He earned national hero status after saving a penalty in the World Cup qualifier against Albania – a match charged with a lot of tension, because of politics and history.
World champion BANNED from defending title at Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia
The Serb, who joined Chelsea from New England Revolution in a £14m deal in 2023, spent last season on loan at French club Strasbourg.
He was named player of the season as Strasbourg secured a Europa Conference League spot by finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
A FOOTBALLER has been arrested on suspicion of killing an opponent more than a year after the brutal brawl.
Luis Torres was killed following an alleged attack by Moisés Pulido on 9 September 2024.
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Teenage footballer Luis Torres was killed in a brawl during a seven-a-side football match in MexicoCredit: Jam Press
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His alleged attacker, Moises Pulido, was tracked down and arrested more than a year laterCredit: Jam Press
The incident happened during a seven-a-side amateur football match between Torres’ Viper 3.0 and Pulido’s Deportivo Esmeralda on a synthetic pitch in Guadalajara, north west of Mexico City, Mexico.
Torres, 16, is said to have been charging through the midfield in the second half when he laid the ball off before having a go at a rival for a mistimed tackle.
Pulido, 25, is then reported to have rushed over and punched the teen in the face multiple times during the Cannán League game.
After Torres fell to the ground, Pulido allegedly carried on striking him in the back of the head, which caused fatal trauma.
Emergency services were called to the scene but Torres had died by the time they arrived after he was seen convulsing.
Pulido is then said to have fled the scene.
He was arrested on Friday, October 10 after a court order was issued for him to be tracked down.
A court judge charged him with intentional homicide, and he remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
In a statement the Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “On the night of 9 September 2024, Moisés ‘N’ was taking part in a soccer game with the victim on opposing teams.
“At one point, the suspect allegedly hit the victim in the face and then continued to hit him on the back of his head.”
Thousands pay tribute as Ricky Hatton’s funeral cortege travels through Manchester
MANCHESTER UNITED are one of multiple Premier League clubs interested in Jobe Bellingham, younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude.
Bellingham, 20, followed in his brother’s footsteps when he left newly-promoted Sunderland to join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
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Jobe Bellingham has emerged as a target for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
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Bellingham is an England youth internationalCredit: Getty
But now, according to reports from German outlet Bild, the midfielder’s next move could bring him back to the UK.
The highly-rated prospect has struggled to find minutes under manager Niko Kovac after starting in the opening two games of the season.
He has played just 74 minutes in the four league games since those games, and could grow frustrated at the lack of opportunities at the club, having been the main man at Sunderland last season.
These frustrations didn’t take long to boil over, with Jobe’s father Mark Bellingham reportedly storming to the dressing room to confront club officials after the youngster was substituted at half-time in their season opener against St Pauli.
United would pose an interesting option for the Stourbridge native to rekindle his meteoric rise, with their midfield struggles being one of their biggest issues under Ruben Amorim this season.
There is a sense that despite having much left to prove on the biggest stages, Bellingham could make an instant impact at Old Trafford.
However, if game time is the deal-breaker in Dortmund, then tales such as that of the consistently snubbed teenager Kobbie Mainoo could be a warning sign to steer clear.
Bellingham joined the Germans in summer for a fee of £27million, and it is hard to picture the Red Devils getting him for anything less than that.
Jude Bellingham spends quality time with his mother away from the football pitch
Another club interested in the England youth international’s services is reportedly Crystal Palace, who were also interested in him while he was with the Black Cats.
Palace have been excellent this season, sitting four places above United in sixth, despite having European football to contend with.
THOMAS TUCHEL has ruled Ollie Watkins out of England’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Latvia.
The 29-year-old suffered a knock during a friendly against Wales on Thursday.
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Ollie Watkins has been ruled out of England v LatviaCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
He collided with a goalpost while sliding in to connect with a cross just six minutes before half-time.
The Aston Villa man was initially able to continue, but made way for Marcus Rashford at half-time.
Now, the striker has been ruled out of Tuesday’s clash with Latvia.
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FRANK LAMPARD has told England’s players that silence is golden if they want to earn a World Cup spot.
The former Three Lions great is advising Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad that mum’s the word when it comes to the German’s team selection.
