Tag Futebol

It’s been a great week for Chelsea, and an even better one for Estevao.

Enzo Maresca handed the Brazilian a start in the club’s Champions League game against Barcelona, his third on the bounce in the competition, and to say he shone would be an understatement.

The Catalan side couldn’t live with him, and thanks to some brilliant close control, he was rewarded with a goal early in the second half.

The teenage sensation looks destined to be a world-beater, so fans should be excited about reports linking Chelsea with a striker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

Chelsea target a dream signing for Estevao

While he has been billed as one of the next big talents for over a year now, nobody would have expected Estevao to have had the start to the season he has.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

Across all competitions so far, the youngster has made 17 appearances, totalling 740 minutes, in which he has scored five goals and provided one assist.

Moreover, three of those goals have come in the UCL, while his only Premier League goal came against Liverpool.

In other words, the Franca-born gem has already proven that he’s more than capable of performing in the biggest games for the Blues, and that might explain why the club are now targeting a striker who’d be a dream teammate for him.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has claimed Chelsea are interested in Samu Aghehowa.

In fact, the report has revealed that the West Londoners are plotting to swoop for a couple of promising young stars in January, one of whom is the Porto star.

However, the Blues are not the only ones keen on the Spaniard, with reports from earlier this week linking Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur with a £79m move.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Samu’s immense ability and potential, it’s one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he’d be a dream teammate for Estevao.

Why Samu would be a dream signing for Estevao

The first reason, and the most crucial reason Samu would be an excellent signing for Estevao and Chelsea overall, is that he’s a proven and reliable output machine.

For example, across all competitions last season, the Spanish international made 45 appearances, totalling 3400 minutes, in which he scored 27 goals and provided three assists.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 113.33 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that it was his first campaign in Portugal.

Fortunately, that level of output does not look like an outlier, as so far this season, the Melilla-born monster has been even more dangerous.

For example, in 15 appearances, totalling 885 minutes, he has scored nine goals and provided one assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or more impressivley, every 88.5 minutes, which is a rate of return that lends to journalist Zach Lowy’s description of him as “one of the best STs in Europe.”

Samu’s recent form

Season

24/25

25/26

Appearances

45

15

Minutes

3,400′

885′

Goals

27

9

Assists

3

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

0.43

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113.33′

115.57′

Points per Game

1.67

2.53

Stats via Sofascore

Now, on top of utterly bossing it in Portugal, the 6 foot 4 titan has also got some decent experience in a top-five league, as he spent the 23/24 season on loan with Deportivo Alavés, where he made 34 appearances in La Liga, totalling 1924 minutes, in which he scored eight goals and provided one assist.

Finally, on top of being someone who could help bolster Estevao’s assist tally with his impressive finishing, the four-capped international is still relatively young at just 21 years old.

This means that he could develop alongside the Brazilian and, over the coming years, create a potentially game-changing partnership with him.

Ultimately, given his ability and potential, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Samu in January, as he’d make the team far more dangerous and could be a perfect teammate for Estevao.

Related Shades of Estevao: Chelsea have another "left-footed magician" out on loan

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca could have another Estevao-type talent on their hands next season.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 27, 2025

Mohamed Salah was left on the bench as much-maligned summer signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz helped Liverpool to a vital three points in Sunday's 2-0 win over West Ham. The Swedish forward scored his first Premier League goal for the club since his big-money switch to Anfield this summer, while the German provided the heartbeat for the Liverpool attack.

Reflective of their respective sluggish starts to the Premier League campaign, West Ham and Liverpool failed to set the London Stadium alight from the off. The hosts, set up by Nuno Espirito Santo to absorb pressure and attack on the break, were pinned back by the Reds who were unable to press home their dominance on the ball in the first half. Alphonse Areola did well to produce a fine stop from an Isak spectacular and cut out a dangerous Joe Gomez cross, but was otherwise untroubled by a blunt Reds attack in the opening exchanges.

