Mbappé can't rescue Real Madrid in Champions League loss to Lille

AP Sports Writer (AP) — Kylian Mbappé came off the bench but couldn't prevent defending champion Real Madrid from losing 1-0 at unheralded Lille in the revamped Champions League on Wednesday. With Mbappé a substitute after a minor hamstring injury, the opening goal came from...

Messi back in Argentina's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Lionel Messi will return to Argentina's national team for the South American World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Bolivia. The 37-year-old star had missed recent matches because of an ankle injury. Coach Lionel Scaloni...

Young stars Yamal and Wirtz shine in Champions League but with mixed results

Shortly after lighting up the European Championship, two of the world's most exciting young players shone on club soccer's biggest stage. With mixed fortunes, however. Teenager Lamine Yamal's goal couldn't prevent 10-man Barcelona from falling to a 2-1 defeat at Monaco...

Injured Messi out of Argentina's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina's next two World Cup qualifiers because of injury. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on Sept. 5 and Colombia five days later. Messi...

Mbappé makes Madrid heavy favorite to repeat as Spanish league champion for 1st time in 17 years

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid was one of the teams to beat in Europe last season, winning the Spanish league with ease and adding another Champions League trophy to its collection. And what was good got even better for 2024-25, with France star Kylian Mbappé finally joining the...

Man City striker Julian Alvarez joins Atletico Madrid for a reported fee worth up to 95 million euros ($103 million)

MADRID (AP) — Man City striker Julian Alvarez joins Atletico Madrid for a reported fee worth up to 95 million euros ($103 million).

Once Yamal and Williams helped Spain out of its 'tiki-taka' rut, no rival could resist at Euro 2024

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain arrived in Germany with no huge stars and no real expectations. Six weeks later, Luis de la Fuente’s team heads home with a European Championship title to celebrate and reason to believe in a bright future. The youthful spark of Lamine Yamal and Nico...