World Cup News

Jimbo welcomes Michael Cox, Duncan Alexander and Tom Williams into the studio for a bumper edition of the Totally Football Show. Champions League matchday 6 sees Man City lose for the 7th time in 10 matches, this time in Turin against Juventus. Does Pep regret signing that new contract ahead of the most uncertain Manchester derby in years? Elsewhere Real Madrid are victorious against Atalanta in perhaps the game of the season so far, and the Brest fairytale continues. The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia, while the 2030 World Cup will take place in 3 different continents. The panel express their dismay at the process and ponder the future of the World Cup. The Premier League weekend also sees some Sunday 7pm kick-offs with the under-pressure Postecoglou and the inimitable Palmer in action. Plus the magnificence of Marco Silva, Wizzard and Wikipedia Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Juventus 2-0 Man City (06.00) • PART 1b: Victories for Arsenal, Liverpool & Villa (14.00) • PART 2a: Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid (26.00) • PART 2b: Elsewhere in the Champions League (31.00) • PART 3: Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup (38.00) • PART 4a: Manchester derby preview (48.00) • PART 4b: The rest of the Premier League weekend (56.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rog and novelist/Liverpool fan/incredible human being John Green break down a massive week of Champions League action, including another stumble for Manchester City, a Weston McKennie goal for the ages, and Liverpool's ho-hum win at Girona. Plus, the World Cup is officially heading to Saudi Arabia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been confirmed the FIFA World Cup will be returning to the Middle East in 10 years' time after FIFA awarded Saudi Arabia the hosting rights to the 2034 tournament. Securing football’s most high-profile tournament is just the latest example of the Kingdom’s growing influence on global sport, which its critics say is in an effort to 'sportswash' the regime's reputation. Katie Smith is joined by BBC sports editor Dan Roan and Tariq Panja, global sports correspondent for The New York Times, to provide the background to Saudi Arabia’s unopposed bid. We hear from the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al Misehal, and from Amanda Staveley, who was part of the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United in 2021, on why the tournament will be a great success, while BBC sports news correspondent Laura Scott speaks to Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness about Norway's decision to abstain from the voting process for the 2030 and 2034 tournaments. Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of housing, workers rights, and sport, and Wycombe Wanderers midfielder David Wheeler, the PFA’s sustainability champion, also join the podcast to discuss their concerns over human and the environment. And we ask what all this means for Saudi Arabia’s huge investments in domestic football, particularly at Newcastle United.

On Wednesday's Football Daily, Richie McCormack brings you all the reaction to last night's Champions League action. There's bad news for Caoimhin Kelleher direct from the horse's mouth that is Arne Slot's, who has also been discussing Darwin Nunez's poor form. We hear from Brendan Rodgers after Celtic's draw in Zagreb. Pep Guardiola reveals how his Manchester City players can rebuild their confidence. And Saudi Arabia is to be waved through as 2034 World Cup hosts today.

Jim, Pete and The Bacon Boy are back with some more fat-chewing Tuesday chat™ as we draw comparisons between the mixed fortunes of Aston Villa and Newcastle, both of whom are struggling to scale previous heights. And, wait, why has Jason Tindall joined Creed? Elsewhere, we pour deserved scorn on FIFA’s ludicrous report into Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid - one that has deemed the risk of human rights violations as “medium” - and celebrate some lovely chaos from the FA Cup second round. Plus, we decide who needs something the least from tonight’s pair of relegation six-pointers. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Monday's Football Daily, Phil Egan brings you the day's football news, which is dominated by the Republic of Ireland's second half collapse at Wembley. Heimir Hallgrimsson attempts to rationalise the capitulation, and we also catch up with debutant Mark McGuinness. Lee Carsley discusses what he's learned during his time in charge of England. We round up the rest of last night's Nations League affairs. Plus, the latest on Neymar's future in Saudi Arabia.

Gary is joined by one of the leaders in worldwide player development over the past 10-15 years. Romeo Jozak was a pioneer as Technical Director for Croatia and now works as Technical Director for Saudi Arabia. He also holds a UEFA PRO License and is author the phenomenal book,“CFF Development Curriculum.” In this interview, Romeo outlines the challenges for coaches and youth environments in the United States, as well suggesting potential solutions to progress the development of both coaches and players. Looking for new coach support options: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/msc-1-to-1-mentoring-package

Gary is joined by UEFA Pro Licensed Coach, Mick McDermott, to discuss his experience alongside Carlos Queiroz and Iran at the 2018 World Cup, managing Glentoran, and working in Saudi Arabia. Mick provides ideas and methods for coaches on navigating the hiring process and managing ownership, as well as elite level players.

