Real Madrid's awards haul is impressive but ultimately unimportant
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo explains what it means to win the 2017 Best FIFA Men's Player Award for a fifth time.
Real Madrid emerged from a tuxedo-clad evening at the Best FIFA Football Awards 2017 with plenty of decorative trophies for the mantelpiece.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for the best male player at the London Palladium with 43.16 percent of the vote, while Zinedine Zidane beat Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri to the title of best coach. The Madrid pair benefitted from a symbiotic relationship in 2016-17. Zidane's strict adherence to rotation meant that Ronaldo remained fresh until the end...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/3241906/real-madrids-awards-haul-is-impressive-but-ultimately-unimportant
Gianluigi Buffon still hopes to win Champions League with Juventus
Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon explains the significance of winning the 2017 Best FIFA Goalkeeper award.
Gianluigi Buffon says he still hopes he can end his club career on a high by lifting the Champions League with Juventus this season.
The 39-year-old confirmed he is still at the top of his profession by picking up the award for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper at a ceremony in London on Monday evening, but the only honour he is lacking to crown his career is victory in the Champions League.
He has gone close twice in the past three years, losing finals to Barcelona and Real Madrid with the Bianconeri, and...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/juventus/story/3241489/gianluigi-buffon-still-hopes-to-win-champions-league-with-juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo earned FIFA award for big moments, not a brilliant year
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed his rivalry with Barcelona counterpart Lionel Messi is just starting.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo explains what it means to win the 2017 Best FIFA Men's Player Award for a fifth time.
Craig Burley and Alexis Nunes sift through Cristiano Ronaldo's stats from 2017 as he claimed the Best FIFA Men's Player award.
As FIFA announce the three candidates for awards including best player and best manger, see who's being tipped for success.
Ballon d'Or candidate Isco fancies Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to retain the trophy next January.
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed The Best FIFA Men's Player award for a second straight year on Monday night, beating his regular rivals for the top prizes -- Lionel Messi and Neymar -- in the process.
The Real Madrid forward is once again regarded as the world's greatest footballer by the world game's governing body and he is also the favourite claim a fifth Ballon d'Or award, which would draw him level with long-time Barcelona rival Messi.
ESPN FC's club correspondents give their verdict on the final...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/3240783/cristiano-ronaldo-earned-fifa-award-for-big-moments-not-brilliant-year
Neymar, Pogba, Coutinho - who'll break Ronaldo, Messi's hold on awards?
Kevin De Bruyne says he's more interested in winning trophies with Manchester City than chasing after personal accolades.
As Kevin De Bruyne's form continues to scintillate, the FC crew debate just how world-class the midfielder's talent is.
As FIFA announce the three candidates for awards including best player and best manger, see who's being tipped for success.
The three finalists for the Best FIFA Men's Player award have a very familiar look, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar once again sharing the podium when it comes to a top individual prize.
No player other than Ronaldo or Messi has won either the Ballon d'Or or FIFA's award since 2007, when Kaka scooped up both prizes for his Champions League-winning exploits with AC Milan.
But the duopoly of Ronaldo, 32, and 30-year-old Messi has to end at some time -- who will be the next new name...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243/post/3240503/neymar-pogba-coutinho-wholl-break-ronaldo-messis-hold-on-awards
Celtic fined after fan tried to kick Kylian Mbappe during PSG match
Celtic fan John Hatton confronts PSG's Kylian Mbappe.
Celtic have been fined €10,000 (£8,900) after a fan invaded the pitch during their 5-0 Champions League home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
UEFA's disciplinary body handed out the punishment after the fan ran on and tried to kick PSG's Kylian Mbappe.
John Hatton, 21, was taken away by stewards after failing to make contact with the teenage forward.
He was sentenced to community service after admitting assault and behaviour likely to incite public disorder.
PSG have also been...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/story/3240579/celtic-fined-after-fan-tried-to-kick-kylian-mbappe-during-psg-match
Napoli more motivated to peform in Serie A than Champions League - Sarri
Napoli remain unbeaten in Serie A after settling for a draw against Inter on Saturday.
Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri admitted his side are more motivated in Serie A than in the Champions League after his side "dropped two points" in Saturday's top-of-the-table draw with Inter Milan.
Sarri's men had the better of the chances to find a winner and saw their 100 percent record came to start the Serie A season came to an end as they failed to win in the league for the first time since April.
They're still unbeaten in the league, but Napoli have already suffered two defeats in Europe...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/story/3238626/napoli-more-motivated-to-peform-in-serie-a-than-champions-league-maurizio-sarri
Coman wreaks havoc with pace, draws pivotal red card in Bayern victory
Corentin Tolisso's first goal since the opening day of the season led Bayern to a 1-0 victory at 10-man Hamburg.
