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      Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid shirt No1 in list of European sales with shock Man Utd star cracking top 10

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      REAL MADRID superstar Jude Bellingham topped the list of most shirts sold across Europe last month.Bellingham has set the world alight since his £115million move to Real in the summer made him the most expensive British player of all time.
      Bellingham has set the world alight at Real ever since his record move
      The midfielder has since been dominating with Los Blancos where he has already registered a staggering 13 goals and three assists in 13 matches across all competitions.
      That saw him win this year’s Kopa trophy in the Ballon d’Or awards, marking the 20-year-old out as the best young player of the year.
      The England international is also dominating off the pitch.
      According to Fanatics, no one has sold more shirts than Bellingham across the entire continent in October.
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      In fact, the ex-Birmingham star tops the Top 10 list, which includes a shock addition from Manchester United.
      Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who led Pep Guardiola’s team to a stunning Treble last season and has already registered a whopping 13 goals and three assists in 16 matches, comes second.
      Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe is third despite the fact his contract with the club runs out in June and there is absolutely no indication he will renew as he eyes a move to join Bellingham at Real.
      United’s Marcus Rashford follows in fourth place despite his slow start this season as he stood out last term with an impressive 30 goals and 11 assists in 56 appearances.
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      Son Heung-min is fifth as he makes all Tottenham fans forget about Harry Kane with eight goals in 11 matches so far.
      Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is sixth despite his strong links with a move to Saudi Arabia in the near future, with Al-Ittihad still keeping tabs.
      Kevin De Bruyne is seventh after a fantastic season with City, which shows how much fans are looking forward to his return from a hamstring injury.
      But the most shocking addition comes in eighth place and it’s none other than United ace Alejandro Garnacho.
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      Garnacho has yet to register a goal in the Premier League or Champions League this season.
      But the winger is still considered a star in the making by many and it seems like there is a lot of faith in him as fans are literally investing in him.
      The Argentina international finishes above stars like Bukayo Saka from Arsenal and Vinicius Junior from Real, who finish ninth and 10th respectively.
      Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham sold more shirts than anyone in Europe last month
      Manchester United ace Alejandro Garnacho is eighth in the list of most shirts sold More

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      Lionel Messi reveals favourite of his incredible 850 goals where he dribbles past half the opposition in a huge game

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      LIONEL MESSI has singled out his favourite goal from nearly 850.The Argentina legend, 36, is arguably the greatest footballer of all time.
      Lionel Messi revealed the favourite goal of his illustrious careerCredit: Twitter @FlorentTorchut
      And his goalscoring record since bursting on to the scene as a teenager at Barcelona is simply remarkable.
      He managed an incredible 672 strikes for Barcelona then added 32 for Paris Saint-Germain and has 11 in 14 for Inter Miami.
      On top of those 726, Messi also boasts another 106 for the Argentina senior team – and 16 for the Under-20s and U23s combined.
      That includes goals in the biggest matches such as Champions League and World Cup finals.
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      And his ridiculous highlight reels of countless individual strikes include seven nominations for the Puskas Award, given to the best goal of the year across all football.
      Now, though, Messi has revealed the one that sticks out above the rest from the 848.
      And it is his superb solo effort against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the 2011 Champions League semi-final.
      Speaking after winning his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or, Messi told Florent Torchut of France Football: “Well, I always say that special goals are the important thing.
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      “To have scored in the Champions League final, to have scored now in the final of the World Cup… I don’t know.
      “A goal that I always remember and I don’t go much for the goal and for what the goals mean, it’s the goal against Real Madrid, which we beat 2-0 in that Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.
      “I think the most significant goals are always the most important ones.
      “But for one I would stick with one of those.”

      That goal in the Bernabeu saw the then-Barca superstar pick up the ball just inside the Real half.
      He played a neat one-two with Sergio Busquets then breezed past midfielders Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diara.
      Messi left Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in his wake with his mindboggling dribbling before squeezing a right-foot finish across Iker Casillas and into the bottom corner.
      The Barcelona record goalscorer grabbed both goals on the night to set up a 2-0 first-leg lead, with a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp enough to see Pep Guardiola’s side through to the Champions League final.
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      He was on target at Wembley with Pedro and David Villa also finding the net as Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1.
      Messi also scored in the 2009 final win before beating Hugo Lloris twice in last year’s World Cup final victory – once from the penalty spot and then bundling home from close range in extra-time.
      Messi dribbed last the Real Madrid defenders before tucking into the cornerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The goal helped fire Barcelona towards the 2011 Champions League finalCredit: Reuters
      Messi collected his eighth Ballon d’Or after leading Argentina to World Cup gloryCredit: Getty More