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Frank Lampard is in charge of Championship leaders CoventryCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Thomas Tuchel is looking to mastermind World Cup gloryCredit: Getty
The Three Lions’ chief has an array of attacking talent at his disposal and Lampard, who spent the majority of his 106-cap international career being shoehorned into a midfield with Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes, knows all about compromise.
And he suggested that keeping schtum worked for him — as he went on to score 29 international goals and played in three World Cups and one European Championship as part of the ‘golden generation’.
He said: “I just got on with it. You’re a professional, you get on with it — you are playing different ways, you respect the manager and you crack on. You can have your own opinions — but I tended to keep mine to myself and think about what could I do best if I was asked to play.
“The truth is, I never really played for England much like I played for Chelsea.
“There were times, like in 2004, when Sven-Goran Eriksson was there when I played at the top of a diamond — that wasn’t my ideal, either — but if you are representing your country and the manager’s got an idea, you just go with it.
“That was my story and it’s been documented and people talk about it many years later with a different view to how it felt at the time,
“They just sort of say, ‘It did work or it didn’t work’. Sometimes it did, sometimes it didn’t. But I’m not interested in that conversation.
“Personally, I got on with it, as did Stevie and Scholesy.”
Lampard is in a unique position to comment now he has crossed over to frontline management.
His Coventry side are sitting top of the Championship this season, having scored an impressive 27 goals this season as he attempts to orchestrate a return to the Premier League.
Emotional Frank Lampard struggles through Sky Sports interview after Coventry’s gut-wrenching play-off defeat
He believes that times may have changed and that Tuchel might operate a more relaxed policy.
The German has plenty of options up front — all of whom will make a claim to start alongside skipper Harry Kane.
There are only so many places in Tuchel’s starting XI — and Lampard added: “Now I’m a manager, I understand selection difficulties.
“I’ve had big squads at Chelsea. When I was first there, I went back and they had the 29 players — of which some were disgruntled — that’s another story.
“But in terms of trying to fit players in, you have to make tough decisions as a manager — you have ideas, you have to work with the squad you’ve got and think, ‘What is the best?’ So that’s why I never really comment on what decisions other managers take because I don’t know the context, what they’re thinking and who and how they want to play.
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Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard played together for England for more than a decadeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Tuchel has plenty of elite attacking talent to choose fromCredit: PA
“However, I do think it’s more common in the modern day for a conversation to be more open between player and manager.
“It goes manager by manager – some don’t want to talk and say, “This is the team, I’m the boss, you get on with it.’
“There are those who will have individual conversations, and then other people will open up to the group. That all depends on who’s in charge. And players react differently.
“I think there’s a balance to it. I think the players have to feel your authority and believe in what you’re doing.
“It’s not always an open conversation. Our job is to get that bit right. And our job is to be like that.
“But as a manager also, you want to have constant communication in that players feel that they can speak to you because you might find something that you didn’t know.
‘A DIFFERENT ANIMAL’
“England’s a bit of a different animal because you only turn up every now and again.
“At Chelsea, sometimes you’re playing at the weekend and through the week, and you’re training every day and the conversations are there throughout the year much more.” One chat with a great former Chelsea manager sticks in Lampard’s mind.
He added: “I remember once having a conversation with Carlo Ancelotti about my position at Chelsea when he played a diamond formation.
“It didn’t feel really fluid, not just for me, but for the team.
“That was one of the beauties of Carlo, he would be very open with that chat and I’m not saying he changed his mind, but he was taking on information and then adapting around it.
“That’s why he’s one of the greatest managers, that’s his style — I think those things should be authentic.
“If you want to do your thing and you stick to your guns, you may succeed or you may fail, that’s what you do. That’s one person’s approach.
“I am more open with my players to try to speak to them, because I want to get better. So every conversation I have with a player may help me, whether I agree with it or not.”
“In the end, the decision is mine — and then hopefully it works.”
EX-FOOTIE star and manager Iain Dowie faces being made bankrupt after being taken to court by the taxman.
Cult hero Dowie, 60 – who coined the term “bouncebackability” – has been hit with the bankruptcy petition by HMRC with a hearing due at the High Court.
