Arsenal suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in their history as the Premier League champions were stunned by fourth-tier minnows Fleetwood in a League Cup penalty shoot-out on Tuesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side crashed out 5-3 on penalties in an incredible fourth round upset after the tie finished 1-1 in normal time.

Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes had his penalty saved by Jay Lynch in the shoot-out and Conor Haughey scored Fleetwood’s winner.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s first-half goal had put Fleetwood ahead before Viktor Gyokeres equalised after the interval.

Arsenal’s 16-year-old rising star Max Dowman was sent off for violent conduct in the closing stages.

Arteta paid the price for prioritising Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool as his decision to make nine changes backfired spectacularly.

No one would have predicted Arsenal’s embarrassment regardless of Arteta’s selection gamble.

They had moved level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City after a 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday.

But instead of extending their run of 11 wins from their 13 previous games, Arsenal returned to north London red-faced after a loss that ranks among the darkest days in the club’s glittering history.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal suffered a shock League Cup loss against fourth tier Bradford on penalties in 2012.

Arteta’s team were beaten by second tier Southampton in the FA Cup last season and also lost to Nottingham Forest, then in the Championship, in the same competition in 2022.

Supporters of an older vintage will recall Arsenal’s 1969 League Cup final loss against third tier Swindon and their 1992 FA Cup exit at fourth tier Wrexham.

But even those painful defeats cannot compare to this remarkable result.

For once, Arsenal fans will not have fond memories of Highbury —  Fleetwood’s ground shares the same name as the Gunners’ ancestral home before their move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.

Fleetwood’s tiny 5,327-capacity ground — where goals are celebrated with a burst of children’ cartoon song Captain Pugwash over the tannoy — is a far cry from the famous marble halls and dignified grandeur of Arsenal’s former stadium.

Now it will be remembered forever as the site of Arsenal’s most chastening loss in the Arteta era.

Fleetwood boss Matt Lawlor wept tears of joy as disbelieving fans flooded the pitch to celebrate their club’s astonishing victory.

– ‘Cod Army’ uprising –

Only Myles Lewis-Skelly and Viktor Gyokeres kept their places from the Everton game, with teenagers Dowman and Marli Salmon starting, while 18-year-old winger Ceadach O’Neill made his debut.

Languishing in 18th place in League Two, Fleetwood had lost their previous two league games against Exeter and Cheltenham, yet they showed no signs of being intimidated by their illustrious visitors.

After an eight-minute delay due to an unauthorised drone flying over the stadium, Arsenal were caught cold on a windy night by the Irish Sea.

Fleetwood are nicknamed the ‘Cod Army’ in reference to the town’s fishing industry, so it was somewhat fitting that a mistake from Salmon netted their opener in the 21st minute.

Salmon’s lack of experience was brutally exposed when Loupalo-Bi muscled his way past the 17-year-old with ease, racing into the penalty area to plant a low finish past debutant keeper Illan Meslier.

Arsenal monopolised possession after that shock, but Arteta grew visibly agitated with their lack of cutting edge.

Arteta sent on Martin Odegaard at half-time and Gyokeres bagged Arsenal’s equaliser five minutes later.

It was a scrappy effort that left Fleetwood feeling aggrieved as Gyokeres wrestled with his marker before poking O’Neill’s ball past Lynch from close-range.

Dowman saw red in the 85th minute, dismissing for kicking out at Harrison Neal after a strong challenge from the Fleetwood midfielder.

Although it looked a harsh decision, Arteta was unimpressed with Dowman, giving him a stern word as the midfielder trudged off.

Both teams scored their first three penalties in the shoot-out, but Guimaraes was denied by Lynch and Haughey held his nerve to seal the biggest shock in League Cup history.

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Stan Wawrinka bid farewell to tennis as he brought the curtain down on a decorated 24-year career following a first-round exit at the Basel Open on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old Swiss announced earlier in the season that his last tournament as a professional would be the ATP 500-level event in his home country and a 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) defeat by Czech Jiri Lehecka brought an end to the career of the three-time major champion.

Former world number three Wawrinka, along with Andy Murray, was the only player to win multiple Grand Slams in a period dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

He bested Nadal to win his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2014, before beating Djokovic in the French Open final the following season and then again in the US Open title-match in 2016.

Alongside his compatriot Federer, the Lausanne native won the Davis Cup for Switzerland and claimed gold in the doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

On court in Basel, Wawrinka’s every point won, as well as several trademark booming one-handed backhands, was greeted by wild cheers from the partisan home crowd.

But Lehecka got his nose in front with a break of serve in the 11th game and sealed the opening set with an ace as he held to love.

A tight second set rumbled towards a tie-break, but it was just a step too far for Wawrinka as his 21st-ranked opponent took firm control to seal the breaker and the match.