Arjen Robben reflects on Bayern's 'intense' clash at Hamburg and looks ahead to the team's upcoming slate.
Bayern Munich were made to work hard for a third straight win under Jupp Heynckes, but scraped past 10-man Hamburg 1-0 thanks to record signing Corentin Tolisso's close-range tap-in on 52 minutes.
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Chasing an unprecedented sixth Bundesliga title in a row, Bayern moved level on points with Borussia Dortmund, who lead on goal difference by three goals. The gap was five points when Jupp Heynckes took over, but three straight victories, 9-0 aggregate without letting in a goal, is a pretty...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/bayern-munich/132/blog/post/3238610/kingsley-coman-wreaks-havoc-with-pace-and-earns-pivotal-red-card-in-bayern-munich-victory-over-hamburg
Juventus, Leicester City earned more from UEFA prize fund than Real Madrid
With just two goals in eight games for Real Madrid this season, the FC guys debate whether or not Karim Benzema is overrated. Beaten finalists Juventus topped the Champions League prize money table in receiving €110.4 million from UEFA last season.
Leicester City edged title-winning Real Madrid for second place in the list that UEFA published on Friday because the English champion banked a bigger share of broadcasting rights money.
British and Italian TV deals were more valuable than the Spanish rights, and were shared between fewer clubs than Spain's five in the competition.
Leicester, eliminated in the quarterfinals,...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/story/3236392/juventus-and-leicester-city-earned-more-from-uefa-prize-fund-than-real-madrid
The Sweeper: Wenger selfie fail
A fan botches a selfie with Arsene Wenger, Ronaldo sings the Champions League anthem and more in The Sweeper.
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/international/55/video/3236362/the-sweeper-wenger-selfie-fail
Spartak Moscow get partial stadium ban over UEFA Youth League chants
Spartak Moscow fans have been punished for their behaviour last month.
Spartak Moscow have been hit with a partial stadium closure by UEFA for "racist behaviour" towards Liverpool striker Bobby Adekanye during last month's Youth League match.
A section of the Russian club's fans directed monkey chants at the 18-year-old attacker in the 2-1 defeat suffered by Steven Gerrard's side at Spartak's academy on Sept. 26.
UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) upheld Liverpool's subsequent complaint and a section of Spartak's stadium will be closed for their next...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/spartak-moscow/story/3236315/spartak-moscow-get-partial-stadium-ban-over-uefa-youth-league-chants
Roma charged with racist behaviour by UEFA following Chelsea game
Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey breaks down Chelsea's 3-3 draw with Roma and the ensuing press conference from manager Antonio Conte.
Roma have been charged by UEFA after some of their supporters allegedly directed monkey chants at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger during Wednesday's Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.
A statement from UEFA read: "Disciplinary proceedings have been opened following the UEFA Champions League group stage match between Chelsea FC and AS Roma (3-3), played on October 18 in England."
UEFA said the charge was "racist behaviour (monkey chants)," adding: "This case will be dealt with by the UEFA...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/as-roma/story/3235871/roma-charged-with-racist-behaviour-by-uefa-following-chelsea-game
Kevin De Bruyne not interested in accolades without Man City trophies
Kevin De Bruyne says he's more interested in winning trophies with Manchester City than chasing after personal accolades.
MANCHESTER -- Kevin De Bruyne says he doesn't want personal honours unless he's winning trophies with Manchester City.
The Belgium international midfielder is already being talked about as an early frontrunner for the Player of the Year award after starting the season in sparkling form for City.
Pep Guardiola said he needs to win a title to be considered among the best and De Bruyne, who was named German Player of the Year when he was with Wolfsburg in 2015, told ESPN FC he is more interested...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-city/story/3234754/kevin-de-bruyne-not-interested-in-accolades-without-man-city-trophies
Real Madrid's Keylor Navas continues to dazzle with substance over flair
Hugo Lloris and Keylor Navas each put on a show between the sticks as Real Madrid and Spurs battled to a draw.
Harry Kane raised his hands to his head and then lowered them down again. He rocked them back and forth, unsure of how to react, and glanced up at the Madrid sky.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker, who had scored 15 goals in 11 games for club and country prior to visiting the Bernabeu, is not used to experiencing the sequence of events that had just unfolded.
