Donyell Malen has become the top goal scorer in Europe’s top five football leagues since joining Roma in January. After struggling for goals at Aston Villa, Malen’s scoring and assist numbers have improved significantly at Roma, where he mainly plays as a central striker.
Key Facts
Malen joined Roma on January 18 and since then scored 20 goals in Europe’s top five leagues.
He leads in combined goals and assists with 22, ahead of players like Harry Kane and Bruno Fernandes.
At Aston Villa, he scored 10 goals in 46 games, while at Roma he has 21 goals in 25 matches.
His scoring rate improved from a goal every 149.8 minutes at Villa to every 96.7 minutes at Roma.
Roma uses him almost entirely as a central striker, maximizing his attacking skills.
Other former Premier League players, like Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, have also thrived since moving to Serie A.
Malen’s success is linked to Roma’s playing style and Gasperini’s strategy making him the focal point of their attack.
The improvement shows how players can benefit from a change of league and position.
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Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Ibrahima Konaté covered part of a message supporting Ceuta on their pre-match T-shirts. This caused controversy in Spain and brought attention to issues about migration and Spain’s relationship with Morocco.
Key Facts
Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Konaté are Real Madrid soccer players.
They wore T-shirts with a message showing support for Ceuta, a Spanish city on the border with Morocco.
The players partly covered the message before a match.
Their action led to criticism and debate, especially in Spain.
The controversy relates to migration challenges and a recent migrant crisis in Ceuta.
Politicians and football figures have expressed different opinions about what the players did.
Ceuta is a key point in Spain’s border and migration issues with Morocco.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions around migration and diplomatic relations in the region.
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Real Madrid and several other top European football clubs are interested in signing 15-year-old Manchester United academy player JJ Gabriel, who has asked to leave the club. Manchester United can challenge his request, and the player is currently not training with the club.
Key Facts
JJ Gabriel is a 15-year-old football forward at Manchester United’s academy.
He has formally asked Manchester United to cancel his registration immediately.
Real Madrid is actively trying to sign him and wants to place him in their reserve team, Castilla.
Other clubs interested in Gabriel include Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea.
Manchester United hoped Gabriel would play in a senior match soon, making him the youngest ever for the club.
Gabriel’s age and the club’s care for young players have been highlighted by Manchester United’s head coach Michael Carrick.
Gabriel’s representatives feel United has not kept promises about his path to the first team.
Rules make it complicated for Gabriel to leave immediately, but because he has an EU passport, he may join a European club when he turns 16 on October 6.
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Celtic faces a challenging week with important matches coming up after losing 3-0 to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final. Fans and analysts worry about the team's ability to play well in big games even though they have won most domestic matches this season.
Key Facts
Celtic lost 3-0 to Rangers in a recent cup quarter-final match.
Celtic will play Rangers again in the league after their Europa League game against Ferencvaros.
The team failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, affecting fan confidence.
Manager Martin O’Neill led Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup last season.
Some fans and experts question O’Neill’s team choices after the recent poor performance.
Celtic has started the new season with six straight league wins but some by a small margin.
Supporters want Celtic to improve its performance in European competitions.
Celtic has been dominant in Scottish football but is under pressure to produce better football quality.
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Brian Dubiski, whose daughter Madison died in a crowd crush at a 2021 Travis Scott concert, is organizing the first US college football game in Britain at Wembley Stadium. He now works to improve safety at large events and dedicates his efforts to honoring Madison’s memory.
Key Facts
Madison Dubiski died at age 23 in a crowd crush during a November 2021 Travis Scott concert in Houston.
Ten people died and nearly 5,000 were injured in that crowd incident.
Brian Dubiski is chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Union Jack Classic, which arranged the college football game between Arizona State and Kansas at Wembley.
The game is the first US college football game played in Britain.
Wembley Stadium has adopted new safety protocols introduced by Dubiski since December.
Dubiski played college football at Texas Tech and sees this event as a way to honor Madison.
Madison was a cheerleader, and the game's cheerleaders remind Dubiski of her.