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Former football manager Iain Dowie faces being made bankrupt after being taken to court by the taxmanCredit: Getty
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The cult hero has been hit with the bankruptcy petition by HMRC with a hearing due at the High CourtCredit: Getty
It comes almost two decades after ex-Luton, Southampton and West Ham striker Dowie was clobbered with a huge legal bill after leaving Crystal Palace as manager.
A court ruled in 2007 that Dowie deceived Palace into waiving a £1 million compensation clause when he quit.
And a source said: “It looks like Iain’s financial problems might date back to that legal action – there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for it.
“It is a shame for him as he’s such a likeable bloke, but he hasn’t cashed in with punditry as much as some other ex-players and he probably could have done.
“But Iain is a bright bloke and I am sure he will bounce back.”
After leaving Palace, Dowie joined Charlton – but left the Addicks after just 15 games.
His contract contained a clause that Palace would receive £1 million in compensation if Dowie left to join another club.
The 59-cap Northern Ireland international worked as a sales manager and a Sky Sports pundit since his football career ended.
In 2023, Dowie told how he had landed a new position – as a mortgage advisor at a law firm.
He joined Alexander Grace Law, based near Burnley, as a business director leading its re-mortgaging team.
Carlo Ancelotti sentenced to one year for tax fraud
Dad of two Dowie, whose wife Debbie was also working for the company, said: “While people may wonder how I’ve gone from the football pitch to the office I have been working within the conveyancing arena for some four years now and when I was asked if I would come on board with them it was a no-brainer.”
After he was treated by other gym-goers and paramedics, Dowie backed calls for more people to learn CPR and said he survived due to the “brilliance of everyone involved”.
Dowie famously used the word “boucebackability” to describe a Crystal Palace comeback and it entered the Oxford dictionary in 2005.
A spokesperson for the star did not respond to a request for comment.
Following the tragedy, the FA insisted that it would carry out a safety review of perimeter walls in the National League.
But officials at Wingate and Finchley have already made steps to increase safety around the pitch at the Maurice Rebak Stadium.
The Daily Mail has reported that work has been commissioned to make improvements.
The ground did comply with current regulations, but the club has now demolished the wall completely.
It follows on from a petition calling on brick walls around pitches to be banned reached over 4,000 signatures.
On the immediate review, a FA spokesperson said: “[It woudl] include looking at ways we can assist National League system clubs to identify and implement additional measures at their stadiums that they determine will help to mitigate any potential safety risks.”
Billy Vigar dead: Ex-Arsenal star dies aged just 21 after suffering ‘significant brain injury’ hitting head during match
Meanwhile, the PFA called for an investigation and demanded that players should “not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk”.
Vigar, from Worthing, West Sussex, spent his youth career with Arsenal after joining at age 14 and signed a professional contract in July 2022.
He worked his way up to the U21 team in North London, alongside loan spells with Derby County U21 and Eastbourne.
He left the club permanently in 2024 after being unable to progress to the senior team, joining Hastings United in the Non-League Premier before his move to Chichester.
Full statement from Arsenal
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar.
Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season.
In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020/21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.
Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021/22 season.
Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.
He enjoyed loan spells at Derby County and Eastbourne Borough and at the end of the 2023/24 season, headed back to his native south coast, signing for Hastings United – prior to a move to Chichester just last month.
As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ’the most Important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.
WIMBLEDON legends are thrilled to see Thomas Tuchel go full Crazy Gang in England’s bid for World Cup glory.
The England boss is taking a leaf out of the Dons playbook by telling his Three Lions to use long throws and big goal-kicks to secure their first major trophy since 1966.
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Thomas Tuchel has brought back some Crazy Gang tacticsCredit: Getty
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Wimbledon shocked Liverpool to win the FA Cup in 1988Credit: Getty
Wimbledon were renowned for their direct and physical style of play both during the 1980s and 1990s.
As well as climbing from non-league to the top tier, they also pulled off one of football’s biggest shocks to beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final at Wembley.
Former Dons manager Dave Bassett told Sun Sport: “I think Tuchel’s on the right lines.
“The purists have been living in fantasy land. Even Manchester City use the long ball more. Our old ways are catching on.
“If you can get the ball forward — not aimlessly — and get players running in behind, it unsettles defences.
