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Harry Kane has admitted he wants to win the Ballon d'Or and compared himself to Manchester City hitman Erling Haaland as the strikers battle for glory. Kane is one goal off matching Pele's international haul and will hope to match or better the Brazilian when England face Albania in their final World Cup qualifier on Sunday night as the Three Lions look to maintain their 100% record.

Getty Images SportKane expected to start against Albania

England have won all seven 2026 World Cup qualifiers following their 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday night. Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze netted either side of half time to wrap up another three points at Wembley, as the Three Lions eased to next summer's showpiece.

Thomas Tuchel's men have scored 20 goals in qualifying, of which Kane has netted six, and have the chance to make it eight wins from eight when they face off against Albania on Sunday evening. And with no other out-and-out striker in the squad, the 32-year-old has a great opportunity to add to that haul and go level with Pele for international goals.

Pele scored 77 times for Brazil during a legendary career, while Kane sits on 76 for the Three Lions. The England skipper netted in the reverse fixture, a 2-0 win at Wembley back in March, and will feel confident about his chances of scoring against the Red and Blacks, who are guaranteed a play-off spot following their 1-0 victory at Andorra on Thursday.

Advertisement'To be around a name like Pele speaks for itself'

Kane has confessed that he relishes reaching such milestones, stating: "To be around a name like Pele speaks for itself. Sometimes when you're in it, it's hard to process some of the names you're around or the things you're achieving. You just want to go onto the next one.

"Hopefully to score tomorrow and go level with Pele, who had such an inspirational international career, just shows how far I've come through my career."

Getty Images SportKane makes Ballon d'Or claim with '100 goals' warning

Kane doesn't just have Pele's international goal record in his sights, but the Ballon d'Or, too. Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 accolade, pipping Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to the award after the Frenchman's role in PSG's Champions League triumph over Inter last season.

The Bayern forward, who is England's leading marksman in history, insists he won't win the individual accolade, even if he scores '100 goals this season'. "I could score 100 goals this season but if I don't win the Champions League or the World Cup, you're probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or," Kane said.

"It's the same with Erling Haaland, it's the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies. With the way the season is going as a team with Bayern Munich, it looks like we're in great shape.

"It looks like we're one of the favourites for the Champions League, for sure. So that maybe makes the odds a little bit more in my favour. Same with England. I think we're going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites.

"Whenever you are going into a year, like a World Cup year, there is a lot of excitement, a lot of talk, a lot of noise around everything. You have to try and stay focused on the now.

"From my point of view, I've got six more weeks before I get a nice break. I am feeling good. And that break will help for us but hopefully if things go my way for club and country then I'm definitely going to be in the conversation for a trophy like the Ballon d'Or."

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Haaland instrumental in Norway's qualifying campaign

Haaland himself has been in sensational scoring form for both club and country this season. The 25-year-old has scored in all but two games for Manchester City and Norway in the 2025-26 campaign, failing to net in defeats to Tottenham and Aston Villa.

The City star has been rampant for Stale Solbakken's side in qualifying having scored 14 goals with Norway on the cusp of reaching their first World Cup since 1998.

Norway have won all seven matches so far and face Italy in their final round of qualifiers on Sunday night. The Azzurri have won six of their seven games, but would need to win 9-0 in Milan to pip Norway to top spot in Group I.

يواصل النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، رفع رصيد أهدافه في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعدما أحرز هدف التقدم أمام ليفربول، خلال مباراة الفريقين اليوم.

واستقبل مانشستر سيتي خصمه ليفربول، على ملعب “الاتحاد” في قمة مباريات الجولة الحادية عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وكان هالاند قد أهدر ضربة جزاء خلال اللقاء، ولاحقًا سجل النرويجي الهدف الأول لمانشستر سيتي وذلك في الدقيقة 29 من عمر المباراة.

وبذلك، يرتفع رصيد هالاند في صدارة هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز للموسم الجاري، إلى 14 هدفًا.

وقد حسم مانشستر سيتي المباراة لصالحه بالفوز بثلاثية نظيفة أمام ليفربول ورفع رصيده للنقطة 22 في وصافة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز. ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي

1. إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي، 14 هدفًا.

2. تياجو، برينتفورد، 8 أهداف.