As part of our 12 hour live stream to raise money for Zoe's Place, we were delighted to have former Liverpool goalkeeper coach John Achterberg join us from Saudi Arabia, and John was kind enough to invite former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard onto the stream! DONATE HERE: https://www.justgiving.com/page/theredmentv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone wants to bring a wee mate with them on deadline day, right? This year, the end of the window actually threw up some fascinating storylines for some big names, including Jadon Sancho switching one frying pan for another, slightly less hot frying pan. Marcus, Luke and Jim catch up with the best of the headlines. We discuss Raheem Sterling (and soon Harry Kane’s) move to Eng- I mean Arsenal. We also assess whether Sancho can reignite his career and whether Ivan Toney has killed his off once and for all after moving to Saudi Arabia. Plus - shockingly - someone actually, willingly signed Neal Maupay. Who knew? Join the Football Ramble WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VamKx7RL7UVMdlfanN0Q We're back on stage and tickets are out NOW! Join us at London Palladium on Friday September 20th 2024 for 'Football Ramble: Time Tunnel', a journey through football history like no other. Expect loads of laughs, all your Ramble favourites, and absolutely everything on Pete's USB stick. Get your tickets at footballramblelive.com! Find us on X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia alter their course but continue to struggle, we end up going deep on PSG's transfer window, and how wages end up getting treated differently from transfer fees in the market. We're still trying to make sense of a bunch of things! Support the show

Welcome to the latest episode of The Overlap’s football history podcast, It Was What It Was. This week, Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper explore the connection between Ferenc Puskas and Ange Postecoglou, and how the Hungarian idol influenced the Australian coach. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ferenc Puskas’s post-playing career saw him manage across the world, including stints in Spain, America, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. It was in Australia where Puskas, the manager, coached Postecoglou, the player, at South Melbourne Hellas. Jonathan and Rob detail Ange Postecoglou’s life, including the influence of his Greek father, and how Puskás's coaching philosophy left a lasting impact on him. Discover how these experiences shaped Postecoglou’s approach to management and contributed to his success. As Postecoglou gets underway in his second season with Tottenham Hotspur, join us to uncover the enduring legacy of Ferenc Puskas on one of today’s most innovative coaches. If you enjoyed the podcast, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo is joined by Daniel Storey, Matt Davies-Adams and Sasha Goryunov after the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. The champions ease to victory at Stamford Bridge to make it a losing start at Chelsea for Enzo Maresca. But the decision to leave out Raheem Sterling, and to make Enzo Fernandez captain, is what dominates discussion. Brighton sit top of the table after a 3-0 victory at Everton in Fabian Hurzeler’s first game in charge. Brian Owen from The Argus tells us why we shouldn’t be surprised. Arne Slot’s Liverpool overcome Ipswich in his first match in charge while Villa show their squad depth in their victory at West Ham. And Brentford's Ivan Toney looks set for Saudi Arabia. Plus Henry or Salah, a golden era of goalkeeping and bridge transfers. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: An opening weekend of few surprises (01.00) • PART 2a: Chelsea 0-2 Man City (04.30) • PART 2b: Brentford 2-1 Palace with Jay Harris (15.00) • PART 3a: Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool (25.00) • PART 3b: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves and great goalkeepers (33.00) • PART 4: Everton 0-3 Brighton with Brian Owen (40.00) • PART 5: The rest of the Premier League weekend (49.00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Real Madrid's Brazilian star, Vinicius Junior, is contemplating a historic transfer offer from Saudi Arabia. Sources reveal that Saudi Arabia's Public Invest

The boys share their thoughts on the US Men advancing to the Olympic quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years and we discuss the USWNT's redemption tour as they go for 3-for-3 in the group stage and prepare for a knockout round matchup vs Japan. Plus, we examine some of the details of Saudi Arabia's World Cup bid, we contemplate Steve McClaren taking over as Jamaica's manager and we wonder what foods are ok to eat off of someone else's tray in a hotel hallway. ***BY THE WAY... Our new premium channel, Caught Offside Plus, has been activated! Just go to https://caughtoffside.supercast.com to sign up! Once you have access to the premium feed, check out our special "welcome episode" from June 24th (we don't think you'll be disappointed) and enjoy the additional Caught Offside content that's soon to be headed your way. --- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caughtoffsidepod X: https://twitter.com/COsoccerpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtoffsidepod/ Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Maclean was joined by Simon Donnelly on Thursday night's Clyde 1 Superscoreboard. We're discussing reports linking Todd Cantwell with Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, reuniting him with former Rangers chief executive, James Bisgrove. We're also looking at the latest on Matt O'Riley's move away from Celtic, the future for Adam Idah, and Celtic's goalkeeper moves.

