Category: Football

Former Brazil captain Neymar said he is considering retirement at the end of the year after being hampered by injuries, but hopes to go to the FIFA World Cup 2026 first.

The ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker returned in January 2025 to his boyhood club Santos from Saudi club Al-Hilal.

After an injury-interrupted first season, he extended his contract until the end of 2026 but then missed the start of the Brazilian season in January after undergoing knee surgery in late December.

“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” the striker told Brazilian online channel Caze.

“It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.”

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He made his return as a second-half replacement in a Sao Paulo championship match on February 16, 11 days after his 34th birthday.

“Obviously, I wanted to come back to help my team in the best way possible, but I ended up holding back a little so I could come back 100 per cent,” he said.

Neymar is the all-time leading scorer for Brazil, with 79 goals, two more than Pele, but has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury against Uruguay.

Carlo Ancelotti has not called up Neymar since taking over as Brazil coach last May.

“This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too,” Neymar said. “So it’s a huge challenge.”

READ: La Liga leaders Real Madrid stung by late Osasuna winner

Raul Garcia’s superb 90th-minute strike consigned leaders Real Madrid to a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, in a blow to their title hopes.

Champions Barcelona trail Madrid by two points but can overtake them on Sunday if they beat Levante at Camp Nou.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s Madrid put on a below-par performance in Pamplona and fell behind to an Ante Budimir penalty, before Vinicius Junior pulled the visitors level.

The second leg of Madrid’s Champions League play-off against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday seemed to play on their minds as they failed to kick on at El Sadar.

Vinicius, who scored a sensational goal to give Madrid a slender first-leg lead but was then the victim of alleged racial abuse, thought he had earned his team a point before Garcia blasted home the winner.

Croatian target man Budimir curled narrowly wide of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’s far post early on, the first of many problems he gave the visitors.

The Belgian stopper made an excellent save a few minutes later, after Budimir tried to nod home Ruben Garcia’s cross under pressure from Alvaro Carreras.

Budimir also clipped the post with a header as Osasuna impressed, with their victory helping them rise to ninth.

Madrid defender David Alaba came close when Alejandro Catena blocked his shot, shortly before the hosts took the lead.

Budimir burst into the area and went down under a challenge from Courtois. Although he was initially booked for diving, a VAR review showed the goalkeeper stood on his foot.

The veteran forward took the resulting penalty himself and sent Courtois the wrong way to give Osasuna the lead.

Osasuna sat deep at times in the second half, looking to fend off 15-time European champions Madrid.

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Arda Guler came close with a vicious shot that flew just over.

Chasing an equaliser, Arbeloa threw on creative duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim Diaz and his team began to take control.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe put the ball in the back of Osasuna’s net but had edged offside, although the equaliser was not long in coming.

Fede Valverde charged into the box with the ball, unperturbed by Osasuna’s defenders bouncing off him, before crossing for Vinicius to tuck home.

It was the Brazilian’s fifth goal in his last four games across all competitions, having found his best form since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm in January.

Mbappe, La Liga’s top goalscorer, should have put Madrid ahead with 10 minutes to go, but Javi Galan brilliantly blocked his shot.

Alexander-Arnold curled a free-kick wide as the clock ticked down, and it looked like Madrid were left ruing two points dropped, when the third was taken away from them too.

Raul Garcia cut inside the sliding Raul Asencio brilliantly and fired across Courtois and in at the far post.

The striker’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, but a VAR review showed he was onside and the goal was given.

It was the first time Osasuna have beaten Madrid in La Liga for 15 years.

Real Betis, fifth, were held 1-1 at home against Rayo Vallecano earlier Saturday, leaving them three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s side host Espanyol later on, aiming to make amends after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat by Rayo.

READ: Son’s LAFC defeats Messi’s Inter Miami in MLS season opener

Son Heung-min bested Lionel Messi in the battle of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) global superstars, spearheading a comfortable 3-0 win for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) over Inter Miami on the US league’s opening weekend.

The South Korean, already beloved in California as he embarks on his first full season, set up a first-half strike for David Martinez, before Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz sealed victory.

Leading the Black-and-Gold’s potent attacking trio with Bouanga and Martinez, Son cantered through the centre of Miami’s defence all night, raucously cheered by some 76,000 fans, the second-largest attendance in MLS history.

The Saturday night game had been moved to the cavernous Memorial Coliseum to accommodate the demand for MLS’s two best-known players, with commissioner Don Garber boasting the league could have sold out LAFC’s usual stadium “five times.”