Wirtz had impressed in the first half and looked most likely to make a difference for the Reds in the second period. On the hour mark, the German jinked to his left and, with the outside of his boot, threaded the ball through a compact Hammers defence to Cody Gakpo, who cut back to Isak to fire first-time into the bottom left corner.

The Reds continued to keep hold of the ball and stifle any West Ham attacks, and despite only holding onto a one-goal advantage, the Reds never looked like forfeiting maximum points, and did not even have to bring on Salah to strengthen their grip on the game. A ridiculous red card from Lucas Paqueta only snuffed out the chance of a possible Hammers recovery, before Gakpo fired home from a Gomez cross in the 92nd minute to seal a vital victory.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from the London Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Alisson Becker (6/10):

  The Brazilian had little to do, but will be pleased with his clean sheet.

  Joe Gomez (7/10):

  The England defender, playing on the right of the defence, had a strong performance and offered a real threat going forwards.

  Ibrahima Konate (6/10):

  A much-needed uneventful day for the Frenchman who bounced back from recent struggles to hold firm.

  Virgil van Dijk (6/10):

  A dominant presence in both boxes, the Dutchman helped lead the defence in the closing stages.

  Milos Kerkez (6/10):

  Still not quite at the level he showed at Bournemouth last season, but the left-back was solid for the Reds.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Midfield

  Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):

  An understated, but impressive performance at the base of the Liverpool midfield as the visitors dominated.

  Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):

  Helped the Reds take the majority of possession and provided composure in the middle of the park.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):

  We have become accustomed to Szoboszlai's relentless running and he was everywhere in east London. A great help for Gomez down the right-flank too.

  Florian Wirtz (8/10):

  Arguably the German's best performance in a Liverpool shirt so far, he played a crucial role in the Reds opener.

  Cody Gakpo (8/10):

  Worked tirelessly for Slot's side and provided the all-important assist for Isak, before sealing the win late on.

  Alexander Isak (7/10):

  After some wayward finishing in the first-half, the Swede finally ended his 381-minute goal drought with a fine finish.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Subs & Manager

  Hugo Ekitike(5/10):

  Replaced Isak, but did not offer too much of a threat.

  Curtis Jones (6/10):

  Had demanded his team-mates raise their levels earlier in the week and they responded. A late cameo appearance in midfield.

  Andy Robertson (N/A):

  A late substitute to see out the win.

  Arne Slot (6/10):

  His decision to leave Salah on the bench proved successful and the Dutchman will be delighted with three points.

ICC announces pre-sale prices as low as one US dollar approximately

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2025

Tickets for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup have gone on sale with less than a month to go for the start of the tournament on September 30 in Guwahati.On Thursday, the ICC announced that tickets for all the group matches in India and Sri Lanka were available on pre-sale on tickets.cricketworldcup.com for four days from 1900 IST and SLST on September 4 via the Google Pay platform. The second phase of ticket sales will begin on September 9 at 2000 IST and SLST (1430 GMT) on tickets.cricketworldcup.com.According to the ICC, ticket prices will start at INR 100 (USD 1.14 approx.) in the first pre-sale phase – “the most affordable pricing for any ICC global event in history.”Related

All-woman panel to officiate at 2025 women's ODI World Cup

Sri Lanka select Prabodhani, Dulani for Women's World Cup

Navi Mumbai replaces Bengaluru as fourth Indian venue

India Women to begin World Cup preparation with Visakhapatnam training camp

USD 13.88 million prize money for Women's ODI World Cup

The Women’s ODI World Cup will be contested by eight teams – India, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh – across five venues: Colombo, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Navi Mumbai. India and Sri Lanka open the tournament on September 30 in Guwahati, and the final is on November 2 at a yet-to-be-decided venue.The ICC recently announced that the total prize money for the tournament is USD $13.88 million, nearly a fourfold increase from the USD 3.5 million for the previous women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand in 2022.

Leeds United had a standout away record to thank for Championship promotion last season, with only three losses picked up all campaign long on the road.

Worryingly, this season, the Whites have already lost four games on their travels in the unnerving environment of the Premier League, despite only being away from Elland Road a slim total of five times.