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Sir Stanley Matthews remains the oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or, but Harry Kane has joined the list of footballers who claimed the prestigious individual award in their 30s after winning the 2026 edition.

The Bayern Munich and England striker was crowned the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or winner at a ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, becoming the first Englishman to receive the honour since Michael Owen in 2001.

At 33, Kane joined an exclusive group of footballers whose outstanding performances earned them the award well beyond their 20s. However, the record set by Matthews in the inaugural edition in 1956 remains unmatched.

The Ballon d’Or, established by French magazine France Football, recognises the best-performing footballer over a designated period. While younger stars have frequently dominated the award, several players have demonstrated that experience and consistency can also lead to individual glory.

Here are five of the oldest players to win the men’s Ballon d’Or in history.

1. Sir Stanley Matthews – 41 years old (1956)

Sir Stanley Matthews holds the record as the oldest Ballon d’Or winner in history, having received the inaugural award on December 18, 1956, at the age of 41 years and 321 days.

The English winger, who played for Blackpool at the time, beat Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano and French star Raymond Kopa to become the first recipient of the award, then known as the European Footballer of the Year.

Matthews earned the recognition after helping Blackpool finish second in England’s First Division during the 1955–56 season. His exceptional dribbling, creativity and ability to trouble defenders made him one of the most celebrated players of his generation.

His longevity was equally remarkable. Matthews continued playing professionally until he was 50, further cementing his reputation as one of football’s most enduring figures.

Nearly seven decades later, no winner has surpassed his record.

2. Lionel Messi – 36 years old (2023)

Lionel Messi became the second-oldest winner on this list when he claimed his eighth Ballon d’Or in October 2023, aged 36.

The Argentine captain received the award following his influential role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and was named the tournament’s best player.

Messi also contributed to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 title before leaving the French club for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

His eighth triumph extended his record as the player with the most men’s Ballon d’Or awards, moving him further ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the honour five times.

Messi’s achievement demonstrated that elite individual performances at international tournaments can remain decisive even when a player is in the later stages of his career.

3. Lev Yashin – 34 years old (1963)

Lev Yashin won the Ballon d’Or in 1963 at the age of 34, becoming the first goalkeeper to receive the prestigious honour.

The Soviet Union international, who spent his entire senior club career with Dynamo Moscow, was widely admired for his reflexes, command of the penalty area and ability to organise his defence.

Yashin’s achievement was particularly significant because the award has historically favoured attacking players, especially forwards and midfielders.

His victory remains a landmark in football history, as he is still the only goalkeeper to have won the men’s Ballon d’Or.

Yashin’s recognition established that goalkeepers could compete with the world’s best outfield players for the sport’s most prestigious individual prize.

4. Karim Benzema – 34 years old (2022)

Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d’Or at the age of 34 after producing one of the finest seasons of his career with Real Madrid.

The French striker played a decisive role in Madrid’s Champions League triumph, scoring 15 goals in the competition during the 2021–22 campaign.

His performances included crucial goals against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City as Real Madrid progressed to the final and defeated Liverpool to lift the trophy.

Benzema also helped Madrid win the Spanish La Liga title, finishing the season as the league’s leading scorer.

His Ballon d’Or victory was the culmination of years of consistent performances after spending much of his career sharing the spotlight with other attacking stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

He became the oldest winner since the award’s inaugural recipient, Matthews, at the time of his triumph.

5. Harry Kane – 33 years old (2026)

Harry Kane entered the Ballon d’Or record books after winning the 2026 men’s award at the age of 33.

The Bayern Munich striker was rewarded for an outstanding 2025–26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals in 65 matches across club and international football.

Kane’s performances helped Bayern retain their Bundesliga title and secure domestic honours, while his goalscoring consistency strengthened his case for the individual award.

He finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in the final voting, becoming the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Owen in 2001.

The victory also represented a major personal milestone for Kane, who had spent years establishing himself among Europe’s most prolific strikers before finally claiming one of football’s biggest individual prizes.

Although Kane remains well behind Matthews’ age record, his triumph underlined how players can continue competing at the highest level well into their 30s.

Vanguard News

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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has backed a “mature” Cole Palmer to learn from the mistakes that led to the England forward’s red card against Tottenham.

Palmer was sent off for two bookable offences during Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to their London rivals on Saturday as Spurs won a Premier League match at Stamford Bridge for just the second time in 36 years.

He was initially booked for barging into Mateus Fernandes before, with the Blues 1-0 down, Palmer was sent off 10 minutes from full time following an ugly stamp on Conor Gallagher.

“We spoke, and for sure he (Palmer) knows the mistakes he made and things that you can avoid,” Alonso told reporters on Tuesday on the eve of Chelsea’s League Cup fourth-round tie away to top-flight rivals Liverpool.