Last night were were reminded why the Champions League is the biggest draw in world football. Meanwhile, FIFA seem to be stepping back in the battle to stop competitive games being taken abroad. So, could we one day see the Premier League or La Liga decided in the USA? Or the UEFA Champions League final in Saudi Arabia? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater and Adam Crafton. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater and Adam Crafton Producer: Mike Stavrou Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of this four-part series, Rog and Tommy trace the massive flow of Saudi money into Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Wall Street, and how the biggest venture capitalists and A-list celebrities seem to no longer care about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. They also look back at the history of the US-Saudi relationship, and how President Biden went from pleading to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” to traveling there to fist bump Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. And finally, they dive into the possible motivations behind Saudi Arabia’s investments, from the need to diversify the Saudi economy, to whitewashing the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and changing the subject from other human rights violations. Despite all the depressing news, Rog and Tommy try to find glimmers of hope where grassroots activism and football can lead the way in creating a more just world. All of this and more, on the final episode of World Corrupt, Season 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In episode three of this four part series, Rog and Tommy explore the rise of Saudi Arabia’s domestic football league and why superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are flocking there. iNews’s chief football writer Daniel Storey joins the show to tell the tale of one of those players, former Liverpool captain and one-time “moral center” of English football Jordan Henderson, whose move to the Saudi pro-league led to one of the starkest falls from grace in recent sporting history. Plus, Saudi Arabia has all but secured hosting rights for the 2034 Men’s World Cup....but did football’s global governing body FIFA rig the bidding process years in advance? And with Saudi Arabia also eyeing hosting duties for the 2035 Women's World Cup, former US Women’s National Team legend Megan Rapinoe gives her thoughts on what it would mean to play football's crown jewel tournament in a country where women are assigned a male guardian and homosexuality is illegal. All of this and more on the latest episode of World Corrupt. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roger Bennett and Tommy Vietor take a look at the history of Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi relations, and the Kingdom’s path to becoming a geopolitical force. They trace the unlikely rise of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman from a lowly place in the royal hierarchy to de facto leader of the country, and examine his record of enacting major social reforms while brutally cracking down on critics and rivals. Guests Ben Hubbard, Sarah Leah Whitson, and Khalid Al Jabri provide insight through stories about the infamous lock-up at the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the disappearance of even the family members of MBS’ political rivals. And finally, they unpack what MBS’ massive investment into soccer means for the global game. Listen to the second episode of this four-part series to find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roger Bennet and Tommy Vietor are back for Season 2 of World Corrupt! And this time, Rog and Tommy are diving into how Saudi Arabia, the biggest exporter of oil in the world and a nation in the news for human rights abuses, became the latest geopolitical powerplayer sweeping global soccer. The Saudis have poured billions of dollars into the world’s most popular sport, including signing superstar players like Cristiano Ronaldo to eye-popping contracts. But the crown jewel in the Saudi investment portfolio? That would be the take over of one of England’s most historic football clubs, Newcastle United. A team with a rich history from an impoverished corner of the country, Newcastle had fallen upon hard times…and they welcomed the Saudis with open arms. But at what cost? Listen to the first episode of this four part series to find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

And, we're back! Join Roger Bennet and Tommy Vietor for another season of World Corrupt, with a focus on why Saudi Arabia is investing billions in football. Episode 1 coming March 16. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami appeared to be a marketing dream for all concerned, that was before their pre-season tour of Asia. After playing just seven minutes in Saudi Arabia and missing a ‘last dance’ with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi failed to feature in Hong Kong with the fallout still rumbling on. So why has Messi’s no-show caused geo-political tensions to rise and is the GOAT in danger of becoming a show pony in the final stages of his illustrious career? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Paul Tenorio to analyse the episode as well as dissect the wider impact on the growth of MLS. Produced by Guy Clarke Additional Production by Mike Stavrou Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Further reading: ‘A thuggish flamingo’: Why China turned on Lionel Messi - The Athletic Hong Kong uproar, Messi injured and just one win: Inside Inter Miami’s Asian tour - The Athletic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Graves and Dharmesh Sheth are joined by journalist and Transfer Talk legend Sam Tighe to discuss how a combination of profit and sustainability rules and lack of spending from clubs in Saudi Arabia forced Premier League clubs to watch their spending in January. Lyon hit out at West Ham after the deal for Said Benrahma is cancelled after the window shut and how Liverpool's academy can influence the title race. Plus, Pete and Dharms review their transfer window predictions. Transfer Talk is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/transfer-talk You can listen to Transfer Talk on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Transfer Talk". For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/football For advertising opportunities email: [email protected]