“People panic more with long throws than they ever do with corners — they become frightened to death.
“Going sideways and backwards doesn’t get you goals.
“We didn’t hang around. The players knew it was one-touch and going into the box. But we did not get the credit because people called it anti-football.”
Bassett backs Tuchel’s decision to leave Jude Bellingham out of his latest squad — raising the possibility the Real Madrid superstar may not even feature in the USA, Canada and Mexiconextsummer.
The 81-year-old added: “Tuchel needs to decide what formation he wants and which players best suit his system and share his vision.
Thomas Tuchel explains England squad selection for Wales and Latvia fixtures with Foden and Bellingham out
“Bellingham is a very good player but if he’s not conducive to the team spirit, then tough luck on Bellingham. One person cannot hold the team to ransom.
“When you go away, Tuchel can’t have moody, selfish people who are not sold on his ideas.
“If players are suspect he won’t take them — even if they may be great players.”
Bobby Gould took the reins after Bassett fell out with Dons owner Sam Hammam — and led them to their most famous win.
His first masterstroke after taking over the Crazy Gang was hiring ex-England coach Don Howe.
And Gould, 79, said: “England’s loss was Wimbledon’s gain with Don.
“We just added a bit more quality rather than ripping it up and starting again. It worked wonders.
“Don was Arsenal through and through and steeped in tradition — but even he got into the mind games.
“In the Wembley dressing room he told every player and staff member to put their watch back ten minutes.
“When the referee came to tell us to get into the tunnel, Don said, ‘no, not yet your watch must be wrong’. So off the ref went, we kept Kenny Dalglish & Co waiting — and that was our first victory of the day.”
Tuchel’s England exploits remind Gould of the Dons’ good old days.
He added: “England have scored a couple of goals under Tuchel right out of the Wimbledon playbook.
“But it showed our much-maligned tactics still work because the opposition don’t know what’s hit them when you get forward quickly and slaughter them with crosses or long throws.
“Mentally and physically you’ve got to be in it together and that gets the opposition thinking, ‘what have we got to do to stop them?’”
Wembley goal hero Lawrie Sanchez went on to use his Wimbledon experience as Northern Ireland manager.
And he masterminded a shock 1-0 victory over Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England at Windsor Park 20 years ago.
Sanchez, 65, said: “The thing the Crazy Gang had is we were greater than the sum of our parts.
“Whether you could get away with half the gamesmanship we got up to with 24 cameras focused on games is a different matter.
“But on the football side, the set-plays, strength of the characters, strong team ethic and belief in what we were doing would still stand us in good stead.
“We were stats-based well before stats came into play and our set-plays were the logical development from that stat-based stuff. We did set-plays in training boringly for hours on Thursdays and Fridays — but it paid off.
“Whether you can get that in an England team in a short space of time is a different matter.
“But they’ve been doing the same thing for the last 59 years and not won anything.”
Full-back Nigel Winterburn helped Wimbledon to a couple of promotions under Bassett but left for Arsenal a year before the cup glory.
He said: “No one liked us because of the way we played but we were often cast-offs with a determination to prove people wrong.
“Boy-oh-boy we intimidated a lot of teams.”
But the likes of John Fashanu and Vinny Jones met their match when they faced the British Army.
Winterburn, 61, said: “Dave Bassett liked to bond everyone in pre-season.
“We’d get a typed itinerary saying which five-star hotel awaited.
“But we would end up in the most basic places — usually with the army.
“Once we had to camp out overnight, attack a mock fort and rescue a so-called prisoner.
“It ended up in chaos with Fash and Vinny fighting soldiers.
“There were weird and wonderful times. It forged a togetherness that made sure we were always there to help team-mates.”
Away from the legends game, news broke earlier today that Ibrahima Konate has pulled out the France squad.
The centre-back has a right quadriceps injury and has been receiving “treatment and following protocol” since joining up with his international team-mates.
Kalou’s new venture
Salomon Kalou has a surprising way of keeping busy in retirement.
The Ivory Coast star played in the match today, which means he had some time off from running his chocolate company Oume.
Kalou hopes to see it on the shelves of UK shops soon.
Garden of Eden
Roberto Di Matteo was delighted to be reunited with icon Eden Hazard this afternoon.
