MIKE KEEGAN: It means Kretinsky, along with the other existing shareholders, will instead split the Gold's holding, leaving former Newcastle United director Staveley in the cold.
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever faced the Norway international? Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland are two of the most prolific goalscorers in modern soccer, yet they have never faced one another for any club or national team. For years, Ronaldo has been the standard-bearer for Portugal, while Haaland has become Norway’s most feared finisher as their careers have run in parallel, but never in the same match. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever played against the Norway international? This highly anticipated duel will pit Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity against the explosive power of Haaland. Throughout his illustrious career, the Portuguese forward has showcased his talents at every major European destination he joined. Meanwhile, the Norwegian striker has bullied defenders across the continent with his incredible physical strength and ruthless finishing. The long wait for this monumental encounter will finally end on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The match will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, where the home squad will host the Portuguese roster in a crucial Nations League fixture. A subsequent return meeting is already scheduled for October 4 in Porto, giving fans another chance to witness the spectacle. The Portuguese maestro and the Norwegian sensation have each carved out remarkable careers on the club and international stages. The former has spent years at the pinnacle of European soccer with clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, while the latter’s meteoric rise has seen him shine at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. Despite their prominence, they have surprisingly never played against each other in a competitive fixture. Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Erling Haaland (right) Their paths have also not crossed on the international stage. Portugal and Norway have met multiple times, but these encounters occurred before Haaland established himself as a senior international star in 2019. This absence of face-to-face competition is even more notable considering how often their names are compared due to their goalscoring prowess and attacking brilliance. Have Messi and Haaland ever crossed paths? With the spotlight shining on this unprecedented European clash, observers naturally wonder about the Argentine legend’s history with the Norwegian powerhouse. In fact, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland have also never played against each other in an official match. Their paths completely bypassed one another during their respective domestic and continental campaigns. During the height of his European career, the Argentine maestro was securing trophies with his beloved Spanish employers, Barcelona. At the same time, the young Norwegian phenom was busy making a name for himself in Germany and England. The draw for the UEFA Champions League never paired their respective squads together on the pitch. The situation at the international level mirrors their missed connections in domestic leagues. The South American champions Argentina simply never scheduled any friendly or competitive fixtures against the Scandinavian squad during their overlapping active years. As a result, a direct head-to-head battle between these global icons remained entirely elusive. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Erling Haaland of Norway. Furthermore, any hope of an international clash between the Argentine and the Norwegian was recently extinguished. Messi recently announced his retirement from international action, ending an illustrious La Albiceleste career with a record 207 caps and 125 goals. His achievements include winning the 2022 World Cup, but now the possibility of future encounters with Haaland in international tournaments is gone. Could they still meet in the future? Since Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLS and Haaland remains at Manchester City, their c
After a frustrating stretch dominated by injuries and limited opportunities, Pulisic could finally have a chance to change the narrative against a familiar opponent. Christian Pulisic and Ruben Amorim are heading toward an important weekend at Milan, with the American winger closing in on his first appearance of the 2026-27 season. After a frustrating stretch dominated by injuries and limited opportunities, Pulisic could finally have a chance to change the narrative against a familiar opponent. The return would carry extra meaning given what happened the last time Milan visited Juventus. Pulisic has unfinished business in Turin, but Amorim is taking a cautious approach to his comeback, creating an intriguing situation for the American. Pulisic has endured a difficult 2026, with injuries repeatedly interrupting his momentum. His latest setback came at the World Cup, where bone edema in the area connecting the tibia and fibula of his right leg disrupted his preseason preparations and left him playing catch-up. The winger also has a particularly painful memory of Juventus‘ home stadium. On October 5, 2025, Pulisic missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw, another frustrating moment in a period when injuries prevented him from consistently showing his best form for Milan. Now, almost a year later, the American is looking for redemption. Christian Pulisic of AC Milan has a shot saved by Michele