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      Aston Villa warned Unai Emery set to receive ‘Champions League offer he can’t refuse’ by Jamie Carragher

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      ASTON VILLA have been warned that boss Unai Emery will get “an offer he can’t refuse” from a major Champions League club.Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher urged the high-riding Villans to “cherish” the Spaniard while they still can.
      The only way is up for Unai Emery, according to Jamie CarragherCredit: Rex
      The pundit pointed out “only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have won more Premier League points” since Emery took charge of the Midlanders in November 2022.
      Carragher also reckons the ex-Villarreal chief will feel he has “unfinished business at the top level” after so-so spells with PSG and the Gunners.
      And the ex-England star believes the 52-year-old is already on the “wanted list” of elite teams.
      Carra, 45, wrote in The Telegraph: “Aston Villa should cherish Unai Emery while they can. 
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      “It is a matter of time before an established Champions League club makes him an offer he can’t refuse.
      “Owners and sporting directors can see the quality and impact of Emery’s work at Villa Park and he will be on their wanted lists.
      “Emery’s excellence is good news for Villa and bad news for underperforming managers. 
      “Clubs will look at his example and realise one of the biggest myths in football is ‘there is no quick fix’ or ‘you cannot just wave a magic wand’.
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      “Actually, with top managers there is and you can.”
      Emery won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once at Villarreal, also guiding PSG to a single Ligue 1 crown. More

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      My dad won the Champions League and is a Premier League icon – now I’m climbing the ranks in League Two

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      THE pressure to make it as a professional footballer is always high when you’re an academy kid. But it’s even higher when your dad is a Champions League winner with over 41 international caps for his country.
      Djibril Cisse has paved the way for his son to make it as a footballerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Cassius Clay Cisse (L) is following his dad as a professional playerCredit: Instagram
      Cassius Clay Cisse is on a mission to follow in his dad Djibril Cisse’s footsteps as he pursues his budding career in football.
      Djibril is a Premier League icon who was well known for his elaborate hairstyles and his unique playing style.
      The 42-year-old made 110 Premier League appearances and finished his career with an FA Cup and a Champions League trophy from his days with Liverpool.
      But after hanging up his boots in 2021 it’s now the turn of his son Cassius to take the footballing world by storm.
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      The 17-year-old wing-back is currently on the books at Notts County in League Two after signing his first contract in July of this year.
      And he’s previously represented Wales at youth level too with his mother, Jude Littler, heralding from the British nation.
      But there’s big shoes to fill in terms of international football for Cassius with his dad’s impressive record for France.
      Djibril represented Les Bleus at the 2002 World Cup and was also a part of their 2003 Confederations Cup winning side.
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      If Cassius’ career continues on an upwards trajectory he will have the option to represent Wales, France, England or even the Ivory Coast.
      With even more family connections in football his late grandfather, Mangue Cisse, once captained the nation.
      And it would seem as if the sport is still running through the Cisse blood with Cassius’ little brother Prince Kobe also an aspiring player.
      The 15-year-old is currently a part of the Liverpool academy and has represented Wales at U15 level.

      Cassius has been working alongside former Tottenham player Pascal ChimbondaCredit: Instagram More

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      Mbappe ‘starts football’s next big rivalry’ at Ballon d’Or awards with fans excited for new ‘Messi-Ronaldo affair’