FOX Sports Soccer Insider Doug McIntyre joins Alexi Lalas and David Mosse to break down Messi and Inter Miami's preseason, the rivalry budding between MLS vs. the Saudi Pro League and the USMNT transfer moves including Gio Reyna to Nottingham Forest. (7:17) We are set for a MASSIVE weekend of soccer and the guys preview all the big clashes including Brandon Vazquez and Monterrey taking on Club America, Juventus battling Inter Milan, and Arsenal gunning for Liverpool at the top of the EPL. (25:03) In #AskAlexi, the guys answer a question on Pep Guardiola & MLS before diving into changes with VAR coming to the English Premier League. (48:09) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus, Jim, Pete and Andy pick through the wreckage of Chelsea’s demolition job on a spirited Middlesbrough - a club that Pete regards with an almost insulting level of indifference. Elsewhere, we check in with the latest El Chiringuito livestream after their bizarre attempted hit job on Jose Mourinho, who’s probably too busy eyeing up the Newcastle job to notice. We also discuss Kalvin Phillips’ intriguing move and the totally uncontroversial news of Miguel Almiron’s potential transfer to Saudi Arabia - and our favourite Nevvo baby strikes again over in Portland! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Henderson has found his way out of the Saudi Pro League and Karim Benzema is hunkered down in Mauritius searching for his own escape. What's gone wrong with the Saudi Pro League? And how is it implicated in much larger economic and geopolitical dynamics and the broad political outlook of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Support the show

Jimbo is joined in The Athletic studio by Natalie Gedra, Caoimhe O’Neill and Duncan Alexander in a week packed full of action across multiple competitions. The two most in-form teams in the Premier League meet on Sunday as Iraola’s resurgent Bournemouth face league leaders Liverpool. Can Dominic Solanke do the business against his old club? What do we expect to see from Ivan Toney as he makes his return to football with Brentford hosting Nottingham Forest? The FA Cup 3rd round replays throw up a number of stories, including the fan who became the 4th official at Molineux and Rob Edwards going viral. The WSL returns from its winter break with champions Chelsea shorn of Sam Kerr for the rest of the season. How worried should the women’s game be worried about all the ACLs? And Maher Mezahi joins us again to review a first round of fixtures full of shocks at AFCON. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Bournemouth v Liverpool preview (03.00) • PART 1b: Henderson leaves Saudi Arabia (13.00) • PART 2: West Ham knocked out by Bristol City (20.00) • PART 3a: More FA Cup 3rd round replays (25.00) • PART 3b: The rest of the Premier League weekend (38.00) • PART 4a: The WSL returns (45.00) • PART 4b: AFCON update with Maher Mezahi (53.00) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £2 A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The consideration around which of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is better may eventually have been answered following the former’s World Cup achievement last year. But, for those that quietly need conversion, we ’ve had a look at how the brace’s ridiculously piled trophy lockers compare. Messi and Ronaldo are without distrustfulness the two greatest Footballer of their generation. Between them, they've scored over 1500 career goals and handed many times of inconceivable skills or game- winning prowess. They've also picked up nine - UCL, 17 domestic - titles, two senior international tournament title and dozens of other collaborative and individual commendations. Succeeding his World Cup heroics, Messi just collected his rearmost individual accolade by uplifting a history- outstretching eighth Ballon d’Or after assisting PSG hold their Ligue 1 title in 2022- 23 – and covering on to hold his FIFA ‘ The Best ’ award. The two era- outlining heroes are now into the nightfall years of their careers in the United States and Saudi Arabia individually, where they ’ve inescapably lifted yet more silver. There are aplenty out there who would like to form the explanation for one footballer over the other, but Messi and Ronaldo typically prefer to avoid accelerating contestation. In reality, it seems they do n’t mind each other at all. “ We ’re associates, ” Ronaldo narrated Marca in 2014. “ We ’re work amigos, so to talk, and so, obviously, we do n’t have a relation outside the world of football, just as we do n’t with a lot of other athletes. “ He tries to do his best for his club and for his national team, as I do, and there's a degree of rivalry with both of us trying to do the best for the teams we represent We've to look on this rivalry with a positive spirit because it’s a good thing. ” In 2018, when Ronaldo transferred to Juventus from Real Madrid, Messi stated FM Club 947 “ Although it was a bit tricky to see him win trophies, he gave La Liga prestige. ” Which of them, however, has the bigger collection of silver? We ’ve busted down both the awards they ’ve won with their separate clubs and national teams and those they ’ve held as individualities. Remark for the years in which the FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or were combined, we've numbered the award as a Ballon d’Or. We've also not contained top scorer or competition- especial individual awards, only those for which players in any European league are eligible. Lionel Messi Team Domestic La Liga 10( 2004- 05, 2005- 06, 2008- 09, 2009- 10, 2010- 11, 2012- 13, 2014- 15, 2015- 16, 2017- 18, 2018- 19) Ligue 1 2( 2021- 22, 2022- 23) Copa Del Rey 7( 2008- 09, 11-12, 14-15, 15-16, 16-17, 17-18, 20-21) Spanish Super Cup 8( 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019) Trophee des Champions 1( 2022) Continental Champions League 4( 2005- 06, 2008- 09, 2010- 11, 2014- 15) Leagues Cup x 1( 2023) UEFA Super Cup 3( 2009, 2011, 2015) Other FIFA Club World Cup 3( 2009, 2011, 2015) International World Cup 1( 2022) Copa America 1( 2021) Olympics 1( 2008) Total 42 Individual Ballon d’Or 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023) The Best FIFA Men’s Player 4 (2009, 2019, 2022 and 2023) UEFA Best Player in Europe 2 (2011 and 2015) Total 14 Cristiano Ronaldo Team Domestic English Premier League 3 ( 2006- 07, 2007- 08 and 2008- 09) La Liga 2( 2011- 12, 2016- 17) Serie A 2( 2018- 19, 2019- 20) English League Cup 2( 2005- 06 and 2008- 09) FA Cup 1( 2003- 04) Copa Del Rey 2( 2010- 11, 2013- 14) Coppa Italia 1( 2020- 21) Portuguese Super Cup 1( 2002) Community Shield 1( 2007) Spanish Super Cup 2( 2013, 2018) Italian Super Cup 2( 2019, 2021) Continental Champions League 5 (2007- 08, 2013- 14, 2015- 16, 2016- 17 and 2017- 18) UEFA Super Cup 2( 2014, 2017) Arab Club Champions Cup( 2023) Other FIFA Club World Cup 4( 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017) International UEFA European Championship 1( 2016) UEFA Nations League 1( 2019) Total 33 Individual Ballon d’Or 5( 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) The Best FIFA Men’s Player 3( 2008, 2016, 2017) UEFA Best Player in Europe 3( 2014, 2016, 2017) Total 11