3. أنطوان سيمينيو، بورنموث، 6 أهداف.

4. ماتيتا، كريستال بالاس، 6 أهداف.

5. داني ويلبيك، برايتون، 6 أهداف.

6. بريان مبيومو، مانشستر يونايتد، 5 أهداف.

7. محمد صلاح، ليفربول، 4 أهداف.

8. جواو بيدرو، تشيلسي، 4 أهداف.

9. ريتشارليسون، توتنهام، 4 أهداف.

10. أنتوني، بيرنلي، 4 أهداف.

 ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

9.

خاض فريق باريس سان جيرمان، بقيادة المدرب لويس إنريكي، مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الفرنسي لكرة القدم مساء يوم السبت، ضد خصمه فريق نيس.

واستضاف ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” مباراة فريقي باريس سان جيرمان ونيس في الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الفرنسي، 2025/26، حيث حقق أصحاب الأرض فوزًا بهدف دون رد.

وسيطر التعادل السلبي على مجريات المباراة بين فريقي باريس سان جيرمان ونيس، حيث استبسل الضيوف من أجل منع هجمات حامل اللقب.

ودفع المدرب لويس إنريكي بكل من فابيان رويز، لي كانج إن، جونسالو راموس وعثمان ديمبلي، في فترات متفرقة من الشوط الثاني من أجل تنشيط الفريق.

وتمكن باريس سان جيرمان من تسجيل هدف قاتل في الدقيقة 95 عن طريق جونسالو راموس، ليمنح فريقه 3 نقاط غالية.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد باريس سان جيرمان إلى 24 نقطة في المركز الأول، بينما تجمد رصيد نيس عند 17 نقطة في المركز الثامن.

ويخوض باريس سان جيرمان مباراة قوية يوم الثلاثاء المقبل ضد بايرن ميونخ في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري.

Legendary coach Fabio Capello has lauded the breathtaking impact of Cristian Chivu at Inter, calling the in-form Serie A side "a spectacle to watch." Capello praised the new manager for reconnecting the squad and implementing a more direct, vertical style of play that has propelled the Nerazzurri to second in the table with a difference of one point for the top.

Capello hails 'spectacle' of Chivu's growing Inter

Capello has heaped praise on Chivu's Inter, declaring the team "a spectacle to watch" and crediting the new coach with reconnecting the squad and implementing a dynamic, vertical style of play. Speaking in his regular column for , the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss hailed the transformation at the Nerazzurri, who have won four of their last five Serie A matches.

Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Roma, Capello asserted that the team has now fully taken on the identity of their new manager. He lauded the visible progress and cohesive spirit, highlighting the post-match celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico as a clear indicator of the bond Chivu has forged.

"Yes, we can now say it: this is Chivu's Inter. And it's a spectacle to watch," Capello stated. "It's wonderful to see the players rally around their coach like the other night at the Olimpico, because that embrace captures the bond that has been created. But it's also wonderful to see the Nerazzurri play, because everything is working wonderfully now and the team continues to grow. From game to game, from victory to victory."

AdvertisementAFPHow Chivu 'reconnected' with the squad and boosted self-esteem

Capello was keen to emphasise that Chivu's primary impact has been on the players' mentality and unity, rather than overhauling an already talented group. The decorated coach believes Chivu has successfully won over the entire dressing room, from established stars to promising youngsters, by improving their self-belief.

"This is Chivu's Inter because now all the players, from Lautaro [Martinez] to [Nicolo] Barella, from [Alessandro] Bastoni to [Hakan] Calhanoglu and [Federico] Dimarco, right down to the explosive youngsters like [Ange-Yoan] Bonny and Pio Esposito, are perfectly in tune with Cristian," Capello explained. "Chivu has got into the players' heads and reconnected. He hasn't improved the level, because that was already very high and the value of the Nerazzurri squad is beyond question, but he has improved their self-esteem, that's true, and that's a huge credit to him."

Before Inter, Chivu had been in charge of Parma for just over a year and guided them to a 16th place finish in Serie A last season. When Simone Inzaghi left Inter for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, he took the opportunity to return to San Siro, having previously coached the club's youth teams. As a player, he won three Serie A titles and the Champions League crown with the Nerazzurri.

