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.
At the end of a busy transfer window which spanned the World Cup, here are some of the subplots of the summerThe World Cup is always a good shop window. Yan Diomande was already a rising star at RB Leipzig but shining for Côte d’Ivoire in the US helped push up his price tag before a £115.7m move to Real Madrid. There were other breakout stars: Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, whose signature Aston Villa pipped Newcastle to; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic, who went to Juventus; and Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi, who is now in the Premier League with Coventry. Cape Verde’s cult hero Vozinha now keeps net for the Chilean giants Colo-Colo and Morocco’s attacking dynamo, Ismael Saibari, has rocked up at Bayern. Billy Munday Continue reading...
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