His son Ty survived the tragedy and is working with him on the event.
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Frank Lampard is the manager of Coventry, a team newly promoted to the Premier League. He is facing challenges as the players adjust to a higher level of skill and physical play, and Coventry has lost their first four Premier League games.
Key Facts
Managing a newly promoted team in the Premier League is very tough due to stronger and more physical opponents.
Coventry has lost all four of their Premier League games so far this season.
The gap in quality and physicality between the Championship (second tier) and Premier League seems to be growing each year.
Managers need to prepare carefully for each opponent and focus on both attacking and defending well.
Dealing with losses and staying positive is important for a coach’s leadership.
Lampard’s team has not scored a goal yet in the Premier League this season.
Good defending and keeping clean sheets (not allowing goals) can help teams earn points, sometimes more than scoring goals.
Lampard is advised to manage his time and energy and keep the team motivated despite defeats.
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Savannah DeMelo, a U.S. women’s national soccer player, is suing University of Louisville Health and two doctors for negligence after she had a heart attack during a match last year. She claims the doctors did not properly treat her heart condition, which led to her collapse on the field.
Key Facts
Savannah DeMelo is a midfielder for Racing Louisville and the U.S. women’s national team.
She collapsed during a National Women’s Soccer League match on September 14, 2025, due to a heart attack.
DeMelo filed a lawsuit against University of Louisville Health, Dr. Sarabjeet Suri, and Dr. Jennifer Daily, accusing them of negligence.
Dr. Jennifer Daily is Racing Louisville’s chief medical officer and treated DeMelo from January 2024 to July 2026.
In March 2025, DeMelo was referred to Dr. Suri after reporting chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Six months after treatment, she suffered cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a serious heart rhythm problem.
DeMelo has not played professionally since the heart attack.
She posted on Instagram marking the one-year anniversary of her collapse and described it as a very hard emotional year.
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In 2023, Israel’s under-20 football team achieved historic success by reaching third place in the Under-20 World Cup and beating major teams like Brazil. This young team included players from diverse backgrounds and brought hope for unity in Israeli society, but four months after their success, conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated, resulting in many deaths and ongoing violence.
Key Facts
Israel’s under-20 football team finished third in the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, their best ever performance.
They beat Brazil 3-2 in the quarter-finals and lost narrowly to Uruguay, the eventual champions, in the semi-finals.
An Israeli Arab player, Anan Khalaili, publicly expressed pride in being part of the Israeli team, showcasing unity.
The team drew large Israeli TV audiences and received praise from politicians.
The same group performed well in previous tournaments like the 2022 Under-19 Euros and 2023 Under-20 Euros.
Several players, including Khalaili, have moved to major European clubs or MLS in the USA.
The team was coached to be a tight unit, focusing on teamwork regardless of religious or ethnic differences.
Four months after their success, Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people; Israel responded with a major military offensive in Gaza.
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Saffie Osborne became the first woman to win a British Classic horse race by winning the St Leger at Doncaster. She spoke about overcoming her fear of failure and hopes her win will open more opportunities for female jockeys in the sport.
Key Facts
Saffie Osborne is 24 years old and started as an apprentice jockey in 2020.
She won the St Leger race on her horse Highwayman, becoming the first woman to win a British Classic race.
Only six female jockeys have ridden in British Classics in 250 years, with just 12 rides in total.
Osborne said horse racing is male-dominated but feels her gender does not affect how she is treated in the industry.
She acknowledged the sport can be lonely and physically demanding, including suffering serious falls and broken bones.
Osborne is currently eighth in the Flat Jockeys Championship and aims to become the first female champion jockey.
She credited her agent, Tony Hind, for helping her get important rides and support.
Osborne has not experienced sexism in her career, unlike some other female jockeys who have faced bullying.
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Max Verstappen, a four-time Formula One champion, raced against 100 go-karters at Silverstone, UK. He completed 14 laps in 35 minutes to win the event called ‘Max vs 100.’
Key Facts
Max Verstappen is a four-time Formula One champion.
The event took place at Silverstone in the United Kingdom.
