Spain

Ranking all 8 of Federico Valverde's comically good goals this season

It's early in the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or, but with the season now over 30 percent complete, there's no denying that Real Madrid utility man Federico Valverde has put himself in the conversation with some unbelievable contributions in the Champions League and LaLiga.

It used to be that Valverde was the unsung hero of either the midfield (deputizing effectively for Luka Modrić or Toni Kroos) or right wing (with Karim Benzema and Vini Jr in the spotlight), but this year, whether deployed on the wing or in midfield, the 24-year-old has blossomed into the star of the show.

Arsenal goal celebration pays tribute to Pablo Marí after supermarket stabbing

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Sunday with a commanding 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates, and the Gunners dedicated their win to on-loan defender Pablo Marí, who was stabbed Thursday during an attack in an Italian supermarket that left one dead and five injured.

Luca de la Torre could miss World Cup with hamstring injury — what will this mean for USMNT midfield?

United States men’s national team and Celta Vigo midfielder Luca de la Torre is expected to miss the next three weeks of action after suffering a muscle injury in his left leg. His club announced the news on Friday.

LaLiga looks for silver linings after historic Champions League debacle

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will be back on the pitch for their LaLiga games this weekend, licking their wounds after disastrous midweek performances in the Champions League.

For the first time in history Spain had three teams knocked out of the top European tournament in the group stage, as Barcelona, Atlético and Sevilla failed miserably to advance past their groups to the round of 16.

Even champions Real Madrid, who were already through and playing to wrap up top spot, lost 3-1 at Leipzig on Tuesday, their first defeat in all competitions this season.

Antoine Griezmann strikes an Olimpico in two-goal game for Atlético Madrid

Two second-half goals from Antoine Griezmann, one scored directly from a corner kick, gave Atlético Madrid a 2-1 win at Real Betis on Sunday, extending their unbeaten run in LaLiga to five games.

Atlético climbed back to third in the standings on 23 points, eight behind leaders Real Madrid and two from second-placed Barcelona, who have a game in hand and host Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday. Betis are fifth on 20 points.

It was Atlético's fifth win in six away games this season, and Betis's first loss at home.

Lewandowski sinks the Yellow Submarine with 2 highlight reel goals in 4 minutes

BARCELONA - Barcelona bounced back from their painful Clásico loss in style as they cruised to a 3-0 home LaLiga win over Villarreal with a brace from Robert Lewandowski on Thursday.

Barcelona remained second in the standings on 25 points, three behind Real Madrid and three clear of third-placed Real Sociedad, who have won their last five league games and eight consecutive wins in all competitions.

Team-by-team guide: 2022 Spain World Cup preview

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched team-by-team previews for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here's the Spain World Cup 2022 preview. La Roja will play in Group E against Costa Rica, Germany and Japan.

Spain World Cup Preview 2022

World Cup appearances: 16th

Best finish: Champions (2010)  

The story behind Karim Benzema's broken finger

When you think of Karim Benzema on the pitch, it's hard not to imagine him without the bandage he wears over his right arm. The piece of fabric has become a signature accessory for the Real Madrid striker. However, during the ceremony in which he received a well-deserved Ballon d'Or, people got a good reminder of why he always has to use it. 

Benzema gets his own signature cleats from adidas after Ballon d'Or win

After firing Real Madrid to a Champions League and LaLiga double with 42 goals in 44 games and returning to the France national team with a Nations League title, Karim Benzema beat Sadio Mané and Kevin De Bruyne to the 2022 Ballon d'Or on Monday. To celebrate the occasion, adidas — which has counted Benzema among its stable of athletes for over a decade now — dropped a new signature cleat for Real's captain.

Karim Benzema, Alexia Putellas win Ballon d'Or awards for best players in the world

PARIS - Real Madrid's France forward Karim Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award for the best men's player in the world on Monday, while Barcelona's Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's award for a second time.

Benzema, who played a pivotal role in Real's run to the Champions League title last season, is the first French player to win the trophy since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 and the fifth after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin.

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