Vertical thinking and forward pressing: The new Nerazzurri style

Beyond the psychological improvements, Capello pinpointed a clear and effective tactical shift under the former Inter defender. He praised the move away from a dogmatic, possession-based build-up in favour of a more direct and aggressive approach that prioritises forward momentum.

"Beyond the team's spirit and resources, there's the play, and in this sense too, Chivu has more than one reason to be proud," he wrote. "Because Inter thinks vertically, always presses forward, and has finally minimized the obsession with building from the back for its own sake." This change has yielded impressive results, with Inter scoring 18 goals in their opening seven league games, the highest tally in Serie A.

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AFPWhat next for Chivu's Inter?

The Nerazzurri's excellent form has them sitting second in the Serie A table, just one point behind city rivals AC Milan. Chivu’s side now faces a demanding run of fixtures that will test their title credentials and European ambitions. They travel to Belgium to face Union Saint-Gilloise in a crucial Champions League group stage match on Wednesday, before a top-of-the-table clash away to third-placed Napoli next Saturday. A home fixture against Fiorentina follows shortly after, completing a challenging period that could define the next phase of their season. Maintaining their new-found momentum will be crucial if they are to challenge on multiple fronts.

MatériaMais Notícias

Considerado uma promessa do Botafogo, Matheus Nascimento é uma das opções para o setor ofensivo da equipe. O jogador de 19 anos é considerado uma das alternativas mais frequentes a Tiquinho Soares e começa a despertar o interesse de clubes do exterior.

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Porém, o Alvinegro pede alto para que o jogador que se destaca na Seleção Sub-20 deixe o clube. A multa rescisória está avaliada em 100 milhões de euros (por volta de R$ 538 milhões) para clubes do exterior. Seu contrato foi renovado até dezembro de 2025. O jovem viajou recentemente pela Europa e conheceu outros clubes de propriedade da Eagle, de John Textor.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Líder!

Recentemente, o Botafogo recusou uma proposta de 10 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 54 milhões) do Nottingham Forest, da Inglaterra, por Matheus Nascimento. A possibilidade de negociação chegou a ser cogitada pela diretoria alvinegra, mas pesou a vontade do jovem.

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Anil Kumble, the former India captain and legspinner, believes the team must start setting transition plans in motion after the ongoing Champions Trophy, and build a new, younger team capable of challenging for the 2027 ODI World Cup.Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Matchday show ahead of India’s opening game against Bangladesh, Kumble said that head coach Gautam Gambhir will have some “tough calls” to make, irrespective of how the current team fares in the Champions Trophy.”You could say this is a very important tournament for a coach who has to make those tough calls in terms of transitioning from the legacy players to the others,” Kumble said. “But that’s the job of the coach, to make those hard decisions.”This tournament could determine where those seniors would go, and where India would look at making those changes. Win or lose, you need these tough calls to be made at the earliest. You need to start looking ahead in white-ball cricket, especially at the 2027 World Cup.”While Gambhir has a stellar record in T20Is as head coach, with 16 wins and just two losses, his credentials in ODIs and Tests have been less impressive. India lost a bilateral ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years, while in Tests, they were beaten 3-0 at home by New Zealand before losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 in Australia.Kumble stressed on the need for Gambhir to introduce young blood in the squad and ensure the new group of players have “at least 20-25 matches together” before the next ODI World Cup.”In any World Cup, you’re looking at building a squad that has played at least 20 or 25 matches together. That’s when you understand the nuances of match situations, and who to rely on. Ideally, at the end of this tournament, you must start looking ahead to the next World Cup. Do the seniors make it there? Or do we give the opportunity to youngsters to take the team forward in the shorter formats and build a strong unit? These are questions Gambhir needs to address.”He (Gambhir) has a fresh, young team and plenty of players to choose and build from, so he needs to organically start preparing for the 2027 World Cup. In T20Is, he’s done well. Suryakumar Yadav has been a great captain. The next World Cup is still two years from now, and the new set of players will need a consistent run of games playing with each other, to understand many things like the batting order, match situation, and tactics.”

Real Madrid's performance manager, Antonio Pintus, has detailed what makes Luka Modric a unique talent at 40. The coach explained that the AC Milan star's professionalism and dedication are key, but it's his 'different mentality' and relentless hunger for victory that truly separates him and fuels his remarkable longevity at the top level.

