REAL MADRID APOLOGISES TO CHINA OVER MBAPPÉ'S MAO ZEDONG COMMENTS

Real Madrid apologised to the Chinese people on Wednesday after star striker Kylian Mbappé sparked a furious backlash over comments referring to the founding leader of Communist China as a dictator. The club's apology came a day after Mbappé and Spain's La Liga football championship expressed regret over the remarks. 

Kylian Mbappé has been shut out of Chinese social media Weibo after he joked about Mao Zedong. © Jade Gao, AFP

Real Madrid apologised to China on Wednesday for Kylian Mbappé's comments poking fun at Mao Zedong, after the star striker's remarks sparked a social media storm and saw Spanish football yanked off state TV.

Mocking former leader Mao – blamed by historians for millions of deaths – is taboo in China, and Mbappé's remarks saw him become the latest foreign sports figure to anger Beijing.

Mbappé's China faux pas: When the sports world collides with the complexities of geopolitics

 In a clip of a video interview with French show "The Bridge" – since taken down – Mbappé talked about being amused by an internet meme of his face photoshopped onto "some guy, think he's a Chinese dictator", an apparent reference to Mao.

Real Madrid "wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any offence caused by the recent remarks of our player Kylian Mbappé", the club said in a statement.

"The club joins in the public apology issued by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself expressed his regret for his words and reiterated his respect for the Chinese people," the 15-time European champions said.

The statement came a day after Mbappé issued his own apology, in French, Chinese and English, saying: "My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world."

Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing on Wednesday: "We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made."

La Liga, which saw the broadcast of its matches suspended in China, said Tuesday it "deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé's recent comments have caused among Chinese fans".

Earlier, the state-run Global Times said in an editorial that it was "not difficult to see that the club's longstanding tolerance of such behavior has contributed to Mbappé's latest offensive remarks".

Chinese beverage giant Dongpeng, which during this year's World Cup ran adverts with AI-generated images of Mbappé, said Tuesday it had scrapped its partnership with the player, as did dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground.

CMG, which oversees public broadcaster CCTV, said it had decided to suspend broadcasts of La Liga, the world's second-richest football league after England's Premier League.

Mbappé, 27, continued to face a torrent of criticism from Chinese web users on Wednesday, some of it racist.

"His remarks were hurtful toward China and the Chinese people, so they cannot be translated," wrote one user on social media platform Weibo.

Mbappé's original joke about Mao was not reposted – or had been scrubbed – from China's tightly controlled social media.

Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu had meanwhile frozen Mbappé's account, where he has over a million followers.

The same was done on the Weibo app, with a notice stating that "the user has been banned from following due to violating laws or the Weibo Community Convention".

Some Chinese media reports said global brands like Dior and Hublot had removed their Mbappé-related content on Weibo.

An AFP search on Dior and Hublot's Weibo page with Mbappé's Chinese name produced no results.

'Respect history'

Offline too the Mbappé brand appeared to be under threat.

People walk past a bus featuring French football star Kylian Mbappe © Jade GAO / AFP

When AFP visited the Adidas flagship store in Beijing's Sanlitun shopping district, Real Madrid shirts were available for sale, but none bearing the striker's name.

Chinese state media have previously praised Mbappe as a "footballing sensation" and "talent".

His face is plastered on billboards, on soft drinks and across social media.

Mbappé is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Guigui", meaning "turtle" in Chinese, for his resemblance to a character from the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie.

Other major overseas sports leagues have previously angered China.

China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA while the state broadcaster pulled NBA games off Chinese television for a year in October 2019.

This followed Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeting "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong", referring to protests Beijing called separatist and seditious.

"Respecting the history, culture, social customs and national sentiments of others is a fundamental principle for cross-border interaction, a standard of conduct widely upheld by the international community," the official People's Daily newspaper said in an opinion piece.

