THE SUCCESSOR HAS ARRIVED

Image Credit- Goal.Com. 

With a late penalty in Real Madrid's 2-0 La Liga victory over Sevilla, Kylian Mbappe equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. It's amusing to note that Mbappe missed a few opportunities at the start before getting his chance to glory that levelled him to his idol. One more goal and the record could have been his. But still, levelling Ronaldo's record was something that Mbappe would have surely dreamt of for a long time. And getting the same on the eve of his birthday—that too against a formidable Seville side—is a fabulous feat.

Jude Bellingham gave Real Madrid the lead in the first half, and with 22 minutes left, Marcao was sent off for a second time, reducing Sevilla to 10 men. However, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois kept the home team ahead. Early on, Sevilla caused a lot of trouble. Isaac Romero chipped a shot that was delivered through on goal and went just wide, causing the home crowd to whistle as Real Madrid was under pressure. Before Real took the lead seven minutes before halftime, Mbappe missed a snap-shot as the home team battled to produce a clear-cut opportunity. Lucien Agoume of Sevilla then missed another goal for the visitors.

Following Marcao's red card, Rodrygo made a stunning shot on the spin, but Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos touched it onto the bar after Mbappe's header from a corner hit the crossbar. When Juanlu Sanchez fouled Rodrygo in the box, the birthday boy stepped up to score before dragging out Ronaldo's celebration as he doubled the lead for the Galacticos, who eventually won the hard-fought game.

With 29 goals in 24 games across all competitions, Mbappe has been a crucial member of Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid team despite their struggles this season. With 18 goals this season, the striker leads the Spanish rankings once more after winning the European Golden Shoe and La Liga's top scorer award the previous season.

When Mbappe moved to Madrid in the summer of 2024 from Paris Saint-Germain, he acknowledged that he had pictures of Portuguese legend Ronaldo on the walls of his bedroom as a child and that signing with Madrid was his ambition. Interestingly, Mbappe also imitated Ronaldo's signature celebration, claiming it was a tribute to the legendary Portuguese player and Madrid's all-time top scorer. 

Mbappe currently has 73 goals in 83 games, while Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, who is Real Madrid's all-time greatest goalscorer, has 450 goals in 438 games. There is still a mountain to climb for the Frenchmen. But, as they say, records are meant to be broken. So we can surely expect our prince to go for the ultimate glory. 

The successor of Ronaldo has arrived. 

THE G.O.A.T. TOUR

 

Image Credit- The Hindustan Times.

In December 2025, Argentinian footballing legend Lionel Messi visited India as part of his G.O.A.T. India Tour. The visit comprised public appearances, exhibition games, community events, and cultural exchanges in multiple Indian cities. Interestingly, Messi hasn't been to India since 2011. Hence, there was a sense of excitement all around.

The tour schedule comprised 4 stops:

a. Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

b. Hyderabad, Telangana;

c. Mumbai, Maharashtra

d. New Delhi.

Moreover, Messi, along with Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, also visited the Ambani's in Jamnagar before heading back home. In the tour, Messi interacted with fans, took part in demonstration games, started marketing efforts, and assisted with youth football programs in every city. Barring the Kolkata event, the tour was smooth and pleasant.

But the moment that will always be remembered by the Indian football fans was when Messi met Sunil Chhetri in Mumbai. It was truly emotional. The Legend of World Football with the Legend of Indian Football. 

A YEAR TO REMEMBER

 

Image Credit- Al-Jazeera.

2025 is coming to a spectacular end for Paris Saint-Germain. After winning the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup this year, the PSG's men's team just won a sixth trophy in 2025—the most in a single calendar year—by winning a 2-1 penalty shootout after a fierce 1-1 draw with CR Flamengo over 120 minutes.

Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo overcame African champions Pyramids and Mexicans Cruz Azul to earn the chance to play PSG in the final. Remarkably, with a tenacious performance, Flamengo pushed the European champions all the way.

As the game started, PSG felt that they had grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when Fabian Ruiz brilliantly hooked the ball into an empty net after Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi miskicked a clearance while trying to prevent a corner. But the goal was ruled out by VAR because Rossi had narrowly failed to stop the ball from going out of play. Eight minutes before halftime, PSG managed to break the impasse thanks to another Rossi blunder. Desire Doue's low cross appeared to be too strong for Kvaratskhelia, but the Argentinian turned it right into the Georgian's pass for the easiest of tap-ins.

However, Flamengo managed to stay in the match, and following a VAR review, they were given a penalty for Marquinhos' foul on Uruguay midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta at the hour mark. Jorginho, a former player for Chelsea and Arsenal, stepped in and took the penalty wherein he sent Safonov the wrong way.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele were sent on by PSG in an attempt to force a victory, which gave Marquinhos a final opportunity. However, the ball flashed across the goal, and the game went into extra time because the center-back was unable to react fast enough to get his effort on target.

In the extra thirty minutes, both teams had half-chances; in the 116th minute, Dembele flashed a shot that was just off target. That made it possible for Safonov to steal the show by filling in for usual first-choice Lucas Chevalier, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

With this triumph, Paris Saint Germain also reached the historic milestone of 50 victories in all competitions in 2025—the club's highest total to date. A feat they have never achieved before. Hence, the Parisians will surely remember 2025 for a long time. 

THE REVENGE IS COMPLETE

 

Image Credit- The Telegraph.

Spain and the Netherlands are the two powerhouses of European football. Whenever these two teams meet, fireworks are expected for sure. The 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, which Spain won 1-0 after extra time, was one of the notable meetings between the two teams. However, nobody can ever forget the group-stage match between these two sides in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Interestingly, it was the first time that the previous FIFA World Cup finalists faced one another in the group stage.

