Soccer's top players have had enough, as FIFA's new super-sized tournament sparks a revolt

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — One of the most striking moments of soccer in 2024 was when Rodri hobbled onto a stage in Paris on crutches to receive the prestigious Ballon d’Or for best male player of the year. The Manchester City and Spain midfielder had been one of the most...

Vinícius Júnior and Aitana Bonmati win FIFA best player of the year awards

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior finally got his hands on a big global player award on Tuesday. Vinícius was named the men’s player of the year at the FIFA’s “The Best” awards, where Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati continued to clean up in the...

Guardiola hits 'reset' with Man City floundering in the Premier League

For Pep Guardiola, the season starts now. Chastened. Relieved. Defiant. The Manchester City manager displayed a whole range of emotions after his latest ordeal at Anfield that plunged the out-of-sorts English champions to an unlikely low. Make that seven matches...

Man City routed 4-0 by Tottenham in fifth-straight defeat as crisis deepens for Pep Guardiola

It started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City. It ended with the four-time defending Premier League champion conceding four goals and falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions as it faces a deepening crisis in a season that is threatening to unravel. A 4-0...

End of an era? Man City loses fourth straight game and Guardiola faces some tough questions

Manchester City has never had it this bad under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola has never had it this bad in his managerial career. A sense of crisis is looming over the champions of England after they lost a fourth straight game in all competitions, 2-1 at Brighton, and...

Spaniards Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d'Or award as Real Madrid snubs ceremony

PARIS (AP) — Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men's and women's Ballon d'Or award on Monday as the world's best soccer players, while Real Madrid snubbed the star-studded ceremony in Paris in apparent protest. The 28-year-old Rodri won the prestigious award...

Manchester City midfielder Rodri wins the men's Ballon d'Or award for the world’s best soccer player

The cost of rising number of injuries in European soccer nears $800 million, report finds

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The rising number of injuries to top soccer players came at a cost of nearly $800 million to teams across Europe's leading leagues last season, according to a report published Tuesday. At a time when there are growing concerns about the number of games...

Ronaldo scores again in Nations League win for perfect Portugal. Spain finds replacement for Rodri

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo scored his record-extending 133rd international goal to keep Portugal perfect in the Nations League with a 3-1 win over Poland on Saturday, and Spain struck late to edge Denmark 1-0. The 39-year-old superstar was there to put in the rebound...

Champions League returns missing Mbappé, Rodri, Barella as injury wave hits European soccer

Key players will be sidelined when the Champions League resumes Tuesday after a wave of injuries within a week of the new-look competition starting. Kylian Mbappé’s sore hamstring is likely to sideline him beyond Wednesday when he was due to return to France with defending...