- FRANCE 24 with AFP

REAL MADRID SUPERSTAR OUTPERFORMED ENTIRE BARCELONA MIDFIELD IN ONE KEY STATISTIC DURING EL CLASICO

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Real Madrid went to the Spotify Camp Nou and played their best game of the season, securing a 2-1 victory and taking all three points from Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho got the starting XI spot on, with the tactics working beautifully to nullify the Catalans from playing their natural game.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham delivered an outstanding physical performance against Barcelona on Sunday, winning more individual duels than the Catalans’ entire midfield combined.

The England international won an impressive 13 duels, compared to just nine collectively managed by Barcelona’s midfielders.

Bellingham dominates the midfield battle

Bellingham’s tally was the second-highest number of duels won by any player in a single La Liga match this season.

The statistic underlines his influence in a fiercely contested encounter, where Madrid’s ability to compete physically proved an important part of their performance.

Jude Bellingham outperformed the entire Barcelona midfield. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While Bellingham is widely recognised for his attacking movement and technical ability, his contribution without the ball deserves equal attention.

Winning 13 duels against Barcelona reflects his willingness to engage in challenges and come out on top more often than not.

Such intensity is particularly valuable for Jose Mourinho in matches where controlling space and limiting the opponent’s passing combinations are essential.

The comparison with Barcelona’s midfield is especially striking given the Catalans’ reputation for dominating central areas through possession and intelligent movement.

Bellingham gives Madrid another dimension

Real Madrid’s midfield used their physical prowess to overwhelm Barcelona in that area, and Bellingham had one of his best games of the season.

His ability to combine defensive aggression with attacking involvement makes him a difficult opponent to contain.

Against Barcelona, Bellingham was not just stupendous off the ball, but he also produced an excellent piece of skill that set up Madrid’s winning goal on the night.

Jude Bellingham outperformed the entire Barcelona midfield. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

While the number of duels he won cannot define his performance as a whole, winning more challenges than an entire midfield is not something that happens often.

The entire Madrid team looked completely switched on and were perfectly coached to nullify Barça, and Bellingham was spearheading it all.

With Los Blancos securing an important victory over their biggest rivals, the Englishman’s contribution deserves recognition.

Bellingham and Madrid have now closed the gap to Barça to just three points, and it remains to be seen whether they can use this momentum in the coming weeks.

- Pranav Kannan

FULL REACTION TO REAL MADRID EL CLASICO WIN OVER BARCELONA | MAN UNITED LISE AGAIN | ESPN FC

 

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BARCELONA FINANCES: £625M LA LIGA SPENDING-LIMIT RECOVERY EXPLAINED

 

Barcelona's La Liga squad cost limit has risen by around £625m in five years, completing a remarkable recovery from the financial restrictions that once left the Catalan giants with a negative spending ceiling.

La Liga's latest figures give Barcelona a squad cost limit of €582.7m (£501m) for the 2026-27 season, putting the club back in a position to operate with financial room that appeared almost unimaginable at the height of their crisis.

Real Madrid remain comfortably ahead with a record €832.7m (£716m) limit, leaving a gap of approximately £215m between Spain's two biggest clubs.

However, that difference looks very different when compared with 2021-22, when Barcelona's limit had fallen to -€144m (-£124m) while Madrid could spend up to €739m (£635m).

Barcelona have recovered £625m of La Liga spending power

La Liga's squad cost limit should not be confused with a club's actual wage bill.

The calculation covers fixed and variable salaries, social security costs, bonuses, transfer acquisition costs, agents' commissions and the annual amortisation of transfer fees. Clubs are also not required to use the full amount available to them.

For Barcelona, the movement from -€144m to €582.7m represents a swing of almost €727m, or approximately £625m, in just five years.

The scale of that turnaround becomes even clearer against Madrid. At Barcelona's lowest point, the difference between the two clubs stood at €883m (£759m). It is now just under €250m (£215m), meaning Barca have erased more than £540m of that extreme gap.

The recovery has also begun to translate into greater freedom in the transfer market. Barcelona spent heavily during the latest summer window, their biggest outlay for several years, after seasons in which registrations, spending restrictions and emergency financial measures repeatedly shaped their recruitment.