“I hope that this is not going to be repeated and he’s aware of that, he’s mature and he knows what he’s doing.”

Palmer started the season in blistering form but has not scored for five games and will miss the trip to Anfield due to suspension.

Alonso, though, said the 24-year-old remains in high spirits.

The Spaniard added: “He’s in a good space, he connects very well socially with his teammates.

“They like him, they want Cole smiling, they want Cole having fun, enjoying his game, because when we see that, we have a better day.”

Alonso, meanwhile, said forward Joao Pedro will be sidelined for “a few weeks” due to a thigh injury.

The striker, who has scored five goals in the Premier League this season, did not feature against Spurs.

Alonso said the Brazilian felt something in training and had “a lot of fluid” in his thigh.

“He has an injury on his thigh,” Alonso explained. “He’s going to be a few weeks out. Let’s see how many. We don’t want to predict on that, but not ready for the next few games.

“He’s a key player. We will miss him. But we have to be ready to deal with the injury and be competitive and win games with the players we have available, starting tomorrow.

“This is the situation. We’re ready to fight for it and show a good level.”

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

Chelsea have suffered an injury setback ahead of their Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool on Wednesday, with forward Joao Pedro expected to be sidelined for “a few weeks” with a thigh injury, head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Liverpool, Alonso said the Brazilian was not ready for the upcoming matches after sustaining the injury that ruled him out of Chelsea’s defeat to Tottenham.

“Injury on his thigh – he’s going to be a few weeks out. How many? We don’t want to predict. He’s not ready for the next games,” Alonso said, according to Sky Sports.

The Chelsea manager described Joao Pedro as a key player but insisted his side had enough depth to cope with his absence as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures.

“He’s a key player. We will miss him. We will be ready to deal with that and be ready to win games with the players we have available starting against Liverpool. We are ready to fight and show a good level,” he added.

Alonso stressed that building a strong squad meant having alternatives available when key players were injured, urging his team to focus on solutions rather than setbacks.

“This is why you build a squad. Yes, players are important but you need to build a squad. You look for solutions rather than excuses,” he said.

Alonso: Palmer knows he made a mistake

Meanwhile, Alonso said Cole Palmer understood his error after being sent off against Tottenham, a dismissal that rules the England international out of the Liverpool trip through suspension.

The Chelsea boss said he had spoken with Palmer and believed the midfielder recognised that the incident could have been avoided.

“We spoke and for sure he knows the mistake he made. Things that you can avoid. I hope that this is not going to be repeated. He’s aware of that, he’s mature and it was a mistake,” Alonso said.

Despite the suspension, Alonso expressed confidence in Palmer’s relationship with his teammates, saying the club wanted him to remain happy and enjoy his football.

“He’s in a good space, he connects very well socially with his teammates. They like him, they want Cole smiling, they want Cole having fun, enjoying his game because when we see that, he’ll have a better team,” he added.

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany is improving after collapsing during training last week, but there is no confirmed date for his return, assistant coach Aaron Danks has said.

According to Reuters, the Belgian was rushed to hospital on Friday after collapsing during a reserve-team training session. The 40-year-old had been battling a virus and had missed some training sessions in the days leading up to the incident.

Danks, who visited Kompany on Monday, said the Bayern manager was in good spirits and appeared to be getting better each day, although there had been no major update on his diagnosis or return to work.

“I paid him a short visit yesterday,” Danks told reporters on Tuesday ahead of Bayern’s German Cup second-round match against Magdeburg.

“He is in good spirits. It looks like every day he is getting better. There are no major updates in terms of diagnosis or return to work. Let him rest, let him take his time,” he added.

Bayern face a demanding run of fixtures in Kompany’s absence, beginning with Wednesday’s German Cup tie against Magdeburg, followed by Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with title rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The German champions will then travel to Spain next week to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Danks said his conversation with Kompany was informal, adding that they avoided discussing football tactics.

“We had some good conversations with Kompany but kept it away from football and specific tactics,” he said. “It was just a friendly chat and nice to see him and catch up.”

The assistant coach also reflected on an emotional week for Bayern, with Kompany’s health scare coming shortly before striker Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or on Monday.

Kane became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the prestigious award, following Michael Owen’s triumph in 2001.

Danks said the contrasting events had tested the squad emotionally but praised the team’s unity in dealing with the situation.

“For us, we are super professional. Full extremes of life in the last week. Joys and highs for Harry and the lows of the last days,” he said.

“To get through these moments we had to rely on our chemistry, our team spirit and that definitely helped us,” Danks added.

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Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following remarks by Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe about Mao Zedong, state-owned China Media Group announced Tuesday.

CMG, which oversees public broadcaster CCTV, said in a release that it had suspended the broadcast of La Liga matches, as well as advertisements involving the French player, following his comments in a viral video.

