Despite a packed holiday schedule, footballers still found heart-warming moments on and off the pitch. Liverpool shared a cheerful Christmas Eve photo on Wednesday, showing the squad in buoyant spirits during training, dressed in red practice kits and Santa hats while linking arms on the pitch. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland joined the celebrations by dressing up as Santa Claus and posing with a sack full of presents. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski struck a cosy note, posing with his family in matching red checkered pyjamas, while City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma smiled alongside his partner and child in front of a Christmas tree. Spain and Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella also shared a festive family photo in matching blue pyjamas, and Brazil winger Raphinha beamed with his family in a Christmas-themed snap. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, however, did it differently as he was seen in shorts on a beach next to a Christmas tree. While such moments offered festive warmth, football’s relentless calendar rolls on, with the Premier League and Serie A set to stage Boxing Day fixtures even as much of the rest of Europe pauses for a winter break. Photos: Instagram

Organisers at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco are allowing supporters in for free after kick-off in matches where stadiums are not full, a Confederation of African Football source told AFP.

 Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup-winner Zinedine, said his grandfather had supported him in switching international allegiance to Algeria, after playing for France at junior level.

For millions of football fans around the world, December 26, Boxing Day, is no longer just a date on the calendar -- it is synonymous with Premier League football.

The France and Real Madrid legend watched proudly from the stands as his son, Luca Zidane, stood between the posts for Algeria, turning a routine group-stage win into a moment steeped in legacy.

Among the spectators in the Moroccan capital was France legend Zinedine Zidane, whose parents came from Algeria and whose son Luca was starting in goal for the Desert Foxes.

Two other Spaniards also cracked the top 10.

Fernandes, who has started every Premier League match this season, is the English top-flight's most creative player, creating 51 chances.

Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes his side are damaging their own hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League because of a poor record at set-pieces.

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is finally ready to play a full match after months of injury struggles, manager Enzo Maresca said on Wednesday, as his side prepares to face high-flying Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday.

From a landmark debut of the FIFA Club World Cup that sent shockwaves through the sport, to a packed calendar of top-tier tournaments, 2024 delivered drama, passion, and spectacle.

There are plenty of moments in an English Premier League footballer’s life that might inspire envy, but playing through the holiday season is unlikely to be one of them.

Ademola Lookman scored a superb second-half winner as Nigeria earned a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group C victory over Tanzania in the pouring rain in Fes on Tuesday, a positive start for the silver medallists from two years ago, but one that was not without moments of alarm.

Real Madrid's out-of-favour Brazilian starlet Endrick has joined Olympique Lyon on loan, the Ligue 1 club announced on Tuesday.

Newcastle were leading 2-1 at the time of the incident, and Joao Pedro equalised shortly afterwards as Chelsea rescued a point.

Algeria will be aiming to live up to their billing as the fourth-best side in Africa according to the FIFA rankings.

Alexander Isak faces two months on the sidelines after fracturing his leg in a "reckless challenge" from Tottenham's Micky van de Ven, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said Tuesday.

Reigning champions Bashundhara Kings survived a stoppage-time scare to play out a goalless draw against arch-rivals Mohammedan in a high-stakes Federation Cup Group B encounter at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Tuesday.