According to AS, structural cost reductions have played an important role in improving the numbers, alongside increased commercial income and revenue connected to the redevelopment of Camp Nou.

The reopening of part of the stadium has been particularly significant, while Barcelona's VIP-box programme has also generated substantial income during the rebuilding process.

The improvement does not mean that Barcelona's wider financial problems have disappeared. The club continue to carry major liabilities linked particularly to the Espai Barca project, even after returning to annual revenues above €1bn.

Camp Nou move could put Barcelona's progress under pressure

Barcelona's recovery is substantial, but the next phase of the Camp Nou project means the upward trajectory may not continue uninterrupted.

The Catalan club are expected to return temporarily to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys during the 2027-28 campaign while further work, including the installation of the Camp Nou roof, is carried out.

That move is expected to reduce matchday revenue compared with playing at their redeveloped home and, according to AS, could consequently lower Barcelona's La Liga spending limit again.

It creates an unusual situation for Joan Laporta's administration. Camp Nou is one of the main assets expected to drive Barcelona's long-term commercial growth, yet completing the project could temporarily restrict the financial room that the club have spent several years rebuilding.

That tension is already visible in the way Barcelona have financed their return to major transfer spending, with higher revenues and greater La Liga flexibility offset by the continuing cost of the stadium redevelopment and historic liabilities.

There is nevertheless considerable optimism over the longer-term picture. Barcelona reportedly expect the redeveloped stadium and its commercial spaces to become major revenue generators, with the club targeting total annual income of around €1.45bn by the 2030-31 season.

Madrid therefore remain well ahead in immediate spending capacity, but the comparison is no longer remotely as one-sided as it was five years ago.

Barcelona have moved from a negative La Liga limit to more than half a billion pounds of permitted squad expenditure. The next test is whether that £625m recovery can survive one more temporary move away from Camp Nou.

ATLETICO MADRID BEAT REAL MADRID IN TENSE DERBY CLASH

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid edged 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a La Liga derby clash on Sunday to leave Jose Mourinho's side trailing leaders Barcelona by six points.

Grimaldo celebrates his goal. 

OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for Los Blancos before Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David's goals earned Diego Simeone's Atletico victory, with Antonio Rudiger pulling one back late on.

Atletico rose to second, five points behind Barca and one ahead of Real Madrid, who chalked up a second defeat of the campaign.

The game hinged on Huijsen's red card early in the second period, for pulling down Giuliano Simeone in the box which led to a penalty, tucked away by Grimaldo to set Atletico on their way.

Real Madrid were unhappy about challenges from Cristian Romero and Lee Kang-in in the first half which Mourinho said should have been red cards.

"They were two clear red cards... the difficulty we had after (Huijsen's red) with 11 (players) against 10, well imagine 50 minutes with 11 against nine," Mourinho grumbled.

"There are no miracles in football," he continued. "11 against nine, well we can imagine how that would have finished."

Atletico midfielder Koke said the victory proved his side are capable of winning trophies.

"We can compete against every team if we give 100 percent," explained Koke.

"(Real) Madrid are one of the best in the world and today we showed that."

Mourinho started with Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield over Bernardo Silva, opting for defensive clout over creativity.

There was more tension than footballing quality in the first half, with neither side capable of creating any clear chances.

The main talking point was an incident between Jude Bellingham and Atletico defender Romero.

The England international threw himself into a tackle and Romero trod on his leg, with Bellingham booked initially, but after a VAR review the referee removed the card and issued it to the Atletico man.

Madrid were also unhappy with a heavy tackle by Lee on Federico Valverde, which went unpunished just before half-time.

It was a scrappy battle, intense but lacking excitement comparative to the star power on the pitch, especially in Madrid's front line, with Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Bellingham kept quiet.

Pivotal moment

The game burst into life early in the second half when Huijsen pulled back Giuliano Simeone's arm as the forward ran through on goal and Atletico were awarded a penalty.