The former boss said: “He was a special player. I think from the first minute he wore the Chelsea shirt, everybody fell in love with him.
“You could see the talent he had, even though he was only 19 back then.
“He showed his capabilities and his qualities over the years and had a very successful stint here with us.
“Thank you to him that he came today and showed again some of his qualities.
“I think the people absolutely loved seeing him on the pitch for Chelsea today.”
‘Connected for life’
Roberto Di Matteo spoke about his iconic Chelsea squad which won the 2012 Champions League as he returned to the dugout today.
Di Matteo said: “When you win a competition, a trophy, it connects you for the rest of your life.
“Every time we get together, it’s a great feeling and a lot of emotions to see these players again that managed to lift the trophy with the big ears!
“They always turn up when we call them for these sort of games.
“They love to come back and put the blue shirt on.
“We’ve created a lot of memories for the players and for the supporters as well.
“Overall, it’s a wonderful day today to see all these guys again. I wish them all good health.”
Friends again?
Diego Costa has just took to Instagram to post this snap alongside his rival Martin Skrtel.
The tough guys appear to be mates… for now!
Hazard’s return
Fans were delighted to see Eden Hazard glide across the pitch one again.”
One supporter said: “Eden Hazard is not just a footballer, he’s an entertainer!”
A second reacted: “Hazard strolling around on the Stamford Bridge turf. I’m not crying, you are.”
A third wrote: “He’s been superb, Diego Costa has been a menace to the Liverpool back line….these guys still got it in them.”
DIEGO COSTA may be retired, but he hasn’t lost any of the fire he showed in his playing days, KICKING OUT at ex-Liverpool right-back Martin Kelly in the Chelsea vs Liverpool legends match.
The ex-Brazil and Spain forward, 37, was running onto a through ball from Eden Hazard, when Kelly came through from behind to win the ball from the physical striker, leaving him furious.
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Diego Costa was booked after kicking Martin Kelly before clattering him a minute laterCredit: PA
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Costa and old rival Martin Skrtel later went at it during the ‘friendly’Credit: Getty
Costa, still on the floor, decided to lash out at Kelly with his studs, planting a foot into the right-back’s upper leg.
Kelly – who only officially retired from football YESTERDAY– was left furious, and we saw a familiar scene as Costa got to his feet and squared up to the 35-year-old.
Things looked to be diffused, only for Costa to carry on playing before choosing Martin Skrtel as his next target.
The Slovakian defender challenged Costa just minutes later, with the striker still clearly unhappy, and then getting booked for squaring up to Skrtel.
And fans were left less-than-shocked on social media.
Taking to X, one wrote: “Diego Costa being aggressive in a Legends match is the most Diego Costa thing ever.”
Another said: “People don’t really change, and Diego Costa reminding us why.”
A third added: “Diego Costa will always be Diego Costa.”
Even Eden Hazard weighed in at half-time, saying: “”This guy is still the same, you know. We just saw it.”
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Inside Chelsea star Robert Sanchez’s £1m car collection from £500k Lamborghini and sporty Porsche to classic 1980s BMW
The sun is shining and planes are flying over the place that so many of these legends would still call home.
Eden Hazard and Diego Costa have come out on the pitch with the rest of the squad for a team photo, and Petr Cech even stays to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
That’s what it’s all about!
Liverpool squad
Former Blue Yossi Benayoun will be returning to Stamford Bridge, but in the red of Liverpool.
The club’s all-time top scorer, Ian Rush, will return in the dugout, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch not included in this one:
Ian Rush – manager
John Aldridge – manager
Phil Thompson – manager
Sammy Lee – manager
Pepe Reina
Sander Westerveld
Fabio Aurelio
Martin Kelly
Ragnar Klavan
Martin Skrtel
Yossi Benayoun
Momo Sissoko
Jay Spearing
Ryan Babel
Natasha Dowie
Robbie Keane
Gregory Vignal
Igor Biscan
Stephane Henchoz
Mark Gonzalez
Florent Siname-Pongolle
Chelsea squad
Roberto Di Matteo, the man who guided Chelsea to their first Champions League title in 2011/12, will return to the dugout as manager.
