History

BARCELONA — Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta announced his retirement on Tuesday after a glittering trophy-laden career spanning 24 years.

Iniesta, 40, was at the heart of the Spain and Barcelona midfield during a period of sustained success for both teams in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

"Please allow me to be a little emotional today," a tearful Iniesta, who most recently played for Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates, told a press conference.

Gio Reyna is expected to miss another month and-a-half with a groin injury after suffering a setback, announced Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin.

The United States men’s national team midfielder initially suffered the injury during the USMNT’s September window and has been out for club and country since.

️ Nuri Şahin:

France's World Cup-winning defender Raphaël Varane announced his retirement from football at the age of 31 on Wednesday, bringing down the curtain on his successful career after suffering a serious knee injury.

Varane made 93 appearances for France from 2013-22, playing a key role in their victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as their runners-up finish four years later in Qatar. He retired from international football in 2023.

Varane retires

A former referee has admitted to have spared Lionel Messi from a second yellow card in return for his match-worn shirt.

Chilean refereee, Carlos Chandía, has confessed to having purposefully avoided giving Messi a booking. And all in the plan to receive the Argentine’s jersey at the end of a match.

Chandía was in charge of the 2007 Copa America semifinal match between Argentina and Mexico, with the Albiceleste blowing past El Tri with a 3-0 scoreline. 20-year-old Messi scored a beautiful lob to seal his country’s spot in the final.

Christian Pulisic scored the opener of AC Milan’s 3-1 Champions League defeat against Liverpool on Tuesday as the American punished the Reds yet again.

The latest Pulisic goal vs Liverpool saw the United States men’s national team forward strike less than three minutes into the contest. Pulisic had a great run down the right side before arrowing a low shot to the bottom corner.

Pulisic goal vs Liverpool

CHRISTIAN PULISIC STRIKES TO SEND THE SAN SIRO INTO A FRENZY!

Mauricio Pochettino is the new head coach of a broken team.

An apathetic United States men’s national team went through the motions of September with two below par performances against Canada (lost 2-1) and New Zealand (drew 1-1).

The pair of results completes a humiliating summer that saw the USMNT win just one of their last seven games. Yes, the USMNT have only won one game in the last four months and been outscored 12-6 in the process.

One of the greatest United States women’s national team players of all time is calling it a career. Alex Morgan will play her final game on Sunday as the star striker announced in a four-minute video on social media Thursday.

Morgan had two big announcements in her retirement video as she revealed she’s pregnant with a second a child.

“This is also not the retirement video I expected when I initially thought I was going to do this. Because Charlie’s going to be a big sister. I’m pregnant,” Morgan revealed.

For the first time since 2003 neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi have been included in the nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or award, which were announced on Wednesday, with England's Jude Bellingham among the 30 players named.

Portugal's Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, also failed to receive a nomination last year, while Messi, who won for a record eighth time in 2023 and has been nominated 16 times, misses out despite Argentina's Copa America win this year.

Messi and Ronaldo not nominated for Ballon d'Or

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.

The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.

"Friday will be my last match with my country's national team," an emotional Suarez told a press conference.