It was always going to be tough for Xavier McKinney to top his first season with the Green Bay Packers, and indeed his second year in green and gold was more understated.
McKinney's eight picks in 2024 were the most by a Packer since Charles Woodson, who had nine back in 2009. Interceptions were harder to come by for Green Bay as a defense in 2025, and for McKinney it was no different.
It would therefore be easy to say his season was a relative disappointment, but the underlying numbers suggest it was anything but.
When looking at McKinney's rankings among eligible safeties in 2025 compared to 2024 in a range of statistics, there is plenty to feel good about from his second season with the Packers.
The lower interception count is notable, with only two in 2025, one of which he should have batted down instead on a fourth down versus the Browns.

#season #woodson

Caroline Dubois spends some time talking about her disappointment in not being able to secure a ****** le unification fight just yet as she aims to go undisputed, and keeping busy in the meanwhile rather than sitting around and waiting for the big fights to come her way. Dubois would also call out some rivals who she believes to be ducking the smoke.
"It's very disappointing. The goal was to fight either Elif Turhan or Stephanie Han. Unfortunately the Elif Turhan fight fell apart and unfortunately the Stephanie Han fight is something that has to wait, she just fought recently. So, she's resting or recovering and hopefully we can get that fight end of the year, that's the plan. I'm disappointed with Elif. We sent her an offer, she turned it down and, yeah, at the end of the day you can't force someone into the ring."
"There's a few reasons, I'm not going to go into them. At the end of the day, all I can say is the facts. I'm so happy with what we've achieved, I'm so happy for where I'm at, and I'm so excited for the future. And I know another fact is I want to be better…I want to dominate. You have to train to dominate. You have to train, you have to push yourself and I think the definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different result. So if you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done.
"Working with Manny Robles now, I've been with him for three weeks now and it's been really good, really positive, great sparring, the work is good…I'm just happy to be in an exciting, booming gym."
"I think she's a coward. At the end of the day I think she knew I was going to be here, she knew that Mikaela Mayer was going to be here — she probably just thought 'nah, I don't want it'. She doesn't want it and I think it's a lame move. You come all the way out to the UK and you don't turn up? You don't want to be in the mix of some big fights? You got a table full of opponents that could possibly be in [with], you're not about it?! I think it's real disappointing and it shows her character."

#going #don 't

NWSL Week 13 saw an old storyline play out again, and the two sides involved end up top of table. Both expansion sides earned well-won victories, and Seattle will be wondering how they let a match get away from them. Racing Louisville were eyeing their first victory in a spell, only to see it vanish late.
The league's goal-scorers are doing what they are supposed to do, and new stars are emerging. Rose Lavelle brings the drama twice for Gotham, while Bay FC's Karlie Lema is making people take notice. Utah's terrific turnaround continues, and Portland stumbles again. In disheartening news, one of the league's young stars went down with a season-ending injury.
NWSL Week 13 featured joy, triumph, heartbreak and disappointment.
Gotham and Rose Lavelle have had Washington's number lately, and that number is 1-0. In last season's championship, the Gotham star scored late to give her side the ****** le. In the two team's latest meeting, Lavelle struck again for the only goal of the match.
This match was a highlight for the league this season. Gotham will be moving from New Jersey to the new Etihad Park in New York City in 2028, and this match showcased the new digs. To showcase what women's football can be in NYC, Gotham hosted the Spirit in front of more than 42,000 fans, the second largest regular-season crowd in NWSL history. While conditions were less than ideal, the teams put on a show for the fans in attendance.

#gotham #nwsl #sides #only

After 14 years with FIFA World Cup-winning player and coach Didier Deschamps at the helm, the French national team is now officially under the stewardship of ex-captain Zinedine Zidane.
An appointment which had been largely expected for months, this marks the 54-year-old's first head coaching role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he won La Liga twice and the UEFA Champions League three times across two stints in charge,
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zidane, who won the World Cup alongside Deschamps in 1998 and reached the Final in 2006, during which he was sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi, admitted that taking charge of Les Bleus was a lifelong dream come true.
Donald Trump sparks outrage with Harry Kane World Cup comments
Argentina World Cup Final red card rescinded, face potential FIFA disciplinary action

#real

Blue Jays might have fixed Jeff Hoffman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Blue Jays have dealt with plenty of problems this season, and it has led to lots of disappointment after having made it to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series to end the 2025 campaign.
Many of the problems still exist, but the Blue Jays seem to have at least solved Jeff Hoffman's issues.
Hoffman, who blew the save in Game 7, opened this year in miserable form. It was just a mighty struggle.
He earned himself a demotion from the closer role, and he's had to work to prove he still deserves decent bullpen opportunities.

