Berlin (AFP) – Jesse Marsch made a succesful start in his maiden competitive game as head coach of RB Leipzig with a 4-0 away romp at second division Sandhausen on Saturday in the first round of the German Cup. The American has replaced new Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann at Leipzig, who finished runners up […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Glasgow Rangers were beaten for the first time in 41 league games as Dundee United handed the Scottish Premiership champions a shock 1-0 defeat on Saturday. Jamie Robson's second half strike at Tannadice condemned Steven Gerrard's side to their first league loss since Hamilton beat them in March 2020. After opening their […]

Paris (AFP) – Plan A was to stay at Barcelona but after the Catalan club, home for his entire career, ruefully accepted it cannot afford him any more Lionel Messi was Saturday expected to be about to embark on plan P for Paris. French fans and media alike were salivating on the effect the superstar's […]

Madrid (AFP) – Lionel Messi will take part in a Barcelona press conference on Sunday, three days after the club announced he was leaving after 21 years, the Spanish giants said Saturday. The 34-year-old will take questions from the press at noon (1000 GMT), Barcelona said in a statement. They will be his first public […]

Paris (AFP) – Champions League hopefuls Monaco threw away a lead to draw 1-1 with Nantes in the opening game of the French Ligue 1 season on Friday. Gelson Martins gave the principality side the perfect start in the 14th minute at the Stade Louis II when he turned in a cross by Caio Henrique. […]

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 […]