Jordan Henderson pulling out of Saudi Arabia? After six months? Completely unpaid?! Fire up the Ramble Reacts… Pete and Andy discuss two important victories for the two Premier League clubs in the dock this week, while Roy ‘The Arrogant Owl’ Hodgson digs himself in a little deeper. Plus, an unexpected call for reform at Southend Airport and an even more unexpected cameo from Isaac Hayden in the continuing Everton melodrama. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Graves and Dharmesh Sheth discuss Jordan Henderson's cancelled contract in Saudi Arabia and question whether a Premier League club could make a late move for the England international. Manchester United, a club not expected to be busy during the January window, are being linked with two players and Manchester City have 'all but signed' Claudio Echeverri, an Argentinian wonderkid who has been described as a mix between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Plus, David Prutton and NTT20's George Elek join Pete and Dharmesh to discuss what players in the EFL could be on the move this month. Transfer Talk is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/transfer-talk You can listen to Transfer Talk on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Transfer Talk". For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/football For advertising opportunities email: [email protected]

Ste is here with another Redmen Weekly Episode as we look back at some of the Redmen Plus Shows from the week. To kick things off we have a clip from our Biased Football Podcast where Chris, Chloe and Dan looked at Timo Werner joining Spurs as well as Eric Dier joining Bayern Munich. Next, Ste was joined by Neil Jones for Journo Insight as they reacted to the news that Jordan Henderson desperately wants to leave Saudi Arabia and Ajax are leading the race to sign him. Then we have our Final Word show where Ste was joined by Jamie and Lewis as they reflect on Liverpool's 2-1 win over Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final. Our final clip for this week is from Dan's Transfer Insight with Lewis Steele as they look at the potential Centre Back signings Liverpool may do in the Transfer Window. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste joins us with the final Redmen Bitesize Podcast for this week as he gives us all the LFC updates from the last 24 hours, including Luke Chambers loan move to Wigan and Steven Gerrard wanting Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to join Al Ettifaq. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimbo welcomes James Horncastle, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo into the studio for another voyage across the European football landscape. Napoli have now lost 6 of their 10 matches under Walter Mazzarri as another crisis in Naples looms. Is this the worst title defence ever? And why is Italy angry with VAR? Villarreal are upset by Unionistas in the Copa Del Rey. Next up for the 3rd division side - Barcelona, who just struggled to beat 4th division Barbastro. Not many fairytales in the Coupe De France but there’s the worst Panenka ever and one of the best penalty shootouts ever. We praise the performance of Real Madrid and Juventus in renovating their squads with young players. And Raphael Honigstein pays tribute to the late Franz Beckenbauer, the greatest German footballer of all time. Produced by Charlie Jones. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Paying tribute to Franz Beckenbauer (01.00) • PART 1b: Moment of the weekend (08.00) • PART 2: Madrid derby in Saudi Arabia as Barca struggle to beat Barbastro (14.00) • PART 3: Another crisis at Napoli while Juventus get the job done again (32.00) • PART 4: Revel and Golden Lion thrashed in the Coupe De France (50.00) SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC TODAY FOR £2 A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS • theathletic.com/totally Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste is back with the latest episode of Redmen Bitesize as reports from Sky Sports indicate former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson wants to come back to the Premier League after being unhappy with his time spent in Saudi Arabia! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Graves and Dharmesh Sheth are back and are ready to preview the January transfer window! They answer all the biggest questions ahead of the window opening in the new year: With Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment at Old Trafford will Manchester United be the club to watch? Will Chelsea contiue their prolific spending under Todd Boehly or will FFP rules prevent them making it a third consecutive record transfer window in the Premier League? Will clubs based in Saudi Arabia continue to hoover up players from the Premier League and can Liverpool continue to hold on to Mo Salah? Plus, Pete challenges Dharmesh to a transfer prediciton challenge! Transfer Talk is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/transfer-talk You can listen to Transfer Talk on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Transfer Talk". For all the latest football news, head to skysports.com/football For advertising opportunities email: [email protected]

