to force through a transfer to City. The Tottenham striker went public […]

London (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has ruled out a Manchester City move for Lionel Messi after Barcelona's shock announcement that the Argentina superstar will leave the Camp Nou. City boss Guardiola was Messi's manager at Barcelona for four successful years and the Premier League champions were immediately linked with the forward following Thursday's bombshell news. […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Barcelona career has come to an end because the cash-strapped Spanish club cannot afford to keep the Argentinian superstar, club president Joan Laporta said Friday. In a dramatic news conference, Laporta said he was not prepared "to put the club at risk" by renewing Messi's contract, with Barca facing huge […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona's negotiations with Lionel Messi are over and the striker is considering other offers, the club's president Joan Laporta said on Friday. Laporta said in a press conference he was not prepared "to put the club at risk" by renewing Messi's contract, with Barca facing huge financial problems ahead of the start […]

London (AFP) – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his talks with Paul Pogba have been "positive" amid reports linking the France midfielder with a move to Paris Saint Germain. Pogba is out of contract at the end of the coming season and is yet to agree a new deal with United. The 28-year-old […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi will end his 20-year career with Barcelona after the Argentine superstar and the Spanish giants were unable to overcome "economic and structural obstacles" to a new deal. The announcement on Thursday that a player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time is on the market will spark […]

Madrid (AFP) – AFP Sport takes a look at some of Lionel Messi's finest moments with Barcelona, for whom he played 788 games before it was announced the global star would be leaving on Thursday. – First hat-trick against Real Madrid (2007) – March 10, 2007, a 3-3 draw in La Liga at home to […]

Barcelona (AFP) – Lionel Messi will end his 20-year career with Barcelona after the Argentine superstar and the Spanish giants were unable to overcome "economic and structural obstacles" to a new deal, a bombshell certain to spark a high-stakes scramble for a player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. "Although an […]