But for those who poured in to see eight-time Ballon d’Or-winner Messi, there were slim pickings, as the tightly marked 38-year-old failed to get a shot on target despite Miami dominating possession.

LAFC started brightly, allowing Miami plenty of the ball but attacking swiftly on the break.

Gabonese star Bouanga looked particularly dangerous, playing through Son for an early one-on-one. But the South Korean could not get a shot away, running it wide to the keeper’s right.

At the other end, Lionel Messi, who has had limited training opportunities since picking up a hamstring strain in a friendly two weeks ago, looked off the pace.

The Argentine great repeatedly lost possession, and as the frustration built, LAFC struck.

With Rodrigo De Paul robbed on the centre circle, the ball fell to Son, who was given too much time by backpedalling Miami defenders.

He slid the ball out to the right to Martinez. The young Venezuelan curled it round the keeper with a first-time shot, inside the back post.

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Moments later, Messi’s first genuine chance from the edge of the box flashed inches wide.

Miami came out after the break with more aggression, and Messi briefly pulled the strings, firing another shot just over the crossbar.

Around the hour mark, the World Cup winner collided face-first with the back of Ryan Porteous and was down on the ground for a minute or so, but clambered back up to the relief of his team and nation.

LAFC were happy to soak up the pressure. And their patience was soon rewarded.

Timothy Tillman played a giant, looping through ball from deep in his own half to Bouanga, who headed it over the rushing keeper, rounded him and knocked it into the net.

Son Heung-min should have had another assist, pulling it back from the touchline to Bouanga, who this time could not latch on to the opportunity.

The South Korean was hooked moments later, looking frustrated to be hauled off with just minutes remaining despite the hearty applause.

His replacement, Ordaz, put the game to rest, slotting in from a mazy run down the left and a low cross by Bouanga.

The game served as a suitably splashy start for a hugely important MLS season that will be split in two by the 2026 World Cup, which takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

World Cup host countries typically see boosts for their domestic leagues, and MLS bosses are determined to keep US eyeballs on the planet’s biggest sport long after national teams have returned home.

Speaking to AFP at half-time, MLS commissioner Gerber said the league will splash “tens of millions” of dollars on its biggest ever marketing effort, to harness the upcoming huge spike in soccer interest.

READ: Deflated Australia face tough questions after T20 World Cup flop

Chelsea’s chances of Champions League qualification were dented as Burnley snatched a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Aston Villa also struck late to salvage a point against Leeds on Saturday.

The Blues climb into the Premier League’s top four only on goal difference after they paid for failing to build on Joao Pedro’s fourth-minute opener.

Chelsea were dominant until Wesley Fofana was sent off with 18 minutes remaining for a second yellow card.

Burnley took full advantage as Zian Flemming headed in from a corner in the 93rd minute to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

The Clarets edge to within eight points of safety.

Villa defied the odds to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race until recent weeks, but a 1-1 draw continued their poor run at Villa Park.

Anton Stach’s spectacular free-kick from fully 40 yards (37 metres) at an angle caught out Emi Martinez at his near post to give Leeds the advantage.

Daniel Farke’s men have lost just twice in their last 16 games to relieve their fears of being dragged into a battle for survival.

But Tammy Abraham then snatched a point for Villa two minutes from time.

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Five Premier League sides are set to qualify for next season’s Champions League thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season.

But Liverpool and Manchester United have the chance to close in when they face Nottingham Forest and Everton in the coming days.

James Milner set a new record of 654 Premier League appearances in Brighton’s 2-0 win at Brentford.

The 40-year-old started for the Seagulls as they secured a first win in seven games to ease the pressure on boss Fabian Hurzeler.

Diego Gomez drilled in the opening goal for the visitors after Ferdi Kadioglu’s stunning strike came back off the bar.

Danny Welbeck then pounced on some slack Brentford defending to double Brighton’s lead just before half-time.

Manchester City can close to within two points of leaders Arsenal when they host Newcastle in Saturday’s 2000GMT kick-off.

The Gunners have breathed new life into City’s title challenge with disappointing draws at Brentford and Wolves since Pep Guardiola’s men last played in the Premier League.

Arsenal are in action on Sunday when they travel to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

READ: Flick tells Barca stars to feel ‘responsibility’ after damaging defeats

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told his team they must feel responsibility after two damaging defeats ahead of Sunday’s clash against Levante in La Liga.

The Catalan giants are bolstered by the return of Pedri Gonzalez and Marcus Rashford after injury as they aim to overhaul Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.