The well-oiled machine Daniel Farke had at his disposal in the second tier is now nowhere to be found, with Leeds fortunate to only lose 3-0 at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last time out.

Some of Leeds’ summer pick-ups have still impressed, though, as Farke hopes the blistering exploits of Noah Okafor down the wings can be one overwhelming positive that steers the West Yorkshire outfit to safety.

Okafor's impressive Leeds start

There would have been a lot of pressure on Okafor’s shoulders to instantly impress, too, having come in as Leeds’ most expensive capture this summer at the £18m mark.

Thankfully, even if the collective hasn’t always clicked, the Swiss has managed to stand out as a bright, forward-thinking spark on the left wing.

Two goals have already come the forward’s way, with his front-foot approach – which saw him complete a tricky five dribbles versus Brighton – also earning him various plaudits, while other Leeds attackers have receded into their shells, trying to valiantly compete in the daunting division.

Indeed, ex-Leeds defender Aidy White has singled out Okafor for praise for being “so direct” in his style, which – in tow – has gifted the Elland Road side a “massive threat” going forward, according to the Irishman.

Of course, the £18m winger can’t do everything on his own, with his risky style of play sometimes backfiring.

But, he could be crucial in the long run, especially if Leeds need a moment of split-second magic to unlock a tiring defence in a basement battle clash.

Chalkboard

The U21 ranks in West Yorkshire could even be brewing another Okafor-like ace in an exciting 18-year-old sensation.

Leeds' next Noah Okafor

Leeds has a rich recent history when it comes to unearthing some exceptionally talented young gems, with Farke directly responsible for Archie Gray’s crazy ascent to first-team greatness.

While Archie’s brother, Harry, looks like the most exciting prospect in the Thorp Arch academy right now, another teenager by the name of Harvey Vincent will hope he’s the next off the homegrown conveyor belt to make an instant impression in the senior ranks when he’s handed an eventual chance.

He has already been described as an “unpredictable” attacker to keep tabs on – much like Okafor – by Pure Football writer Trent Gaffney and looks like a genuinely exciting young talent.

Lining up in the same set-up as the highly-rated Gray regularly this season, Vincent has still managed to stick out as a talent noted for being able to “tear you apart in seconds” as Gaffney further elaborates, with his late effort (video above) last time out against Brighton U21s securing a 2-2 draw.

In total, now, lining up for both the U18s and U21s, Vincent has 14 goals and eight assists next to his name, with his tricks and flicks thankfully backed up by some impressive output, much like Okafor has managed in the senior Leeds ranks, since moving to England.

LW

15

5 + 1

RW

12

2 + 1

RM

12

5 + 1

CF

2

0

LM

2

0

DM

1

0

Vincent could also be useful to Farke in the near future when studying his adaptability for the cause, with the two-time England U16 international even lining up as a defensive midfielder and a striker on occasion.

Okafor can also be equally as malleable, having lined up across all of the forward positions for former employers AC Milan, from slotting in as a second striker or coming into the side down the alternate right wing.

The electric Leeds number 19 even stated, while still at the San Siro, that he is at “the coach’s disposal” as to where he can line up.

Having recently penned a professional deal to keep him at Leeds until 2027, too, the future certainly looks bright for Vincent in West Yorkshire.

It will now rest on Vincent being able to live up to his potential, with Leeds potentially gaining another Okafor-like menace in the process.

Leeds star was "indispensable" to Farke, now he's as droppable as Aaronson

This Leeds United star who was once dubbed as a necessary cog is now struggling in the Premier League.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 5, 2025

Chelsea are now believed to be at the front of the queue to sign a Liverpool transfer target in January, and one who Man United have also rated very highly in the past.

Chelsea prepare for Leeds United battle after 1-1 Arsenal draw

Chelsea travel to Elland Road on Wednesday evening seeking to build momentum after their hard-fought 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, where Enzo Maresca’s side demonstrated remarkable resilience despite playing almost an hour with 10 men.

