Cristiano Ronaldo will head into his record sixth European Championship as hungry as his first as he targets a dream second title with Portugal.

The 39-year-old scored 10 goals in Euro 2024 qualifying only Belgium s Romelu Lukaku (14) had more as Portugal cruised to the finals.

Ronaldo is no longer a guaranteed starter under Roberto Martinez, but he continues to show his importance for his country when called upon.

The five-time Ballon d Or winner struck twice in Tuesday s 3-0 friendly win over Republic of Ireland his 34th brace at international level.

And heading into what could be his final major tournament for 2016 winners Portugal, Ronaldo is relishing the chance to go out on a high.

For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love,…

Liverpool won the EFL Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties following a goalless draw at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with Kepa Arrizabalaga missing the 22nd kick of the shoot-out.

A tight encounter saw several big chances missed and four goals disallowed in all, before Kepa – who was brought on specifically for the shoot-out – missed the decisive penalty.

The remarkable finish means Liverpool have now won a record nine EFL Cups – one more than Manchester City – with this Jurgen Klopp s first domestic cup since arriving at Anfield in 2015.

European and world champions Chelsea will rue their wasted opportunities even before the spot-kicks in their fourth consecutive domestic final defeat.

Klopp had been dealt a blow before kick-off when Thiago…

Bruno Fernandes says he will stay at Manchester United if the club wants him to be part of their future.

As the transfer window draws closer, the United captain is reportedly attracting interest from several Saudi Pro League clubs and Bayern Munich.

Fernandes, who joined the Red Devils from Sporting CP in January 2020, has two years left on his current contract after signing an extension in 2022.

Speaking to Sky Sports after their 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday, Fernandes stated his commitment to the club.

If they want me, I will stay, he said. I will be here until I said the club needs to want me.

I feel that the club wants me to be a part of the future, so, as I said always, I don t want to be a player that the club doesn t want to…

David Alaba has taken his place in Real Madrid s starting line-up for the first time in over a month for the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday.

Alaba had been out of action since being substituted at half-time during Madrid s 4-3 semi-final first-leg defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with Nacho starting instead when Carlo Ancelotti s men sealed a 6-5 aggregate victory with a stunning comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month.

The Austria defender s selection in Paris was the only change to the Madrid side that started that second leg, with attacking duo Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema again leading the line.

Those two have assisted one another a combined 18 times in all competitions this season, the most of any pa…

Manchester United have left it late again, but they are finally adding more new faces to the squad in this transfer window in the form of Edinson Cavani and Alex Telles.

Cavani, who has been a free agent since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June, is reportedly joining the Red Devils on a one-year contract with the option of a second, while Telles arrives from Porto in a deal worth in the region of £15.4million (€17m).

Cavani became PSG s record goalscorer in his seven years in France, scoring 200 times in all competitions to help them to win 19 trophies.

He certainly has the pedigree to be a strong addition to the United ranks, but they have endured mixed fortunes in the past when it comes to South American signings.

Here are their previous 18, ranked …

Manchester United are interested in signing Ansu Fati from Barcelona in the summer of 2023, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League giants United are considering making a bid for the forward, and although Barcelona are reluctant to sell him now, they could consider cashing in on him if his form dips in the coming months.

Fati has been on the books of Barcelona since 2012 and is now part of the former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners’ first-team squad. The Spain international forward has made seven starts and 12 substitute appearances in La Liga for Xavi’s side so far this campaign, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the process. The youngster has made two starts and four substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Barca…

Football is never an easy game and Harry Kane should have known better.

Football is a game that takes even the most level-headed through the emotional wringer and Harry Kane can be forgiven.

Take your pick, but it was not so much tempting fate as giving fate a firm kick in the nethers when Kane suggested he was on easy street on this very same weekend last year.

Of course, fate was bound to kick back, but what a vengeance it has taken.

Spurs sat giddily on top of the Premier League after a 2-0 north London derby win over Arsenal on December 6, 2020. It was their first game back in front of fans, albeit just 2,000 of them, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the pandemic struck in March.

Talk was of a sustained title tilt, Jose Mourinho had a …

There is a spirit in the team but also the club – a dynamic in the last months and last years. That should lead us one day to a title, that s our big goal.

Bayer Leverkusen are one of Germany s biggest clubs, but not since the 1993 DFB-Pokal have they celebrated silverware.

Leverkusen have come close on numerous occasions in the Bundesliga – runners-up in 1997, 1999, 2000, 20002 and 2011, while they also reached the 2002 Champions League final, succumbing to Zinedine Zidane s iconic volley in Glasgow.

There were also runners-up appearances in the DFB-Pokal – 20002, 2009 and 2020. But an exciting and entertaining Leverkusen, even in the post-Kai Havertz era, are on the right track amid Bayern Munich s domestic and European dominance.

Leverkusen spo…

Barcelona have maximum motivation for the Clasico, according to Xavi, who has urged the Blaugrana to be brave and show personality when they face Real Madrid on Sunday.

The two LaLiga heavyweights have set the early pace this season, with Barca edging their great rivals thanks to a superior goal difference after both earned 22 points from eight matches.

Those unbeaten records will be on the line when they go head-to-head at Santiago Bernabeu, where Xavi masterminded a stunning 4-0 victory in his first LaLiga Clasico as a coach back in March.

Tata Martino, in 2014, was the last Barca coach to win his first two Clasicos in LaLiga.

Former midfielder Xavi appeared in 42 Clasicos as a player – a tally only bettered by Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos (both 45) …

Mario Gotze has returned to the Germany squad for the World Cup, with Youssoufa Moukoko and Niclas Fullkrug also included.

Gotze, scorer of the winning goal in the 2014 final against Argentina, has not played for the national side since 2017 but has earned a fresh opportunity following his impressive form since moving to Eintracht Frankfurt last year.

Meanwhile, Dortmund attacker Moukoko could make his first senior appearance for Germany, benefitting from the injury-enforced absences of Timo Werner and Lukas Nmecha, but there is no return for Mats Hummels, who has not played international football this year, despite fine form this season.

Defensively, Southampton s Armel Bella-Kotchap and RB Leipzig s Lukas Klostermann are included, the latter of whom has not fea…