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse kicked off with a recap of the FOX Holiday Party and Alexi’s trip to Atlanta, where the new US Soccer facility was revealed. (00:56) The UCL group stage wild finish is recapped where Christian Pulisic scored for AC Milan and Manchester United was eliminated. The long-awaited news has arrived, Messi and Ronald will face off one last time in Saudi Arabia on February 1st. In Europe, there is a battle for the top 4 between Roma and Bologna while Liverpool looks to keep Manchester United down. (18:14) To finish the podcast, we answer your #AskAlexi questions about MLS player compensation reaching MLB heights, and Alexi gives his Top 5 US Soccer wish list in 2024 for Santa. Will Gio Reyna find his new club soon? (32:01) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giants from ManCity, Al-Nassr, Paris-SG and FC Bayern Munich all form their way into the top 10 goalscorers list across world football for the timetable time of 2023. With only a limited months to go until the ending of the year, effects are as tight as at all around the goalscoring list and a limited familiar make an presence in this list. We ’ve cast up every single thing that has been scored across world football in 2023, club and international scores included and have collected a list of the top 10 scores. = 8. Mauro Icardi – 35 goals The revitalization of Icardi in Turkish football has been a joy to see. Following some rough times with PSG, the Argentine forward has looked sharper than ever since making his move to Galatasaray. Unlike utmost of the other forwards on this list, all 35 of Icardi’s goals in 2023 have been at club position as he does n’t get important of a look in at the Argentine national side these days. Anyhow of that, he seems to be loving life in Turkey right now. = 8. Lautaro Martinez – 35 goals A fellow Argentine is coming up as Inter Milan’s Martinez has also smashed in 35 goals during the calendar time so far. The 26- year-old has been in fine form this time and he nowadays leads the race for the Serie A Golden Boot with 13 goals during this season solely. = 8. German Cano – 35 goals While the top goalscorers list of 2023 is dominated by players nowadays playing in Europe, Fluminense Attacker Cano manages to break that trend. The skilled 35- year-old has scored over 280 career goals and he is n’t exposing any signs of decelerating down soon. Cano just hit the peak of his career by winning the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense. Argentina, call him up. 7. Denis Bouanga – 36 goals The former Saint- Etienne winger has been unplayable in MLS this time, scoring a whopping 36 goals across all competitions. We would n’t be surprised if he manages to make the difference in the final also. 6. Santiago Gimenez – 37 goals Since making the switch to Feyenoord in the summer of 2022, Gimenez has been in seriously productive form. He’s truly been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea of late thanks to his attractive goalscoring comeback. Of the 37 goals Gimenez has performed this year, 35 of them have been at club position while the another two were scored for Mexico. It’s surely just a matter of time before he gets himself a success move. 5. Barnabas Varga – 38 goals previous to last season, Varga had nothing scored further than 15 goals across an whole season. still, the Hungarian forward has been added productive than ever throughout 2023. Varga impressed with Paks last season and addressed to earn a move to Hungarian champs Ferencvarosi TC on the reverse of his productive spell. With 38 goals in 2023 so far, Verga is just a couple of goals down from the top spot. 4. Kylian Mbappe – 47 goals With Lionel Messi and Neymar now out of the picture at PSG, Mbappe is truly much the main man in the French club these days. Arguably the stylish player in the world right now, the 24- year-old has secured 47 goals in 2023 along with supplying plenitude of assists too. Mbappe has now won five successive Ligue 1 Golden Boots and he's now on track to win his sixth. When he’s at his genuinely sporty, not numerous defenders can lay a glove on him. 3. Cristiano Ronaldo – 48 goals He might be playing out in Saudi Arabia these days, but the fact that a 38- year-old Ronaldo is still 2nd- top for top goals scored in 2023 is crazy – it’s truly more unreal knowing he was top spot until recently, too. While maximum footballers are twisting down in their late thirties, CR7 quietly seems hungrier than before. He looks after his fitness better than anyone else in the sport and it’s no miracle he’s addressed to be the experiment of time. occasionally you exactly require to take a step back and acclaim greatness. = 1. Harry Kane – 49 goals Kane’s appearance from Tottenham this summer sounded necessary and the England captain has n’t came across back since signed for Bayern Munich. The 30- year-old has n’t taken any time to get going as he’s earlier secured 22 goals for the German club. Along with his productive form at club position, Kane continues to perform the goods on the international matches. Nine of his 49 goals in 2023 were delivered for England, while the remaining 40 were added for a mix of Tottenham and Bayern Munich, where he’s absolutely winging. = 1. Erling Haaland – 49 goals The Norwegian goal machine crossed all the blocks of goalscoring records during his debut season in the Premier League and he also formed an necessary part in a historic treble- winning movement. From a goalscoring point of view, Haaland has nearly no faults. The Man City striker has performed 49 goals and counting in 2023 so far, which puts him joint-top with Kane.

