Robert Lewandowski has clarified his comments and expressed delight at Lionel Messi s praise after beating the Poland striker to the 2021 Ballon d Or.

Messi claimed a record-extending seventh Ballon d Or last week, with Lewandowski having to settle for second and the inaugural Striker of the Year award.

The Bayern Munich forward may feel somewhat hard done by, given he scored 53 times in 42 games for the Bundesliga champions between the start of 2021 and the winner being announced by France Football.

That was the most of any player in Europe s top-five leagues across all competitions, with 2021 Copa America winner Messi down in joint-fifth with 32 goals.

Gerd Muller s long-standing record for the most goals (40) scored in a single Bundesliga season was al…

Mason Greenwood s strike against Aston Villa on Sunday saw him surpass Wayne Rooney to set a new record for the most Premier League goals scored as a teenager for Manchester United.

Greenwood put United 2-1 up shortly after Bruno Fernandes levelled with a penalty, the 19-year-old receiving a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and spinning away from Tyrone Mings in one movement before finding the bottom-right corner. United went on to win 3-1.

It was the 16th Premier League goal of his career, having got his first in November 2019 shortly after turning 18.

As such, Greenwood surpassed Rooney s haul of 15 goals scored for United as a teenager. 

Greenwood could yet extend his record considerably as well, given he does not turn 20 until October.

 goals in …

Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez celebrated one of the happiest days of his life after his side claimed the Women s Champions League title.

Giraldez led Barca to a 2-0 victory over fellow heavyweights Lyon in Bilbao on Saturday.

Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas got the goals in the second half, as Barca beat Lyon for the first time and won the Champions League for a third season out of the last four.

Giraldez will now leave Barca to take charge of Washington Spirit in the NWSL, but was able to leave on the highest note possible, having won a quadruple this term, becoming the first European team since Arsenal in 2007 to manage such a haul in a single campaign.

He told DAZN: It was an incredible game, I am really happy, one of the best days of my life for…

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In what is a heavyweight showdown on Wednesday night, Manchester United will make the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano when they meet Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid

Starting with the hosts, while Atletico Madrid might have opened the 2021/22 campaign with their sights set on defending their La Liga crown, Los Colchoneros find themselves in the midst of a very public struggle. Although Diego Simeone s men might have claimed a much-needed 3-0 win away at Osasuna over the weekend, it does not cover what has been an inconsistent run of form this season. In a real battle to clinch a top-four finish in Spain s top-flight this year, Atletico have won just a trio of their last eight matchups across all formats. With their recen…

Ajaccio will suffer the humiliation of being relegated by their arch rivals if they fail to win at Corsican neighbours Bastia on Sunday.

Ligue 1 s bottom club have endured a nightmarish season, and stand on the brink of dropping into the second tier after a campaign that has seen them claim just three league wins.

And Christian Bracconi s men will need to take maximum points at the Stade Armand Cesari if they are to stand any chance of staying in the top flight.

However, Ajaccio have not emerged victorious in the Corsican derby since 2008, and even if Bracconi s side do beat Bastia, they will still be relegated should 17th place Guingamp who are 15 points ahead of the islanders with five games remaining win at Bordeaux.

Guingamp will need to reverse the form book…

Milan have completed the signing of striker Marko Lazetic from Red Star Belgrade.

Lazetic, who turned 18 last week, joins the Serie A giants on a deal that runs through until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

The Serbia youth international progressed through Red Star s academy and made his senior debut for the club in November 2020.

Following a loan spell with feeder club Graficar Beograd, Lazetic returned to Red Star at the start of this season and found the net once in 16 appearances.

Milan are reported to have paid an initial €4million to sign the youngster, who has been handed the number 22 shirt at San Siro.

Official Statement: Marko Lazetic 

Comunicato Ufficiale: Marko Lazetic 

— AC Milan (@acmilan)

Lazetic wil…

Juventus want Manuel Locatelli to sign a new contract and extend his stay at the club, according to . The report has claimed that Locatelli is out of contract at the former Serie A and UEFA Champions League winners in 2026, and that Juventus want to extend it by another year.

Locatelli is one of the best midfielders in Italy and is a key figure in the Juventus team. The 25-year-old Italy international has played four times in Serie A for the Bianconeri so far this season. Locatelli made 29 starts and substitute appearances in the league last season, providing two assists in the process.

Juventus are second in the Serie A table at the moment with 10 points from four matches, two points behind leaders Inter Milan. The Bianconeri will return to action on Saturday afternoon…

Kylian Mbappe continues to be linked with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool are seemingly well in the race.

Mbappe, 20, has starred for PSG since arriving in 2017, but is reportedly a target for LaLiga giants Real Madrid.

However, Champions League winners Liverpool could also make a move for the France international forward.

TOP STORY – LIVERPOOL INTERESTED IN MBAPPE

Liverpool are set to battle Real Madrid for Mbappe, according to El Desmarque.

The report says the Premier League leaders have the funds to sign Mbappe after a quiet transfer window ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Mbappe remains the main target for Madrid despite being contracted at PSG until 2022.

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Bayern Munich a…

Aleksander Ceferin has been named as the new president of UEFA following a landslide win at Wednesday s electoral congress in Athens.

The 48-year-old won 42 votes from a possible 55 to beat rival Michael van Praag to become the successor to Michel Platini, who stepped down this year after being hit with a four-year ban from football administration over an alleged disloyal payment in 2011.

Ceferin has proclaimed himself not part of the old establishment of football, as well as transparent and a family man all traits he considers vital to restoring some strength and credibility to European football s governing body.

But who is the man tasked with leading UEFA for at least the next three years? Here, we look at his background and what he wants to bring to the role.<…

Millwall have completed the signing of Austrian striker Stefan Maierhofer on a deal until the end of the season.

Ian Holloway s side sit just two points above the Championship drop zone, having played a game more than 22nd-place Yeovil Town and four more than basement club Charlton Athletic, as they enter their final 11 games of the campaign.

DJ Campbell, Jermaine Easter and Steve Morison are all injury doubts for Saturday s derby with Charlton Athletic and the 31-year-old could make his debut in the clash.

The former Austria international lists Bayern Munich, Rapid Vienna and Cologne among his former clubs, while he has also enjoyed spells in England before.

He joined Wolves in 2009 and was loaned to Bristol City a year later, with Maierhofer last playing a c…