The Blues dominated proceedings during the opening half-hour before Moises Caicedo’s reckless studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino resulted in a straight red card following VAR intervention.

The Ecuadorian midfielder’s dismissal represented Chelsea’s fourth sending-off across just thirteen league fixtures this season – twice as many as any other Premier League side.

Chelsea responded defiantly, though.

Trevoh Chalobah glanced home Reece James’ near-post corner to open the scoring just after halftime, rewarding the hosts’ dogged display, but Arsenal eventually equalised through Merino’s header before the hour mark.

It was a promising display overall from Chelsea, who are still firmly in the title race and must now come away from Yorkshire with all three points to keep pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.

Daniel Farke’s relegation-threatened side have endured difficult recent form, collecting just three points from their last five league games.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are having to watch their injury situation closely, with Dario Essugo suffering a setback and Maresca carefully easing Cole Palmer back into the team following his return from a groin problem.

Away from the pitch, Chelsea have been tipped to potentially sign a new centre-back in January, and RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is emerging as a prime contender.

Chelsea favourites to sign Castello Lukeba in January

That is according to CaughtOffside, who report that Chelsea are leading the winter chase to sign him next month, ahead of Liverpool, who are also keen on a move for the Frenchman.

Lukeba, who’s started nearly every game as a mainstay for Leipzig this season, is currently their best-performing player in the Bundesliga behind David Raum, going by average match rating per 90 (WhoScored).

The 22-year-old’s deal includes a release clause which will drop to around £70 million in the summer, but CaughtOffside state that Leipzig could be willing to sell Lukeba to Chelsea for much less at £53 million.

Lukeba, interestingly, was highly recommended to Man United by an unnamed recruitment chief in 2023, according to Football Insider, who told the Red Devils that he’s a ‘generational’ talent.

Chelsea will be without Levi Colwill until midway through next year after the Cobham graduate’s ACL injury in pre-season, but Chalobah and Wesley Fofana seriously impressed against Arsenal.

Some believe the pair might be one of England’s best centre-back pairings right now, so the need for another defender is nowhere near as critical as it was back in October.

In any case, Maresca publicly demanded another centre-half in the summer, so it could still be one worth monitoring.

The shy left-arm spinner who never wants to stop bowling in the nets has risen swiftly to become an important player for Delhi Capitals and India

Shashank Kishore08-Jul-2025Lisa Keightley, the former Australia batter and current assistant coach of Delhi Capitals, perhaps best captures N Shree Charani’s relentless drive in a viral Instagram reel from WPL 2025.Charani asks “Lisa ma’am” to let her bowl one more ball at the nets. Then, Keightley says: “You watch. She’ll come back, and she’ll go, Lisa, one more, one more ball. Does it for about 20 minutes.”Related

Harmanpreet embraces 'happy headache' with India's depth on the rise

India lift their fielding to the next level in bid to 'dominate no matter what'