The group said it had reached the decision on Monday, according to the statement.

It also said that apologies from La Liga, Mbappe and Real Madrid were “an absolute prerequisite” and that nothing would be discussed until such apologies were received.

Mbappe apologised in a statement on Tuesday, describing his comment about Mao as “ill-judged” and that he understood “it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world”.

Spain’s La Liga also apologised in a separate statement, saying that it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.

Major Chinese brands, including beverage giant Dongpeng, responded to the comments by dropping the France captain.

AFP

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By Emmanuel Okogba

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has thanked his wife, Katie Goodland, for her support after being named winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, declaring that his achievement “wouldn’t be possible without you.”

He expressed gratitude to Goodland following the announcement, acknowledging her support throughout his football career as he celebrated one of the sport’s biggest individual honours.

Kane, 33, had while receiving the award, spoken for more than 10 minutes, thanking his long-term partner, Goodland, and mother to his four children.

“To my wife, Kate, my best friend,” Kane said. “We’ve been through ups and downs for sure. You’re my biggest supporter. I actually felt like you wanted this more than me myself. 

“The anxious wait for us to find out, I know it’s been horrible for you, here it is – we’ve done it! You always want the best for me, you sacrifice yourself to help me achieve my dreams, and I know they’re your dreams as well, so it wouldn’t be possible without you.

“This is a trophy that we celebrate, not me. This is me and you, it’s all the family, all our close-knit team, so I just want to say thank you, I love you. 

“Can’t wait to enjoy this and celebrate tonight for sure. Love you.”

The England captain enjoyed an impressive campaign with Bayern Munich last season, playing a key role in the club’s title-winning success and reinforcing his reputation as one of Europe’s leading forwards.

He also featured for England at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, where the Three Lions finished third.

Kane emerged ahead of a final three-man shortlist that included France international Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and Spanish forward Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.

The Ballon d’Or recognises outstanding individual performances in football, with Kane’s contributions at club and international levels placing him among the leading contenders for the award.

Kane will now look to build on the achievement as he continues his pursuit of further success with Bayern Munich and England.

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Kylian Mbappe apologised on Tuesday after the Real Madrid star was dropped by major Chinese brands for apparently joking about Mao Zedong in a video that has gone viral.

There were also signs of broader repercussions, with state-run The Paper reporting that public television was suspending broadcasts of matches from Spain’s La Liga.

The offending video shows Mbappe saying that the funniest internet meme he had seen involving him was of his face photo-shopped onto that of “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.

This was an apparent reference to a meme of Mbappe superimposed on an image of Mao.

The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified by AFP Fact Check.

“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” French forward Mbappe said in a statement in French, Chinese and English.

Spain’s La Liga also apologised, saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent La Liga.”

In China, jokes about Mao, the country’s founding leader who died in 1976 — and whose drastic policies are also blamed by historians for mass starvation and millions of deaths — remain taboo.

Beverage giant Dongpeng, which during this year’s World Cup ran adverts with AI-generated images of Mbappe consuming its sport drink, said it was terminating all cooperation with the France captain.

“Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments,” Dongpeng said in a statement.

Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, and cheesemaker Milkground also said that they were cutting ties with Mbappe, who until now was hugely popular among Chinese fans with millions of social media followers.

“Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” was the top-trending topic on Chinese social media site Weibo with 430 million views.

One Weibo user said the “extremely serious wrong remarks… crossed the red line” and others urged Dongpeng to remove Mbappe’s image from their bottles.

Dongqiudi, one of China’s biggest online football outlets, said Mbappe’s remarks were “offensive to China and the Chinese people”.

– Furore –

In an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the 27-year-old Mbappe in September addressed a previous meme depicting him as a military dictator.

“There’s a part of it that’s funny… but there is another part that’s a bit less funny because of the damage such people have caused throughout history,” he said.

China’s foreign ministry said it was aware of the reports regarding Mbappe, who on Monday finished runner-up to English forward Harry Kane in the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player.

“Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with unanimous rejection from all sectors of Chinese society,” spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing.

State media outlet The Paper cited sources at the state broadcaster saying that CCTV has suspended all broadcasts of La Liga matches, and removed all advertisements involving Mbappe.

On the CCTV website, La Liga matches this weekend were still on its online viewing schedule.

– Drawing China’s ire –

Global sports stars who have commented on sensitive topics such as Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong have previously caused controversy in China and been dumped by sponsors.

China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA while the state broadcaster pulled NBA games off Chinese television for a year in October 2019.

This followed Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeting “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong”, referring to protests Beijing called separatist and seditious.

Adam Zhang, founder of the Beijing-based sports consultancy firm Key-Solution Sports Consulting, speaking before Mbappe apologised, said a rapid response was needed to quell the growing crisis.

