Off the Pitch

Spain defeated England 1-0 in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, and became world champions for the first time in their history.

Olga Carmona’s strike in the 29th minute proved to be the difference. The 23-year-old fullback had a perfect low effort into the bottom corner that Golden Glove winner Mary Earps couldn’t keep out.

OLGA CARMONA HAS DONE IT!

SPAIN TAKES THE 1-0 LEAD pic.twitter.com/zqJBDRXngJ

Here we are again. United States men’s national team captain Tyler Adams is on the precipice of a transfer to a Premier League club. A move to Chelsea fell apart earlier in August, but now he looks set to join Bournemouth.

Lionel Messi has won just about everything there is to win in soccer but said on Thursday that bringing Inter Miami their first ever trophy would be "incredible" and "a beautiful thing".

Languishing at the bottom of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference standings there had been nothing pretty about Inter Miami's season until Messi's arrival in South Florida last month.

But now things could not look any brighter.

Cristiano Ronaldo is responsible for transforming the Saudi Pro League, according to Brazil forward Neymar who is looking forward to facing the Portuguese international when he starts playing for Al-Hilal.

The 31-year-old Neymar signed a two-year contract with the Riyadh-based club on Tuesday after spending six years with Paris Saint-Germain, in a deal reportedly worth about $98 million.

England captain Harry Kane said he joined Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to improve as a player, adding that he is relishing the pressure that comes along with playing for the serial winners.

Kane signed for Bayern on Saturday for a reported $109.17 million. He had been at Spurs since the age of 11, but in his 10 Premier League seasons with the club, he failed to win any trophies, which will not be an option at the German club.

Lionel Messi's transfer to Inter Miami has set MLS on a path to the stars. Literally. And the Magic Messi effect on MLS is just getting started.

LONDON — Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion, according to media reports on Sunday which said the fee would be a British record.

Sky Sports reported that Chelsea will pay 115 million pounds ($145.98 million), eclipsing the previous mark set when they bought Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for 106.8 million pounds in January.

It added that Caicedo would sign an eight-year contract, with the Blues paying 100 million pounds plus 15 million in add-ons.