Five-time Premier League-winning captain John Terry will also be back for action.
Fan favourites at Stamford Bridge like Joe Cole, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa will also return:
Eden Hazard
Ramires
John Terry
Joe Cole
Katie Chapman
Gemma Davison
William Gallas
Carlo Cudicini
Marcel Desailly
Petr Cech
Eidur Gudjohnsen
Salomon Kalou
Diego Costa
Jon Harley
Jody Morris
Loic Remy
Florent Malouda
Tiago Mendes
Claude Makelele
John-Obi Mikel
Gary Cahill
*Gianfranco Zola has withdrawn due to injury
Good afternoon and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of Chelsea vs Liverpool legends!
A star-studded Chelsea line-up will be looking to get revenge on Liverpool after losing the previous legends clash between the two in March.
Peter Crouch bagged a double in a 2-0 win for the Reds last time out, but the legendary forward will not be playing in today’s match – to the delight of Chelsea.
Roberto Di Matteo returns to the Stamford Bridge dugout while the likes of Eden Hazard, John Terry and Diego Costa will pull on the iconic Blue shirt once again.
Robbie Keane, Martin Skrtel and Ryan Babel are among the legends representing Liverpool in the capital this afternoon.
SunSport will bring you minute-by-minute updates from this afternoon’s huge clash!
HE IS the English striker formerly of Stoke, Yeovil and Weymouth in a shootout for the MLS Golden Boot with Lionel Messi.
Sam Surridge, now of Nashville SC, is on 23 league strikes, just one behind the Greatest Of All Time — as well as LAFC’s Denis Bouanga — in the Stateside goalscoring stakes.
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Sam Surridge has been prolific since moving to MLSCredit: Getty
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Surridge is battling it out with Lionel Messi for the Golden BootCredit: Getty
The ex-England Under-21 international has the odds stacked against him as he has only one game left to take the crown, as opposed to Messi’s two and Bouanga’s three.
And, in an exciting twist of fixture fate, that solitary match is at home to the iconic Argentinian’s Inter Miami a week today.
Yet Surridge, who played in the Premier League with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, told SunSport: “I’ve probably got to get a hat-trick so it’s not going to be easy.
“But at the same time I’ll always back myself to score and it would be an amazing achievement.
“We’re fighting at a really good point in our league. We just won the cup and we need to get into the top four to get a good play-off spot.
“I’ll do as much as I can to do it.
“It’s great. Just to mention my name along with his is a huge achievement.”
Berkshire-born Surridge came through the ranks at Bournemouth under Eddie Howe and had formative lower-league loans at Weymouth, Poole Town, Yeovil, Oldham and Swansea.
He had a half a season at Stoke before moving to Forest, where he played 20 Premier League games in 2022-23 but netted only once.
His world has changed completely, however, since moving to the other side of the Pond in 2023.
Emotional Lionel Messi wipes away tears as fans chant his name in latest retirement hint
He is now the main man with Tennessee side Nashville.
Though he has Messi to thank for convincing him to make the revitalising switch in the first place.
Surridge will hope his upcoming meeting with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner goes better than the last one, when Miami won 2-1 thanks to Messi’s double — including a sublime free-kick.
The 27-year-old added: “At first I didn’t want to come here because I just wanted to stay in England.
“But then I saw Messi join Inter Miami and I knew they were going to host the World Cup and the size of the league was going to grow.
“Since I’ve been here, the standard has been getting better and better every year.
“Going into that game against Miami in July, we were on a ten-game unbeaten streak, I was on 16, he was on 14.
‘IT WAS CRAZY’
“I remember we gave a foul away on the edge of the box and you just knew he was going to score from it.
“It was crazy — you knew exactly where he was going to put the ball. And he did.
“You’re trying to focus on the game but at the same time you know he’s playing. It’s not easy.
“He is coming to the end of his career but he only won the Ballon d’Or two years ago.”
Surridge has been relishing his role as Nashville’s go-to guy up top and recently scored the match-winning goal to clinch the US Open Cup — America’s equivalent of the FA Cup.
It was the first piece of silverware in Tennessee in a long time, although Surridge was sent off right at the end of the game for two late yellows.
Surridge puts his inspired form in part down to the recent birth of son Noah.
