Football/Soccer 8 Hours

Last updated: September 11, 2026, 10:53 PM ET

Mastantuono Makes History

On-loan Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono eclipsed Lionel Messi as the youngest Argentine player to score a hat trick in Europe's top five leagues, doing so for Fiorentina. The record had stood since Messi's Barcelona breakthrough, and Mastantuono's treble now places him atop a list of Argentine scorers that includes some of the game's most decorated forwards. Fiorentina, who secured the winger on loan from the Spanish giants, will hope his form continues as they push for a strong league finish.

Mbappé Hits Back at Meme

Kylian Mbappé has criticised a viral meme depicting him as a dictator, saying the trend "shows a lack of political and human awareness in people." The France captain's response marks a rare public rebuke of online culture, and his comments are likely to spark further debate about the treatment of high-profile players on social media.

Pressure Mounts at Man United

Manchester United's slow rebuild approach — prioritizing one position every summer — has left them light on defense, raising questions about whether the club has made a costly mistake. Ruben Amorim also took a swipe at former United players-turned-pundits in Saturday's newspapers. The club is also monitoring Adrien Truffert, according to transfer gossip, as they weigh further reinforcements. Ahead of Sunday's derby, ESPN's combined XI features just 2 United players, underlining the gap in quality between the two Manchester sides.

Chelsea's Chaotic Start

Chelsea are a team out of control under Xabi Alonso, raising the question of whether the chaos will continue and, more importantly, whether it will keep working for them. Alonso, meanwhile, says striker Joao Pedro is similar to Karim Benzema stylistically and is at a comparable level to Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Christian Pulisic is "upset" about not yet featuring for Milan this season, with Amorim hinting the United States star is likely to get playing time this weekend.

Premier League's Spending Power

Barcola's big move from PSG to Liverpool was a highlight of another summer transfer window in which the Premier League effectively subsidizes big European leagues such as Ligue. The staggering numbers behind England's top flight continue to dwarf rivals across the continent.

Spurs and Arsenal News

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has called new arrival Mykhailo Mudryk's injury "stupid" and backed the winger to return soon. Lucas Bergvall has signed a new contract at Tottenham after telling the club he wanted to leave in the summer. Richarlison's proposed move to Vasco da Gama has fallen through amid ongoing uncertainty over the Brazilian's future. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta said he is "very surprised" by criticism over the exits of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli this summer.

West Ham Rout Wrexham

Wrexham suffered their heaviest defeat under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac as West Ham ran rampant in a 6-0 rout on Friday. West Ham made easy work of Wrexham at the London Stadium to make it four in a row and go top of the Championship. The result piles pressure on Wrexham's Hollywood owners as the club's promotion push stumbles.

Rugby League: Wigan Secure Shield

Wigan Warriors clinched Super League's top spot and the League Leaders' Shield after a final-round 50-12 victory over Catalans Dragons, meaning Matt Peet's side remain on course for a domestic treble. The emphatic win caps a dominant regular season for the Warriors.

Transfers and Global Moves

San Diego Wave FC has signed Italy forward Barbara Bonansea on loan from Juventus through June 2027, the teams announced Friday. Inter Miami forward Mateo Silvetti is out for the season after undergoing surgery for dislocating his left shoulder, a significant blow to the club's attacking depth.

Around Europe and Beyond

Elversberg's coach, whose small-town team is shaking up German soccer, has been cleared to be in the dugout against champion Bayern Munich after a referee admitted he made a mistake sending him off. Ismail Kartal remains as head coach of Fenerbahce despite resigning following Thursday's Champions League game with Roma. In cricket, former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz lauded youngster Razaullah, saying he wrote the "perfect chapter" to revive his reeling side after his sensational 81 off 63 balls against England on day three.

Weekend Preview and US Open

The weekend's biggest questions include whether Madrid can bounce back and who wins the Manchester derby. The U.S. is brimming with 20-somethings full of potential, and while a quintet of fringe players missed this year's World Cup, they may get another chance in 2030. In tennis, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is looking to become the first woman to achieve the 'three-peat' in New York since Serena Williams in 2014, but she faces incoming world No 1 Elena Rybakina.