Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has stated that he never aimed to emulate Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. He downplayed any comparisons with the two football legends, emphasizing that they are “irreplaceable.” Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid last summer, has already scored 30 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions in his debut season. With just two more goals, the former Monaco forward will surpass Ronaldo’s debut-season record of 33 goals, a tally the Portuguese icon shares with former Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, Mbappé clarified that he is not attempting to fill the shoes of these footballing greats.…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, defeating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium on Thursday. Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo secured Japan’s spot in the top two automatic qualification places of Asia’s Group C. This marks Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, as they join co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the expanded 48-team tournament. Meanwhile, Australia moved closer to securing a seventh World Cup appearance with a dominant 5-1 victory over Indonesia in Sydney. The match marked Indonesia’s first under new coach Patrick Kluivert. Indonesia’s Kevin Diks missed an…
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has stated that his team is now the favourite to win the Champions League this season, following Liverpool’s exit from the competition. Despite winning the first leg of their last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain in France, Arne Slot’s side was eliminated after losing 1-0 at Anfield and subsequently falling in a penalty shoot-out. In contrast, Barcelona secured their place in the quarter-finals after defeating Benfica over two legs, setting up a clash with Borussia Dortmund. Yamal has now boldly declared that Barcelona is undaunted by any of the remaining teams in the tournament. “Now that Liverpool…
Current England manager Thomas Tuchel delivered a blunt critique of the nation’s performance at Euro 2024, which was overseen by former boss Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions made it to the final of the European Championship for the second consecutive tournament, but their 2-1 loss to Spain in Berlin last summer came after a series of underwhelming performances. Despite reaching the final, England’s play throughout the competition was far less impressive than their results might suggest. England struggled in the group stage, narrowly defeating Serbia in their opening match before drawing with Denmark and Slovenia. They were saved by a…
Sporting CP has confirmed a full agreement with Chelsea for the permanent transfer of emerging talents Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo. In recent years, Chelsea has focused on signing young players with high potential for development, and 17-year-old Quenda is seen as one of the continent’s brightest prospects. However, acquiring such talent comes at a cost, with the total deal for both players worth up to €74.4m (£62.3m), including add-ons. Quenda, who was heavily linked with Manchester United after making his breakthrough at Sporting under Ruben Amorim, is the more expensive of the two, with a fee of €52m (£43.6m).…
Egypt star Mohamed Salah is the leading goal scorer in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in Africa. Salah has netted five goals, helping Egypt top Group A with 10 points after four matches. The Pharaohs are four points clear of second-placed Guinea-Bissau and five ahead of Burkina Faso. Salah shares the top spot with Mahmoud Trezeguet, who also has five goals to his name. Ghana’s Jordan Ayew is in second place with four goals. The Black Stars sit second in Group I with 9 points, trailing Comoros only on goal difference. Other players with three goals include Ayoub El…
France captain Kylian Mbappé has expressed his happiness at the prospect of Zinedine Zidane becoming the next manager of the French national team. As previously confirmed, current manager Didier Deschamps will step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leading to speculation about who will succeed him. Zidane, former manager of Real Madrid, is one of the names linked to the role. In an interview with TF1, Mbappé stated: “It’s not for me to decide who replaces Deschamps. I try not to talk about it too much. It’s not my job, and there’s already a manager in place. You have…
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Rwanda and Nigeria, Nigerian footballer Ola Aina has been making waves at the Super Eagles’ camp. Aina, who rejoined the squad for the critical match set for March 21, 2025, in Kigali, is determined to help Nigeria secure vital points in their World Cup qualification campaign. The Nottingham Forest defender is back as the team looks to recover from a disappointing start, currently sitting with just three points in their group, trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin. With the Super Eagles hoping to get back on track, Aina is expected…
Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil has been banned from returning to his former club, Werder Bremen, due to a controversial tattoo that is associated with far-right groups. Özil, 36, who had a career spanning clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Werder Bremen, Fenerbahce, and Schalke, retired from football in June 2023 at the age of 34. However, his recent tattoo, which features a grey wolf and a flag with three crescent moons, has sparked controversy. The symbols are linked to far-right groups promoting anti-Semitism, ultra-nationalism, and far-right extremism. As a result, Werder Bremen excluded Özil from a guest list for a…
KRC Genk forward Tolu Arokodare has expressed confidence that his invitation to the Super Eagles would come soon. Despite his strong form at Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk, where he has scored 17 goals and provided 5 assists in 30 league appearances this season, Arokodare had been overlooked under Super Eagles interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen. Now, the 24-year-old forward has been called up to represent Nigeria and will have the opportunity to make his debut against the Amavubi of Rwanda on Friday. Arokodare shared his thoughts on receiving his first Super Eagles call-up, saying, “At first, I was…