#jays #game #preferred #source

In our weekly FanDuel Sportsbook survey, we asked San Francisco 49ers fans whether the team should part ways with John Lynch if the team misses the playoffs in 2026.
The 49ers would likely need to suffer multiple injuries at critical positions once again to miss the playoffs. Depending on where you look, the Niners are projected to finish anywhere between the top three and the top five teams in the NFC. The expectation is for them to make the postseason.
Even if there were injuries, disappointments, or shortcomings of some sort, 49ers fans are still willing to give general manager John Lynch grace if the team doesn't make the playoffs in 2026.
That makes it seem like the question was silly and should've never been posed. The 49ers have been one of the most successful franchises this decade. They've made the playoffs multiple times, including appearances in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl.
For as much flak as the organization has received for some of their top draft picks not panning out, not enough credit has been given for the team's willingness to move on when they've realized they've made a mistake.

#multiple

Speaking to local media and Get French Football News during pre-season preparations, Marseille manager Bruno Genesio, has welcomed Zinedine Zidane's appointment as France manager, but insists that Didier Deschamps' achievements during his 14 years in charge of Les Bleus must not be forgotten."I am like all French people," said the Marseille manager. "First of all, I would like to underline the work of Didier Deschamps because we live in a world where people forget things very quickly."
"I am very happy with the arrival of Zinedine Zidane, but I would like to emphasise what Deschamps has done for 14 years. It is exceptional. I feel that sometimes we have lacked some respect concerning that."
Deschamps' departure brought an end to one of the most successful managerial tenures in the history of the France national team. However, attention quickly turned towards his potential successor, with Zidane long considered the natural candidate to take charge.
"As soon as Didier announced his departure, we wanted to have the name of who would replace him," Genesio continued. "We will have someone with legitimacy from his career as a player, but not only that, because what he achieved during his time at Real Madrid, winning the Champions Leagues, was exceptional."
"I think we trust him, his work and his method, which will hopefully keep French football at the highest level for years to come."

#deschamps

The French Football Federation have called the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as a meeting of a legend in the history of Les Bleus
Zidane has been confirmed as the new head coach of theFrance national team, returning to the dugout for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021.
The 54-year-old replaces Didier Deschamps, whose 14-year reign concluded after this summer's World Cup.
Zidane has signed a deal until the 2030World Cup and will lead a talented France side into the next major tournament cycles.
The three-time Champions League winner is regarded as, arguably, France's finest ever footballer and French Football Federation chief Philippe Diallo has called his appointment a landmark moment for the country.

#french #Football #appointment #year

Zinédine Zidane is the new manager of the French national team after signing a contract until 2030.
France finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup under Didier Deschamps, losing 6-4 in a remarkable third-place play-off to England after having been defeated at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Spain.
"I've often said it: there's nothing greater than the French National Team," the former player said on his appointment.
"It is therefore a joy and, of course, a great source of pride to become the manager of this French National Team. It's also a responsibility. I want to thank [FFF] President Philippe Diallo, the Executive Committee, and the French Football Federation for their confidence and acknowledge the fourteen years of service from Didier and his staff. I also have a special thought today for all my coaches.
"Needless to say, I have high ambitions for the French National Team."

#national #team #didier #england

West Ham United have confirmed that Oona Siren has signed a new two-year contract, with the Finland international committing her future to the Hammers until the summer of 2028.
The announcement is another positive step for the club as preparations continue for the 2026/27 Barclays Women's Super League season. While summer transfer windows are often defined by new signings, securing the futures of established players is equally important. West Ham have ensured one of their most dependable performers will remain in east London for years to come.
Since arriving from Norwegian side LSK Kvinner in September 2024, Siren has become one of the most influential players in the squad. Calm in possession, intelligent without the ball and relentless in her work rate, the midfielder has developed into a player her teammates can rely on every single week.
The new deal also comes at an exciting time for the club following the appointment of Rita Guarino as head coach. As the experienced Italian prepares for her first campaign in charge, keeping a player of Siren's quality provides an important foundation to build upon.
After signing her new contract, Siren spoke of her happiness at remaining with West Ham. She made it clear she believes there is still plenty to achieve in claret and blue.