Usually when Harry Kane bears down on goal he is accustomed to time slowing down and the din of the crowd momentarily abating as his focus centres...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/club/real-madrid/86/blog/post/3235699/real-madrids-keylor-navas-continues-to-dazzle-with-substance-over-flair
WATCH: How FC pundits rate Karim Benzema
With just two goals in eight games for Real Madrid this season, the FC guys debate whether or not Karim Benzema is overrated.
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/video/espn-fc-tv/86/video/3235690/watch-how-fc-pundits-rate-karim-benzema
What's wrong with Atletico Madrid?
With Atleti still winless after three games in the UCL, Sid Lowe shares his diagnosis for what's causing their struggles.
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/video/espn-fc-tv/86/video/3235681/whats-wrong-with-atletico-madrid
Edin Dzeko's two goals vs. Chelsea emblematic of career revival
Edin Dzeko and Eden Hazard both scored a brace for their sides as the two top teams of Group C battle to a 3-3 draw.
Edin Dzeko's two goals earned Roma a point in their six-goal thriller against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Wednesday night will live long in the memory of the Romanisti who made it to Stamford Bridge. Used to their team collapsing in the face of adversity, they watched Roma battle back from two goals down to the Premier League champions Chelsea, a team managed by hated Juventino Antonio Conte, and come just a whisker away from leaving London with what would have been a huge -- and fully deserved -- three points.
They saw their team, so often a joke on Europe's biggest stage, and their main man Edin Dzeko,...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/club/as-roma/104/blog/post/3235259/edin-dzekos-two-goals-vs-chelsea-emblematic-of-career-revival
UEFA to increase solidary payments for youth programmes
Around £111m will be made available from the proceeds of last season's Champions League and Europa League.
Top-flight clubs across Europe are set to benefit from increased solidary payments in order to develop their youth programmes, UEFA has announced.
A total of £111.7 million will be made available from the proceeds of last season's Champions League and Europa League competitions, an increase from £108.5m the previous year.
The payments, which must be used to boost youth development programmes and community schemes, are available to all top-flight clubs not involved in this season's Champions...
Source:
http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243/post/3235537/uefa-to-increase-solidary-payments-for-youth-programmes
Neymar: I'll help 'golden boy' Mbappe the same way Messi helped me
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar insists he will try to help Kylian Mbappe flourish the way Lionel Messi did for him at Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar all found the back of the net as PSG went on to a 4-0 victory against Anderlecht.
PSG star Neymar has vowed to support "golden boy" Kylian Mbappe in the same ways Lionel Messi helped him during his time at Barcelona.
Neymar, 25, moved to the Camp Nou from Santos in the summer of 2013, where he teamed up with Messi, who took the Brazil superstar under his wing.
In the following years, the Brazil No. 10 became the main target of Messi's passes, receiving a team-best 894 balls from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner over their last three seasons together.
And since moving to...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/paris-saint-germain/story/3235450/neymar-ill-help-golden-boy-kylian-mbappe-like-lionel-messi-helped-me-at-barcelona
Bayern back on track, Leipzig fancy a European run, Dortmund's costly draw
Despite a win over Celtic, Jupp Heynckes says Bayern still left much to be desired both offensively and defensively.
Matchday 3 at last brought the first wins for the German contingent in the Champions League and underlined the recent return to form of RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich. For Borussia Dortmund, however, the 1-1 draw at APOEL has had the opposite effect: the Black and Yellows are beginning to wonder about their football's true quality in light of four unconvincing games (three defeats, one narrow win at Augsburg) on the trot.
RB Leipzig poised to make a run
After two unsuccessful outings in the...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/german-bundesliga/10/blog/post/3235255/bayern-back-on-track-leipzig-poised-for-champions-league-run-dortmund-rue-apoel-draw
Trending: Man United win with bizarre error, Lionel Messi hits 100th UCL
Jose Mourinho takes a dig at other football managers and promises not to "cry and moan" about injuries like others do.
The FC guys provide their critiques for Jose Mourinho's Man United side following a narrow UCL victory over Benfica.
The FC crew answer your tweets on Chelsea's defensive issues, Manchester United's style of play and Atleti's UCL struggles.
Chelsea let a two-goal lead slip against Roma before settling for a draw, while Benfica's goalkeeping gaffe gifted Man United a win.
Romelu Lukaku had a touching moment with Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar, whose howler led to the only goal of the match.
Thursday's latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC's What's Trending ...
MAN UNITED: Manchester United battled to a 1-0 victory away to Benfica to make it three wins from three as goalkeeper Mile Svilar allowed the ball to cross the line when saving Marcus Rashford's free kick.
- Jose Mourinho has hit back at critics of his style of football by insisting good defending is not a crime.