After a 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid last week in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, Barca fell to a 2-1 league defeat against Girona on Monday, giving Los Blancos a two-point advantage at the summit.

“I think everyone is convinced about what we are doing, of course in these moments it’s not easy,” Flick told reporters Saturday.

“For me, communication is always important. We were very honest and also very open, it’s not only me telling them what to do, I want to ask them. This is how I manage the team.

“It is important because we need leaders on the pitch, they should (be able) to say something. That’s how communication is, on the same eye-level.

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“At the end, I have to decide things, that is my job, but I want the players to feel the responsibility about this situation, and I think they do.”

Rashford returns after a fortnight out with a knee problem, while key playmaker Pedri has missed a month with a hamstring injury.

“The positive thing is Rashford is back, Pedri is back,” said Flick.

“Maybe (Pedri) can play some minutes, the important thing is he’s training, with his quality.

“He’s an important player for us, he’s a different kind of leader because of his quality.

“He can also be one of these leaders for the future for this club.”

Flick also confirmed 21-year-old midfielder Gavi is back in training after undergoing knee surgery in September 2025.

Real Madrid visit Osasuna on Saturday, aiming to stretch their lead on Barca before Levante visit Camp Nou.

READ: Suryakumar backs misfiring Abhishek despite three ducks

Mikel Arteta challenged spluttering Arsenal to start writing their “own destiny” in Sunday’s north London derby at Tottenham after losing control of the Premier League title race.

Arteta’s side held a commanding lead in their bid to win a first English title since 2004, but the leaders have allowed second-placed Manchester City to close within five points of top spot.

City, who face Newcastle on Saturday, have a game in hand over Arsenal and will host the Gunners in a crucial clash in April.

If Pep Guardiola’s team win their remaining 12 matches, they will take the title regardless of Arsenal’s results in their last 11 games.

It is a painful scenario for Arteta, who presided over Arsenal’s blown leads in title races won by City in 2023 and 2024.

The Gunners have finished as runners-up for the last three seasons, and their latest untimely stumble has raised pointed questions about their ability to cope with the pressure of the title race.

But Mikel Arteta is adamant his players can handle the tension, as long as they embrace the opportunity to make history.

“What I have seen is a tremendous reaction again. When you lose points with the last kick of the game, in an unpredictable manner, nobody can really understand that. But this is football,” he told reporters on Friday.

“Life moves on, there’s nothing we can do. It is about what happens next.

“That was a chapter. In chapter 27, we draw against Wolves. In the next one it is about how we write our own destiny going forward.”

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Arsenal have squandered the lead in their last two matches, drawing 1-1 with Brentford and 2-2 at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

Failing to beat Wolves after establishing a two-goal lead was especially painful, with a mix-up between keeper David Raya and defender Gabriel Magalhaes sparking Tom Edozie’s stoppage-time equaliser.

“The immediate reaction is tough. It was a shock to the system. We wanted to win and we couldn’t and we have to move on,” Arteta said.

“But we have clear instructions. We have to live in the present. The present is beautiful, we are exactly where we want to be in every competition.”

Arsenal have won just two of their last seven league games, but troubled Tottenham are in even worse form, with no wins in their previous eight top-flight matches.

Tottenham are just five points above the relegation zone, and interim boss Igor Tudor will be taking charge for the first time following Thomas Frank’s sacking.

Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in November, but Arteta is wary about facing a team with a new manager.

“I think it has happened seven times already to us this season,” he said.

“We will have the capacity to adapt, but the main focus is on what we have to do to win.

“It’s the match we have next and the one we cannot wait to play. We have to show up on Sunday.”

READ: Australia thrash Oman to end dismal T20 World Cup

Patrik Schick scored twice in a four-minute spell to steer Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie on Wednesday.

Olympiacos, who beat Leverkusen in the league stage at home last month, were again impressive but were undone by Schick’s quick-fire brace midway through the second half.

“In the first half, it was a difficult match, Olympiacos pressed us with plenty of tempo and made things very complicated for us,” Schick told DAZN.

“In the second half, we improved a couple of things, scored two goals and got an important win.”

Leverkusen’s win puts them in the driver’s seat ahead of next week’s return leg in Germany, with the winners of this tie set to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16.

Wednesday’s victory was remarkably Leverkusen’s first away win in the knockout stage of the competition in their history.

It was also just their second victory in the knockout phase in 13 games dating back to the 2002 final, lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at Hampden Park.

Leverkusen have won six and drawn one of seven matches in all competitions since losing 2-0 to Olympiacos in January.