This reel has regained traction in recent weeks, since Charani’s impressive T20I debut against England late June, when she picked up 4 for 12 – the best figures by an Indian debutant. In the two matches that followed, she has picked up four more wickets.At 20, Charani has already proven her ability to bowl across different phases of the game, a skill she’s honed over the past few years under the guidance of Andhra head coach Srinivas Reddy. The turning point came in 2022, when she was left out of India’s Under-19 World Cup squad, a snub that lit the fire within.Ananya Upendran, the former Hyderabad Women captain and now a lead scout at DC, remembers being captivated watching a teenaged Charani bowl during the T20 Challenger Trophy in October 2022, a few months prior to the inaugural Under-19 World Cup.N Shree Charani picked up four wickets on her T20I debut•Andy Kearns/Getty Images”To me, she was the most impressive bowler in that tournament,” Upendran tells ESPNcricinfo. “She had a smooth, high-arm action, great control, and was one of the quicker spinners on display. The pitches in Goa were quite slow, but because she bowled faster through the air, batters couldn’t just sit back and play her.”They were forced to come forward. That gave her a real edge. I was actually quite surprised she didn’t make the U-19 World Cup squad. What stood out to me was her natural control and understanding of length, even if she was still figuring out how to vary her pace. Physically, she was tall and strong, which helped her generate that pace through the air.”Charani’s spin attributes took shape in gully cricket, where she’d bowl left-arm fast. To succeed in tennis ball-cricket, you need to be quick through the air. She carried forward this quality when she gravitated towards spin bowling.”Even early on, her biggest strength was control, but equally impressive was her temperament,” Upendran explains. “And she’s brought that same level-headedness into the WPL as well. What really struck me was that she wasn’t at all overawed by the occasion. She was quietly confident in her skills, just going about her job.”In March this year, soon after making her WPL debut for Delhi Capitals, Charani had felt the India dream was just a “long-term goal.” Yet, a month later, she received her ODI cap from Sneh Rana in Sri Lanka. And two months on, Charani had earned her maiden T20I cap.”Charani is a quick learner,” says India Women bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi.Charani struck key blows on debut to Delhi Capitals’ delight during the WPL•BCCICharani prides herself on being fearless. Much of her early confidence has come from strong leadership around her. At matches or training during the WPL, she leaned on the calm assurance of Meg Lanning, whom she says “spoon-feeds” her exactly what’s needed.Charani’s use of the word “spoon-feeds” to describe Lanning’s guidance is almost childlike in its honesty. It’s not a word that comes from rehearsed soundbites. It’s clear she’s still getting used to the big stage.The support has extended beyond the field, too; Keightley has had a big influence. “In the pre-season camp in Pune, I was bowling at one pace, doing what I know,” Charani said on the DC podcast. “Lisa ma’am told me what I can do if someone’s going hard on me. She used to guide me for each and every ball. Her inputs were very helpful.”There’s a quiet resilience to Charani typical of youngsters coming up the ranks from nondescript centres. All she’s had growing up was sound backing from the family, and her own steely resolve of wanting to prove she was no less talented than kids around her.”From childhood, I played with my uncle, brother, dad and sister,” she said. “Whenever our friends near the colony played, I used to join. I played many sports – kho kho, badminton, athletics – but cricket was a constant.”In 2018-19, Charani’s [maternal uncle], who had grown up playing cricket in Hyderabad, persuaded her parents to send her for cricket trials. There, she caught the eyes of the age-group coaches. Reddy, in particular, was amazed at her athleticism – a byproduct of Charani being a promising track-and-field athlete – and fielding.”Batting and bowling came secondary; when someone fields like that, it stands out in age-group cricket especially,” Reddy says. “The speed across the outfield, her cutting of angles – it was very impressive. If I have to be brutally honest, it was her fielding, not bowling, that stood out initially. But over the past few years, she has really developed her game.”Today it’s impossible to take the ball away from her,” Reddy says, reiterating Keightley’s observation. “She’ll be the first to start bowling and the last to stop. And even after the nets are over, she’ll keep doing some spot bowling.”When Charani received her WPL cap from Jess Jonassen, she wasn’t nervous, but clear-headed and focused. “I always think about bowling to my strengths,” she said, recalling that debut game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. “That day, I stuck to that.”Shree Charani has shown a quiet resilience during her journey to the top•Getty ImagesHer first wicket was of Ellyse Perry. “I didn’t plan on getting her out,” she said sheepishly. “If I do small mistakes, she’ll pick it and hit me. So I just stuck to what Meg [Lanning] followed.”The WPL call came on the back of a strong showing at the Under-23 level, during the 2023-24 season, where Charani took a four-wicket haul and back-to-back five-for. The matches had a number of scouts in attendance, among them those from Mumbai Indians and DC. It was no surprise DC and Mi tussled to sign her; she was eventually signed for INR 55 lakh.”Charani was very quiet when she first came into the setup, and I think a big part of that was the language barrier – she wasn’t very comfortable or fluent in English at the time,” Upendran says. “But even then, you could see how eager she was to learn. At every training session, she would make an effort to talk to the senior bowlers, even if it was just a few words.”That’s one of the great things about the Capitals environment – you’ve got people like Jess Jonassen, Annabel Sutherland and Meg Lanning, who are always willing to help younger players. Even if the younger ones are hesitant to approach them, the seniors often take the initiative themselves. That kind of culture really helped Charani.”The bond she developed with Keightley – Lisa ma’am – was particularly special. Initially, their conversations were minimal – Keightley would ask questions and Charani would just nod or respond in monosyllables. By the end of the season, they were inseparable.”She’s naturally shy, so the language barrier made it harder for her to open up. But once she felt accepted and the team recognised how talented she was, her confidence really blossomed,” Upendran says. “The group helped too – players like Jemimah [Rodrigues], [V Sneha] Deepthi, Radha [Yadav] and Shikha [Pandey] were all incredibly welcoming, and that made a big difference.

