Jude Bellingham has become one of the most sought-after signatures in football
With immense pressure on him to match the late great Diego Maradona and send the trophy back to Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi has lit up the Qatar tournament while others in the superstar stratum - Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo - have underwhelmed and gone home.
Ace midfielder David Beckham has raked in a whopping 10.7 million last year in sponsorship deals, doubling his payout from the previous 12 months.
England, who are gunning for their second World Cup title, have the most valuable squad in Qatar with Jude Bellingham topping a list of over 800 players.
Sunil Chhetri became the 8th top scorer in international football after equalling Brazil legend Pele's goal tally.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Valverde said he was concerned about the team's away form after they were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by promoted Granada
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.
Cristiano Ronaldo hailed Pele after he surpassed the Brazilian great's goal-scoring haul
Sunil Chhetri equalled the iconic Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike as an inspired India blanked Nepal 3-0 for their eighth SAFF Championship title, in Male, on Saturday. India extended their domination in the regional tournament thanks to second half goals from Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th).
'This is very special because of how much I suffered. My statistics show I've won five league titles in seven years.'
'In the Mahabharat, when faced by an enemy, Yudhishtir, the eldest Pandav, had quipped that 'When it comes to external enemies, we are 105, (100 Kauravs and 5 Pandavs)'.' 'It is time modern politicians heed this ancient wisdom,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Here is what you need to know about their route to the final
Arsenal has scored 10 goals in 11 league games this season to find themselves 15th in the Premier League
If statistics and a study is anything to by, then Spain look set to defend their World Cup crown. Yes, you read that right!
Lionel Messi's penalty earned Argentina a 2-1 win over Croatia after a fortunate equaliser that stood despite an unintentional handball by Sergio Aguero in a friendly at West Ham United's Upton Park ground on Wednesday.
'This World Cup is likely to be much more a clash of plans than of talent,' says Devangshu Datta.
'The death toll in the UK is anything between 33,000 and 38,000. That's filling our stadium and then filling it half again. It's a sobering thought.'
Ronaldo's career tally includes goals for four top-flight clubs
Sarri unmoved as Chelsea capitulation harms top-four hopes
Atanu Biswas explains the economics behind hosting a Games in pandemic times.
Gerard Moreno -- who scored against Manchester United before the Europa League final in Gdansk went to penalties -- rescued Unai Emery's side in the 73rd with a side-foot finish after a back-heel from Boulaye Dia.
The 43-year-old from the small sub-tropical province of Misiones will become the second referee after compatriot Horacio Elizondo to officiate at both the opening match and final after being picked for Sunday's match between France and Croatia.
'Everyone wants to get involved when there is success.' 'But what about guaranteeing it?' 'Making sure girls have the opportunity to succeed all the time?'
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The three sides who have bossed the ball the most in Russia, Spain, Germany and Argentina have all said "do-svidaniya" before the quarter-finals.
It's time for the 'sleeping giant' to wake up from its slumber as the King of football Pele will grace India in October, adding to the festive mood in the country that hosted him 38 years ago.
Brazil Under-17 football team coach Carlos Amadeu wants to reclaim the FIFA U-17 World Cup title after a hiatus of 14 years at the majestic Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata, on October 28.
Friendships are not merely severed, but built over scuffles. And just about anything can stir things up -- a long-standing feud, a pointless stare, a disrupted moral stance, a fist that ricochets off a face and smacks another face in the near vicinity, observes Sreehari Nair.
Tottenham Hotspur's success in claiming a top-four Premier League finish on Wednesday to guarantee Champions League football next season has been a "massive achievement", manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
Two defeats and one last-gasp victory in the group stage meant an embarrassed Germany made their earliest World Cup exit in 80 years on Wednesday.
Arsenal and Barcelona each got a taste of their own medicine on Wednesday but it was the Londoners who recovered from what looked a terminal condition to register a remarkable 2-1 comeback win in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
Ronaldo has scored 46 goals in 70 full internationals and needs exactly 50 more to beat Pele's total of 95.
Get into the FIFA groove with your phone Games, apps, score updates, statistics...there's something for everyone in the digital world around the World Cup.
Riding high on NorthEast United FC's home win against Kerela Blasters, team co-owner John Abraham said that his team will put up a strong fight in his side's next Indian Super League match against Atletico de Kolkata.
The newly-launched All Sports Magazine promises to provide innovative coverage and analysis of both international and Indian sport.
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku defended Jose Mourinho's confrontational style of management, saying that the Portuguese deserves respect for not hiding his true feelings like several Premier League bosses.
Soccer's rule makers are considering a tennis tiebreak-type system to make penalty shootouts fairer.
Five talking points from the Premier League weekend:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes their 3-1 victory over Hamburg SV in Europe will put an end to a costly Premier League jinx at their new Emirates Stadium.