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In the lead-up to the match, Greek media reported Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, the billionaire shipping magnate who also owns Premier League side Nottingham Forest, promised players a “record” bonus should they make it past Leverkusen.

As if spurred on, the hosts were brilliant early, pinning the Germans back in their own half in a breathless opening 25 minutes.

Leverkusen absorbed the pressure before going close on 28 minutes when Ibrahim Maza forced goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis into an acrobatic save.

Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi turned the ball in from a free-kick just before half-time, but VAR found teammate Mehdi Taremi, who was offside, had touched the ball, ruling out the goal.

The hosts once again pinned the visitors back after the interval, but Leverkusen took their chance to hit on the break on the hour mark.

Ernest Poku won the ball in his own half and advanced goalwards before threading a superb pass to Schick, who guided his strike into the bottom corner.

“I don’t really remember the situation — it was intuition, my movement,” Schick said. “I was one-on-one with the ‘keeper, I stayed calm — it was a good goal.”

The stunned hosts were unpicked again just three minutes later when Alex Grimaldo swung in a pinpoint corner, which Schick headed home to put Leverkusen in a commanding position.

READ: Arsenal blow two-goal lead in damaging Wolves draw

The Premier League title challenge of Arsenal suffered a major blow as they squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s side were on course to move seven points clear at the top after Bukayo Saka’s early opener and Piero Hincapie’s second-half strike put them in control at Molineux.

But Arsenal collapsed in the closing stages as Hugo Bueno reduced the deficit before Riccardo Calafiori turned Tom Edozie’s shot into his own net in the final seconds after a mix-up between goalkeeper David Raya and centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, to leave the visitors shell-shocked.

For a second successive league game, the Gunners had failed to hold onto a lead following their 1-1 draw at Brentford last Thursday.

Failing to kill off bottom-of-the-table Wolves was a devastating setback for Arsenal, who have won just two of their last seven league matches, offering renewed hope to second-placed Manchester City in the title race.

City are just five points behind Arsenal and have a game in hand on their rivals, as well as a home game against the Gunners in April.

Having wasted commanding leads in two previous title fights with City, Arteta’s men are in danger of being haunted by the ghost of their past failures.

Arsenal looked increasingly nervous as the minutes ticked down against Wolves in a clear sign that the league leaders are feeling the pressure of their bid for a first English title since 2004.

Adding to Arteta’s anxiety, Saka was forced off in the second half with a possible knee injury.

Losing the England star, who this week signed a new contract making him the club’s highest-paid player, for a sustained period would be a hammer blow to Arsenal’s title dreams.

Sitting 17 points from safety with only 11 games left, Wolves remain almost certain to be relegated, but they can take heart from a stunning fightback.

Once again playing as Arsenal’s number 10 after shining in that position against Wigan last weekend, Saka took just five minutes to show how comfortable he is away from his usual berth on the right wing.

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Declan Rice flighted a pinpoint cross towards Saka, and he timed his run perfectly to guide a stooping header past Jose Sa from close-range.

It was Saka’s first goal in 15 matches in all competitions, dating back to December 3, ending his longest drought as an Arsenal player.

Arsenal’s best period of an inconsistent performance came in the first 20 minutes when Rice fired just wide before Noni Madueke’s drive forced a good save from Sa.

But as freezing sleet and snow gusted across Molineux, Arsenal were almost caught cold when Wolves midfielder Andre fizzed a fierce strike narrowly wide.

Wolves threatened again immediately after half-time as Adam Armstrong went close from distance.

Shaken out of their slumber by those escapes, Arsenal doubled their advantage in the 56th minute.

Gabriel slipped a precise pass through to Hincapie, and he fired into the roof of the net.

An offside flag initially disallowed the goal, but Hincapie was able to celebrate after a VAR check showed he was onside.

Just as Arsenal looked set to cruise to victory, Bueno reduced the deficit with a stunning strike — the left-back curling into the top corner from the edge of the area for his first Premier League goal.

Arsenal’s underachieving striker Viktor Gyokeres was hauled off by Arteta after just 11 touches and no shots.

Unable to finish off Wolves, the Gunners were punished in farcical fashion in stoppage-time.

Gabriel got in the way of Raya catching the ball, and when it fell to Edozie, the teenager rifled his shot in off Calafiori to leave Arteta in disbelief.

READ: Club Brugge frustrate Atletico Madrid in Champions League stalemate

Greek winger Christos Tzolis grabbed a late equaliser for Club Brugge as Atletico Madrid twice let the lead slip in a 3-3 Champions League play-off first leg draw on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone’s side went 2-0 up in the first half, but Brugge fought back to 2-2, and after an own goal allowed the Spanish side to move back in front, Tzolis had the last word in Belgium.

