6 h. ago Barcelona star Raphinha names six players who could beat him to 2025 Ballon d'Or

Barcelona star Raphinha is thought to be among the contenders to win the Ballon d'Or later this year - but he has named a host of players who deserve the gong more than him

Sport

25 h. ago Barcelona star demands UEFA investigation as finger pointed at referee

Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League against Inter Milan as they missed out on the final following a 4-3 defeat at the San Siro, but midfielder Pedri questioned a number of decisions made by the referee in charge

Events

28 h. ago Barcelona star calls Inter ref to be investigated by UEFA after giving them 'every call' in Champions League epic

The former Arsenal boss was quick to criticise referee Szymon Marciniak for his U-turn during the classic Champions League clash

Sport

54 h. ago Barcelona star Raphinha details Xavi feud and explosive Man Utd incident

Raphinha was signed by Xavi when he was in charge at Barcelona but never felt he had the trust of his former boss - with tempers boiling over when the Brazilian was subbed off in a European clash

Events

4 d. ago Henry Pollock revels in ‘special win’ over Leinster in hardest game of his life

Saints beat Irish province to make Champions Cup finalPhil Dowson says his players enhanced Lions prospectsNorthampton hope their extraordinary semi-final win over Leinster will be a springboard to further personal and collective success in the coming weeks. The Saints director of rugby, Phil Dowson, also believes several of his players have “undoubtably” enhanced their British & Irish Lions selection chances before Thursday’s tour squad announcement.Henry Pollock and Fin Smith, along with hat-trick try-scorer Tommy Freeman, could not have made a better impression on a high-pressure stage and Dowson believes Pollock’s exuberance is beneficial to any team. “It’s infectious and spreads throughout the team,” said Dowson. “Leinster are one of the best sides in Europe and the world. For our players to perform on that stage and execute under that pressure speaks volumes for them.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Five years on: how Covid changed sport for better and for worse

With the pandemic in the rearview mirror it was clearly a boost for Fifa and Saudi Arabia but harmed grassroots sport and player welfareSound the trumpets, beat the drum, let loose the buttock-rockets of hope. One of the strangest and most unsatisfying things about the Covid-19 pandemic, among a great many deeply strange and unsatisfying things, is that it never actually had a shared end date or ceremonial send-off.Jarringly so, because this was a period in the national life built around a rigid roster of public events. The numerical rules. The weekly banging of pots in honour of people you secretly consider to be serfs. Such unlikely figures as health secretary Matt Hancock appearing in public every day in order to say inauthentic-sounding things about public health, all the while resembling the doomed subcommander of an imperial space galleon who keeps announcing that he’s got the situation under control sir, just as the bridge behind him is cleaved in two and he’s sucked out into...

Politics

6 d. ago Erling Haaland sends Lamine Yamal message after Barcelona star stuns in Champions League

Latest Manchester City news as Erling Haaland sends a message to Lamine Yamal after the youngster's thrilling performance for Barcelona in the Champions League

Sport

7 d. ago Micah Richards walks out of TV studio after Inter Milan star destroys him over his suit

Micah Richards interviewed Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries following their 3-3 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals and it ended up being a hilarious moment

Politics

7 d. ago Marcus Rashford transfer latest as Barcelona make 'decision' on Manchester United star's fee

Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford is currently on loan at Aston Villa, but he might have already played his last match for the club.

Sport

8 d. ago Raphinha goes from missing man to Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or contender

The former Leeds forward was on the periphery but is now key to Hansi Flick’s team thanks to his hunger for goalsTo score, first you have to learn how to miss. Raphinha, to be fair, misses a lot. Most common of all, perhaps, is the low screamer, dragged across goal with the left foot, disappearing into the advertising hoardings with an unseen thud as the goalkeeper calmly strolls off in search of a fresh ball. If you close your eyes and try to picture Raphinha missing, this is almost certainly the miss you are imagining.But Raphinha can miss in a plethora of other ways, too. The wild slice at the back post is another favourite. The free-kick into the wall. The mistimed header sailing harmlessly over the bar and Raphinha has never been the greatest header of a ball, but he is going to keep making the run nonetheless, again and again, all night if he has to. If it feels weird to begin a discussion of one of Europe’s most prolific forwards by listing all the ways he can miss then one h...

Events

8 d. ago Mikel Arteta tells Arsenal players ‘do something special’ to beat PSG

‘We are more than capable of winning in Paris’Luis Enrique warns against complacency in second legMikel Arteta urged his Arsenal players to “do something special in Paris” after losing the first leg of their Champions League semi-final 1-0 at home. Arsenal were disappointing in defeat, going behind early on and squandering good chances to equalise. But Arteta emphasised the “small ­margins” that would decide this tie, and urged his side to put in an improved display next Wednesday.“I don’t know the percentage, but we have a lot of chances to be in that final,” Arteta said. “The time to do it is going to be in Paris. We are at half-time. My message is exactly the same as when we beat Real Madrid at home 3-0. We have to go to Paris and win the game and we are more than capable of doing it. You have two teams where the margins are so small. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago Will Kylian Mbappe play against Barcelona? Injury latest on Real Madrid star before Copa del Rey final

Mbappe will remain absent when Los Blancos meet Getafe in final game before Clasico showdown with Barca in Seville

Events

3 w. ago Barcelona make Dani Olmo decision after fierce battle which sparked Man United transfer links

Manchester United were linked with Barcelona star Dani Olmo during their battle over registering players

Events

4 w. ago Barcelona star claims Pep Guardiola flew to Spain to broker Man City transfer deal

Pep Guardiola tried to raid former club Barcelona in 2016 during his first summer as Manchester City boss but his advances failed to bear fruit

Economics