Soccer

Jun 11, 2023, 03:27 PM ET Cody Gakpo is keen to step into the centre-forward role for the Netherlands in this week’s Nations League finals — with Dutch first choice Memphis Depay ruled out — after being thrust into the position over the last months at Liverpool. Gakpo, 24, built his reputation as a left

Julien Laurens, CorrespondentJun 11, 2023, 10:00 AM ET ISTANBUL — Romelu Lukaku can’t have got much sleep on Saturday night in Istanbul. He might not on Sunday or on Monday either. His failure to score for Inter Milan in the 88th minute of the Champions League final against Manchester City will haunt his nights as

ISTANBUL — Whatever else they might say about Manchester City‘s first-ever treble (first of many? We’ll find out…) let them not say that it was painless. Or that it didn’t involve suffering. And maybe even a smattering of self-doubt. We got to the conclusion most expected: a City win over Inter Milan. But the journey

ISTANBUL — It was mission accomplished for Pep Guardiola on Saturday night at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, and he did it with the big boss watching from the stands. By delivering Manchester City‘s first Champions League title, Guardiola has done precisely what he was hired to do by owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan,

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJun 10, 2023, 04:59 PM ET Manchester City lifted the Champions League trophy with a 1-0 win over Internazionale at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium. After a goalless first half, Rodri scored the only goal of Saturday’s game as Pep Guardiola’s side completed the treble, having also secured the Premier League title and the

Jun 10, 2023, 07:34 AM ET Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday for Argentina‘s friendly match against Australia ahead of joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami as a free agent. Messi’s arrival was announced in a post on the organising International Football Invitation’s official Weibo social media site with a video of players

Gab Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCJun 9, 2023, 09:00 AM ET ISTANBUL, Turkey — This city straddling Europe and Asia (you can literally drive across the bridge from one continent to the other) is a fitting venue for a UEFA Champions League final. It’s the European Cup, yes, but the finalists are two Asian-owned teams

Luis Miguel Echegaray, ESPNJun 9, 2023, 12:49 PM ET Each week, Luis Miguel Echegaray discusses the latest from the soccer world, including standout performances, what you might have missed and what to keep an eye on in the coming days. ONSIDE Lionel Messi is coming to America This is huge. To call Messi’s move to

Jun 9, 2023, 06:58 AM ET Holders United States will head into next month’s Women’s World Cup as the top-ranked team, with no changes in the top five in the latest FIFA rankings published on Friday. The U.S., who have held the top spot since June 2017, continue to lead ahead of Germany, Sweden, European

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJun 8, 2023, 12:00 PM ET MANCHESTER, England — John Stones has been so good during Manchester City‘s charge toward the treble that during a party to celebrate winning the Premier League title, Kyle Walker grabbed the microphone and began singing the song dedicated to the England centre-back by the club’s fans. Walker

Adriana Garcia Jun 8, 2023, 05:03 AM ET Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is open to the idea of owning a football club after retiring from the game in “two to three years maximum.” The Portugal international is under contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until June 2025 but is already making plans about

Tor-Kristian Karlsen Jun 8, 2023, 04:00 AM ET As the summer transfer window edges ever closer (find out when it opens across Europe here), there’s one thing that’s clear: most of the continent’s top clubs are looking to sign a new No. 9 striker. With Erling Haaland‘s 52 goals in 52 games for Manchester City

Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Jun 7, 2023, 03:59 PM ET Lionel Messi said he did not want to re-live his traumatic departure from Barcelona two years ago after revealing Wednesday he will join MLS side Inter Miami CF over the Catalan club. Messi, 35, left Barca in August 2021 as a free agent, signing for

Jun 7, 2023, 02:43 PM ET Lionel Messi, possibly the greatest soccer player of all time, is taking his talents to South Beach. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar announced on Wednesday that he is heading to MLS with Inter Miami CF as a free agent this summer. The prospect of a player who

ESPN writers have everything you need to know about the top teams’ hopes and delve into deals that might be in the cards. Who will come in? Who will depart? Teams in order of finishing place in 2022-23 season. Budget: Only limited by the usual financial fair play concerns, but they won’t be frivolous. What

Caitlin Murray Jun 6, 2023, 09:40 AM ET USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski talks to players during a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri. Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF The Women’s World Cup is now a little more than a month away, and the roster for the U.S.

Jun 6, 2023, 02:11 PM ET Karim Benzema has signed for Al Ittihad, the club announced Tuesday, becoming the latest football star to join the Saudi Pro League. Benzema, 35, left Real Madrid following the 2022-23 season after 14 years at the Bernabeu. He scored his final goal for the club in their season-ending 1-1

Graham Hunter, Spain writerJun 6, 2023, 05:30 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. The last time Real Madrid were this shocked by a departure they made a right mess of coping with it. And don’t be under any illusion,