Soccer

Third-placed AC Milan secured a comfortable 3-0 win at Empoli thanks to goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Olivier Giroud and Chaka Traorè in Serie A on Sunday. Milan seized the lead after 11 minutes when Rafael Leão surged past his marker on the wing, delivering a precise pass to Loftus-Cheek inside the box, who sidefooted the

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Jan 6, 2024, 06:48 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Carlo Ancelotti praised Arda Güler after the playmaker finally made his Real Madrid debut in their 3-1 Copa del Rey win at Arandina, saying the 18-year-old “has everything you need to play for Real Madrid.” Güler signed for Madrid from Fenerbahce in

Tom Chambers Jan 6, 2024, 05:00 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LONDON — Mauricio Pochettino famously dismissed the domestic cup competitions during his time in charge of Tottenham as little more than a distraction, but they are providing a soothing balm for what has been a painful Premier League campaign for his Chelsea team. For

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 6, 2024, 09:15 AM ET Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Timo Werner previously played in the Premier League with Chelsea. Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Associated Press Jan 5, 2024, 11:54 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Mario Zagallo, who reached the World Cup final a record five times, winning four, as a player and then a coach with Brazil, has died. He was 92. The first person to win the World Cup both as a player and a manager, Zagallo

ESPN News Services Jan 5, 2024, 04:12 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Brazil‘s interim coach Fernando Diniz was fired on Friday by the country’s soccer federation (CBF), sources told ESPN Brasil. The decision was taken one day after the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, returned to his role following a decision from Brazil’s Supreme

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerJan 5, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions With 2024 now here, the CIES Football Observatory in Switzerland has published its annual list of the top 100 male players in world football with the highest estimated transfer value. Having scoured the top 100 — the values for whom are based

Open Extended Reactions With young stars like Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Jude, breaking through at Sunderland this season, the future’s bright and so is the present as they prepare to take on rivals Newcastle in the FA Cup third round. Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images SUNDERLAND, England — Life can come at you pretty

Associated Press Jan 4, 2024, 12:42 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MetLife Stadium officials plan to remove 1,740 seats to widen the field for World Cup matches as they hope to host the 2026 final but will retain a narrower surface for this year’s Copa America. The stadium in suburban East Rutherford, New Jersey, is

Open Extended Reactions The FA Cup returns this weekend (stream games live on ESPN+) which poses a question for the Premier League teams now involved in it: which manager needs to win the competition the most? All 20 top-flight sides enter the competition at the third-round stage and it comes at a moment when the

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 3, 2024, 02:33 PM ET Open Extended Reactions From Cristiano Ronaldo‘s explosive interview to the public row with Jadon Sancho, Erik ten Hag’s 18 months in charge of Manchester United has been filled with challenges. He’s been presented with another in the form of new minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 3, 2024, 02:50 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Colorado Rapids are close to agreeing a deal to sign U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Manchester City, a source has told ESPN. Steffen is set to leave the Premier League champions after three-and-a-half years at the Etihad Stadium. – Stream

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerJan 3, 2024, 05:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions According to FIFA’s own definition, the Puskas Award is handed out every year by world football’s governing body to the scorer of “the best goal scored … regardless of championship, gender or nationality.” The only stipulation being that it must be captured

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 2, 2024, 02:43 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund are in talks over a loan deal for Jadon Sancho, a source has told ESPN. Dortmund are keen to sign Sancho until the end of the season but want United to continue to pay the majority of his wages.

Graham Hunter, Spain writerJan 2, 2024, 06:00 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions I make no apologies for starting a column about the state of LaLiga by referencing Sir Alex Ferguson — a man who more

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerJan 2, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United’s move to sign Alexis Sánchez from Arsenal was arguably the worst of the lot in January. Marc Atkins/Offside/Getty Images The January transfer window might feel as if it has always been a fixture in the Premier League calendar, but in fact

Open Extended Reactions Mohamed Salah moved level with Erling Haaland in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot by scoring twice in Liverpool‘s 4-2 win against Newcastle United after changing his boots following a first-half penalty miss. Salah’s two goals, including a second-half penalty, took the Egypt international to 14 league goals for the

Wrexham scored three goals in the space of just four minutes of first half stoppage time as they secured a comeback 4-1 win over Barrow at the SToK Racecourse ground on Monday. Two goals from forward Steven Fletcher, either side of a superb free kick from Paul Mullin, gave Wrexham all three points in League Two.