Huijsen was dismissed after a VAR review and Grimaldo beat Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from the penalty spot.

Mourinho reacted immediately by replacing the underwhelming Vinicius and Arda Guler and sending on club record signing Yan Diomande and Rudiger.

It was Atletico who struck next, though, with Canada international David tucking away Giuliano Simeone's raking low cross on 59 minutes for his third goal in three matches.

The hosts came close to getting a third but Courtois made an excellent save to deny Julian Alvarez and Ibrahima Konate reacted brilliantly to head Grimaldo's effort from the rebound off the line.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved from Diomande and Bellingham rowed with Giuliano Simeone as Madrid's frustrations showed, impotent to change the course of the game.

Madrid pulled a goal back in the final stages with Rudiger heading Bernardo Silva's cross past Oblak. However, it was too little too late for Mourinho's side.

"It wasn't a clean sheet, which is a shame, we had quite a good game but we left them a chance," said Oblak.

"It was important to win, but La Liga is very long."

- AFP

HANSI FLICK EQUALS BARCELONA RECORD LONG HELD BY LEGENDARY JOHAN CRYFF

 

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Monday evening was another statement from Hansi Flick’s side as they continue to set the pace in La Liga.

It was a special victory for Flick as well, as it saw him equal a record that has stood for decades at Camp Nou.

Indeed, Flick has now matched one of the greatest managers in Barcelona’s history.

Flick matches Cruyff’s record

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Flick has now accumulated 59 league matchdays as the leader of La Liga, equalling the legendary Johan Cruyff’s tally during his time on the Barcelona bench.

Flick’s Barcelona continue their domination. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the speed at which Flick has reached the milestone.

The German has managed just 79 league games in charge to get there, while Cruyff needed 300 matches to reach the same figure during his far longer tenure.

That means 74.7 percent of the league matchdays Flick has overseen as Barcelona coach have ended with the club sitting top of the table.

Among managers who have completed at least one full season in La Liga, nobody comes close. The second on the list is Pep Guardiola, who managed 57.2 percent.

A legendary start

Currently in his third season, Flick has done wonders at Barcelona.

In his first two seasons on the bench, the German has guided Barcelona to back-to-back league titles and built a side that plays with a clear identity and an attacking verve that has captivated supporters.

Now into his third campaign, Flick’s Barcelona show no sign of slowing down. With three wins from their opening three matches this season, the Catalans are once again setting the standard in Spanish football.

Cruyff remains one of the most iconic figures in Barcelona’s history, and being mentioned in the same breath as the Dutchman is a testament to Flick’s impact.

Should the German continue at this rate, surpassing the record entirely is only a matter of time, further cementing his place among the finest coaches to ever grace the Camp Nou touchline.

- Connell Edgar-Jones

LA LIGA PRESIDENT BRANDS INFANTINO'S FIFA DEFENCE 'PATHETIC '

President Donald Trump (left) and Fifa President Gianni Infantino watch confetti fall at the conclusion of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, July 19, 2026

GIANNI INFANTINO’S extraordinary Instagram post accusing Fifa’s critics of spreading “hate” has been dismissed as “pathetic” by La Liga president Javier Tebas.

The Fifa president’s 15-page message came before confirmation on Monday that Democrats in the US Congress were investigating him amid what they described as “mounting evidence of potential corruption and a possible quid pro quo between Fifa and the Trump administration.”

Infantino’s social media post had advised those “spending their time and energy hating us” to “meditate, pray, or watch a football match,” drawing a scathing response from Tebas.

“Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of @FIFAcom,” Tebas wrote on his own X account.

“No-one disputes that football is emotion and unity. But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation.

“Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions. And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it’s inevitable to wonder… why precisely now?

“Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don’t know about?”

The US house judiciary committee has called Infantino before it to examine what it describes as “Fifa’s sustained campaign to secure special favours from President Trump – including the dismissal of high-profile corruption cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars tied to Fifa – while American consumers were gouged by exorbitant World Cup ticket prices.”