Atletico, who have never won the Champions League, are a long way off the pace in La Liga and consider their best chances of silverware this season to be via a cup route.

However, their poor defending left everything to play for next Tuesday in the second leg, with a last 16 berth at stake.

“We were two up and didn’t know how to hold on to the lead,” Atletico captain Koke told Movistar.

“It was a rollercoaster, like it’s been all season. We have to concentrate more.”

Simeone admitted it was a tricky night against a side that drew 3-3 against Barcelona in the league phase.

“It was a game against possibly the most intense team in the Champions League,” said Simeone.

“The context of the game says that it was a fair draw… we’ve got the second leg at home and we hope to play a great game.”

Atletico took an early lead through a Julian Alvarez penalty after a careless handball by Joaquin Seys.

The striker, whose spot-kick against city rivals Real Madrid in last year’s competition was disallowed for a double touch, leading to Atletico’s elimination, dispatched it emphatically.

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Brugge otherwise had the better of the first half, with Mamadou Diakhon whipping an effort narrowly wide, and Jan Oblak saving from Raphael Onyedika.

But the Belgians found themselves two down at the break.

Ademola Lookman, who has impressed since arriving in January, finished from close range after Antoine Griezmann flicked on Alvarez’s corner.

Brugge halved Atletico’s lead in the 52nd minute when Onyedika tapped home after a superb Oblak save to keep out Nicolo Tresoldi’s header.

Brugge striker Tresoldi was soon on the scoresheet himself to pull the Belgian side level on the hour mark, to the delight of the Jan Breydel stadium, finishing clinically from Diakhon’s cross.

Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth nodded narrowly wide before Joel Ordonez put through his own net to give the visitors the lead again.

However, in the 89th minute, Brugge struck again, with Tzolis played in down the left and finishing well. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was corrected after a VAR review.

“It was a very interesting game with different phases,” said Brugge coach Ivan Leko.

“Two-nil down against a very strong team… we were in a difficult situation but the team showed great character and quality in our play…

“Atleti will be big favourites but we can play football and we’ll do all we can to progress.”

READ: Kasper Hogh stars as Bodo/Glimt down Inter Milan in Champions League

Bodo/Glimt continued their remarkable debut Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the knockout play-off round first leg on Wednesday, as Kasper Hogh scored once and created two other goals.

The Norwegians only snuck into the knock-out stage with shock victories over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two league-phase matches.

Kjetil Knutsen’s men backed up those performances by adding last season’s runners-up Inter to their list of scalps.

Cristian Chivu’s Serie A leaders will still be confident of turning the tie around in the second leg at the San Siro next Tuesday, despite struggling on the artificial pitch of the Aspmyra Stadion in northern Norway.

“(Bodo/Glimt) are more accustomed to this pitch, that’s not an excuse,” Chivu said.

“The tie is wide open, there’s the return leg to come. We knew they are a team that can hurt you on the break, now we’ll try to advance to the next round at San Siro.”

To make matters worse for Inter, captain Lautaro Martinez hobbled off and was replaced by Marcus Thuram in the second half.

“I think he’s hurt and he will be out for a while,” Chivu said of Martinez.

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Bodo/Glimt, Europa League semi-finalists last term, have given themselves a chance of securing a major surprise, and a last-16 meeting with either Man City or Sporting Lisbon.

The hosts took a 20th-minute lead with a fine team goal, finished off with aplomb by Sondre Brunstad Fet after he latched onto Hogh’s clever flick inside the area.

But Bodo could not keep their advantage for long as Inter youngster Pio Esposito swivelled inside the box and fired home on the half-hour mark, with the goal surviving a lengthy VAR review for handball.

Inter almost scored in the first minute after the restart when Martinez’s instinctive close-range shot bobbled off the post.

The Norwegians moved back in front in the 61st minute as they caught Inter short at the back, and Jens Petter Hauge rifled the ball into the roof of the net after being teed up by Hogh.

Bodo’s third goal arrived just three minutes later, as Patrick Berg put Ole Didrik Blomberg through on goal with a cute dinked pass, and he squared it for Hogh to tap into an empty net.

Danish striker Hogh has now scored four goals in his last three Champions League appearances following a double against Man City and the winner to defeat Atletico.

Inter pushed to cut the deficit, but Carlos Augusto’s blocked shot from eight yards out was the closest they came despite some late pressure.

READ: T20 World Cup: Agha eyes Namibia repeat against New Zealand