Classic Players

Megan Rapinoe will retire from national team and play her final game on Sept. 24th

The United States women’s national team will bid farewell to one of its biggest stars in September as Megan Rapinoe will play her final game.

When is Rapinoe's last game for USWNT?

Rapinoe’s farewell will be a friendly match against South Africa on Sept. 24 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The game is the second of two friendlies that the USWNT will play against South Africa. Rapinoe won’t feature in the first game in Cincinnati on Sept. 21.

Italian goalkeeper and legend Gianluigi Buffon announces he's hanging up the gloves

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has retired from football, the 45-year-old announced on Wednesday, after 28 years in which he reached exceptional milestones for club and country.

Buffon, who in 2006 lifted the World Cup, won 10 Serie A titles with Juventus and a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.

"That's all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together," Buffon said in a statement.

USWNT welcomes pressure of do-or-die group stage finale, says Megan Rapinoe

AUCKLAND - The United States are built to handle the pressure of their do-or-die final group stage match, veteran Megan Rapinoe said, with everything on the line against Portugal on Tuesday at the Women's World Cup.

The four-times champions have never exited in the group stage but may suffer that fate without a win or a draw against the World Cup debutantes, after beating Vietnam in the opener and settling for a 1-1 draw to the Netherlands.

It is hardly the position fans imagined the team would be in as they pursue an unprecedented third consecutive title.

Remember Alexandre Pato? This is him now. Feel old yet?

On the one hand, Alexandre Pato isn't old — he's only 33. On the other, memories of his footballing career belong to the wizened generations. It's been a decade since his last appearance for Brazil and 12 years since that unforgettable goal against Barcelona.  

Spain legend Cesc Fabregas officially announces his retirement

Former Spain, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas announced his retirement on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 20-year playing career as he hangs up his boots to take up coaching at Como.

Fabregas announced himself on the scene when he made his Arsenal debut aged 16 after he was signed from Barca, taking over the midfield mantle from Frenchman Patrick Vieira and becoming one of the Premier League's greatest playmakers.

It's a friendly, Leo, go easy on them! Messi scores hat trick on 36th birthday

It's probably for the best that Lionel Messi was way too busy to watch Inter Miami play on Saturday night. While the Herons were getting smacked 4-1 by Philadelphia for a seventh consecutive defeat in MLS, Messi was celebrating his 36th birthday in his hometown of Rosario and playing in a testimonial match for Newell's Old Boys legend Maxi Rodríguez.

Jürgen Klinsmann looks for quick fix after disappointing start with South Korea

Jürgen Klinsmann has defended his underwhelming start to life as South Korea coach with the German yet to win any of his four games in charge since taking over from Paulo Bento.

Klinsmann was appointed in February and his team have drawn twice and lost twice as the Koreans look to build on their run to the knockout rounds of last year's World Cup under his Portuguese predecessor.

An opening draw with Colombia was followed by losses against Uruguay and Peru while Klinsmann's side were held to a 1-1 draw by El Salvador on Tuesday in their most recent international.

The hero in 2019, Megan Rapinoe handed new role in fourth World Cup

NEW YORK - The USWNT's Megan Rapinoe will take on a different role in her fourth Women's World Cup appearance, coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Wednesday, as he named his 23-player squad for the quadrennial tournament.

The pink-haired forward's heroics led the U.S. to a fourth title in 2019, as her larger-than-life persona helped cement her as the biggest celebrity in American soccer, drawing legions of fans and the ire of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ben Foster agrees to one more year with Wrexham

Ben Foster has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Wrexham until summer 2024, the fourth-tier club said on Friday after the ex-England goalkeeper played a key role in helping them return to the English Football League.

Zlatan Ibrahimović hangs up his boots at 41

AC Milan's Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović said on Sunday he had decided to end his playing career at the age of 41 after a trophy-laden career at some of Europe's top clubs.

The extrovert Swede's Milan contract expires at the end of June and will not be renewed following a season plagued by injuries, prompting him to end a remarkable career.

Ibrahimović arrived in Milan for his second spell with the club in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped the club win the title again last season.

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