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Surridge turned out for Yeovil Town during his time in EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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The forward has banged them in for NashvilleCredit: Getty
He added: “In the past, I’ve probably let it eat me up when I’ve had a bad game or not scored a goal.
“But now as one game is gone, I’m straight on to the next, back home with my family and being a dad.
“That’s a massive factor (in my form) this season, giving me that renewed focus.” Surridge is experiencing week in, week out the soaring temperatures that Harry Kane and the rest of the England team will have to deal with at the World Cup next summer.
And forward Surridge, who played with the likes of Marc Guehi for the Young Lions, said: “I know England are going to find it hard to cope with the weather over here because it’s not easy adjusting to it.
“There’s going to be a lot of South American teams that are used to it.
“Especially when you go to places like Miami, and places more south of Nashville, it’s not easy to play in the heat. There’s going to be a lot of toing and froing, sitting off and trying to break teams down.
“They should be pushing the games back because we play at 7pm most games and it’s still ridiculously hot.
“At the Club World Cup, I’ve seen them play at games at 2pm and 3pm in the 30-degree heat and it’s almost impossible.”
‘PICKING THE MOMENTS’
So what would his advice be for Thomas Tuchel’s side braving the heat?
The striker replied: “It’s not saving yourself in games, it’s more about picking the moments.
“Because as soon as you get into a full-on sprint in that heat, it’s hard to get your breath back.
“I think managers will set up their teams differently for that reason.
“You see pressing teams where they’re full-on pressing and, as soon as they break down, they’re going to struggle.
“It’s about conserving your energy where you can.”
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Surridge was at Nottingham Forest before heading across the pondCredit: Getty
The Chelsea star has officially won the rights to his nickname and trade mark celebrationCredit: Getty
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Palmer is renowned for his iconic shivering goal celebrationCredit: Getty
It comes after Chateau Palmer, which sells bottles of wine for as much as £750, opposed his bid to flog plonk — and won their case in August.
But, on Friday, the 23-year-old won the right to brand an array of other products, including snacks, mobile phone covers, toys, Christmas crackers and even teddy bears.
This essentially means nobody can use Palmer’s “Cold” nickname for commercial use without his permission.
He has also successfully trademarked his autograph.
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An article in The Athletic detailed how the Intellectual Property Office approved the application made by the footballer’s private company, Palmer Management Limited.
In August, winemaker Chateau Palmer, based near Bordeaux, opposed the initial application.
It still covers a range of other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits, liqueurs and alcoholic energy drinks.
The winery was founded in 1814 when Army officer Charles Palmer bought the estate.
Royal wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd says: “At their best, the wines of Ch. Palmer are among the greatest anywhere in Bordeaux.”
Chelsea ace Cole Palmer LOSES battle against £750-a-bottle winery to trademark nickname & goal celebration
A bottle of its Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 is priced at £750.
Speaking to The Athletic, Karen Lee, an intellectual property lawyer at Edwin Coe, said: “Once you have a registered trademark in place, it is much easier to enforce your rights against third parties.
“Anyone using something that’s the same or similar can amount to an infringement. And that’s when it can lead to High Court litigation, which can be very expensive.”
Palmer has made no secret about the celebration not being his own original work.
He previously admitted how, following his time in the Manchester City academy, he was inspired to perform the celebration by then team-mate Morgan Rogers.
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The vineyard is in France’s Margaux region
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One bottle of the firm’s Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 was listed at £750
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The 23-year-old has now also won the rights to brand an array of other productsCredit: Getty
Aston Villa star Rogers, was accused of copying the celebration when he scored against Chelsea in April 2024, before he clarified: “It’s the opposite, I did it first, he copied me.”
Speaking of his celebration in a previous interview with The Telegraph, Cole said: “It symbolises joy, passion and hard determination for the game, plus it’s funny as it works well with my name.
“Everyone knows it’s my celebration. Lots of people might have done it (before me), but everybody knows it is my celebration.”
However, this could mean that Chelsea has to register for a licence if the London club wants to use his nickname in promotional material.
EA, the company behind the EA Sports FC series of video games, might also have to ask permission to use his celebration in future games.
Other footballers who have trademarked their names and celebrations include David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, who trademarked his name, CR7 initials and “Siuuu” celebration.