The letter cited the introduction of the “hilariously fake” Fifa Peace Prize which was awarded to President Trump last December, the renting of office space at Trump Tower as examples of acts designed “to induce President Trump and his administration to make decisions in Fifa’s favour.”

The letter requests documents and information be sent to the Committee by 10pm BST on August 9.

Fifa has been contacted for comment.

- Morning Star

LA LIGA PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT FIFA BOSS GIANNI INFANTINO AFTER 2026 WORLDNCUP RANT

 La Liga president Javier Tebas has issued a stinging statement in response to Gianni Infantino’s 2026 World Cup rant.

Infantino has been accused of going ‘full Donald Trump’ with an unexpected statement posted on FIFA’s official website and across 15 slides on his Instagram account.

The under-fire FIFA president blasted critics of the 2026 World Cup, claiming they’ve been “consumed by hate” and urging them to “meditate, pray or watch a football match” in order to “find peace”.

Infantino claimed this summer’s tournament in North America featured “no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security” - ignoring the fact four supporters tragically died during World Cup celebrations in Mexico City.

He defended the treatment of Iran’s national football team, issues over visas, and even the hugely controversial Folarin Balogun red card situation.

“Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees' decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” Infantino wrote. “It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”

La Liga President Responds to Infantino's World Cup Statement

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Rather than convince people that the 2026 World Cup was a tournament without any downsides, Infantino’s statement appears to have had the opposite effect.

The “lame-duck FIFA president” now finds himself under even more scrutiny, with La Liga president Tebas tweeting:

"Today Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of FIFA.

"No one disputes that football is emotion and unity. But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation. Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions.

"And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it's inevitable to wonder... why precisely now? Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don't know about?"

Infantino Called to Appear Before Congress Over Trump Ties

Reuters/Mark J Rebilas

Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, has launched an investigation into Infantino, seeking documents that would detail the ties between FIFA and US President Donald Trump and his administration, per The Guardian.

“[Y]our election as FIFA president was supposed to mark a red-card break from a decades-long culture of corruption and scandals that dressed down world soccer’s reputation,” Raskin wrote to Infantino in the letter.

“Instead, at the start of your tenure, you dismantled FIFA’s ethical guardrails and disabled the organization’s ethics committee by pushing out most of its members. This lack of transparency and oversight has since paved the way for you to ingratiate yourself with the Trump administration via tactics that a New York University law professor and one of your former ethics committeemen described as ‘legal bribery’.”

Trump, who has close ties with Infantino, has reportedly lined up a potential new job for the under-pressure FIFA president.

- Rob Swan

LA LIGA CHIEF ACCUSES FIFA OF 'DESTROYING FOOTBALL INDUSTRY', CALLS FOR INFANTINO TO QUIT

Javier Tebas questions decision to postpone one-match ban given to US striker Folarin Balogun

US President Donald Trump and Fifa president Gianni Infantino stand under confetti as players of Spain celebrate with the World Cup trophy after winning the 2026 final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. (Will Oliver/EPA/BackpagePix)

La Liga president Javier Tebas said Fifa president Gianni Infantino should resign, accusing the governing body of “destroying the football industry” by expanding international competitions at the expense of domestic leagues and clubs.

Tebas has repeatedly criticised Fifa over fixture congestion and plans to further enlarge the World Cup.

In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, when Tebas was asked if Infantino should quit, he said: “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.”

Infantino said in April that he would seek re-election for a fourth term as Fifa president, with the vote for the 2027-2031 cycle scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18 next year.

Asked about growing criticism of Infantino’s leadership, Tebas said the Fifa president retained strong support among national federations despite concerns within the game.

“He shouldn’t stay, but the current state of affairs means he won’t leave,” Tebas said. “There’s no opposition candidate; no one wants to run to lose. This is the system, and it’s a system that’s flawed from the ground up.

“I’ve heard a lot of people against Infantino, who don’t agree with what he’s doing. They say it, but then they don’t do anything.”