Di Gregorio of Juventus MilanNews reports that Pulisic is determined to return to the Allianz Stadium and make a positive impact after failing to score for the Rossoneri during 2026. The weekend could therefore represent an opportunity to begin putting several difficult months behind him. What did Amorim say about Pulisic’s playing time? Pulisic has already been named among the substitutes twice this season without seeing a single minute of action. That has raised questions about when Amorim will finally feel comfortable enough to put one of his most talented players back onto the pitch. The Milan manager explained after the victory over Venezia that Pulisic remains extremely important, but his workload must be carefully controlled. Amorim told reporters: “He has great talent. I simply have to manage my players’ workloads and at this moment we need to win. So it is difficult for Pulisic to find space, but he remains a hugely important player for us.” That approach is unlikely to change against Juventus, even with the 27-year-old forward eager to make his return. Amorim’s priority is to avoid rushing the American back and risking another setback, particularly given how demanding his system is physically. Christian Pulisic (left) and Ruben Amorim (right) Will Pulisic play against Juventus? That brings us to the twist surrounding Pulisic’s potential comeback. He is expected to start on the bench against Juventus rather than return directly to the starting lineup, with Amorim likely to introduce him for a limited spell if the match situation allows. There is no guarantee that Pulisic will play, either, because much will depend on how the game develops. His absence from the starting XI reflects his current fitness level rather than a lack of confidence from Amorim, who still views him as an important technical asset. As reported by MilanNews, Pulisic is expected to be given his first minutes of the season from the bench, provided the circumstances of the match allow it. That could actually be the ideal route back. A controlled appearance would allow Pulisic to rebuild his rhythm without immediately being asked to handle a full match, while also giving him the chance to rediscover the confidence that made him such an important part of Milan’s attack.
After winning the 2026 World Cup, Marcos Llorente announced his retirement from Spain national team at just 31 years old. The Spain national team took the global soccer community by storm with a dominant defensive run during the 2026 World Cup, conceding just one goal across the entire tournament. However, La Roja have suffered an immediate roster blow ahead of defending their crown in 2030, as utility star Marcos Llorente announced his retirement from international duty at just 31 years old. In a statement published on his Instagram account on Thursday, September 3, Llorente confirmed that he is stepping away from the senior national team. The decision caught observers off guard, given his status as a key member of the World Cup-winning squad and the expectation that he could remain an integral contributor for years to come. The Atletico Madrid midfielder turned right back also revealed that his retirement was decided well before the tournament kicked off in North America. “Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision,” Llorente wrote. Llorente made his senior debut for Spain on November 11, 2020, coming off the bench for 18 minutes in an international friendly against the Netherlands. Over the subsequent six years, he compiled 27 total caps while transitioning seamlessly between central midfield and right back, recording four assists without finding the back of the net for La Roja. Marcos Llorente’s Instagram post. The versatile Spaniard featured during the group stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League campaign, but missed the final four due to a muscle injury as Spain went on to claim the title. He was also left off the final roster for UEFA Euro 2024 by manager Luis de la Fuente, missing out on another major trophy during that cycle. His crowning international moment arrived this summer as Spain captured the 2026 World Cup trophy. Llorente opened the tournament as De la Fuente’s starting right back, playing all 90 minutes in group stage victories over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, before Pedro Porro claimed the starting spot, leaving Llorente to make a brief six-minute cameo in the semifinal victory over France. Marcos Llorente’s farewell letter “After spending a lot of time thinking it over, I have decided to close my chapter with the National Team. I am aware that I am still young and that, perhaps, if I kept doing things right, I would still have years left to continue playing in this shirt. I know that many of you will not understand it and, surely, I wouldn’t have understood it from the outside either. But it is a personal decision, deeply considered and, above all, deeply felt. Regardless of whether I had gone to the World Cup or not, or whether we had won or not, I had already made this decision. I can only be infinitely grateful to all the people I have crossed paths with over these years who have made it possible for my family and me to experience unique and unforgettable moments. I take with me everything we experienced, but above all, these last 52 days. With a wonderful group that fought until the end to put Spain at the very top. And they did just that. It has been a matter of great pride to represent my country and be part of this history. Thank you for everything. A warm embrace to everyone.“
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