Pintus hails Modric

The beloved midfielder is still going strong despite his age, having joined Milan after a sensational 13-year period at Madrid in which he won six Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. Pintus has explained the key factors behind Modric's remarkable longevity, stating that the Milan player's unique mentality is what separates him as a "great champion." In an interview with , Pintus, who worked with the Croatian for several years in Madrid, insisted he is not surprised by the 40-year-old's immediate impact in Serie A.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPintus on Modric's 'rare' dedication

The highly-respected coach dismissed the idea of a single "secret" to Modric's enduring fitness, instead pointing to a combination of elite habits. Pintus detailed the midfielder's meticulous approach to his career, which formed the foundation of his success at the highest level.

"I don't think there's a real secret, but rather a combination of factors," Pintus explained. "Luka has an extraordinary level of professionalism: he takes great care of his training, nutrition, recovery, and above all, he has a mentality that pushes him to never settle. He's a rare example of sporting longevity, the result of daily dedication."

Getty Images Sport'The difference lies in mentality'

While acknowledging Modric's physical attributes, which were maintained through comprehensive training, Pintus believes the Croatian's mindset is his most powerful weapon. He identified Modric's hunger and work ethic as the true driving force behind his ability to compete at the top at 40 years of age.

"I agree," Pintus said when asked if mentality was the key. "The difference between a great champion and a champion often lies in mentality. Modric has a desire to work, a predisposition to fatigue, and a never-ending hunger for victory. These, even more than his physicality, are the driving force behind his longevity."

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Getty Images SportWhat next for the evergreen Modric?

Having played a staggering 63 matches for Real Madrid last season, Modric has shown no signs of slowing down since his move to AC Milan. The veteran has made a seamless transition to Italian football and is set to start his fourth consecutive Serie A game for the Rossoneri. With his fitness and desire unquestioned, Modric is expected to remain a central figure for Milan as they compete for domestic honours. Milan will travel away from home this Sunday for their Serie A fixture against Udinese. They stand fifth on the table with two wins and one loss this season so far.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may not be happy with Andrea Berta’s transfer talks to offload a “sensational talent”, with the Gunners believed to be locked in exit discussions after a meeting in the last 48 hours.

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Fresh off a solid start to their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Man United at Old Trafford, Arteta could still see a host of deals conducted at the Emirates Stadium ahead of deadline day on September 1.

Unfortunately for the supporters who wanted to see Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze link up with Arteta, that dream appears to be on the verge of collapsing.

Tottenham have verbally agreed a deal for Eze after Arsenal’s reported hesitation to move for the England international, with the club apparently deciding not to move, partly due to their desire for Ethan Nwaneri to get more minutes this season (talkSPORT).

Meanwhile, it is now believed that winger Leandro Trossard is on the verge of signing a brand-new deal at Arsenal, following previous reports that Berta could move for another left-winger if the Belgian leaves.

Given he is set for a salary increase, but the actual length of his deal hasn’t changed, it is unclear exactly what Arsenal’s plans are for the long-term when it comes to bringing in an eventual replacement for the 30-year-old.

However, in the meantime, Arsenal’s focus could be purely focused on outgoing transfers.

Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have all been linked with moves away from N5 in the last few weeks.

Stuttgart remain in lengthy talks for Vieira, which now centre around the possibility of a loan deal that includes an obligation to buy for £17 million, dependent on certain conditions.

Zinchenko has attracted interest from Italy and Turkey, with some reports suggesting that the Ukraine international has already discussed a move to Fenerbache with José Mourinho (Sabah).

Arsenal in talks to offload with FC Porto to offload Jakub Kiwior

According to GiveMeSport, following a meeting on Monday with FC Porto, Arsenal are also locked in talks over letting Jakub Kiwior depart for the Primeira Liga on loan.

The Poland international deputised brilliantly for the injured Gabriel at the back end of 2024/2025, impressing with some solid performances, but Kiwior is firmly a squad player under Arteta.

GMS report that Porto are pushing to sign Kiwior on a temporary deal, including an obligation to buy for 2026, with the major obstacle in negotiations believed to be the 25-year-old’s wages.