#west #contract #player

Italy will appoint legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo as the country's new manager, according to local reports.
Pirlo was a key part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning side and played for Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus in a gloried playing career. He also coached Juventus, as well as Sampdoria and Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk, before his current role in charge of Dubai United.
Pirlo will sign a four-year contract, taking him to the 2030 World Cup, Italian publication La Repubblica reported.
Italian ⁠football is facing one of its deepest crises in decades, and the ⁠appointment of a new national team coach is seen as the first step in a wider effort to ‌rebuild a youth development and talent pathway system that has deteriorated ‌significantly in a country where football remains a national obsession.
Gennaro Gattuso resigned as Italy head coach in April after the four-time world champions failed to qualify for a third World Cup in a row.

#juventus #four

The now all-but-certain appointment of Andrea Pirlo as the new head coach of the national team raises a question: "Why him, exactly?" It's a fair question. More than fair, in fact—it's necessary.
Because his CV is hardly dazzling, his profile has deflated the fans' excitement, and now it seems as if everything is already being written off before it has even begun. But there is more sense in this choice than people think, regardless of how it ends.
A month ago, Andrea Pirlo claimed that he has always "achieved the objectives set for him": 4th place with Juventus, the playoffs with Sampdoria, 7th place with Fatih Karagümrük (though in reality he was sacked while in 9th place), and then promotion from the UAE Serie B by finishing 2nd.
That really is quite an impressive résumé—if you read it backwards. Because read left to right, it looks like the story of Benjamin ***** on: it starts where most careers end and then develops in reverse, all the way back to having to learn the ropes in lower divisions, even in minor leagues.
But in the middle, we never saw him at his physical peak: where is Andrea Pirlo's prime? It never happened. Not yet, at least.

#pirlo #even #juventus #sampdoria

Real Madrid appointing Jose Mourinho as their new manager at the beginning of the summer also saw a familiar face return to the club as part of his coaching staff: Sami Khedira.
Now, it has emerged that Khedira has been given an important off-the-pitch responsibility as part of Mourinho's coaching structure, with the former midfielder acting as a bridge between the manager and the players.
According to Cadena SER, Khedira's role will be to serve as a trusted figure inside the dressing room, helping maintain communication between the squad and Mourinho while preventing minor issues from developing into bigger problems.
Khedira's appointment is about much more than tactics.
His experience as a former Real Madrid player and his successful spell under Mourinho make him well suited to understanding both the manager's demands and the players' perspective.

#mourinho #khedira #Coaching #players

It's been a tumultuous week for ESPN following the company's string of layoffs, and Ryan Clark is finally setting the record straight about his departure from the sports media giant.
The former NFL star's layoff comes at the same time as several ESPN veterans like Karl Ravech and David Lloyd. However, Clark's exit continues to draw major blowback from several high-profile figures like Stephen A. Smith.
MORE: Trey Wingo shows 'NFL Live' viewership receipts after Ryan Clark's ESPN layoff
Clark re-joined "The Pivot" podcast this week to express his disappointment with ESPN's decision. Meanwhile, the former Pittsburgh Steelers player takes several shots at ESPN throughout his emotional endeavor.
The ex-LSU Tigers standout spent over a decade with ESPN with various TV roles, including appearances on "First Take," 'Get Up" and most notably "NFL Live."

#espn #clark #like #karl

The Athletics opened this weeklong road trip by losing two out of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Following an off day yesterday, the A's are back in action today as they begin a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, who at 51-53, are 4 1/2 games back of the American League Central lead and 2 1/2 games behind the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
Before the game. the team shook up its bullpen.
Right-handed reliever Yunior Tur's MLB debut did not go well, as he allowed 14 runs in his first 2 2/3 innings. Hopefully Tur can work on what wrong at Triple-A, so he comes back to the majors more prepared to succeed.
The player replacing him, right-hander Luis Morales, has been one of the team's biggest disappointments this season, struggling both in the big leagues and the minor leagues. With the A's out of contention, getting Morales, a former top prospect, back on track would be a big boost for the pitching staff moving forward.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez will make the start for the A's to kick off the series in the Twin Cities. The 28-year-old enters his 16th appearance and 13th start of the season with a 4-4 record, a 6.64 ERA, a 1.73 WHIP and 49 strikeouts over 59 2/3 innings.

