SportsCatch

Kane leads Ballon d'Or 2026 contenders as 30-man shortlist is revealed for London ceremony

Harry Kane heads the betting as the Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees are confirmed, with the Bayern Munich striker seeking to become the first Englishman to claim the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Kylian Mbappe, Rodri and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the other leading candidates.

Football Sep 10

Barcola's cramp not an injury concern as Liverpool expect winger fit for Fulham

Bradley Barcola limped off during Liverpool's 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, but manager Andoni Iraola confirmed the £106m winger suffered only cramp and is expected to be available against Fulham on Saturday.

Football Sep 10

Rashford shines on return as United pundits value reintegrated winger at £70m

Marcus Rashford delivered another encouraging display on the left wing in Manchester United's Premier League win over Everton, prompting MEN analysts to argue the club have effectively landed a £70m-calibre winger for free by reintegrating him.

Football Sep 10

Charlton boss Jones erupts over disallowed goal with 'volleyed his cat' linesman rant

Nathan Jones delivered one of the season's most memorable post-match interviews after Tyreece Campbell's first-half goal was ruled out for offside in Charlton Athletic's 0-0 Championship draw with QPR at The Valley on Wednesday.

Football Sep 10

Shaw doubtful and Baleba still out as United return to Champions League against Sabah FK

Manchester United face Azerbaijani side Sabah FK at Old Trafford in their Champions League opener, but Michael Carrick must navigate a handful of fitness concerns, with Luke Shaw a doubt, Carlos Baleba sidelined by an ankle injury, and Marcus Rashford monitored after a precautionary substitution.

Football Sep 10

Akliouche struggles to impress at PSG despite five starts in six matches

Deployed on the left flank against Bratislava, Maghnes Akliouche managed only one assist while Torres and Dembélé shone. Emmanuel Petit questions his use in attack.

Football Sep 10

Wales props Francis and Smith reunite at Sale with one eye on the 2027 World Cup

Tomas Francis and Nicky Smith have both joined Sale Sharks this summer, reuniting after two seasons together at the Ospreys. The Wales props see the Premiership club as the ideal platform to push for World Cup selection in 2027.

Rugby Sep 10

From Serie D to Champions League: Fabregas guides Como into Europe's elite in six years

Como 1907 make their Champions League debut against RB Leipzig on Tuesday, six years after playing in Italy's fourth tier. Their fourth-place Serie A finish last season ended a run of consecutive campaigns featuring either Milan or Juventus.

Football Sep 10

Sae returns from ACL injury as Black Ferns lose Demant and Leti-I'iga to WXV calf blows

Layla Sae makes her Black Ferns comeback just nine months after tearing her ACL, but New Zealand head into their WXV Global Series opener against France in Lyon without co-captain Ruahei Demant and wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga, both sidelined by calf injuries.

Rugby Sep 10

Arteta rages at Havertz, Madueke and Tzolis as Odegaard seals Arsenal win in Naples

Mikel Arteta was visibly furious on the touchline after three of his attackers failed to track back during Arsenal's 1-0 Champions League win at Napoli on Wednesday, with Martin Odegaard's 75th-minute strike proving the difference.

Football Sep 10

Sabah FK: the seven-year-old club whose manager turned a quiz show win into a Champions League debut against Man Utd

Sabah FK, founded only in 2017, make their Champions League debut against Manchester United on September 10. Their Lithuanian manager Valdas Dambrauskas used a £725 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire prize to fund his coaching education in England, including a stint at United's own soccer schools.

Football Sep 10

Luis Enrique backs Kvaratskhelia and four PSG players for Ballon d'Or

After PSG's 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Luis Enrique publicly named Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz as legitimate Ballon d'Or candidates ahead of the ceremony on October 26 in London.

Football Sep 10

Pantoja calls injury loss to Van a 'gift from God' ahead of UFC 331 rematch

Alexandre Pantoja has reframed his shocking title loss to Joshua Van — suffered just 26 seconds into their December bout — as a catalyst for personal growth, with the former flyweight champion targeting championship redemption at UFC 331.

MMA Sep 10

Lineker warns Arsenal lack the superstar to win Champions League as Rodri joins Barcelona

Gary Lineker believes Arsenal's absence of a genuine superstar could cost them in the Champions League, and says Barcelona — strengthened by Rodri's £65m arrival from Manchester City — could be their most dangerous rivals in Europe.

Football Sep 10

Balde benched for every Barcelona game as Man United's failed loan bid fades from view

Alejandro Balde has not featured in a single minute for Barcelona this season, sitting unused on the bench in all competitions after Manchester United's summer loan approach collapsed. Manager Hansi Flick has started Joao Cancelo at left-back ahead of the 22-year-old Spaniard.

Football Sep 10

Fiorot confirms UFC has promised flyweight title shot to Grasso fight winner at Noche UFC 4

Manon Fiorot says the UFC has guaranteed a flyweight title shot to whoever wins her bout against former champion Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC 4 on September 12 in Glendale, Arizona. The stakes are heightened by Valentina Shevchenko's injury-enforced vacancy, with Natalia Silva and Cong Wang set to contest the belt at UFC 332.

MMA Sep 10

Michael Page shrugs off UFC exit criticism with social media joke after Dana White declines re-sign

Michael 'Venom' Page has responded to online backlash following his UFC release with a tongue-in-cheek social media post. The 39-year-old Englishman went 5-1 in six Octagon appearances but never recaptured the knockout form that made his pre-UFC reputation.

MMA Sep 10

Gaethje reveals the footwork flaw that handed him the lightweight title over Topuria

Justin Gaethje has explained how he exploited Ilia Topuria's predictable, linear footwork to force a corner stoppage and claim the UFC lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250. Gaethje also suggested Topuria's pre-fight overconfidence left him mentally unprepared for a deep championship fight.

MMA Sep 10

Rogers stuns Palmer with four-assist claim after Chelsea's 6-3 Carabao Cup comeback over Leeds

Morgan Rogers was visibly incredulous after Cole Palmer was named Player of the Match despite Rogers registering four assists in Chelsea's remarkable 6-3 comeback win over Leeds at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Football Sep 10

Man United name eight B-list players for Champions League opener against Sabah

Manchester United have confirmed their B-list additions ahead of Thursday's Champions League opener against Sabah at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro among eight players cleared to feature despite missing the locked 25-man A-list.

Football Sep 10