While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done.

“As for her training habits, she absolutely loves to bowl. You could ask her, ‘Are you done?’ and she’d always say, ‘One more ball.’ Over time, with Lisa’s help, she also learned how to manage her workload better, understanding when to stop, how much was enough to feel ready. But she always wanted to end a session with a good delivery, because that’s the feeling she wanted to carry forward.”Charani’s rise comes at a crucial juncture, with two World Cups to be played in a span of 12 months. While she may still be learning the language of interviews and post-match commitments, with the ball in hand there’s fluency in most things she’s done. And the cricket world is beginning to take note.

Liverpool are now one of just a handful of clubs with the opportunity to land one of Europe’s best strikers at a bargain release clause in 2026, according to reports.

Liverpool set sights on Luis Enrique

It has undoubtedly been the worst week of Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure. The Reds were battered by Nottingham Forest and then swept aside by PSV Eindhoven in midweek, conceding seven goals in two games at Anfield. There’s no longer the away day excuse for the Dutchman, who has seen Liverpool’s fortress set ablaze in the space of a week.

After nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions, serious questions are being asked about Slot’s position for the first time since his arrival and there’s only so much credit that a Premier League title can bring.

According to recent reports, whilst Slot does still have the backing of Anfield chiefs, they are at least eyeing potential replacements if they do decide to show the former Feyenoord man the door.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique is reportedly on Liverpool’s list of candidates to replace Slot in what would be a statement move. The former Barcelona manager has transformed PSG into the best side in the world and would be the most sought-after coach if he left the French club.

It would also represent where Liverpool find themselves these days. When they last sacked a manager it was Brendan Rodgers and they needed someone willing to oversee a long-term project in Jurgen Klopp. Now, they should set their sights on an instant winner if this is to be it for Slot.

Related New Konate transfer twist as Real Madrid make final decision on Liverpool star

The Spanish giants have informed the Reds.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 28, 2025

That said, the Dutchman still has time to turn things around and could use the 2026 transfer windows to do exactly that – potentially using a Serhou Guirassy opportunity in the process.

Sky Sports reporter confirms Liverpool's Guirassy opportunity

As reported by Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool now have a rare opportunity to sign Guirassy for just €50 (£44m) next summer. The Borussia Dortmund man has a release clause set at that price for seven clubs, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all joining Liverpool on an exclusive list.

At 29 years old, Guirassy has been somewhat of a late bloomer, but he has blossomed into one of the best strikers that European football has to offer. With nine goals in 17 games in all competitions so far this season, he’s outscored Hugo Ekitike and could quickly get Mohamed Salah firing again.

Dubbed “world-class” by Dortmund boss Niko Kovac, Guirassy is undeniably one to watch in the summer.

Best signing since Szoboszlai: Liverpool lead race for "world-class" talent

Real Madrid’s teen sensation Franco Mastantuono has weighed into the GOAT debate and risked the wrath of the Bernabeu faithful by claiming former Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi deserves that title, not Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi and Ronaldo have traded titles and accolades at the world’s biggest clubs and at international tournaments for years, but Mastantuono believes his Argentina colleague has the edge as the finest player in history.