#back #games #hander

Simone Biles is recovering from another medical procedure just weeks after revealing she suffered what she described as a life-threatening health emergency.
The Olympic gymnastics star shared a photo on Instagram July 23 showing herself in medical scrubs alongside husband Jonathan Owens, revealing that the Indianapolis Colts safety spent part of his 31st birthday taking her to an appointment.
"His birthday but he takes me to get my procedure," Biles wrote, adding several heart emojis.
Biles, 29, did not disclose what procedure she underwent and has yet to explain the health scare she revealed last month.
The seven-time Olympic gold medalist shocked fans in June when she shared a photo from a hospital bed and said she had experienced one of the scariest moments of her life.

#revealing #shared #birthday #simone

Joe Root is set to return as England's Test captain, with his second spell in charge likely to continue through next summer's home Ashes series against Australia, The Athletic reported on Friday.

England's search for a new Test captain following Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket now appears set to end with Root returning to the role.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to announce Root as captain for the three-Test series against Pakistan, starting on August 19, with the appointment likely to extend into next year's Ashes, The Athletic report said.

The move would allow Harry Brook, Stokes' deputy in Tests, to continue as England's white-ball captain ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup, and continue working with the T20 and one-day international coach, Brendon McCullum.

England are still searching for a new Test coach after parting ways with McCullum in the red-ball format. Aa per The Athletic report, ****** istant coach Marcus Trescothick is increasingly expected to take charge on an interim basis for the Pakistan series.

The ECB has faced a difficult month after the end of England's first Test ****** ignment of the summer against New Zealand, which left the team looking for both a new captain and a new Test coach.

Stokes announced his retirement during the third Test of the series, which England lost 2-1. Soon after, the ECB also decided to replace McCullum after four years as Test coach.

Root had already stepped in as captain for the second Test against New Zealand after Stokes was suspended following the late-night drinking session in Chelsea after the first Test, an incident that led to further problems for English cricket.

That experience appears to have convinced the ECB that Root remains its best option for the role.

The only uncertainty was whether Root, England's highest Test run-scorer, wanted to return to captaincy after saying he was done with the job when his first spell ended in 2022. He had stepped down after England managed only one win in 17 Tests.

Now Root, who is currently playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred, is set to lead England again, beginning with the Pakistan series, as the team looks to recover from a difficult year.

England started 2026 with a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and then suffered its first major home series loss since 2012 against New Zealand.

#england #Athletic

Lorenzo Bettoni and Richard Hall return with the latest edition of the Football Italia LIVE Show, and the focus is on Pep Guardiola rejecting the Italy job.
Click here to subscribe to the official Football Italia YouTube channel
As widely anticipated, Pep Guardiola has rejected the opportunity to become Italy’s next head coach, ending days of speculation linking the ex-Manchester City boss with the Azzurri bench.
The decision represents a major setback for Italian football, with many supporters hoping Guardiola’s arrival could usher in a new era following recent disappointments on the international stage.
Attention now turns to Paolo Maldini, who faces the crucial task of identifying the right man to lead the national team into the next World Cup cycle. While several names have already been discussed behind the scenes, one candidate currently stands above the rest.

#bettoni #richard

Germany have appointed Jürgen Klopp as their new head coach, with the former Liverpool boss signing a four-year contract that will keep him in charge until the 2030 World Cup.
The 59-year-old replaces Julian Nagelsmann, who stepped down following Germany's disappointing last-32 exit to Paraguay on penalties at the 2026 World Cup. Klopp's first match in charge will come against the Netherlands on 24 September.
It marks Klopp's return to management after leaving Liverpool in 2024, having spent the past year as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer. The German Football **** ociation reached an agreement with Red Bull to secure his release, including a €1 million donation to the company's Wings for Life foundation and a commitment to stage three Germany internationals in Leipzig by 2030.
Klopp now faces the task of rebuilding Germany's fortunes after another major tournament disappointment, with his focus turning to Euro 2028 before leading his country into the 2030 World Cup.