Lionel Messi also trademarked his surname after a legal challenge from the cycling brand Massi.
Some other stars have managed to have their brand made exclusive in specific countries, including Marcus Rashford with his name in the United States, Erling Haaland with his signature and goal celebration in his native Norway.
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The footballer has claimed that everyone knows its his celebrationCredit: Getty
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Other players like Beckham and Ronaldo have also trademarked their namesCredit: Getty
Uefa explained its ruling executive committee had “reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis” the requests from Spain and Italy, citing a lack of rules to prevent the games being switched.
But Euro chiefs pledged to work with Fifa to “uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities”.
Ceferin said: “League matches should be played on home soil.
“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.
“Our commitment is clear – to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”
Prem chief Richard Masters has emphasised his total opposition to the prospect of English games being played overseas.
However, that policy could change if 14 of the 20 top flight clubs voted to explore the option.
Fan group Football Supporters Europe said: “We regret the decision to allow the requests but all 55 national associations have committed not to make further requests for domestic matches abroad without first consulting UEFA.
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“The onus is now on FIFA to plug this regulatory gap. We welcome UEFA’s commitment to work with FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions.”
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Ceferin doesn’t want more European domestic games played in foreign countriesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
OLD TRAFFORD continues to suffer from a rodent infestation after a fan claimed to catch a live MOUSE during the game between Manchester United and Sunderland.
A travelling Black Cats supporter shared a post to social media of them claiming to have been next to someone who caught the rodent while in attendance at the ground for the game.
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A Sunderland fan claims to have caught a live mouse while visiting Old Trafford on SaturdayCredit: X/ RejectedBook
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Old Trafford has a common problem with mice due to its locationCredit: Getty
The social media post showed a photo of a mouse being held in a tall plastic cup.
It was partnered by a caption which said: “How dirty is Old Trafford??
“Woman behind has just caught a mouse in the away end at Old Trafford…
“I’m running out of things I’ve not seen at the match now.”
Other fans also ripped into the stunning pictures on social media, with another fan saying: “No way. Even mother nature is taking the p***.”
Mice droppings were found in a food kiosk on the concourse, which prompted a reduction in the hygiene levels at the stadium to drop from four to just TWO stars.
Unfortunately, the source of the rodent problem is believed to come from the location of the stadium itself being between a railway line and a canal.
Following the arrival of minority owners Ineos, United have announced plans to build a new 100,000-seater £2billion stadium which they have dubbed the “Wembley of the North”.
However, last month those plans hit a snag with company owing the land United wanted to build a huge canopy on refusing to budge for less than £400million – way above United’s own estimate of £50m for the lands worth.
Ruben Amorim‘s squad travel to Anfield to face Liverpool after the international break hoping to generate some momentum and pick up consecutive wins for the first time under the Portuguese boss.
FORMER World Cup star Omar Bravo has been arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse.
The 66-time Mexico striker, 45, was cuffed during an operation in his homeland.
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Former Mexico star Omar Bravo has been arrested on suspicion of child sex abuseCredit: AP
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He starred at the 2006 World Cup for his countryCredit: Getty
According to the Associated Press, police arrested Bravo in the municipality of Zapopan.
And the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office declared that investigations indicate he allegedly “abused a teenage girl on several occasions in recent months.”
It’s also claimed Bravo may have “committed similar acts before.”
The former Mexico star is now expected to appear in court “soon” while the investigation continues.
Bravo is regarded as one of his nation’s best forwards in the 21st century.
He burst through the ranks at Guadalajara.
And Bravo ended up playing 382 times for them across three separate spells, scoring 132 times in the process.
He also spent time playing in the US with Sporting Kansas City, North Carolina and Phoenix Rising.
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Bravo had a spell as a manager last yearCredit: Getty
In total, Bravo made 536 career appearances, netting 169 goals.
He also scored 15 times in 66 games for Mexico between 2003 and 2013, starring for them at the 2006 World Cup.
Bravo retired from playing in 2020.
And he later had a brief spell as a manager, taking charge of Arizona Monsoon FC in 2024.
The Associated Press adds that a lawyer for Bravo “could not be immediately reached.”
