Pele was hailed as an inspiration by England captain Harry Kane as the football world reacted to worrying reports about the health of the Brazil World Cup legend.
Seven years ago, Pele praised the burgeoning Kane, who had just been called into the England squad for the first time after impressing for Tottenham in the Premier League.
He described the then 21-year-old Kane as an excellent talent and urged him to look after his physical wellbeing and never believe he was the best in the business.
That praise was remembered with fondness by Kane on Saturday, as he spoke at an England press conference ahead of the Qatar 2022 last-16 game against Senegal.
Reports in Brazil have claimed the 82-year-old Pele has been moved to palliative care after a cancer battle…
Former Tottenham and England winger Aaron Lennon has announced his retirement from football.
Lennon made 28 Premier League appearances for Burnley last season, scoring twice, but was released by the club following their relegation to the Championship.
The 35-year-old initially said he would continue playing after becoming a free agent, but has now called time on a career in which he played 416 Premier League games and won 21 England caps.
Having come through Leeds United s youth system, Lennon enjoyed a successful 10-year spell at Tottenham between 2005 and 2015, featuring in 266 league games for the club and playing a key role in their 2007-08 EFL Cup win – which remains Spurs most recent major trophy.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Lennon said: I…
Pep Guardiola believes Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the greatest player of all time, describing arguments in favour of Pele or Diego Maradona as sentimental .
Messi has long been considered among the best ever, but both he and Cristiano Ronaldo trailed Pele and Maradona in the eyes of some while neither had won the World Cup.
That changed on Sunday, when Messi led Argentina to glory at Qatar 2022, matching Maradona s achievement from 1986.
However, in the eyes of Manchester City manager Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona, there was never any doubt.
Everyone has their opinion, but nobody can doubt he s there with the greatest of all time, Guardiola said. For me, I ve said many times: he s the best.
It s difficult to understand how a player …
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In what is a real heavyweight battle on Friday night, Holland and Argentina will meet at the Lusail Iconic Stadium with a World Cup semi-final spot up for grabs.
Holland
Starting with Holland, while the European giants might have failed to book their ticket out in Russia four years ago, Louis van Gaal s side have continued to shine on their return to the world stage. Enjoying what has been an extended purple patch since welcoming back the former Manchester United boss for a third stint in charge, the Oranges should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Taking seven points from their three Group A appearances and breezing their way to the knockout stage without breaking much of a sweat, Holland could be smelling the chance to s…
Didier Deschamps is preparing his France team for an intense meeting with rivals Belgium in Monday s decisive Nations League clash.
Belgium have not overcome Les Bleus in competitive action in 43 years, last managing to do so in 1981 in a World Cup qualifier.
Domenico Tedesco s side will be desperate to atone for that poor record in Brussels, knowing a defeat could end their top-two hopes.
France are two points clear of third-placed Belgium, who are three behind group leaders Italy, and Deschamps anticipates an enthralling clash with their quarter-final qualification chances on the line.
We will have a motivated Belgian team, like they always are, but even more so on Monday. There s definitely a rivalry, Deschamps told reporters on Sunday.
We fa…
You would have been forgiven for thinking the days of Jose Mourinho leading teams to European finals were over.
From 2002 to 2010, Mourinho-coached sides appeared in two Champions League finals and one UEFA Cup showdown. On each occasion, The Special One triumphed.
He had to wait seven years for his next appearance in a continental showpiece, but he kept up his 100 per cent record – Manchester United beating Ajax to lift the 2016-17 Europa League trophy.
But that was an early peak in Mourinho s United tenure. His stock has since fallen. He was sacked in 2018 and then lasted just 18 months at Tottenham, the only club he has managed so far where he has not won a trophy.
He might have had the opportunity to win the EFL Cup with Spurs, though he was sacke…
Santa s been! Santa s been! Santa s been!
Yes, it s the most wonderful time of the year and we re all awfully excited that the big man has been.
But we re even more excited by the familiarity of a hectic Premier League schedule over the next few days!
We appreciate you may be about to tuck into your dinner or snoozing after over-indulging already, but why not digest some tasty Christmas Premier League facts before cracking on with the next beer?
Wondering where you might enjoy such a gem? Well, we have you covered below, with the help of the happy little elves at Opta.
A CRUZ FOR SANTA IN DECEMBER
We ho ho hope you don t mind a little Christmas gag to headline this section to get us cracking…
It seemed only fitting to start with …
Paris St Germain have confirmed the signing of Ousmane Dembele on a five-year deal.
The forward joins from Barcelona, who said the fee was 50.4million euros (£43.5m).
Since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a fee reportedly worth up to £135.5m, Dembele made 185 appearances and scored 40 goals for the LaLiga giants.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside)
Dembele’s time at Barcelona also saw him win three Spanish league titles, two Spanish Cups and two Spanish Supercups.
The 26-year-old has been capped 37 times for France and featured at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where Les Bleus finished as runners-up.
Dembele told the club website: “I’m delighted to be joining Paris St Germain and can’t wait to play…
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of David Carmo from Porto for £10m (€11.7m), with the defender going out on loan to Olympiacos for the season.
The Portuguese-born defender, who represents Angola at international level, spent the second half of last season in Athens.
Carmo joins on a five-year deal and is Forest s ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
He began his career at Braga before moving to Porto for €20m in the summer of 2022, but only managed 27 appearances before being loaned to Olympiacos, who are owned by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, in January.
Meanwhile, reports emerged on Sunday that Forest s move to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah had broken down.
Nuno Espirito Santo s team are, however, rumoured to b…
Barcelona have handed Joao Mendes a chance to make it big at Camp Nou, just like his father Ronaldinho ascended to superstar status at the club.
The 18-year-old Mendes signed a contract on Thursday to join Barcelona s youth academy, with the young forward hoping to make the grade.
Mendes has been taken on after a trial period, having previously played at junior levels with a number of Brazilian clubs.
Across all competitions, Ronaldinho scored 98 goals in 207 games for Barcelona during a five-year spell from 2003 to 2008.
He was recruited as close to the finished article, having already shone for Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, and went on to take his game to even higher levels by helping Barcelona win two LaLiga titles and the Champions League.
W…