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      FANS are convinced that Kylian Mbappe has started football’s next big rivalry after his reaction to Erling Haaland collecting an award.The French star was beaten by the Norweigan to the Gerd Muller Trophy which was presented during the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
      Kylian Mbappe looked less than impressed as Erling Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy
      Erling Haaland earned the award for his 56 goals last seasonCredit: EPA
      Mbappe, 24, missed out on the heralded accolade after Haaland’s prolific debut for Manchester City.
      The striker netted an outstanding 56 goals for club and country last season which saw him outscore every striker in Europe, including Mbappe.
      Mbappe was only two goals short of the former Borussia Dortmund man as he also enjoyed an impressive season with PSG and France.
      However as Haaland, 23, went up to collect his award from Gary Lineker, Mbappe looked less than impressed as he gave his rival a slow clap.
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      Fans spotted the moment on social media as they claimed that the next big rivalry in football is here.
      One fan posted: “Moving like he was forced to clap.”
      A second commented: “The rivalry has already begun. The next few years will be worthwhile.”
      A third wrote: “Very bored dad at recital vibes.”
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      A fourth said: “‘It’s about to be a Ronaldo-Messi affair between those two. There’s Bellingham there too. Mbappe should leave PSG if he really wants that award.”
      Other fans joked that Mbappe was upset that Haaland took his sport as the cover star of EA Sports’ EA FC 24 computer game.
      One fan joked: “Looks like he didn’t take Haaland nabbing his EA cover star well.”
      Another added: “Jealousy is a terrible thing.”
      The pair’s potential rivalry will follow the competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
      That debate was surely ended during the ceremony as Messi was handed his eighth Ballon d’Or award.
      Mbappe’s night got worse as he was left alone on his row as the surrounding Manchester City stars were awarded the prize for the best men’s team.
      On winning the Gerd Muller award, Haaland said: “It’s a huge honour to receive the Gerd Muller Trophy.  
      “I couldn’t have scored the number of goals I did last season without all of my teammates and this award is another reminder of the incredible year we all enjoyed together. 
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      “We work hard every day to win every game and every competition we play in, but to not only lift the first Champions League in this Club’s history but also the Premier League and FA Cup is something none of us could have imagined. 
      “I’m proud of what we achieved as a team last season, but our focus now is on trying to do it all again this year.” More

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      European giants CANCEL Goal of the Month competition and sack boss as ruthless fans call it ‘the Chelsea special’

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      BASEL have cancelled their Goal of the Month awards as the team has failed to hit the back of the net throughout the entirety of October.The Swiss giants have been enduring a disastrous season that has seen them drop to the bottom of the Swiss Super League table.
      Basel had to cancel their Goal of the Month awards amid a disastrous seasonCredit: 2023 UEFA
      The once Champions League regulars have only won one out of 11 league matches and have lost a staggering eight long the way.
      To make matters worse, the 20-time Swiss champions haven’t scored a single goal this entire month.
      Last season’s Europa Conference League semi-finalists have instead conceded a whopping 10 across their four matches this month.
      Basel tweeted: “No goals in October = No goal of the month.”
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      That tweet sparked some intense reaction from the club’s fans but there were also some rival supporters who found the opportunity to poke some fun.
      In fact, some of them even saw similarities with Chelsea’s turbulent season.
      The Blues are still languishing in 11th place in the Premier League table.
      And the West Londoners almost went the entirety of September without a goal until their 1-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup just four days before October began.
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      One fan tweeted: “The Chelsea special.”
      Another commented: “Sometimes you want to be San Marino.”
      A third posted: “Feels bad.”
      This fan wrote: “Could run Goal of the Month with goals from the youth and women’s teams.”
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      And that one stated: “What a shame. The saddest tweet I have ever seen.”
      Basel are trying to shake things up by hiring their third manager of the season with Fabio Celestini replacing Heiko Vogel.
      Vogel was on his third stint in the dugout after replacing Timo Schultz last month.
      Basel announced: “Due to the worsening sporting crisis in the first team, FC Basel 1893 has decided to part ways with head coach Heiko Vogel.
      “With a contract until the end of the season, Fabio Celestini will take over management of the team immediately. He is assisted by the existing coaching staff.” More

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      Peter Crouch slams ex-boss for tactical blunder in 2007 Champions League final and reveals how Liverpool could have won