Tebas also questioned Fifa’s decision to postpone the one-match ban given to US striker Folarin Balogun following a red card during the World Cup. The decision was made after the intervention of US President Donald Trump. Belgium beat the US 4-1 in the last 16.

“The suspension of the American player’s ban is an extremely serious matter. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the US, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job.

“Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg.”

His comments come amid growing tensions within soccer’s governing structures.

They’re destroying the football industry, the one that generates tens of thousands of jobs for an event that lasts 40 days and only a minority of players attends.

— Javier Tebas

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin did not attend Sunday’s World Cup final following a series of disagreements between European soccer’s governing body and Fifa over disciplinary procedures, refereeing logistics and match operations, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Tebas also criticised proposals to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams, after CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez renewed calls for Fifa to enlarge the centenary edition of the tournament in 2030.

Infantino has previously acknowledged that a 64-team format could be considered in the future.

Tebas said a further increase in the number of participating nations would come at the expense of domestic competitions and the wider football industry.

“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense,” Tebas said.

“The football industry isn’t just the World Cup, which is the most important event. But not everything can revolve around the World Cup. It’s the national competitions that sustain this sport.

“They’re destroying the football industry, the one that generates tens of thousands of jobs for an event that lasts 40 days and only a minority of players attends.”

-- Karan Prashant Saxena, Reuters 

VILLARREAL VS. SEVILLA | LA LIGA HIGHLIGHTS

 

JOAO CANCELO BECOMES FIRST FOOTBALLER EVER TO ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE FEAT AFTER BARCELONA'S LA LIGA TITLE SUCCESS

Joao Cancelo has written his name into the history books following Barcelona’s clinical 2-0 victory over Real Madrid to secure the La Liga title. While the Blaugrana celebrated domestic dominance at the Camp Nou, the Portuguese defender reached a milestone that has eluded the greatest icons of the game.

A historic Clasico triumph

The Blaugrana secured the Spanish top-flight crown after a win against their bitter rivals in Sunday night's El Clasico at the Camp Nou. In doing so, they have achieved a historic first by winning La Liga as a result of a direct match against Los Blancos. Barcelona only needed to avoid defeat against Alvaro Arbeloa's side, as they led Real by 11 points going into the 35th game of the campaign.

Hansi Flick’s men delivered the goods in style, recording their 11th successive league victory on a night of double celebration. A stunning free-kick from Marcus Rashford - the first such goal in a Clasico since Lionel Messi in 2012 - was followed by a Ferran Torres strike to confirm Barca's 29th league crown and leave their rivals in turmoil.

Getty Images Sport 

Cancelo stands alone in the history books

For ex-Manchester City defender Cancelo, who won six major honours under Pep Guardiola, he has now finally won the league title that evaded him during his previous loan spell at Barca in the 2023-24 season. Brought back on loan from Saudi side Al Hilal in January, Cancelo, who appeared as a starter in last night's match, has been key in the club's stunning form in 2026, chipping in with one goal and three assists from 13 La Liga matches.

Deployed on both sides of defence, the 31-year-old has now become the first footballer to win league titles in four of Europe's 'Top Five' divisions. Having won the Primeira Liga with Benfica in 2014, the Serie A title with Juventus was the Portugal international's first 'Top Five' league championship. He then scooped three Premier League crowns while at the Etihad Stadium, before lifting the Bundesliga title while on loan at Bayern Munich. Now, with a La Liga medal secured, only France's Ligue 1 remains for him to complete the set.

Outperforming the legends

A host of legendary players have won league championships in three of the 'Top Five' leagues, but none could reach the fourth. David Beckham had the opportunity to become the first person to achieve the incredible feat; he was successful in England, Spain and France, but failed to win the Serie A title across two loan spells at AC Milan. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo triumphed in England, Spain and Italy, but never added a fourth major league to his haul.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic also came up trumps in Spain, Italy and France, and had the chance to create history when he joined Manchester United in 2016. However, he finished sixth in his only full season in the Premier League, though he did win the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield. Other notable players to win titles in three major countries include Thierry Henry, Kingsley Coman, Dani Alves, Arturo Vidal, Maxwell, Sami Khedira and Claude Makelele.

