1:09 PM ET Lionel Messi will not make his Paris Saint-Germain debut on Friday against Brest, sources have told ESPN’s Julien Laurens, and instead will aim for next week’s match against Reims. The 34-year-old Messi is yet to feature for the French giants after joining them from Barcelona earlier this month, although he was presented
Football
3:13 PM ET Arsenal forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette missed last week’s defeat by Brentford due to positive COVID-19 tests, the Premier League side confirmed on Thursday. – ESPN+ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more (U.S.)– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access While Aubameyang has
12:24 PM ET A revamped CONCACAF W Championship and a Women’s Gold Cup are the two new women’s soccer competitions CONCACAF will add to increase the frequency of matches for teams throughout the confederation. The W Championship, to be held in 2022, will be a qualifier for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the
9:15 AM ET Social media is a boon for athletes because it allows them to speak directly to the world. No filters, no club press officers, no sponsor PR reps, no misquotes. Just their voice, with their chosen words and the opportunity to clarify and rectify. Somebody probably should have told Cristiano Ronaldo’s social media
10:00 AM ET Austin LindbergESPN FC First it was Tanner Tessmann. Then it was Sam Vines. Now it’s Gianluca Busio. Three homegrown players from Major League Soccer (two of whom, Tessmann and Busio, are teenagers) are leaving their clubs midseason for the brighter lights of European football. Tessmann and Busio are moving to Venezia FC,
7:31 AM ET Former captain of the Afghan women’s football team Khalida Popal has urged players to delete social media, erase public identities and burn their kits for safety’s sake now that the country is again under Taliban rule. Copenhagen-based Popal told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday that the militants had killed, raped
8:13 AM ET Pedro in action for Roma before making the switch to Lazio. Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images Pedro has become the first player to move directly between Roma and Lazio in 36 years after he signed for the Biancocelesti on Thursday. The 2010 World Cup-winner only joined Roma in 2020 and signed a three-year contract but
6:53 AM ET Associated Press Teenager Olivia Moultrie, who successfully challenged NWSL age restrictions, scored her first goal on Wednesday night to help the Portland Thorns advance to the WICC final. Craig Mitchelldyer/ISI Photos/Getty Images Fifteen-year-old Olivia Moultrie scored her first professional goal on a free kick and the Portland Thorns went on to defeat the
7:00 AM ET Manchester United great Denis Law has been dianosed with dementia. Photo by PA Images via Getty Images Manchester United legend and former Ballon d’Or-winner Denis Law has been diagnosed with dementia, it was announced on Thursday. The 81-year-old won two league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup during his 11-year spell
4:49 AM ET Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock said he considered quitting social media due to racist abuse and called on platforms to do more to combat the problem. The 21-year-old, who completed a £25 million move from Arsenal last week, said he receives “disgusting” messages on a daily basis. – Hislop: Football is ideal