“It’s crucial to make a sincere statement. The sooner, the better,” Zhang told AFP.

Fans made their feelings clear.

“I used to really enjoy watching Mbappe play on the pitch,” Zhang Jingqi, 30, who works at a mall in Beijing, said.

“But ever since this news broke yesterday I have lost that admiration, sorry to say.”

AFP

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Michael Carrick is set to remain in charge of Manchester United for this weekend’s Premier League match away to Chelsea, according to media reports on Tuesday.

Carrick’s future as United manager has been the subject of intense speculation after a run of eight games without a win.

Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth left the English giants just one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

But the BBC, Sky Sports and Britain’s Press Association all reported that former United and England midfielder Carrick would take the team to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Carrick arrived at United’s Carrington training ground on Tuesday to oversee a routine squad session.

The BBC cited “sources” as saying the 45-year-old would be given a chance by the United hierarchy to turn things around at Old Trafford following a terrible start to the season.

Carrick was handed a two-year deal in May after overseeing an impressive revival as caretaker boss following United’s struggles under Ruben Amorim.

The club recovered to finish third in the Premier League, earning a return to the Champions League.

AFP

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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca on Tuesday defended goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and centre-back Marc Guehi after costly mistakes in their first Premier League defeat of the season at Aston Villa.

Nicolas Jackson took advantage of errors from the pair as Villa won 2-1 on Saturday, ending City’s perfect run of seven wins from seven league games.

Defeat left City level on points with champions Arsenal at the top of the table, but they are ahead of the Gunners on goal difference.

Maresca spoke up for his players ahead of a tough League Cup fourth-round match against Brighton at the Etihad on Wednesday.

“Gigio (Donnarumma), I think, since we started, is doing well. Like any player, like any manager, at some point is making some mistakes.

“But it’s part of the season. Again, they are playing so many games, so many minutes, that sometimes it’s almost impossible to (not) make some mistakes.”

And Maresca said he was “completely happy” with England defender Guehi.

“Because in the way he reacts, he’s fantastic, he’s a top guy,” he said. “Again, he’s one of the captains, he’s a leader, and I love Marc, to be honest.

“And again, it’s the same with Gigio — when they make some mistakes, they recognise.”

Maresca said Donnarumma was among a group of players who had been given time off to recharge after the Villa defeat, also including Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Josko Gvardiol and captain Ruben Dias.

“After Villa, we gave five players three days off to recover energy — Erling, Ruben, Elliot, Gigio and Josko,” he said. “They are all on holiday.”

AFP

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Venus Williams suffered her 16th loss in a row in singles tennis as the 46-year-old American icon was defeated by teenager Lilli Tagger in straight sets at the Guangzhou Open on Tuesday.

Austria’s Tagger, who is 28 years younger than the former world number one, eased through 6-2, 6-2 in southern China.

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, last won a singles match on the WTA Tour in July last year.

Now ranked 599 in the world, Williams last played at the US Open in August-September, when she lost in the first round in straight sets to Sofia Kenin.

Williams won in the doubles with Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in Guangzhou on Monday.

They will play again on Wednesday.

The 53rd-ranked Tagger faces Magda Linette of Poland in the next round.

AFP

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Cristiano Ronaldo is in Portugal’s preliminary squad for next month’s Nations League matches, opening the door to an international return after his fallout with coach Jorge Jesus, a federation source told AFP on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old abruptly left the Portugal camp on September 30 during the opening qualifiers for the Nations League, before accusing Jesus of breaking his word about giving him game time.

A spokesperson for the Portuguese football federation (FPF) confirmed reports Ronaldo was in line for a return to the squad ahead of games at home to Denmark and in Wales on November 14 and 17.

Jesus will announce his final squad on November 6, the spokesperson added.

The FPF last week announced it had handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension for walking out. The suspension was backdated, meaning he will be free to return by the end of this week.

Ronaldo apologised to supporters earlier in October, adding he would accept any punishment that was imposed.

In a social media post shortly after deserting his teammates, he accused Jesus of promising to give him playing time against Norway before failing to honour it but insisted he was not retiring from international duty.

He said a further bone of contention between him and the coach was Jesus had not mentioned at a press conference prior to the game with Denmark a series of points they had agreed upon.

Reigning champions Portugal won all four of their Nations League matches, three of them without Ronaldo, and qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the all-time top goalscorer and record appearance-maker in men’s international football.

Ronaldo, who made his Portugal debut in 2003 at the age of 18, has said this will “probably” be his final year in football.

tsc/jde/mw/pi

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Harry Kane said Tuesday that his Ballon d’Or triumph “feels like a dream” as tributes poured in for the first English winner of the award in a generation.

