This and more from the happenings in the world of football
A summary of Friday's Euro 2020 qualifying matches.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Argentinean ace striker Lionel Messi has emerged the favourite among the England fans who want to see the Barcelona superstar in action, despite their team trying to end their 44 years World Cup drought.
And what an exciting week it has been, with players returning to packed stadiums, some memorable individual and team performances and a medical incident which had the world on edge.
India began the year on 97 in FIFA rankings, but after two wins, four draws and seven losses, the country ended 2019 at 108
Europe is preparing for UEFA's first full-blown 'week of football' as the marathon Euro 2016 qualifying competition gets into full swing - although it promises to be a distinctly underwhelming experience.
A true legend of the game who paved the way and taught so many of us how to be as a player and as a person.
Brazil lived up to expectations by smashing Bolivia 5-1 at home in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers opener on Friday.
European champions Portugal comfortably dispatched New Zealand 4-0 to reach the Confederations Cup semi-finals on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo set them on their way with a penalty.
Figo, who retired from playing for Portugal after Euro 2004, has been called up for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on June 4.
Thirty-two teams that qualified for the 2006 Football World Cup Finals in Germany were on Friday drawn into eight groups.
Manchester City must rebuild for title challenge: Guardiola
Midfielder Andre broke the deadlock for the Euro 2016 finalists in difficult, wet conditions just after the half hour and Nani, celebrating his 29th birthday, scored direct from a free kick in the 89th minute.
Images from football friendlies played on Wednesday.
Portugal detected 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Monday, all involving players and staff of top division soccer club Belenenses SAD, one of whose players recently returned from South Africa, health authority DGS said.
Iceland will head into their maiden appearance in a major tournament devoid of stage fright, their coach Lars Lagerback and key players said ahead of Tuesday's Euro 2016 Group F clash with Portugal in St Etienne.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a 2-1/2 year contract.
Sunil Chhetri's late goal earned India the 1-0 victory over Nepal in the SAFF Championship, at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives, on Sunday. The victory took India to third in the group standings with five points, just a behind Maldives and Nepal, both of whom have six points each.
All you must know about soccer's return to action after coronavirus
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.
Inaki and Nico Williams encounter contrasting fortunes at the World Cup.
Iran became the first team to arrive in Russia for the World Cup on Tuesday, nine days before the opening match of the June 14 to July 15 tournament.
Coach Santos said after the Morocco loss that he does not regret leaving Ronaldo on the bench and repeatedly explained that his decisions were tactical, raising questions about whether Ronaldo's brilliant career is nearing a bitter end.
Wasteful Portugal were held to a 1-1 home draw by Serbia after their captain and top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo limped off with an apparent hamstring injury in the first half of their Euro 2020 Group B qualifier on Monday.
In his fifth World Cup, Ronaldo will arrive captaining a team of standout players who are widely seen as among the world's best but who have arguably underachieved on the biggest stage.
China can challenge for World Cup glory by 2026 , says Eriksson.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
India jumped six places to 141 in the latest world football rankings issued by the game's governing body, FIFA, on Thursday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet again left the competition behind as the five-time Ballon D'Or winner was named Instagram's top earner for the third year in a row.
The Indian football team beat Recreativo Agueda to register its first victory, after a draw, on its tour of Portugal.
Booted out by his beloved Manchester United, suspended by the Football Association and deemed over the hill by many, Cristiano Ronaldo answered everything in the best possible fashion with another record-breaking display on Thursday.
US women's team goalkeeper Hope Solo accused former FIFA president Sepp Blatter of sexual harassment, claiming the veteran administrator touched her inappropriately during an event three years back.
The stadiums at Qatar offer plenty of wisdom and chutzpah on how to take our own lives forward.
FIFA tweeted a picture of the cutouts, saying 'World Cup fever has hit Kerala'.
The World Cup began with 32 teams competing in a group stage, with teams divided into eight groups of four.
