Spain

It's been almost a year since two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas went down with an ACL injury that cost her a place at last summer's European Championship and almost the entire 2022-23 club season with Barcelona.  

Her last appearance for Spain was actually July 2, 2022, when she received her 100th cap and scored her 27th goal in a friendly against Italy.

Now, after a long and demanding road to recovery, Putellas made her long-awaited return to the national team Thursday during a friendly against fellow World Cup participants Panama. 

Barcelona have signed İlkay Gündoğan on a free transfer after his departure from treble winners Manchester City with the German midfielder signing a two-year contract, the LaLiga club said on Monday.

The 32-year-old has a contract until June 2025 with an option for a further year, while the Spanish champions also said they had included a buyout clause of $435.72 million.

The UEFA and CONCACAF Nations League finals both took place Sunday, and records fell, legends became immortal and history was written as the world came to a standstill to watch the heroics of goalkeeper Unai Simón and a blonded Gio Reyna.

ROTTERDAM - Serial winner Dani Carvajal converted the decisive spot-kick to hand Spain a first title in more than a decade as they edged Croatia 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the Nations League in Rotterdam on Sunday.

The 31-year-old, who has won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, calmly chipped home Spain’s sixth kick of the shootout as they claimed their first silverware since the 2012 European Championship.

During Barcelona's recent Women's Champions League Final victory over Wolfsburg, nine Spanish players helped show why Barça are the preeminent force of the club game. It should logically follow that Spain are one of the pre-tournament favorites at this summer's World Cup, but on Monday their 30-player provisional roster was released with some big names already omitted before the squad is cut to 23.

Real Madrid Castilla faced off against Barça Athlètic in the second leg of their third division Primera Federación clash for a chance to fight for a promotion to the Segunda División (second division). After coming home with a 4-2 loss, the young Galacticos had a tough challenge to overcome if they wanted a chance to play in the next tier for the upcoming season.

With a booming atmosphere, the Merengues managed to turn the tie around and defeat the culés with a 3-0 scoreline. 

Major League Soccer completed its biggest transfer in history on Wednesday when Lionel Messi confirmed that he will leave Paris Saint-Germain to join Inter Miami.

BREAKING: Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, here we go! The decision has been made and it will be announced by Leo in the next hours #InterMiami

Messi will play in MLS. No more chances for Barcelona/Al Hilal despite trying to make it happen.

Borussia Dortmund have agreed to sell England midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid for an initial fee of $110.4 million, the Bundesliga club said on Wednesday.

Bellingham will become the third player to be signed by Real Madrid for a fee worth at least 100 million euros after Gareth Bale (2013) and Eden Hazard (2019).

"With realization of this transfer, Real Madrid will pay BVB a fixed transfer compensation in the amount of 103 million euros," Dortmund said in a statement.

MADRID — Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema said farewell to Real Madrid in a small, private ceremony closed to fans and media on Tuesday following a trophy-laden 14-year stay with the LaLiga club.

The French striker, 35, will leave as a free agent and is set to move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, signing a two-year deal estimated by media reports to be worth more than $106 million.