Mikel Merino scored a hat-trick as a majestic Spain thumped Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, while a brilliant Florian Wirtz free-kick helped Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 to get their bid up and running.

Memphis Depay became the Netherlands' all-time top goalscorer with a brace in their 3-2 win in Lithuania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday criticised the "serious and avoidable" injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue while on international duty with the France national team.

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele faces about six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, while winger Desire Doue will be out of action for around four weeks due to a calf problem, the European champions said.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer the winger who once tore down flanks with blistering pace. More than a decade ago, he reinvented himself into a different kind of player -- one who recognised that his body needed adaptation, transitioning from a dazzling winger to a prolific striker for a more sustainable and record-boosting career.

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said on Saturday that a return to Manchester City later this month in the colours of his new club Napoli will be a strange sensation.

Thomas Tuchel challenged England to "prove a point" against Serbia in next week's crucial World Cup qualifier after his side laboured to a 2-0 win over minnows Andorra on Saturday.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Saturday pledged changes to his side for Sunday's crunch World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Cologne after falling to a 2-0 defeat in Slovakia.

 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix both struck twice as the visitors brushed aside Armenia 5-0 on Saturday, giving Jose Martinez’s side a perfect start in their World Cup qualifiers.

England needed an own goal to open the scoring in a 2-0 win over Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday before Declan Rice made the result more respectable as they failed to sparkle against the tiny principality ranked 170 places below them.

The Spaniard insisted the current group is already highly competitive but admitted that absentees remain a factor.

Bangladesh and Nepal played out an uneventful goalless draw in the first of two FIFA international friendly fixtures at the beleaguered Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that their manager Luis Enrique was forced into hospital after fracturing his collarbone during a cycling accident on Friday.

Bangladesh's hopes for making it to the final round of AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers for the very first time were dashed following a 1-0 defeat against Yemen in Vietnam on Saturday.

France forward Kylian Mbappe said equalling Thierry Henry's tally of 51 international goals was an honour, but added that surpassing Olivier Giroud's all-time record was not something he dwells on, as his focus stays on winning titles with Les Bleus.

Football legend Ronaldinho is confident that Neymar’s story with Brazil is far from over, backing the Santos forward to make a comeback and lead the Selecao to another World Cup triumph.

Former Real Madrid and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hit an unwanted milestone after his latest sacking from Fenerbahce, with severance payouts across his career now topping €100 million.

Inter Miami star Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension for his actions following last weekend's stormy Leagues Cup final defeat to the Seattle Sounders, tournament disciplinary chiefs said on Friday.

Morocco trounced 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E and become the first African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Bangladesh will look to fine-tune their preparations for October's Asian Cup Qualifiers against Hong Kong as they take on Nepal in the first of two international friendlies at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday, with the match is scheduled to kick off at 5:45pm Bangladesh time.