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 […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Barcelona's shock announcement on Thursday that superstar Lionel Messi would be leaving the club is a "bombshell" of global proportions, according to Argentine media. Less than a month after the six-time Ballon d'Or winner inspired his country to end their 27-year wait for a major international title in a 1-0 Copa […]

Barcelona (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 after he sought to trigger an exit clause and leave as a free agent. An April consolation prize of a Spanish Cup success — his 35th club trophy — […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City on Thursday announced the signing of "natural talent" Jack Grealish on a six-year deal from Aston Villa for a British record fee reported to be £100 million ($139 million). City confirmed Grealish will wear the number 10 shirt, which was recently vacated by the departure to Barcelona of […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi will end his 20-year career with Barcelona after the Argentine superstar failed to reach agreement on a new deal with the club, the Spanish giants announced on Thursday. "Although an agreement has been reached between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi it cannot be formalised due to economic and structural obstacles," […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich is poised to sign a new bumper contract extension with Bayern Munich, according to media reports. The new Bundesliga starts on August 13 with Kimmich set to line up for defending champions Bayern at Borussia Moenchengladbach. According to several German media outlets, Kimmich, 26, is set to ink […]

London (AFP) – Jack Grealish has reportedly completed his medical at Manchester City as the Aston Villa midfielder moves closer to joining the Premier League champions in a British record £100 million ($139 million) transfer. Grealish was pictured being driven out of City's Etihad training headquarters in a black van following his medical on Wednesday. […]

Paris (AFP) – As Ligue 1 kicks off on Friday, French clubs are wrestling with how do cope with an unfamiliar presence at their games: the fans. Last season, Covid-19 restrictions meant matches were played either in empty, or almost-empty, stadiums. At the end of June, the French government removed attendance caps, instead requiring vaccination […]

Kashima (Japan) (AFP) – Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd both scored twice as the United States claimed a consolation bronze in the Olympic women's football tournament Thursday with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Australia. Rapinoe, who refused to speculate on her international future after the semi-final loss to Canada, scored direct from a corner in […]

Kashima (Japan) (AFP) – Megan Rapinoe scored twice, including direct from a corner, as the United States claimed a consolation bronze in the Olympic women's football tournament Thursday with a 4-3 victory over Australia. Rapinoe, who refused to speculate on her international future after the semi-final loss to Canada, struck either side of a Sam […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo admits he is yet to speak to Harry Kane about the striker's absence from pre-season training as he tries to force a move to Manchester City. Kane failed to report for his scheduled pre-season coronavirus and fitness tests on Monday. After an extended break in the Bahamas, […]

London (AFP) – Leicester defender Wesley Fofana said on Thursday he suffered a broken leg in his side's pre-season friendly against Villarreal. Fofana sustained the fractured fibula when he was tackled by Villarreal forward Nino the second half at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday. The France under-21s centre-back had lengthy treatment on the pitch, […]

Paris (AFP) – A heavily reinforced Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to wrestle back the Ligue 1 title from surprise champions Lille when the new season begins this weekend in France with supporters set to return en masse but clubs mired in an economic crisis. Ligue 1 kicks off on Friday when Monaco play Nantes, a […]