#paraguay

This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with Emmy Award-winning actor and lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan Eric Stonestreet.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Stonestreet, who stars in the new Coors Light campaign 'Mahomeses' alongside Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, reacted to the disappointing 2025 Chiefs season.
"Well, I, like everybody else, just switched to next season. I just moved on; this season is a no-go, and so now everything we do from here on out is going to be about next season, which means draft choices, which means preserving and making sure we're healthy moving into next season, which was unfortunate with Patrick getting hurt when he did," said Stonestreet. "I just moved on. That's what you learn in football. It's the game of life. You have a bad play, you've got to move on. You have a bad game; you've got to move on. You have a bad season; you've got to move on."
The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record, failing to make the playoffs or win the AFC West for the first time in a decade. Stonestreet elaborated on his view of the season, emphasizing dedicated support for the players and coaching staff.
"That's the principles of football, and this is the principles of what football teaches you in life as well. I try to keep my fandom just behind that of Andy Reid, that of Patrick Mahomes, and that of Chris Jones because I'm not out there sweating, I'm not out there bleeding, I'm not," said Stonestreet. "I haven't been in the weight room since I was 18." I didn't play college ball and go through the trials and tribulations of getting drafted and all that. I try to keep my anger, my disappointment, my happiness, and my excitement behind the people who actually contributed to the winning, and also feel that they contributed to the losing. I don't want to pile on; I want to be a fan and know they're out there trying their best, and they want to win more than anybody else."

#season #stonestreet #move #easton

Why did Jurgen Klopp leave Liverpool? How new Germany coach felt burned out by Reds success originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jurgen Klopp will be returning to the dugout for the first time since his departure from Liverpool in 2024, as the 59-year-old has been hired to lead the German national team through the 2030 World Cup cycle.
With Germany crashing out of the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 32, falling on penalties to Paraguay, the DFB moved on from head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
They managed to convince Klopp to come out of semi-retirement, as the former Liverpool boss had been at the helm of Red Bull's global football operations since his Anfield exit.
With Klopp set to lead his home country of Germany in his first international appointment, it's worth a look back at what drove him to leave Liverpool, where he had coached his way into club history.

#Liverpool #germany #World #leave

Pep Guardiola has turned down the chance to become the next head coach of Italy.
The Italian Football Federation held talks with Guardiola over the vacant role as part of an ambitious bid to recruit the formerManchester City manager.
Guardiola stepped down from his role as Manchester City manager at the end of last season, following a decade of success that included sixPremier League ***** les and the Champions League, among 20 trophies.
Italy had hoped to convince the former AS Roma and Brescia midfielder to lead their rebuild, following the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup.
The four-time world champions have missed three consecutive World Cup finals, having gone 60 years without missing a tournament between 1958 and 2018.

#champions

He’s back!
Jürgen Klopp is the new head coach of the Germany national team!
The German Football ******* ociation (DFB) officially announced his appointment this Friday morning during a press conference where he was introduced to the media.
The former Liverpool and Dortmund manager is leaving his role as Red Bull’s head of football to succeed Julian Nagelsmann. The former Bayern Munich coach had submitted his resignation after Die Mannschaft’s elimination in the World Cup round of 32 against Paraguay a few weeks ago.
While waiting for the 2030 World Cup, Klopp’s first major challenge will be to win the 2026-2027 Nations League and put together a convincing run at Euro 2028.

#Football #head #coach #Friday

Perhaps lost a little amid the hype of Ange Postecoglou’s appointment at Al Nassr was the news that a second Australian coach had also made the move to the Roshn Saudi League.
Like Postecoglou, he has worked in ******* an and was just recently named the Coach of the Season for the J.League’s 100 Year Vision League; the short transition season held between February and May as the competition changes its domestic calendar to an Autumn-Spring timeline.
In fact, this manager was Postecoglou’s right-hand man when the former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur manager sealed the J.League ******* le in 2019 with Yokohama F.Marinos. Understandably, he is a disciple of Postecoglou’s attacking style of play.
The coach in question's name is Arthur Papas, who was installed earlier this month as manager at Al Ettifaq.
Papas’ name might not have the same cache or weight as Postecoglou’s right now; successful stints in Scotland and England would do that.

