Brentford striker Igor Thiago has received his maiden senior call-up for Brazil ahead of their March friendlies in the United States, while Chelsea winger Estevao has been omitted.
The uncapped forward is enjoying a phenomenal campaign under manager Keith Andrews.
He has scored 19 goals in 30 league appearances so far this season.
That impressive tally leaves the frontman second only to Erling Haaland in the scoring charts.
His remarkable domestic form recently earned the goalscorer a lucrative contract extension last month.
Estevao and Neymar miss out
Carlo Ancelotti has opted to leave several high-profile names out of his latest Selecao squad.
Chelsea’s Estevao misses the cut having only recently returned to fitness following a hamstring injury.
Veteran attacker Neymar is also a notable absentee from the travelling party.
The former Paris St-Germain star has struggled for both form and fitness since undergoing major knee surgery in December.
An experimental squad for March friendlies
This upcoming international break represents the final training camp before the summer’s World Cup.
The five-time world champions will face France and Croatia in two exhibition matches across the Atlantic.
Despite lacking any prior experience in the national youth setup, the in-form Brentford talisman will hope to make his international debut.
He is joined by Bournemouth’s Rayan, Flamengo defender Leo Pereira and Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara, who are all seeking their first caps.
Endrick returns alongside Premier League contingent
Lyon loanee Endrick has earned a recall following a resurgence in French football.
The 21-year-old initially struggled after joining Real Madrid in 2024, but has since netted six times in 12 outings for his new club.
A strong Premier League contingent remains involved, with Chelsea duo Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro making the trip.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will provide vital experience to the ranks.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli completes the English-based selections, though the winger faces stiff competition from Vinicius Jr for a starting berth.
England manager Thomas Tuchel will announce his squad on Friday for the upcoming World Cup warm-up friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley.
The announcement, scheduled for 10:00 GMT, serves as a crucial indicator of the national team’s direction ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Widespread changes are not anticipated, with highly-rated teenagers Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha expected to be omitted despite recent domestic speculation.
However, the right side of defence presents a significant dilemma for the head coach following a fresh injury blow to Reece James.
Defensive reshuffle and Alexander-Arnold’s return
Chelsea captain James is sidelined with another hamstring issue, which Blues manager Liam Rosenior confirmed will keep him out for several weeks.
This unfortunate setback for the injury-prone defender opens the door for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has returned to fitness following his own struggles in Spain.
The Real Madrid full-back has found it difficult to convince the German tactician previously, but his recent starts in La Liga make him incredibly difficult to ignore.
Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence, who recently impressed against Liverpool, are also vying for inclusion on the right flank.
Midfield battles and defensive contenders
In the middle of the park, Bournemouth prospect Alex Scott is making a strong case for a recall after earning a spot in the squad just three months ago.
The fearless playmaker provides exceptional progressive passing, offering stiff competition to established names like Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hall is fiercely challenging Manchester City youngster Nico O’Reilly for the starting left-back role.
At the heart of the defence, Jarell Quansah’s eye-catching performances for Bayer Leverkusen have significantly boosted his chances of selection.
The central defender will compete against the returning John Stones and Manchester United stalwart Harry Maguire, who is targeting a dramatic international recall.
Goalkeeping hierarchy remains stable
Between the posts, Everton’s Jordan Pickford remains the undisputed first choice despite a recent high-profile error against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsdale is heavily tipped to retain his spot as the third-choice goalkeeper after securing regular domestic minutes.
Aaron Nola will start for Italy against Venezuela in Monday’s World Baseball Classic semi-final in Miami, replacing Michael Lorenzen on the mound.
Manager Francisco Cervelli made the late pitching change just hours before the highly anticipated clash at loanDepot park.
The 32-year-old right-hander steps into the crucial role following an exceptional performance earlier in the tournament.
Impressive group stage form
He previously earned the victory in the group stage finale against Mexico on 11 March.
During that decisive win, the veteran pitcher allowed just four hits across five scoreless innings.
He demonstrated remarkable control by striking out five batters and issuing only a single walk over 69 pitches.
His flawless execution under pressure likely influenced the managerial decision to give him the ball for this knockout fixture.