Injured star in fitness battle

A serious groin injury has halted Mastantuono’s promising start for Los Blancos, putting the teenage sensation's season on hold. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder arrived from River Plate in August for a record £40 million ($52.4m). After a brilliant pre-season and a few sparkling appearances, including becoming the youngest-ever Champions League starter for Madrid, his campaign has now come to an abrupt halt. 

Before his injury, the Argentina international had carved out a role under manager Xabi Alonso, showcasing his creative talent and ability to play between the lines. However, some critics in the Spanish media have questioned his influence in recent matches and his defensive effort, a far cry from the unstoppable form he displayed at River Plate. Now, with a long road to recovery ahead, the pressure is on the young Argentine to regain fitness and reclaim his momentum. With the recent return and excellent form of star Jude Bellingham, Mastantuono will face fierce competition for playing time upon his return, making his comeback one of the most anticipated storylines of the second half of the season. 

While continuing his recovery, Mastantuono has decided to offer his opinion on who is the greatest player of all time. 

AdvertisementAFP'He leaves you speechless every time he gets the ball'

The Real Madrid wonderkid told when asked to pick between Messi and Ronaldo: "I'm a Real Madrid fan and I'm at the biggest club in the world, but the best and greatest player in the world is Messi, and that will always be the case until he retires. I play with him on the national team and he's incredible. He leaves you speechless every time he gets the ball. He's admirable. It's amazing that he continues to surprise us teammates. I've played with many high-quality players, but being with him is a daily learning experience. I'm grateful for how he's always treated me. He's helped me a lot."

Ronaldo's Madrid career

Mastantuono's comments may not go down well with the Real faithful given Ronaldo's standing as a Bernabeu icon. The Portuguese striker scored 450 goals in 438 appearances for Madrid between 2009 and 2018 to become the club's all-time top scorer.

His incredible performances upfront inspired Real to four Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles, among a host of other trophies. Ronaldo eventually left the Spanish capital to join Juventus in a €100 million deal, and now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportMessi's number is up!

In September, Mastantuono created history with the Argentine national team as the Los Blancos youngster wore the iconic No. 10 for the Albiceleste in the absence of Inter Miami superstar Messi. In doing so, the teenager became the youngest player in Argentina history to don the legendary number. He did it aged 18 years and 23 days, surpassing Diego Maradona. On being given the honour, Mastantuono said: "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I didn't expect it. I didn't know I was going to wear it. It surprised me. Sharing the field with Leo and seeing how Messi represents it makes me really want to wear it. Nobody will ever be like him, but it's an honor to be able to wear a number that he wore for so long."

If Phil Foden were able to replicate his strike rate for Manchester City when he put on an England shirt, then he would be keeping company with team-mate Bukayo Saka and Paul Scholes in the top 40 of the Three Lions' all-time goal-scorers. Instead, one has to scroll through the archives, past players whose photos are in black and white or even from an era when there was no photography to find him on the list.

Foden, who has just four goals to show from his 45 caps, is all the way down in joint-140th, alongside ex-Liverpool winger Nicky Barmby, who played half as many games as him, and below defenders such as Tony Adams, Stuart Pearce and Gary Cahill (on five goals each). When it comes to goals per match, he ranks 409th, which is in stark contrast to the 104 goals and 64 assists he has produced in 333 matches for City.

The midfielder has not scored for England since in the friendly win over Scotland in September 2023 while Foden's last competitive goal came against Wales at the 2022 World Cup. Before then, his only strikes for his country were a brace against Iceland in a behind-closed-doors Nations League match in the coronavirus days of 2020. He has contributed nine assists, although only one of them has come since the last World Cup.