Francesco Farioli’s side want Arsenal to cover the majority of his salary before agreeing a move. It is interesting to note that, given just how highly Arteta rates the player, the Spaniard may not be keen to lose a reliable member of his squad.

Kiwior has also been called a “sensational talent” during his time in N5, but Portugal could now be beckoning.

The U.S. will play the two South American sides, with Mauricio Pochettino continuing to schedule tricky opponents

USMNT set friendlies with Uruguay, Paraguay for NovemberWill be final games of the year for Maurico Pochettino's side Australia and Ecuador also lined up for October Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT will play friendlies against Uruguay and Paraguay in November as their pre-2026 World Cup fixtures ramp up, the federation announced Saturday.

Paraguay are up first, with the fixture set for Nov. 15 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Uruguay follow three days later in Tampa, Florida.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The U.S. historically, have fared well against Paraguay, holding a 4-2-2 record all-time against the South American side. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 USMNT win in 2018.

Uruguay have been a far trickier opponent. The U.S. has a losing record to , most recently falling 1-0 in the 2024 Copa America group stage to seal an early exit from the competition. 

WHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

The USMNT manager outlined his excitement at the prospect of playing against two highly-regarded teams.

"The matches against two strong South American opponents are a great opportunity for our players to be challenged against the types of teams we may see in the World Cup," he said. "As we continue to develop our group, we are looking forward to the amazing support of our fans as the excitement builds for next summer."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The U.S. now have a series of friendlies lined up to conclude the calendar year. After taking on South Korea, they will face Japan, Australia and Ecuador – and then the two November matches – as Pochettino ramps up preparations for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held on home soil.

Newly-promoted Burnley have made an audacious approach to sign a Chelsea big-name this summer, with Enzo Maresca and BlueCo looking to trim their bloated squad before deadline day on September 1.

£80m Chelsea star tells agents to find him new club after becoming "unhappy"

He’s keen on leaving Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

Their £87.5 million financial windfall from winning the Club World Cup, alongside their estimated £100 million raised through player sales already, has put Chelsea in very good stead when it comes to the PSR threshold – even with their £145m splash on Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro.

However, Chelsea do still have to sell, mainly because of their recent pact with UEFA.

“Last week they came to an agreement with UEFA that basically said that if they want to register new players for the Champions League next season, they have to make sure that their transfer spend this season is balanced out this summer by the players they sell as well,” said Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol earlier this month.

“So they’ve signed players like Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. That means they also have to sell players.”

Chelsea were fined around £26.7 million by UEFA for breaching their FFP laws, and they could be slapped with an additional £51.2 million penalty if they fail to comply again in the next four years.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

That being said, the threat of a reduced Champions League squad list is even more pressing, especially as Chelsea try to upgrade further with potential deals for both Ajax defender Jorrel Hato and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons (BBC).

Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Renato Veiga, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Nicolas Jackson, João Félix, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Alfie Gilchrist have all been named as Chelsea players who could leave this summer and make room for new additions.

Chelsea will be particularly keen to offload left-back Ben Chilwell, who’s on around £200,000-per-week, and journalist Simon Phillips has an update on this.

Ben Chilwell set to leave Chelsea with Burnley approach made

The left-back once captained Chelsea but has suffered from crippling injury problems in the last few seasons, with BlueCo looking to part company.

Chilwell was never in Maresca’s plans right from the off, and was omitted from the squad last summer with Raheem Sterling, later joining Crystal Palace on loan for the second half of 2024/2025, where he impressed in flashes.

Now, Phillips reports that Burnley have made an enquiry about signing Chilwell from Chelsea, but Scott Parker’s side may only want a loan as things stand.

“Ben Chilwell will leave Chelsea this summer after spending last season on loan with Crystal Palace, which is considered a successful spell for the former England left back who was signed for Chelsea by Frank Lampard,” wrote Phillips.

“Chelsea want to sell him permanently, but most recent enquiries that have come in lately have been for a loan move only.

“SPTC sources have heard Burnley have made an enquiry to Chelsea for Chilwell to understand any conditions of a deal to sign Chilwell this summer.

“We are unclear what kind of deal Burnley would offer, but sources expect it to be some sort of loan deal. The ball will then be in Chelsea and Chilwell’s court in terms of what deal they will accept.”