Verstappen raced against 100 go-karters.
The competition was named ‘Max vs 100.’
He finished the race in 14 laps and 35 minutes.
Verstappen overtook all the other racers to win.
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Washington Capitals hockey player Alex Ovechkin appeared in a campaign video supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s party. The team said Ovechkin was asked by his country to participate, and he continues to focus on playing hockey and his role in the community.
Key Facts
Alex Ovechkin is a star player for the Washington Capitals in the NHL.
He appeared in a campaign video for Putin’s United Russia party before Russia’s elections.
The Capitals said Ovechkin was asked by his country to take part in the video during a visit to Russia.
Ovechkin has publicly supported Putin since 2017 and founded the “PutinTeam” social movement.
He asked for “no more war” after Russia invaded Ukraine but said he is not involved in politics.
Some fans protested, asking Ovechkin to remove Putin photos from his social media.
Ovechkin signed a $4.25 million contract to play another season with the Capitals.
He holds the NHL record with 929 goals in 1,573 games.
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Manchester United lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup after leading 2-0, marking their first home loss from such a lead in 50 years. The team and manager Michael Carrick faced criticism from fans, but Carrick said he was not bothered by pressure and focused on improving results.
Key Facts
Manchester United lost at home to Brighton after being 2-0 up, a rare event not seen in 50 years.
Fans were unhappy and showed their frustration by leaving early and booing the players.
Michael Carrick, the manager, said he does not feel pressured and cares most about winning games.
Shea Lacey scored in his first senior start, the first teenager to do so for United since 2016.
The defense struggled, showing problems partly linked to inexperience and recent squad changes.
Marcus Rashford had chances to score but was stopped by the Brighton goalkeeper.
Brighton's coach said his team deserved to win because they controlled the game as it went on.
Manchester United’s recent results have been poor, with only two wins and three losses this season so far.
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Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and director Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the football club to the main owner, Clearlake Capital, giving Clearlake full control. Boehly will step down as chairman, and the club says daily operations and strategy will continue as usual.
Key Facts
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter each owned 12.8% of Chelsea and have sold their shares to Clearlake Capital.
Clearlake Capital already owned 61.5% of Chelsea and now has full ownership.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss also sold his 12.8% stake in the club.
Boehly bought the club in 2022 with others for £2.3 billion from Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 over alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he denies.
Chelsea’s best Premier League result under this ownership was fourth place in 2024-25.
The club won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2024-25.
Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in summer 2026.
Plans for a new or redeveloped Stamford Bridge stadium have caused some disagreements among owners.
Clearlake says there will be no change in club leadership or daily management after the ownership change.
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People are guessing which artist will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. ESPN writer Justin Tinsley shares his rankings and explains how the performers are chosen.
Key Facts
The article talks about guesses around who will perform at the Super Bowl halftime.
Justin Tinsley, a writer for ESPN, gives his list of top choices for performers.
Tinsley also explains the process behind selecting the halftime show artists.
The Super Bowl halftime show is a big entertainment event during the football game.
This event usually features popular music artists.
The article was published on September 16, 2026.
The content includes some ESPN coverage and mentions other news briefly but focuses mainly on the halftime show speculation.
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Fleetwood Town, a League Two team, will play against Arsenal, the Premier League champions, in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Other matches include Manchester City possibly hosting Brighton and a game between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Key Facts
Fleetwood Town reached the fourth round for the first time by winning 1-0 against Sheffield United.
Fleetwood will host Arsenal in the next round.
Arsenal beat Ipswich Town 4-2 to advance.
Manchester City will play Brighton at home if they beat Norwich City.
Liverpool and Chelsea, both Premier League teams, will face each other.
Other matches include Bradford vs. Peterborough and Everton vs. Newcastle.
The matches will happen during the week starting October 26.
The Carabao Cup is also called the EFL Cup and is an English football knockout competition.
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Manchester United lost 3-2 to Brighton in the League Cup, after leading 2-0 early in the match. This loss follows a recent defeat against Manchester City and adds pressure on United’s manager, Michael Carrick. Brighton scored three unanswered goals in the second half to win the match.