The England and Bayern Munich forward fended off competition from Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to be named the world’s best men’s footballer at the London Palladium theatre late on Monday.

Wembley was lit up to recognise Kane’s achievement, with England’s X account carrying the message: “The home of the world’s best footballer.”

The former Tottenham forward is the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.

The 33-year-old struck a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, propelling the German giants to a league and cup double.

The England captain, who also picked up the men’s striker of the year award, scored six times as his side finished third at the World Cup in North America.

“It sounds crazy to be honest but it sounds pretty good,” Kane told Sky Sports on Tuesday. “What a special night. An incredible feeling. I’m still just trying to take it all in really. It feels really, really like a dream.

“The emotion (when his name was called) was relief, joy, happiness, excitement. There was so much waiting to find out the winner and in that moment it was quite nerve-wracking so to have that kind of release and to be able to share it with everyone there in that theatre was special.”

Prince William, patron of the Football Association, praised the England skipper.

“What a fantastic achievement and so deserved,” he wrote on Instagram.

“A brilliant captain, a remarkable player and someone who has given football fans across the world so many unforgettable moments.”

– Superlatives –

England boss Thomas Tuchel, who was Bayern boss when Kane arrived in Germany in 2023, said the Three Lions were “lucky” to have him as their leader.

“I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I’m delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world,” he said.

“To become the first Englishman to win this huge honour in 25 years makes it extra special and we are lucky to have you as our leader.”

England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice described Kane as “incredible” while Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers, another international teammate, said he was the “best ever”.

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer said the award was “a proud day for FC Bayern”.

“Harry Kane can do it all –- and he scores goals, goals and more goals. He now joins a line with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (as previous Ballon d’Or winners) –- that says everything about our history,” he said.

“The club and Harry Kane have got together, grown together and achieved the highest aims together. We are proud that this all-round outstanding sportsman and person is part of our FC Bayern family.”

Harry Redknapp, former Tottenham manager, described his all-round game as “brilliant”.

“It isn’t just his goalscoring that is good, it is his all-round play, and the way he is and the way he is around the players. He is great as the England captain,” he told the BBC.

“No one could have deserved this more, it has been a brilliant story.”

AFP

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By Enitan Abdultawab

Harry Kane has joined an exclusive group of English footballers to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, becoming the fifth Englishman to claim the men’s award after his remarkable 2025/26 campaign with Bayern Munich and England.

The England captain scored 73 goals for club and country last season, ending a 25-year wait for an English winner following Michael Owen’s triumph in 2001.

Here are the English players who have won the Ballon d’Or and the years they claimed football’s prestigious individual honour.

Sir Stanley Matthews (1956)

The legendary Blackpool winger became the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner when he received the award in 1956. Known for his exceptional dribbling skills and ability to beat defenders, Matthews made history at the age of 41, a record that still makes him the oldest winner of the award.

Sir Bobby Charlton (1966)

Charlton won the Ballon d’Or in the same year England lifted their first and only FIFA World Cup title. The Manchester United legend played a key role in the Three Lions’ triumph on home soil, scoring three goals during the tournament, including two in the semi-final victory over Portugal.

Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979)

Keegan became the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or in consecutive years. He claimed the award in 1978 and retained it in 1979 while playing for German side Hamburg. His performances in Germany established him as one of the leading footballers of his generation.

Michael Owen (2001)

Owen became the fourth Englishman to win the award after an outstanding year with Liverpool. He helped the club secure the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in the 2000/01 season, scoring crucial goals along the way. His speed, finishing and memorable performances for club and country helped him beat the competition for the award.

Harry Kane (2026)

Kane became the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or after an extraordinary season with Bayern Munich and England. His 73 goals across 65 appearances helped Bayern win the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. He also helped England finish third at the 2026 World Cup, their best result since winning the tournament in 1966.

Kane’s triumph ended the long wait for another English winner and placed him alongside some of the biggest names in the country’s football history.

A record worth noting: Although five Englishmen have won the award, Kevin Keegan remains the only English player to have won it twice in consecutive years. Kane is the latest addition to a list that stretches back seven decades.

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Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks on Tuesday praised Harry Kane after his Ballon d’Or win, saying the striker will already be focused on scoring his “next goal”.

Kane, 33, was awarded the prestigious honour in his hometown of London on Monday evening, breaking through to win the award for the first time.

Englishman Danks, who is in the dugout while head coach Vincent Kompany recovers in hospital from a virus, said receiving the game’s highest individual award would not change the England captain’s mindset.

“I’m really happy for him and proud of what he’s achieved. I know Harry and his full focus will now be on his next goal, his next performances, his next games,” Danks said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“He’ll be straight back into that professional, humble mindset that got him to this level.”