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      PETER CROUCH has slammed Rafa Benitez for dropping him for the Champions League final in 2007.Liverpool faced AC Milan in Athens – a repeat of the famous final two years earlier in Istanbul.
      Peter Crouch did not start the 2007 Champions League finalCredit: 2007 Etsuo Hara
      He claimed that Liverpool would have won if he had played from the startCredit: 2007 AFP
      Crouch has dugout out Rafael Benitez for not starting himCredit: PA:Press Association
      This time round the Italian giants came out on top, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Filippo Inzaghi, with Dirk Kuyt replying for the Reds.
      Crouch, 42, only came on as sub as manager Benitez made the controversial call not to start a recognised striker, also leaving out Craig Bellamy.
      Crouch had impressed during the Champions League campaign, having scored seven goals in 14 appearances in the competition and started the majority of games.
      The former England international believes that if he had started Liverpool would have won, and also aimed a subtle dig at Benitez.
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      Speaking to Paddy Power as the star of their ‘Life with More Chances’ TV ad, Crouch said: “If I could change any moment in my life, it would probably be a football-related one.
      “There will always be the games that got away in any footballer’s career, but for me it was the Champions League Final in 2007 with Liverpool against AC Milan.
      “If I could replay one game, it would probably be that because we lost.
      “I’d be sitting in front of you today as a Champions League winner instead of a Champions League finalist.
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      “I played every game up until the final, and then I didn’t start. So, I’d start the game and we’d have won the game.
      “That is what I would change.”
      Liverpool made a change to their options up front in the following transfer window as Bellamy was sold to West Ham.
      This allowed Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres to be brought to Anfield.
      And Crouch left Liverpool for Portsmouth in the summer of 2008. More

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      Ballon d’Or shortlist in full ahead of glitzy ceremony with Man Utd’s Andre Onana among 11 Premier League stars

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      THE BALLON D’OR ceremony takes place in Paris tonight, with Lionel Messi the hot favourite to take home his eighth gong.The Argentine, 36, is set to be crowned the greatest player on the planet after leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
      Lionel Messi is favourite to win an eighth Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
      Messi already leads the way as the player who’s won the award most with seven Ballon d’Ors to his name – two more than his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The lavish ceremony will take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris from 6pm on Monday night, with football’s biggest names also attending.
      Messi will be joined by Erling Haaland, the second favourite to pick up the award after his 51 goals last season for Manchester City, alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe.
      Haaland is one of six Manchester City players to make up the 30-man list alongside Josko Gvardiol, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Julian Alvarez.
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      Other Premier League nominees include Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.
      Men’s Ballon D’or nominees

      Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig and Manchester City)
      Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
      Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and Al-Ittihad)
      Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
      Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
      Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
      Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-Germain)
      Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid)
      Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
      Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
      Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
      Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
      Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
      Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
      Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
      Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
      Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City and Barcelona)
      Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)
      Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
      Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
      Rodrigo (Manchester City)
      Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami)
      Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
      Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
      Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
      Kim Min-jae (Napoli and Bayern Munich)
      Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
      Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-German)
      Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
      Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich)

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      There is also a separate award for goalkeepers under the Yashin trophy and Premier League nominee’s include Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Manchester City’s Ederson.
      Yashin award nominees

      Brice Samba (Lens)
      Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb and Fenerbahce)
      Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
      Andre Onana (Inter Milan and Manchester United)
      Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
      Ederson (Manchester City)
      Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona)
      Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
      Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
      Yassine Bounou (Sevilla and Al-Hilal)

      Real Madrid and England superstar Jude Bellingham is the hot favourite to take home the Kopa Trophy, the award for the best player under the age of 21.
      Kopa Trophy Nominees

      Xavi (RB Leipzig / PSV Eindhoven)
      Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern)
      Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund / Real Madrid)
      Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona)
      Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
      Gavi (FC Barcelona)
      Rasmus Höjlund (Atalanta / Manchester United)
      Pedri (FC Barcelona)
      Antonio Silva (Benfica)
      Elye Wahi (HSC Montpellier / RC Lens)

      England stars Millie Bright, Rachel Daly and Mary Earps are all nominated for the women’s award, which was won by Barcelona star Alexia Putellas last year.
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      Daphne Van Domselaar (Twente and Aston Villa)
      Lena Oberdorf (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai)
      Millie Bright (Chelsea)
      Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
      Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
      Hayley Raso (Manchester City and Real Madrid)
      Amanda Ilestedt (Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal)
      Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich)
      Olga Carmona (Real Madrid)
      Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona)
      Rachel Daly (Aston Villa)
      Alba Redondo (Levante)
      Lina Caicedo (Real Madrid)
      Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais)
      Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona)
      Ewa Pajor (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Guro Reiten (Chelsea)
      Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
      Debinha (North Carlina Courage and Kansas City Current)
      Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
      Alexandra Popp (Vfl Wolfsburg)
      Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
      Jill Roord (Vfl Wolfsburg and Manchester City)
      Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
      Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)
      Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
      Mary Earps (Manchester United)
      Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw (Manchester City)
      Mapi Leon (Barcelona) More