With the frenzy for the World Cup underway, we take a closer look at the debate over what to call the world's most popular sport: football or soccer? We explore the origins of both terms and discover that while the French may call it “le foot” rather than “le pied”, the language is full of expressions inspired by feet.
Oriol Romeu may not have enjoyed the return to Barcelona that many had hoped for, but the midfielder has said that he looks back on the experience with pride rather than disappointment.The former Barc...
Lionel Messi continues to dominate the conversation around Argentina as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup intensifies, with Lionel Scaloni now facing growing questions about the future of his iconic captain. Lionel Messi continues to dominate the conversation around Argentina as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup intensifies, with Lionel Scaloni now facing growing questions about the future of his iconic captain. On the other hand, Diego Maradona’s legacy has also resurfaced in recent days as emotions around another possible farewell to a generational figure begin to build across Argentine soccer. The uncertainty surrounding Messi’s long-term future continues to follow Argentina everywhere despite the team’s recent success. Even at 38, the Inter Miami star remains the emotional leader of the national team and the player many supporters still look toward during the biggest moments. Scaloni now finds himself balancing preparations for another World Cup campaign while trying to avoid conversations about life after Messi. The Argentina coach has repeatedly emphasized the importance of enjoying the present rather than focusing too heavily on what may eventually happen after the tournament in North America. That emotional atmosphere has also reopened memories of Maradona’s departure from soccer decades ago. For many inside La Albiceleste, the comparison between the two icons carries enormous emotional weight because both transformed the history of the national team forever. Lionel Messi of Argentina during a training session. Scaloni opens up on Messi fears As Argentina continues preparing for the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni finally addressed the growing speculation surrounding Messi’s future during an emotional conversation with CONMEBOL. The World Cup-winning manager admitted that imagining Argentina without Messi reminds him of the sadness people felt when Maradona stopped playing. “Being able to see him play is something wonderful. Beyond whether it is his last World Cup or not. I don’t like longing or thinking about what is going to happen; I want to enjoy the moment. Everyone wants to see him play,” Scaloni explained, via Goal. The Argentina coach made it clear that he does not want to focus on retirement discussions while Messi is still competing at the highest level. Instead, Scaloni believes the current generation should simply appreciate every remaining appearance from the captain. “I like to think that he is going to keep playing, because it makes you sad, as happened with Diego, not seeing him on the field anymore,” he added. Diego Maradona lifting the 1986 World Cup. The comparison with Maradona immediately resonated across Argentina. Maradona remains one of the most beloved figures in the history of the country’s soccer culture after leading the national team to World Cup glory in 1986. Scaloni imagines Messi and Maradona together For years, critics questioned whether Messi could replicate Maradona’s international legacy. Those debates largely disappeared after Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar, finally ending decades of frustration for the national team. Now, the focus has shifted toward whether the Inter Miami captain will continue beyond 2026 or bring his extraordinary international career to a close after the tournament. Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi of Argentina. Scaloni, however, seems determined to avoid setting any emotional countdown around the captain. “They are players who marked the history of soccer. Thinking that he is not going to play anymore does not leave you at peace. I prefer to think about the present,” the coach admitted. One of the most fascinating moments from Scaloni’s interview arrived when he was asked whether Messi and Maradona could have played together in the same Argentina side. The manager responded without hesitation. “Of course they would have played together in my national team,” Scaloni said.
On Friday, Pep Guardiola was asked whether the following day's visit to Wembley Stadium would be his 24th and last for a cup semi-final or final. City won the FA Cup for the third time under Guardiola by beating Chelsea on Saturday and, rather pointedly, he took a picture holding the trophy with each member of staff one by one. City have not made any comment regarding the latest developments and head to Bournemouth on Tuesday, when Guardiola is certain to be asked about his future once again.
After revealing Brazil's squad, coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Neymar "will be important" for the 2026 World Cup. Carlo Ancelotti officially unveiled Brazil’s 2026 World Cup roster on Monday at the Museu do Amanha, cementing Neymar’s highly anticipated inclusion in the squad. While granting the Santos forward the opportunity to keep his championship dream alive, the Italian manager admitted that Neymar “will be important” for the national team’s upcoming campaign. During the post-announcement press conference, Ancelotti opened up about his decision to call up the veteran playmaker: “We evaluated Neymar throughout the year, and we saw that in the recent period he played with continuity, and that his physical condition improved. We believe that he is an important player; he is going to be an important player in this World Cup. He has the same role and obligation as all the other 25—the possibility of playing, of not playing, of being on the bench, of coming on—the exact same responsibility as the others.“ Questions also arose regarding the various factors that influenced the final selection. Beyond his current on-field form, an immense wave of pressure from both fans and teammates had kept the forward’s status at the center of a non-stop national debate for months. Setting aside the tactical element, Ancelotti highlighted that the evaluation process was strictly focused on the medical data. “The evaluation throughout the year has been solely regarding the physical aspect. For Neymar, it has always been a physical issue. In the recent matches, he played with continuity.” Neymar announced as part of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad. “He may have the opportunity to improve his physical condition during this period before the first game of the World Cup, but we believe that apart from this, his experience in this type of competition, the affection he has within the group, and also how he can create a better environment within the squad will help the team bring out its best,” he stated. When pressed on exactly how many minutes Neymar would log during the tournament, Ancelotti struck a more cautious tone. “He’ll play if he deserves to play. I have an idea on how the starting team could look today, but I have to analyze how the players train and check on their physical and mental condition before naming them to the starting XI.“ Where will Neymar play in Ancelotti’s Brazil? Neymar is set to suit up for Ancelotti’s Brazil for the first time, but the looming question centers on where exactly he will fit on the pitch. During his prime years with Barcelona and PSG, the forward was a devastating threat down the left wing, but injuries and age mean that explosive, touchline-to-touchline speed is no longer his defining trait. Asked about his tactical plans, Ancelotti confirmed that he views Neymar “as a forward in a centralized position,” meaning he will likely slot in behind a traditional striker as an advanced playmaker, or potentially operate as a false nine despite lacking the physical profile of a standard target man. During his current stint with Santos, Neymar has occasionally been penciled into the lineup as a number nine but rarely stays anchored to the penalty box. With the Peixe, his heat map shows heavy traffic cutting inside from the left into central pockets, a blueprint that allows Neymar to dictate the tempo and break down compact defenses rather than relying on pure counter-attacking pace.
Kelechi Iheanacho's calm persona belied heart-thumping fear amid the most intense pressure of reviving Celtic's title hopes. It ensured Martin O'Neill's will win the Premiership title on Saturday if they beat Hearts – rather than having to triumph by three goals. "You don't want to know what my heart was saying at that moment," said 29-year-old Iheanacho.
