Argentina captain Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world, beating Norway’s UEFA player of the year and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester City to the prestigious prize.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz was left out of the squad for Sunday’s Premier League home game against Nottingham Forest after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia, with manager Juergen Klopp saying everyone at the club was worried.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland struck his first two goals at Old Trafford as they ran roughshod over Manchester United in a 3-0 thrashing in a heated Premier League derby.

A substantial surge in the popularity of Futsal has been discerned since its revival in the country in 2016.

Andres Iniesta scored from the 12-yard spot and squandered another penalty as his struggling Emirates Club lost 3-1 to Al Ain, who lead the UAE Pro League six games into the season.

Juventus secured a last-second 1-0 home victory over Hellas Verona thanks to Andrea Cambiaso’s goal to move top of Italy’s Serie A.

In a strategic move to empower and expand women’s participation in Futsal, the Fiji Football Association is embarking on a carefully paced journey, with the aim of incorporating more teams into next year’s Futsal competitions.

Hwang Hee-chan scored the equaliser as Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 2-2 with Newcastle United this morning but the hosts suffered a major blow when forward Pedro Neto was carried off a rain-swept Molineux pitch with a hamstring injury.

Brentford snatched a 2-0 win away at Chelsea this morning as the expensively assembled Blues failed to turn possession into goals once again and were punished by a thumping header from defender Ethan Pinnock and a last-minute breakaway goal by Bryan Mbeumo.

Bournemouth came from behind to beat Burnley 2-1 in the Premier League this morning and claim their first league victory of the season after Philip Billing netted the winner with an extraordinary lob from 40 yards.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah ended his scoring drought in stunning fashion with a hat-trick in his side’s 5-0 home thrashing of hapless Sheffield United in the Premier League this morning.

Real Madrid battled back to win 2-1 at Barcelona in a nervy LaLiga ‘El Clasico’ this morning thanks to a second-half brace by top scorer Jude Bellingham who continues to impress with his superb form.