Foden is far from alone in shining much more brightly for his club than his country, but the drop-off when he swaps the light blue of City for the white of England is far more pronounced than any other player of his stature. And it is worth examining once more as he prepares to make his first appearance for England in eight months in their final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

• Getty Images
  

  'No-brainer'

  Foden's failure to fire for England has been an unsolved conundrum for most of the five years since he made his senior debut for the Three Lions, although it was a problem that Thomas Tuchel could conveniently forget about for the last six months or so. Foden asked to not be selected for the June fixtures against Andorra and Senegal as he was suffering from burnout at the back end of last season while he was injured for the September World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

  He was returning to his usual self ahead of the October camp, but Tuchel opted against recalling him for the matches with Wales and Latvia as he wanted to capitalise on the good vibes of the previous camp, leading him to also discard Jude Bellingham in his most eye-catching squad list yet. But with Bellingham playing regularly for Real Madrid again after recovering from his shoulder surgery and Foden in unstoppable form for a resurgent City, the coach could no longer ignore the sound of the banging on his office door and recalled both players last Friday.

  "Big names, big personalities, big, big talents," said Tuchel upon announcing his squad. "It’s excellent to see that both of them are in rhythm, both of them are in form, in shape, both contributing goals in important wins for their teams. It was a no-brainer. We will have central roles for both of them to bring out the very best. The contribution to their clubs lately was immense. They play regularly and a big part for City and Real. We are delighted they are in shape and in form."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Not dovetailing with Bellingham

  And yet, both players returning to the squad at the same time means Tuchel is forced to confront the same problem Gareth Southgate faced: How to fit these two outstanding individuals into the same starting XI when they both want to play in similar areas and stamp their style on the play. 

  As England crawled their way to the Euro 2024 final by playing uninspiring football and sneaking through each match via a combination of extra-time, penalty shootouts and stoppage-time goals, many pundits and fans were wondering whether Southgate would have been better off dropping one of Bellingham or Foden rather than play them together in all seven matches. And with Bellingham having scored twice, including his overhead kick which ensured England avoided a humiliating last-16 defeat to Slovakia, many were pointing at Foden to be left out.

  Foden was predominantly deployed on the left of England's 4-2-3-1 formation during the tournament, though he also fell flat playing as a No.10 alongside Bellingham in a rejigged 3-4-3 against Switzerland. After that game, Foden's dismal statistics went viral as it was revealed he had no shots on target, hadn't created a chance and had lost the ball on 19 occasions. 

• AFP
  

  Position frustration

  Months later, Foden appeared to blame Southgate for playing him in a position he had ceased to play for City, even if it was the one where he first shone between 2019 and 2023.

  "I feel frustrated I didn’t get out what I wanted to get out of it," he told the in January 2025. "The position I was put in on the left was very difficult to influence the game. Coming off last season being the best player in the Premier League and playing centre midfield, I do feel the position was quite difficult to get used to."

  It is also worth mentioning that Foden had to leave the England camp during the Euros to attend the birth of his third child, returning in a flash to ensure he did not miss any matches. Leaving his family so soon after such a big event and not being able to see his newborns first weeks in the world first-hand could not have been easy.

  In Tuchel's first game in charge against Albania, Foden was deployed on the right of the attack behind Harry Kane, with Bellingham again playing as No.10. However, a few days later against Latvia, Foden was dropped to the bench and subsequently brought on to replace Bellingham in the second half. The change worked a treat, too, as Foden set up Eberechi Eze's goal to round off the 3-0 win.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Not a winger'

  After bringing them both back in for this week's games, Tuchel wasted little time in outlining where he saw the Foden and Bellingham playing: "Jude comes back as a No.10. That is his best position. One of his key strengths is to score from this position. Phil, where he played lately for City, was where I see him the strongest. He is close to the opponents' box. The main thing with Phil is he gets a role in the central part of the pitch. I don’t see him as a winger. He will contribute as a nine and a half, a 10 and a half, very fluid."

  The main thing for Tuchel, though, is to make sure he does not make the same mistake as Southgate and see both Foden and Bellingham as un-droppable, or the same error that both Sven-Goran-Eriksson and Fabio Capello made when they attempted to crowbar Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard into the same midfield. The fact that Tuchel left both players out of his previous squad is encouraging in that sense, although it is one thing to drop a star name for a World Cup qualifier and another to do so at a major tournament.