Romanian football coach and former defender, Inter Milan legend
Two Roma clubs remain unbeaten after 11 Serie A games, with Roma’s 31 goals the season’s pace-setter and Lazio maintaining top form. Gasperini accepts praise for Roma’s attacking efficiency while Lazio press their title challenge.
Arsenal have begun the season with a string of wins, including a hard-fought Champions League victory over Napoli decided late by Martin Odegaard, and sit among early title favourites. Manchester United have opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win at Old Trafford, while Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also taken strong early European results.
Mbappé has won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals and now leads all-time World Cup goals with 22. He says a Ballon d’Or win could be possible this year despite Real Madrid’s lack of major trophies, as Madrid prepare for Inter Milan in the Champions League. Mourinho and Chivu reflect on past glory as Madrid look to rebound from a setback.
Sabah’s historic Champions League debut at Old Trafford is underway as Valdas Dambrauskas’s remarkable journey from a Lithuanian Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? contestant to a top coach underscores a broader rise of Azerbaijani football.
Lionel Messi has helped Inter Miami win the Campeones Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul, sealing the club’s first Campeones Cup trophy and adding another trophy to Messi’s MLS era. Casemiro’s late header secures the win after Messi’s early headed goal; the ceremony also marks new coach Cristian Gonzalez’s first game in charge.
Sandro Mazzola, Inter Milan legend and son of Valentino Mazzola, has died at 83. He spent his entire 17-year playing career with Inter, winning four Serie A titles and two European Cups. Inter and the Italian federation have paid tribute, with a minute of silence planned at weekend matches.
Napoli were pegged back by Roma’s late equaliser as Balerdi completed a stoppage-time brace to secure a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Earlier, McTominay had looked to have won it for Napoli, but Roma’s substitute headed home from a corner to level before the decisive strike. Como also won, while Milan’s woes continued with a 0-0 draw.