… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
… Without the mobility to work back, Neymar had to be used at centre-forward, pushing both Vinicius Jr and Endrick out wide and deeper – further away from the goal, exactly where they should not have been. …
… The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game. …
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho compared Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to fruit trees in their defence after both players were booed by home fans at the Bernabeu this week, saying their achievements and statistics speak for themselves despite criticism over their defensive work.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho compared Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to fruit trees in their defence after both players were booed by home fans at the Bernabeu this week, saying their achievements and statistics speak for themselves despite criticism over their defensive work.
Arsenal are close to finalising a new contract with manager Mikel Arteta, with well-placed sources indicating discussions have progressed and full confidence among those involved that he will renew. Once signed, Arteta can expect to become one of the best-paid managers in world football, with Arsenal committed to significantly improving on his current deal worth £10m a season plus an extra £5m upon Champions League qualification.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said he is not feeling added pressure to win the Champions League in his second spell at the club ahead of their opener against Inter Milan today. Mourinho stated that his current spell has nothing to do with his first stint, when the Champions League eluded him, and that Real Madrid need to reach stability to achieve something great.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed concern about September's extended three-week international break, particularly about players joining national teams but not receiving playing time. The break, part of FIFA's revised international calendar for the 2026-27 season, will replace the traditional separate September and October breaks, allowing countries to play four international matches instead of two.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored in the 19th minute to help Real Madrid defeat Malaga 4-0 in La Liga, extending Jose Mourinho's winning streak to three consecutive victories. Bellingham's goal came after he dribbled past three defenders from 35 yards out, and he was involved in Real's second goal as well.
Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad in La Liga, marking Jose Mourinho's second match in his second stint as coach. Mourinho has won his first two matches in charge, beginning with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says winger Vinicius Jr is being bullied on the pitch and needs "great emotional control," after the Brazilian received a yellow card in a 2–1 La Liga win over Espanyol for an argument with an opponent. Mourinho claims opposing players target Vinicius Jr to provoke reactions from the first minute and that this pattern is repeated across all teams.
Jose Mourinho told Vinicius Jr it was "not worth" leaving Real Madrid, and the Brazilian signed a six-year contract with the club after entering the final 12 months of his previous deal. Mourinho, appointed to a second stint as Real manager in June, said he advised Vinicius that he would only understand Real Madrid's value once he left it.
Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has agreed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid keeping him at the club until 30 June 2032, ending speculation over a potential move to Arsenal.
Real Madrid have made Vinicius Jr an improved contract offer to keep the 26-year-old Brazil winger, who has entered the final 12 months of his current deal and has attracted interest from Arsenal. The club expects a response within hours.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the club expects to make moves in the transfer market over the next few weeks and will not "sit still" as they prepare to defend their Premier League title. Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Illan Meslier, forward Christos Tzolis, and defender Piero Hincapie permanently this summer.
Vinicius Jr is set to resume contract negotiations with Real Madrid this week as Arsenal maintain interest in the Brazilian forward. Real Madrid is pushing for an agreement before the transfer window closes, with Vinicius's current deal running until 2027.
Liverpool are preparing an opening bid for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, 23, valued by PSG at around £145m, as they seek to replace Mohamed Salah. Barcola is understood to be keen on joining Liverpool after falling down the pecking order at PSG.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain in protest against FIFA decisions, citing issues including US President Donald Trump's intervention in a suspension case and other changes driven by FIFA president Gianni Infantino such as extended half-time shows and a proposed 64-team World Cup format.
Brazil fell short at the World Cup despite Carlo Ancelotti's arrival as coach, winning 10 of 16 games but failing to progress past the group stage. The article argues Brazil must rebuild its midfield, traditionally a creative strength, and questions whether Ancelotti's dependence on Casemiro is the right approach moving forward.
Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half to help Norway defeat five-time winners Brazil 2–1 and reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Brazil's Bruno Guimaraes missed a first-half penalty, and despite Neymar converting a late penalty, Brazil exited before the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990.
UEFA will not use the red card law for mouth-covering in confrontations across its competitions, despite approving the rule change. The decision comes after the Benfica-Real Madrid incident in February, where Gianluca Prestianni was banned for homophobic conduct, though UEFA referees may still show yellow cards if warranted.
Scotland's chances of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time face significant jeopardy following a 3-0 defeat by Brazil in Miami. With three points and a minus-three goal difference giving only a 42% chance of claiming one of the eight best third-place team spots, Scotland must wait until Sunday morning to learn their fate as the rest of the groups play their final games.
Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in their second 2026 World Cup group match, with goals from Matheus Cunha and Vinicius Jr before half-time, but registered no shots on target in the second half while Haiti had seven attempts, prompting questions about when the best version of Brazil will appear in the tournament.
Brazil defeated Haiti 3–0 to move atop Group C on goal difference, ending Haiti's World Cup hopes with one match to play. Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinicius Jr added a goal as Brazil secured a comfortable victory.
The 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States has introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks at the 22-minute mark of each half across all 104 games to help players cope with heat and humidity. The breaks have drawn criticism from some who view them as commercial interruptions, though coaches have used them to deliver tactical instructions.
Vinicius Jr scored in the 37th minute to earn Brazil a 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening 2026 World Cup match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after Brazil fell behind to Ismael Saibari's goal in the 21st minute.
Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti agreed in May 2025 to lead Brazil as their first-ever foreign coach at a World Cup, and has prioritized learning Portuguese through intensive lessons to win over the fanbase and local staff.
FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina revealed that players will be prevented from going to the technical area to consult coaches when goalkeepers are injured at the 2026 World Cup. IFAB has also approved a request to change VAR protocol to review attacking fouls occurring before the ball is in play.
Vinicius Jr scored the winning goal as Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 1–0 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, securing back-to-back league wins for the first time since March.
Jose Mourinho is returning to Real Madrid 13 years after his previous stint, as announced by president Florentino Perez at a contentious press conference. The appointment aligns Mourinho's siege mentality and media-focused approach with Perez's worldview amid internal divisions in Madrid's dressing room.
FIFA has extended Argentina winger Gianluca Prestianni's six-game suspension for homophobic conduct to have worldwide effect, meaning he could miss his country's opening World Cup matches if selected. The Benfica player was originally banned by UEFA for directing a slur at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during a February Champions League playoff clash.
Kylian Mbappe's holiday to Sardinia during his injury recovery has angered Real Madrid fans despite club approval, fuelling an online petition calling for his departure as frustration grows over his difficult second season at the club.
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has received a worldwide ban for abusing Vinicius Jr, extending his UEFA six-match suspension to cover Argentina's first two World Cup matches if he is selected. The 20-year-old admitted to homophobic language towards Real Madrid's Vinicius during a Champions League match in February.
Real Madrid's victory over Espanyol means Barcelona can clinch the La Liga title with only a draw against their rivals in El Clásico next Sunday. Barcelona lead Real Madrid by 11 points and could break the record for the biggest title-winning margin if they win their final four games.