Getty Images Sport 

What lies ahead for the history-maker?

Despite his loan deal from Al Hilal proving incredibly successful, questions remain regarding Cancelo's long-term future. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Cancelo come the summer, and whether Barcelona press ahead with another loan deal, look to turn his temporary stay into a permanent switch or if he returns to the Middle East.

There is, of course, the tantalising prospect of completing the "Top Five" set. With titles in England, Spain, Italy, and Germany secured, only France's Ligue 1 remains. Should Cancelo decide to leave the Camp Nou this summer, a move to a French powerhouse could provide the platform for the ultimate clean sweep of Europe's major championships.

- Donny Afroni

LAMINE YAMAL IS ABSENT FROM BARCELONA'S SQUAD LIST FOR THE CLASICO AGAINST REAL MADRID

Barcelona team (Photo/Archive)

Madrid, Spain – Barcelona’s coaching staff has announced the squad list in preparation for facing Real Madrid this Sunday evening, in the 35th round of the Spanish League.

Barcelona will host their rivals Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, in a highly anticipated match that could play a decisive role in the race for the La Liga title this season.

The Catalan team’s roster witnessed the continued absence of Lamine Yamal, due to the injury he recently suffered, thus continuing his absence from the Blaugrana matches.

Barcelona’s squad list is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Juan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller.

Defense: Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Coparsi, Gerard Martin, Jules Koundé, Eric Garcia, Xavi Espart.

Midfielders: Xavi, Pedri, Firmin Lopez, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal.

Attackers: Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha, Marcus Rashford, Rooney Bardji.

- Ahmed Khairy

REAL MADRID MEME

 

BARCELONA FORWARD SAYS EL CLASICO ''THE LEAST OF PRESSURE' FOR PLAYERS

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

With the La Liga title race reaching its decisive stage, all eyes are now on the upcoming El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou.

The pressure surrounding the fixture could hardly be bigger, as Barcelona know that avoiding defeat would place them in complete control of the title race, while Real Madrid simply cannot afford to drop points if they want to keep their hopes alive.

Ahead of the massive encounter, Barcelona forward Ferran Torres spoke to AS about the emotions, pressure, and excitement that come with playing in one of football’s biggest matches.

Despite the importance of the occasion, the Spaniard admitted that players often feel less pressure during games like El Clasico because these are the matches they dream of playing throughout their careers.

“This kind of match is the one every player dreams of playing. It’s actually the opposite. That’s when there’s the least pressure. 

“It’s fun. That’s when you most want to play, when you’re most motivated,” he said.

A decent record vs Real Madrid

Ferran already has significant experience against Madrid since joining Barcelona. 

Ferran Torres is not too worried about El Clasico. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The Spanish forward has faced Los Blancos 14 times for the Catalan side and has regularly managed to hurt their defence, registering three goals and four assists in those matches.

One of his most memorable moments came during last season’s Copa del Rey final when he scored after getting past both Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois in a decisive attacking move.

Looking back at that goal, Ferran explained that footballers barely have time to process what is happening in moments like that because instinct takes over completely.

“When the game ended, I barely even remembered the play because you don’t have time to process it. 

“During the play, it was all about seeing the opening, and you don’t think about who’s in front of you or behind you – you just focus on scoring. 

“When you see the ball go in… honestly, it’s an incredible feeling,” he concluded.

- Swapnil

HIGHLIGHTS | ESPANYOL 0-2 REAL MADRID

REAL MADRID 1-1 GIRONA | ENGLISH DUB POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

ALVARO ARBELOA FUMES AT REAL MADRID PLAYER AFTER GETAFE LOSS - 'IT’S UNACCEPTABLE'

Alvaro Arbeloa fumes at Real Madrid player after Getafe loss – ‘It’s unacceptable’

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa defended his side’s performance against Getafe after their 1-0 defeat on Monday night, and while he admitted that his side can play better, felt they had done enough to win the game. On the other hand, he also had some stinging words for Franco Mastantuono.

