Football

Morata, right, and Atletico were sensational in defeating their local rivals this weekend, but it also spoke volumes of how Real’s depth isn’t as solid as previously thought. Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images The European soccer weekend didn’t disappoint as a string of high-profile clashes offered up plenty of entertainment and talking points. There

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct? After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. – How VAR decisions have affected

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentSep 24, 2023, 10:30 PM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. CHICAGO — Megan Rapinoe‘s teammates were egging her on. After Emily Sonnett scored a header after Rapinoe’s corner had been punched right to her in the 49th minute, she celebrated by jumping

In a career filled with accolades and memorable wins, Megan Rapinoe ended hers with the United States in fitting fashion Sunday: with a 2-0 victory. The two-time World Cup winner with the U.S., who ends her tenure on the national team with 63 goals, 73 assists and 203 caps, was honored before the game and

Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Sep 22, 2023, 05:14 AM ET At the start of every season, LaLiga fans ask the same question: Will this be yet another head-to-head title race between the two giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona? Or will Atletico Madrid mount a serious third-party challenge for the crown? Over the past 10 years,

Sep 23, 2023, 07:20 PM ET The calendars have officially turned to autumn this weekend in Europe, and we’re starting to get a better sense of how clubs are looking this season in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A. Manchester City looked like a team in need of a challenge as

Bruno Fernandes scored the lone goal in Man United’s 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday. Will Palmer/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images There was a sense of inevitability that Manchester United‘s nightmare run would be brought to an end by Bruno Fernandes. Throughout the team’s good times and bad — and there have been plenty of the latter

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane scored a hat trick in their 7-0 demolition of VfL Bochum on Saturday to take his league goal tally to seven and set a club record for most goals by a player in his first five Bundesliga matches. Kane’s three goals put him above club great Gerd Meller, Miroslav Klose

Ross Devonport Sep 22, 2023, 03:50 PM ET FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has confirmed that Lionel Messi will not be fit for Sunday’s game against Florida rivals Orlando City, after revealing that the World Cup winner is still dealing with a scar tissue problem suffered while with the Argentina

ESPN News Services Sep 22, 2023, 05:43 PM ET United States striker Folarin Balogun missed two penalties as AS Monaco lost 1-0 to local rival Nice in France’s Ligue 1 on Friday. Balogun was making his first start for Monaco after joining from Arsenal and had his first spot kick saved by goalkeeper Marcin Bulka

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerSep 22, 2023, 06:37 AM ET As a former Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has expressed his sympathies toward with Erik ten Hag as the Dutchman continues to oversee a particularly rocky start to the 2023-24 season. United have lost three of their opening five Premier League games — their

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentSep 21, 2023, 11:00 PM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Julie Ertz gives a thumbs-up as she exits the field for the final time as a USWNT player before her retirement. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images On the occasion of her final game in a

Adriana Garcia Sep 21, 2023, 01:37 PM ET Lionel Messi said he resents not having been recognised by Paris Saint-Germain for his World Cup triumph, especially as all of his Argentina teammates were honoured by their respective clubs. Messi scored twice in the final and also converted a penalty in the shootout as Argentina won

Alex Kirkland, ESPN FCSep 4, 2023, 04:37 AM ET If Real Madrid fans weren’t already head over heels in love with Jude Bellingham, Saturday’s 95th-minute winner against Getafe — in his first game at the Santiago Bernabeu — sealed the deal. Bellingham has made an effortless start to life in Madrid, with five goals in

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentSep 20, 2023, 06:38 PM ET MUNICH — It says everything about Manchester United‘s current state that Bayern Munich didn’t play particularly well in their opening Champions League group game on Wednesday, but the Bavarians still scored four goals, could have scored more, and won far more comfortably than the 4-3 score suggested.

Arsenal returned to the Champions League after a six-year absence by trouncing PSV Eindhoven 4-0 on Wednesday. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images LONDON — The excitement was so high at Arsenal over their first Champions League appearance in six years that they printed the lyrics to the competition’s anthem in the matchday programme. Not many

Caitlin Murray, ESPNSep 20, 2023, 10:51 AM ET Close Caitlin Murray is a general editor for ESPN.com. She has reported on and written about soccer for The New York Times, The Guardian, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, the Associated Press, and others. She authored a book about the history of the U.S. women’s national team called

Sep 20, 2023, 02:33 AM ET Spain‘s World Cup winning-squad agreed to end their boycott of the national team early on Wednesday after the country’s football federation (RFEF) said it would make “immediate and profound changes” to its structure. The decision was reached around 5 a.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) after more than seven