Meet Talal Haji, the 16-year-old wunderkind set for his Saudi Arabia debut The National

Ste is here for the latest episode of Redmen Bitesize as he brings you the news that Mohamed Salah could be set to ignore interest from Saudi Arabia and stay at Liverpool! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New York Times' Tariq Panja joins to discuss Saudi Arabia emerging as the likely/definitive destination of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Plus, we discuss another bad day for Manchester United and we dive into the USMNT 2014 vs 2023 debate. --- Reminder: We've partnered up with Manscaped during the month of November! Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code caughtoffside at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod --- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caughtoffsidepod Twitter: https://twitter.com/COsoccerpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtoffsidepod/ Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following Australia's withdrawal to host the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has been left as the sole bidder to stage world football's showpiece event. Matt Slater and Adam Crafton join Ayo Akinwolere to analyse how Saudi Arabia became the only bidder for the tournament, what benefit the Gulf state hosting the tournament brings to FIFA and the impact it could have on the wider football world. Plus the panel debate the discussion around Human Rights, following the scrutiny the Qatar World Cup came under, before debating the impact it could have for the Saudi Pro League over the next 11 years before the tournament is played. Produced by Guy Clarke Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead *** • Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse react to the news that Saudi Arabia will be the lone bid for the 2034 FIFA Men's World Cup. The duo then dives into MLS playoffs as the 2nd leg of games begin. Will SKC finish the job vs. top-seeded St. Louis? MLS star Lionel Messi won his record 8th Ballon d'Or this week, becoming the first active MLS player to take home the award. Alexi and Mosse then preview a stacked soccer weekend abroad including another edition of Der Klassiker, where Gio Reyna and Dortmund host Bayern Munich. In #AskAlexi, the guys rate Halloween costumes of Alexi himself before diving into the USMNT chances in 2026 to hoist the trophy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rog goes live right after the final whistle of the Carabao Cup action to answer your questions. Also, the 2034 Men's World Cup will be played in Saudi Arabia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lionel Messi has won his eighth Ballon d’Or and Guillem Balague gives a behind-the-scenes account of how in Qatar, the Argentinian won the World Cup. Guillem hears from the biggest names in the sport; from Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, former England forward Gary Lineker and ex-Argentina defender, Pablo Zabaleta - who give their unique perspectives on what happened during that tournament. We are taken on a journey – from that shock loss in Argentina’s opening game against Saudi Arabia, to one of the best international finals ever – where Argentina beat France on penalties, fulfilling Lionel Messi’s destiny of winning the World Cup and cementing himself as one of the greatest players of all time