The defeat means that the gap to Barcelona at the summit of La Liga remains at four points, a gap that in theory Los Blancos could overhaul. Yet many Madridistas were left wondering whether overhauling their most bitter rivals was possible given the way their side is playing. Arbeloa was clear that the title was still in play.

“No, now we have no other objective than to win the 36 points that remain at stake. This is Real Madrid and nobody gives up here. It’s a gap that we think we can close.”

Arbeloa: ‘We had clearer chances than Getafe’

Despite the feeling that Getafe had carried out their gameplan to perfection, as Jose Bordalas noted, Arbeloa believed his side had done enough for the three points.

“We had clearer chances than Getafe. We had Vinicius’s chance, Rudiger’s chance, Rodrygo’s chance… We knew the kind of game we were going to play. Nothing happened that we didn’t know was going to happen, and that’s how I see the game.”

“Saying that ‘it’s impossible for us to play well, that’s putting words in my mouth that I have not said. It’s true that we had chances to score; it’s also true that we can play better. I can’t fault my players for their effort. The responsibility for improving our play is mine. If anyone is responsible for the defeat, it’s me.”

Arbeloa also had criticism for the officiating, despite Antonio Rudiger escaping a red card.

Image via Sport / Europa Press

“Today we struggled against an opponent that defended very well. We needed to be more aggressive in certain situations. We always tend to rely on Vinicius for the easy option, but we need to be a constant threat on both flanks. There were also many interruptions. The referee allowed a game where the focus was on not playing. But I have no criticism of Getafe because they do what they’re allowed to do.”

Arbeloa angry with Mastanuono for sending off

Late on, Mastantuono was sent off for dissent, meaning he will be absent for Real Madrid’s trip to face Celta Vigo on Friday. Bookings for Alvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen will also keep them out of the trip, but Arbeloa felt Mastantuono’s was avoidable.

“It’s unacceptable. The Mastantuono thing cannot happen. Huijsen and Carreras’ yellow cards are part of the game. But we’re going to have three very important players out in Vigo.”

Arguments for improvement

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Arbeloa had the following reasons for optimism.

“We have great players, others who are going to recover, and we have that objective of continuing to improve and that we can do better. I understand the criticism and the perspective that exists, but we played a good enough game to beat Getafe. We didn’t know how to take advantage of the chances we had.”

Los Blancos face Celta Vigo at 21:00 CEST at Balaidos this Friday, with a second chance to reduce the gap to Barcelona to one point, ahead of the Catalans facing Athletic Club. Following that, Real Madrid will take on Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16.

- Ruairidh Barlow

CRISTIANO RONALDO BUYS 25 PERCENT STAKE IN SPANISH CLUB ALMERIA

The Al Nassr and Portugal forward has acquired the stake through the subsidiary CR7 Sports and the investment comes as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group

Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a 25 percent share in Almeria, the Spanish club have announced. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a 25 percent share in Almeria, the Spanish club have announced.

The Al Nassr and Portugal forward has acquired the stake through the subsidiary CR7 Sports and the investment comes as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group.

Almeria are currently third in the Segunda Division and are two points away from leaders Racing in the bid for promotion to LaLiga.

Ronaldo said in a statement on the club's X account: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond just on the pitch. UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.

Official statement:

Cristiano Ronaldo invests in UD Almería as part of the club ownership consortium led by SMC Group pic.twitter.com/0lk92FUjPH

— UD Almería (@UDAlmeria_Eng)

February 26, 2026

"I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the next phase of the club's growth."

President of Almeria Mohamed Al Khereiji added: "We are very pleased that Cristiano has chosen to invest in our club.

"He is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows Spanish football very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy."

- PA