#league

Coleraine manager Ruaidhrí Higgins says his side "contributed" to their own downfall in Thursday's 5-0 away defeat by HJK in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League second qualifying round tie.
The Bannsiders were two down at the break through goals from Liam Moller and Pyry Mentu, while Toivo Mero added a third early in the second have with a quickfire brace by Teemu Pukki completing the rout.
Higgins expressed his "disappointment" at the manner of the defeat but had no complaints as they now have a mountain to climb in next week's second leg at home.
"The manner of the goals we gave away and the timing were extremely disappointing," Higgins told Coleraine TV.
"We contributed to a lot of their goals and that's on us, so we have to accept it."

#coleraine #away #uefa

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A nun who was taken into immigration custody last month in Texas said Thursday that she went into a cold sweat as two armed men approached her while she walked to Sunday Mass in her habit, thinking about the day's Bible readings and carrying little more than her rosary and cellphone.
"At that moment, I did not understand what was going on, what was happening to me," Sister Leticia Ugboaja said at a news conference at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, where she spoke out for the first time since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested her on June 28.
Ugboaja's attorney says she has for years been granted protection from removal to her native Nigeria because she was likely to face torture there.
Ugboaja, 56, was released several hours after being detained while on her way to church near the U.S.-Mexico border. Parish officials' posting about her on social media brought attention to her case, and Congress members ultimately intervened on her behalf. President Donald Trump made mass deportations a central promise of his second administration, with his immigration crackdown leading to unusually aggressive tactics that have faced scrutiny.
Ugboaja, who has a check-in appointment with ICE on Tuesday, said she wanted to speak out to help others, and pleaded for people to have the chance to be heard before being taken into custody.

#mcallen

Shreyas Iyer was officially handed the reins of India's T20I side as the team geared up for its tour of Ireland and England across June and July.
Alongside this appointment, Tilak Varma took over as his deputy, stepping into the vice-captain's role previously held by Axar Patel.
The squad announcement also brought attention to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had earned his maiden senior call-up on the strength of a sensational IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals.
Iyer's elevation to the national captaincy hasn't come out of nowhere. It stems almost entirely from the leadership credentials he built across various IPL franchises over the years.

#across #shreyas #iyer #england

The 2026 Boston Red Sox have gone from one of MLB‘s biggest disappointments to arguably its hottest team. After spending much of the first half of the season in last place, Boston caught fire with a remarkable 15-game winning streak, tying the longest streak in franchise history and vaulting itself back into the American League playoff race.
Although the streak ended on Wednesday night, the incredible turnaround prompted DraftKings to look back at the longest winning streaks in Major League Baseball since the start of the 21st century.
MORE: One player every MLB team will trade at the 2026 trade deadline
According to DraftKings, these are the longest winning streaks in MLB this century:
22 games – Cleveland Guardians (2017)

#streak #league #streaks #century

Kylian Mbappe’s 2025/26 season will be remembered as one of the greatest individual goalscoring campaigns in modern football.
France’s World Cup journey ended in disappointment with a semi-final defeat to Spain, but that setback did little to overshadow what the Real Madrid forward had already achieved.
By finishing as the leading scorer in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mbappe has become the first player in football history to top the scoring charts in all three competitions in the same season.
Neither great players like Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo managed to complete that remarkable treble during their careers, placing Mbappe’s milestone in elite company.
Mbappe has carried Real Madrid’s attack throughout a difficult campaign in which team success failed to match his individual brilliance.

#World #Football

With less than a month to go until the start of the new season, Bristol City fans are again wondering if this is going to be our year for achieving promotion to England's top flight after an absence of 46 years.
There have been massive changes at the club over the past five months with a new CEO, the sacking of boss Gerhard Struber, Roy Hodgson's managerial swansong, the appointment of James Ellis as sporting director, the departure of playing legend Brian Tinnion as technical director and the arrival of Michael Skubala as manager.
Are fan expectations more elevated than they have been for a while as City approach their 12th successive Championship season? On balance I would say yes, even though the hierarchy at the club say this is the start of a three-year plan to achieve Premier League status.
My mildly positive view is based on the fact that City have done a lot of their transfer activity early rather than in the latter stages of the window.
First through the door was goalkeeper Sam Tickle from Wigan while former England Under-21 midfielder Sam Greenwood was signed for an undisclosed fee from Polish side Pogon Szczecin.

#season #director #bristol #james