The road to the final
The European nation will face a formidable opponent, with Keider Montero taking the mound for the South American side.
The 25-year-old right-hander has been entrusted with starting duties as his team attempts to secure a spot in the championship game.
Whoever emerges victorious from this semi-final showdown will advance to face the United States in Tuesday night’s grand finale.
Celtic are targeting former striker Robbie Keane to replace outgoing manager Martin O’Neill ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season.
The Glasgow club are preparing for life after the 74-year-old, who arrived during a difficult spell under Wilfried Nancy and successfully revitalised the squad.
Under the veteran coach, the Hoops currently sit just two points behind league leaders Hearts with a genuine chance of securing the domestic title.
Winning pedigree in Europe
The 45-year-old candidate has established a strong managerial reputation following successful spells with Maccabi Tel Aviv and his current club Ferencvaros.
Having already secured two league titles in his short coaching career, the former Republic of Ireland international has demonstrated an ability to make an immediate impact.
His preferred 3-5-2 formation would represent a tactical shift for the Scottish giants, but his track record of delivering domestic dominance makes him a compelling option.
A familiar face in Glasgow
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward understands the unique demands of the club following a brief loan spell at Celtic Park.
During that short stint as a player, the prolific attacker proved highly successful by registering seven league goals in just 12 appearances.
The Celtic hierarchy must act swiftly to secure their primary target, as other clubs including Tottenham are reportedly monitoring his availability before the summer window.
Catarina Macario has completed an immediate move to San Diego Wave from Chelsea in a record-breaking deal believed to be the most lucrative in women’s football history.
The United States forward has signed a contract running until the 2030 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.
Valued at approximately $8m (£6.3m) in total, the agreement easily surpasses previous financial benchmarks set within the women’s game.
San Diego will pay Chelsea a transfer fee in the region of $300,000 to secure the Brazilian-born attacker before the NWSL deadline closes on Monday.
Returning to Californian roots
The move represents a homecoming for the international star, who relocated to San Diego with her family from Brazil at the age of 12.
Her new franchise trains just yards away from the youth pitches where she first developed her formidable skills.
Personal reasons were reportedly a major driving factor behind the switch, despite the highly sought-after talent receiving offers from European heavyweights including Barcelona.
Navigating new financial rules
To facilitate this landmark acquisition, the Wave are utilising the NWSL’s newly introduced High Impact Player rule.
This mechanism permits teams to remunerate marquee talents from a designated $1m fund outside the standard $3.7m salary cap parameters.
Macario will earn an average annual value of around $2m, mirroring the landmark package recently awarded to international team-mate Trinity Rodman at Washington Spirit.
Swapping London for the NWSL
The prolific goalscorer had endured a frustrating recent spell in England, with her playing time severely restricted by persistent injury setbacks.
With her Chelsea contract set to expire this summer, an immediate mid-season transfer proved logical to ensure a fresh start.
San Diego will be hoping their new marquee addition can immediately reverse their fortunes following a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to the Houston Dash on the opening weekend.
The lightning-fast striker is expected to be a vital component of the national squad aiming for a fifth World Cup triumph in Brazil next year.
France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey broke his own Six Nations try-scoring record with a stunning four-try performance to help Les Bleus secure back-to-back titles with a 48-46 victory over England in Paris on Saturday.
Antoine Dupont is widely regarded as rugby’s greatest current player, but a new attacking star is stealing the limelight in the French capital.
The 22-year-old speedster has emerged as an unstoppable force, taking his tournament tally to nine tries and surpassing the previous landmark of eight he set last season.
Chasing O’Driscoll’s all-time record
The Bordeaux Begles star has now crossed the whitewash in 10 consecutive Six Nations matches.
It is an unprecedented scoring streak that he will look to extend in next year’s competition.
Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll holds the championship’s all-time record with a historic 26 tries.
However, the phenomenal French flyer is already just eight scores behind that landmark despite having played only 14 games in the competition.
‘The Erling Haaland of the rugby world’
During the epic weekend finale, the dynamic back demonstrated incredible footballing ability to chip the ball past Jack van Poortvliet for his crucial fourth try.