Kane had won several goalscoring honours and was runner-up in the Premier League and Champions League with Tottenham but did not break through for a first team trophy until after he moved to Bayern in 2023.

Since arriving in Munich, Kane has won two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup, along with making the Champions League semi-finals in two of three seasons at Bayern.

Danks said the former Spurs striker was finally getting the recognition he deserves.

“I remember years ago when he was back home in England and everybody spoke about him not winning trophies, but if you looked at his career and what he was achieving, he was having a fantastic career.

“He was taking the England team to European finals, he was taking Tottenham to Champions League finals.

“Maybe he wasn’t getting the recognition in terms of trophies that he deserved, but those things are coming now for him.”

Kane and the remaining Bayern contingent who went to London for the ceremony will return to Munich later on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s German Cup match against second-tier Magdeburg.

“They’re due back at lunchtime today. He’ll train, practice this afternoon and be available for tomorrow… Our full focus is on the game tomorrow,” Danks said.

Danks also said he had visited Kompany in hospital and revealed the manager, who was rushed to hospital on Friday after collapsing on the training pitch, was improving.

“He’s in good spirits. It looks like every day he’s getting better. There’s no major updates in terms of diagnosis or a return to work, it’s very calm, let him rest, let him recover.”

After seven games, Bayern sit top of the Bundesliga, level on points but ahead on goal difference from Borussia Dortmund, with the two sides facing off in Munich on Saturday.

AFP

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Kylian Mbappe was dropped on Tuesday by major Chinese brands after a video circulated of the Real Madrid and France superstar apparently joking about Mao Zedong.

There were also signs of broader repercussions, with state-run The Paper reporting that public television was suspending broadcasts of matches from Spain’s La Liga.

The offending video shows Mbappe saying that the funniest internet meme he had seen involving him was of his face photo-shopped onto that of “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.

This was an apparent reference to a meme of Mbappe superimposed on an image of Mao, one of several using the footballer’s face and other historical figures.

The authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified by AFP Fact Check.

In China, jokes about Mao, the country’s founding leader who died in 1976 — and whose drastic policies are also blamed by historians for mass starvation and millions of deaths — remain taboo.

Beverage giant Dongpeng, which during this year’s World Cup ran adverts with AI-generated images of Mbappe consuming its sports drink, said it was terminating all cooperation with the France captain.

“Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments,” Dongpeng said in a statement.

Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, and cheesemaker Milkground also said that they were cutting ties with Mbappe, who until now was hugely popular among Chinese fans with millions of followers on social media.

Mbappe is fondly nicknamed “Guigui”, the Chinese translation of “Turtle”, due to his popularity as a character in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meme.

“Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” was the top-trending topic on Chinese social media site Weibo with 430 million views.

One Weibo user said that the “extremely serious wrong remarks… crossed the red line”.

Others urged Dongpeng to remove Mbappe’s image from their energy drink bottles.

Dongqiudi, one of China’s biggest online football outlets, said in a statement on Monday evening that Mbappe’s remarks were “offensive to China and the Chinese people”.

– Furore –

In an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the 27-year-old Mbappe in September addressed a previous meme depicting him as a military dictator.

“There’s a part of it that’s funny… but there is another part that’s a bit less funny because of the damage such people have caused throughout history,” he said.

Asked on Tuesday about the controversy, China’s foreign ministry said that it was aware of the reports.

“Words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with unanimous rejection from all sectors of Chinese society,” spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing.

State media outlet The Paper cited sources at the state broadcaster saying that CCTV has suspended all broadcasts of La Liga matches, and that all advertisements involving Mbappe have also been removed.

On the CCTV website all searches for “Mbappe” drew no result, although there were still results for “Real Madrid”, and La Liga matches this weekend were still on its online viewing schedule.

– Drawing China’s ire –

Global sports stars who have commented on sensitive topics such as Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong have previously caused controversy in China and been dumped by sponsors there.

China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA while the state broadcaster pulled NBA games off Chinese television for a year in October 2019.

This followed Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeting “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong”, referring to protests Beijing called separatist and seditious.

Adam Zhang, founder of the Beijing-based sports consultancy firm Key-Solution Sports Consulting, said that Mbappe’s team needed to act quickly to manage the growing crisis.

“It’s crucial to make a sincere statement. The sooner, the better,” Zhang, who has advised many companies on sports advertising strategies, told AFP.

Fans made their feelings clear.

“I used to really enjoy watching Mbappe play on the pitch,” Zhang Jingqi, 30, who works at a mall in central Beijing, told AFP.

“But ever since this news broke yesterday I have lost that admiration, sorry to say.”

AFP

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By Ayobami Okerinde

Barcelona and Spain forward Vicky López has paid an emotional tribute to her late Nigerian mother, Joy Felix, after winning the Women’s Young Player of the Year award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder dedicated the honour to her mother, who died when she was 11, saying she continued to feel her presence despite her absence.