Key Facts
Manchester United led 2-0 within the first 10 minutes with goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.
Brighton came back to win 3-2 with goals from Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross, and Maxim De Cuyper.
This defeat marks Manchester United’s second straight home loss and early exit from the League Cup.
Manchester United’s recent form is poor, with only one win in their first four Premier League games this season.
Referees admitted a VAR (video assistant referee) error allowed Manchester City’s winning goal in a recent match against United.
Michael Carrick, now permanent manager, faces pressure to improve results quickly.
Carrick made eight changes to the team for this game, which exposed a lack of squad depth.
Brighton has knocked Manchester United out of two cup competitions within nine months.
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Hibernian Football Club has fired David Gray as head coach after a poor start to the season with just six points from six league games. Gray, who had previously led the team to European competition and notable wins, departed following a series of disappointing results and performances.
Key Facts
David Gray was sacked six league games into his third season as Hibernian's head coach.
Gray played for Hibs for twelve years before becoming their manager.
He was the first Hibs manager since the 1970s to qualify for European football two years in a row.
Gray achieved wins at Ibrox (Rangers' stadium) in three straight seasons and at Celtic Park last season.
The team had six consecutive home league defeats, a record low since 1920.
Hibs are ninth in the league with six points from six games at the time of his dismissal.
Poor style of play and lack of energy contributed to his sacking.
Club leadership, including the chairman and sporting director, are likely to be involved in hiring a new manager.
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Cavan Sullivan, a 16-year-old midfielder for the Philadelphia Union, is expected to join the United States men’s national soccer team for the first time. He may play in friendly games against Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Canada this fall.
Key Facts
Cavan Sullivan turned professional at age 14.
He has scored six goals and made eight assists since MLS resumed after the World Cup.
The US team’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, will announce the roster soon.
If Sullivan plays, he will be the second-youngest player to appear for the US national team.
Freddy Adu is the youngest player to debut for the US, debuting at a slightly younger age.
Sullivan is the youngest player ever to play in a major North American professional sport.
Sullivan signed with the Philadelphia Union in May 2024.
His contract includes a possible move to Manchester City when he turns 18.
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is one of the victims in a $35 million Ponzi scheme run by Siddharth Jawahar, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Jawahar used investors' money improperly, lied about profits, and paid back old investors with new investors' money.
Key Facts
Siddharth Jawahar ran Swiftarc Capital LLC, a Texas-based investment firm that started taking money from investors in 2015.
Jawahar pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and was ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution.
Jawahar invested only about $10 million of over $35 million received, hiding losses from investors.
Jawahar used the money for a lavish lifestyle, including private jets and luxury living.
Travis Kelce was named as a victim but it is unclear how much or when he invested.
Other athletes, including NBA players Gary Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Mason Plumlee, were also connected to Jawahar’s investment funds.
Kelce recently signed a contract extension with the Chiefs and his career earnings exceed $111 million.
Kelce married singer Taylor Swift in July, who has a net worth of $2.1 billion.
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Colin Kaepernick accused NFL owners of working together to block rapper Macklemore from performing on Ed Sheeran’s tour because of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine comments. NFL owners, including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, denied Macklemore access to stadiums, leading to his removal from the tour, a situation Kaepernick compares to his own NFL career ending after protesting police violence.
Key Facts
Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour after speaking in support of Palestine during a concert.
Robert Kraft and other NFL stadium owners refused to host Macklemore due to his statements.
All four supporting acts for Sheeran’s upcoming tour dates have withdrawn in support of Macklemore.
Colin Kaepernick says NFL owners are colluding, or working together, to punish Macklemore as they did to him.
Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality and social injustice.
Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since the 2016 season and settled a grievance against the NFL in 2019.
Kraft said Macklemore’s ban was because of “recent actions” and a history of antisemitic comments they found offensive.
NBA player Kyrie Irving plans to pay a fine given to Azeez Al-Shair for showing support for Palestine during an NFL game.
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