Paris Saint-Germain has officially acknowledged a staggering €300 million ($332 million) offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal for their star forward Kylian Mbappé, as reported by James Robson of the Associated Press. This prospective transfer fee would smash world records if it comes to fruition. According to James Benge of CBS Sports, Al-Hilal is ready to provide Mbappé a colossal €700 million for a single season, effectively granting him the liberty to make a move to Real Madrid the following summer. Anticipation is mounting that the talented Frenchman will find himself in different colors when the 2023-24 season kicks off. Back in June, Mbappé communicated his decision to Paris Saint-Germain, stating he would not be activating the one-year extension in his contract, which paves the way for him to leave as a free agent during the summer transfer window in 2024. Consequently, PSG has conveyed its readiness to entertain offers from potential suitors for his departure now. Saudi clubs are currently caught up in a spending spree, part of a broader effort to enhance the nation's global reputation. Al-Hilal, one of four Saudi Pro League clubs now under the ownership of the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, has already secured the services of top players like Rúben Neves, Sergej Milinković-Savić, and Kalidou Koulibaly. However, even with the mind-boggling sums of money being offered in Saudi Arabia, it may not be sufficient to lure stars like Lionel Messi, as evidenced by a reported $400 million annual offer that failed to seal the deal. There's a growing sense that Kylian Mbappé's career might be hitting a bit of a plateau at Paris Saint-Germain. PSG's dominance in domestic competitions means that Ligue 1 doesn't provide him with the same level of challenges he could encounter elsewhere. Joining Al-Hilal, even if just for one season, would further extend this narrative. Despite the Saudi Pro League's improvements, the level of competition remains below that of Europe's top leagues. With over a month remaining in the summer transfer window, Mbappé's market situation is likely to evolve before he reaches a final decision. The interest from Al-Hilal could potentially motivate Real Madrid to take action and solidify a partnership that has been in the works for over a year. Kylian Mbappe will leave PSG for free! Striker set to give up €80m loyalty bonus and snub new contract offer In a significant development, Kylian Mbappé has once again conveyed to the club that he will not be signing a new contract, despite discussions about an extension earlier this summer, as reported by 90min. Remarkably, he is willing to forgo the €80 million (£69 million/$86 million) loyalty bonus he is entitled to and is determined to leave when his current contract expires next year. This situation marks a continuation of the friction that arose between Mbappé and PSG at the end of the previous season when he initially declined to activate an option for a contract extension by another year. This left PSG facing the prospect of losing him for free in the following year, prompting president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to issue an ultimatum: either extend the contract or be sold in the transfer window. However, no transfer materialized during the summer, and discussions about a new deal commenced. Now, it appears that Mbappé has reverted to his earlier position since the summer transfer window concluded, confirming his intention to move on in 2024.

This morning the joint UK and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028 was confirmed as successful with Turkey joining Italy to host the 2032 tournament. The awarding of the tournaments came soon after FIFA had confirmed six nations across three tournaments would host the 2030 World Cup... and that leaves an inevitable host for the 2034 tournament. Are one nation host tournaments now a thing of the past? How do Suj and James feel about Football Coming Home and the choice of selected venues across the UK and Ireland? Is it now inevitable that Saudi Arabia will get the 2034 World Cup? And could we be moving towards Winter international tournaments? Tomorrow on Planet FPL: Planet SkyFF s5 ep14 with all the latest for Sky Fantasy Football Today on Patreon: Club Facts Quiz hosted by James Davies For the full Planet FPL Schedule this week, including our offering on Patreon view this post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/89442472 Want to become a member of our FPL and SkyFF community and support the Podcast? Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/planetfpl Follow James on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlanetFPLPod Follow Suj on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sujanshah Follow Clayton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/claytsAFC Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PlanetFPL Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetfpl Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetfpl #FIFA #UEFA #Euro2028 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus and Luke were in situ for a special on-location Ramble Reacts last night! Recorded from the beautiful old stands of Craven Cottage, they chew the fat over Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Fulham – a game which Marcus mostly spent hoping that Aleksandar Mitrovic would fly back from Saudi Arabia to get on the end of a Tom Cairney cross. Could Mauricio Pochettino’s lemons finally be sending his team on the right track? Are Fulham in trouble this season as they struggle for both goals AND lemons? And when will Marcus be able to host bingo in the Fulham dressing room for the players post-match? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ste is joined by Chris & Dan to react to Mohamed Salah staying at Liverpool following the transfer deadline closing in Saudi Arabia at 10pm last night. Al-Ittihad reportedly made numerous attempts to sign Salah this summer including suggestions of a world record transfer fee. However, Liverpool stood firm and rejected all offers for Mo Salah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg and Belz interview the living legend about the ongoing and upcoming challenges for the El Salvador men's national team, his early days of playing semi-pro soccer as a teenager in southern California, that 1994 World Cup Round of 16 match against Brazil, playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s, and much more. Patrons (link in the shownotes) can hear him speak for nearly another hour about this current crop of USMNT players, how to get more out of them than we've gotten, why he left USSF, sneaking into the Cuscatlan as a kid and whether he'd take a job with US Soccer in the future. It's a lengthy, fascinating, generous discussion.