In the first half of the game, Diego Costa grabbed a trailing leg from Stefan de Vrij's attempted tackle halfway. As a result, the Spanish were awarded a penalty, though it was quite visible that the defender did no wrong. Xabi Alonso scored the penalty kick for Spain, taking them into the lead. However, the Spanish were unable to maintain the lead until the half, when Robin van Persie saw Iker Casillas slightly off his line and scored a 15-yard diving looping header after Daley Blind's long cross from the left.

However, the real massacre happened in the second half. Blind helped the Netherlands score the second goal as well, as he set up Arjen Robben, who controlled the pass before coming inside to finish from ten yards out with his left foot. Twelve minutes later, Wesley Sneijder's free kick on the left gave the Netherlands another goal, which De Vrij headed in from a tight angle. Iker Casillas, the Spanish goalkeeper, protested that Van Persie had fouled him, but the goal was upheld, and Casillas was given a yellow card. Shortly after, Van Persie scored his second goal of the match by retrieving the ball and finishing into an empty net when Casillas miscontrolled a back pass from Sergio Ramos with his left leg. The humiliation on the face of Iker was quite visible now.

However, the slaughter stopped only after the fifth goal which was truly a masterclass. After receiving a pass from Wesley Sneijder close to the halfway line, Robben outran Casillas, Jordi Alba, and Ramos before using his left foot to slot the ball into the net from ten yards out.

In addition to being Spain's second-worst World Cup defeat following their 6-1 hammering of Brazil in 1950, the 5-1 score was the largest loss margin for a reigning champion in the FIFA World Cup. Unfortunately, the Spanish lost the next game as well and were thus eliminated from the group stage itself. For the Netherlands, the revenge was well and truly complete. Not only did they hammer the mighty Spanish, but they also went past the next round before getting knocked out by the Argentines in the semi-final.

To watch the Highlights of the Match, Click Here. 

 

NORTH LONDON IS RED

 

Image Credit- Al Jazeera.

The Arsenal-Tottenham clash is one of the notable derbies of English football. Whenever these two teams from North London take on each other, fireworks are expected for sure. November 23 was no such exception. The hype was there. After all, Arsenal are the league leaders right now, and Tottenham were playing brilliantly away from home. So, everyone was expecting a tight contest between the two powerhouses.

However, what happened in the game was something truly unbelievable. Arsenal defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 on Sunday to take a six-point lead in the Premier League standings. Eberechi Eze became just the fourth player in the history of the North London Derby to score a hat-trick in this legendary match.

Leandro Trossard gave Arsenal the lead in the 36th minute, and the game was all Arsenal from the first whistle until the very end. Eze danced his way to his first five minutes later. Thirty-six seconds into the second half, he added a third goal for Arsenal, and it looked like they were winning big. In the 55th minute, Richarlison gave Spurs a glimmer with a fantastic goal created out of nothing when he lobbed David Raya from 35 yards out. However, Eze quickly put an end to that hope in the 76th minute when he finished his hat-trick in style with another finish from just inside the edge of the Spurs box.

The outcome gives the red-and-white part of North London all the bragging rights and drops Spurs to ninth place in the standings. The Gunners have finished second in the league for the past three years running. They are currently leading the league and have had a decent start to the season. Will this lead last until the very end? This time, will they win the Premier League? The answer lies in the womb of time. However, for the time being everything's good in The Gunner's Camp.

To watch the Highlights of the Match, Click Here. 

THE HOMECOMING

 

Image Credit- FC Barcelona.

 On November 22, FC Barcelona made its way back to its spiritual home after more than two years of renovation. They hosted Athletic Club in the inaugural La Liga game at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, winning 4-0. It was just like the good old days wherein Barcelona used to thrash their opponents for fun. Who can forget the period between 2008-2019 wherein teams feared to travel to Barcelona.

Camp Nou has been a popular location for football fans worldwide since 1957 and an identity of FC Barcelona. It was quite evident from the fact that 45,000 fans (the maximum sitting capacity presently) turned up for the opening game.

The first game at the new Spotify Camp Nou will not be an exception to the adage that "the first time is never forgotten." The big picture of a game with many "firsts" worth reviewing is the first game, the first win, and the first celebration. The triumph truly signalled the start of a daring new era for one of the most famous football venues. 

TELL THE WORLD I AM COMING HOME

 

 

Image Credit- beIN Sports.

This month, Lionel Messi paid Camp Nou an unexpected visit—his first since leaving FC Barcelona in 2021. It was an emotional homecoming for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to return to the stadium. The management of FC Barcelona claims that Messi went outside the stadium and requested permission from the security personnel. The club was soon informed by the guards and was then promptly granted entrance, stressing that Leo "will always be welcome in his home."  

It was quite evident that Messi was clearly moved during his visit as he strolled through the stadium wherein, he had played some of his most memorable games. The King was back in his kingdom.  Later, he posted a touching statement on his Instagram account that enthralled the football fans worldwide: 'I went back to a spot I really miss last night. You made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over, and I was incredibly happy there. I wish to return someday, not simply to bid farewell as a player, as I was never able to do." 

It is pertinent to note that Lionel Messi is Barcelona's most decorated player, who has won 35 titles and has scored 672 goals in 778 games. Lastly, it was the Spotify Camp Nou, the stadium where he rose to fame between 2004 and 2021, so a connection will always be there. The emotions will always be high.