“Mum, although you can’t be with me physically, I feel your presence every day. Everything I’ve achieved I owe to you, so thank you for teaching me never to give up,” López said.

“Thank you to everyone in football and let’s keep making this sport better.”

The Barcelona star, whose father is Spanish and mother Nigerian, was born in 2006 in Vallecas, a working-class neighbourhood in Madrid.

Her journey in football began at an early age, playing in the streets with her older brother, Jesus, when she was just four.

Spanish football journalist Irati Vidal told BBC Sport that López’s style was heavily influenced by street football, where she developed the flair, agility and speed that have become part of her game.

“Vicky learned her craft on the streets of Vallecas, her style is very street-influenced,” Vidal said.

“She used to play for fun while admiring and trying to copy Neymar’s dribbles.”

López’s latest recognition follows an impressive 2025-26 campaign in which Barcelona won Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The award was her second consecutive Women’s Young Player of the Year honour, having also won the inaugural edition in 2025.

Beyond her club achievements, López has set her sights on representing Spain at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

“I think wearing the Spain shirt is a dream that all girls who play football have,” she told Antena 3 Deportes.

“For me, winning a World Cup with Spain would be one of the greatest achievements.”

Her ambition is also tied to the memory of her mother, whom she has described as a major source of motivation.

“For me, my mother is everything. A goal I have in life is to make her proud.”

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Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph is the crowning moment for a player whose trophy collection does not do justice to his remarkable talent and consistency.

The Bayern Munich striker, 33, is the first Englishman to win football’s most coveted individual honour since Michael Owen in 2001.

Kane’s numbers are staggering and the England captain appears to be improving with age, with 73 goals for club and country last season.

In September he became the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals, hitting the landmark on his 98th league appearance for Bayern.

He is also Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer with 280 goals, England’s record scorer with 91, and the highest-scoring English player in the Champions League (58).

But for all his personal achievements in club and international football, Kane’s medal collection is limited to German domestic triumphs since he arrived at Bayern in 2023.

He was on the losing side for Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool and was in England teams that twice lost the European Championship final.

Kane’s lethal finishing is not the only string to his bow.

Honing an instinct he first developed as a youth team player, Kane has also blossomed into a gifted playmaker.

“I feel like I’ve always had the passing range and the vision and the football brain — the game understanding — throughout my whole career, and I think that’s just flourished these last couple of years especially, these last few years since I’ve been here at Bayern,” he told UEFA.com.

– Ageing like fine wine –

The clean-cut Kane, married to his childhood sweetheart Katie Goodland, is an understated throwback in an era of football bling.

But it has not always been plain sailing for a player who struggled to make an impression early in his career with Tottenham and was farmed out to other clubs on loan.

There were almost two years between Kane’s first Spurs goal, against Shamrock Rovers in 2011, and his next, against Hull in 2013.

Even after his breakthrough season in 2014/15, he was dubbed a “one-season wonder”, an accusation that has proved laughably wide of the mark.

Bayern boss Vincent Kompany has spoken of Kane’s numerous qualities, including his distribution, work rate and “game intelligence”.

“To combine that side of his game with the numbers he has, you have to do the job to help the team progress and then still arrive in the box, so it is not an easy thing,” Kompany said.

“That is something we have seen and been able to enjoy, and that was maybe underestimated at the time in England, but he is ageing like fine wine so I am just enjoying seeing that side of his game for us as well.”

Bayern teammate Jonathan Tah praised Kane’s remarkable work ethic after seeing it up close.

“I played against him a lot and every time he got better — now I’m playing with him I see why,” he told the Times.

“He’s never satisfied, you see him working before and after training. He’s the greatest finisher I’ve seen in my life — and he’s still working on it.”

jw/smg/gj

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Harry Kane has been named the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in the final top 10 ranking.

The Bayern Munich striker claimed the prestigious individual award after an impressive campaign, with several of the world’s biggest football stars featuring among the leading contenders.

Mbappé finished second, while Barcelona youngster Yamal secured third place in the ranking.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri came fourth, followed by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in fifth position.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished sixth, with teammate Ousmane Dembélé taking seventh place.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was ranked eighth, while Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise finished ninth.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz completed the top 10 in 10th place.

2026 Ballon d’Or: Full Top 10 Ranking

1. Harry Kane

2. Kylian Mbappé

3. Lamine Yamal

4. Rodri

5. Lionel Messi

6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

7. Ousmane Dembélé

8. Erling Haaland

9. Michael Olise

10.Fabián Ruiz

Kane’s victory places him ahead of a star-studded field featuring established winners and some of the leading players of the current generation.

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