“He is running at over 10 metres per second – the fastest player in the Six Nations – and he has the deftest of touches. Dennis Bergkamp would be thrilled with that,” former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC Rugby Union Weekly.
“He is the Erling Haaland of the rugby world. Give him the ball and he will finish.”
More than just a lethal finisher
In terms of pure numbers, the prolific wide man scored 33 times for club and country last season.
That impressive return was just one shy of Manchester City striker Haaland’s total during the same period.
This season, the young talent has already registered 27 tries across all competitions and is aiming to better his previous campaign.
While some elite finishers are criticised for a lack of all-round contribution, the 22-year-old offers substantial value in defence.
“His defence is very good, and he is so busy,” Monye added.
Liverpool are targeting a £70m summer move for Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall as Arne Slot seeks defensive reinforcements amid a challenging Premier League campaign.
The Reds have identified the 21-year-old as a primary candidate to refresh their struggling squad.
This pursuit comes as long-serving full-back Andy Robertson enters the final months of his expiring contract at Anfield.
However, the Magpies have publicly insisted the England international is not for sale under any circumstances.
Newcastle prepare lucrative new contract
To fend off interest from Merseyside, the North East club are preparing a significantly improved deal for their young defensive star.
His current terms run until 2029, but a substantial pay rise is being formulated to secure his long-term future at St James’ Park.
A valuation of up to £70m has been mooted should the Tyneside outfit ultimately be forced to the negotiating table.
A summer departure appears complex, though the recent history of big-money moves between the two clubs suggests a deal cannot be entirely ruled out.
Pressure mounts on Slot after poor run
The search for fresh talent arrives during a highly turbulent period for the current Liverpool boss.
His side currently sit outside the Premier League’s top four following a dismal run of just one victory in four matches.
Recent setbacks include a shock defeat to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers and a frustrating draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Significant summer investment on the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz has so far failed to yield the desired results for the under-fire manager.
A tactical fit for Anfield
The highly-rated defender has excelled at both domestic and Champions League levels throughout the current season.
He notably restricted Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal from open play during a recent European fixture, further boosting his growing reputation.
The former Chelsea academy graduate possesses the technical profile perfectly suited to a possession-dominant tactical setup.
- His technical ability offers clean distribution, progressive passing, and comfort on the ball in tight areas.
- The versatile full-back is adept at drifting into midfield lanes to create numerical advantages.
- While physically mobile and agile, he remains a developing talent who will require further strength refinement for top-level defensive duels.
A move to Merseyside would initially see him rotated into the starting XI, but he possesses the undeniable upside to become a long-term fixture in the team.
Uefa has confirmed that ticket prices for the Champions League final in Budapest will remain frozen following recent controversies over World Cup costs.
The European football governing body announced the decision on Monday in a move designed to prioritise match-going supporters.
This fan-centric approach stands in direct contrast to the heavily criticised ticketing policies introduced by Fifa.
Strict resale rules introduced
Organisers have mandated that any tickets sold on their official resale platform must be exchanged strictly at face value.
Sellers will not face any additional fees when offloading unwanted seats for the showpiece event at the Puskas Arena on 30 May.
This policy challenges the current setup for the upcoming global tournament in the United States, which allows unlimited resale prices alongside heavy transaction fees.
Fifa currently imposes a 15 per cent levy on both buyers and sellers, prompting accusations from fans of facilitating official scalping.
Ticket allocations and pricing
Thousands of the lowest-priced tickets will be available for £60 (€70) to supporters of the two competing clubs.
Disabled spectators will also pay the base rate, which includes a complimentary pass for an accompanying companion.
Each finalist will receive an allocation of 17,200 tickets from a total stadium capacity of 61,400.
Premium seats will maintain their rates from last season’s final in Munich, remaining priced at £156, £562, and £821.
Digital security and consultation
An additional 4,600 general admission tickets are being distributed through a global lottery system via the official website.
Successful applicants must register their mobile phones to access the non-transferable digital passes on match day.
More than 22,000 seats have been reserved for broadcasters, sponsors, national federations, and corporate guests.
These pricing structures were developed in direct consultation with Football Supporters Europe, unlike the initial approach taken by international counterparts.