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Man Utd’s Garnacho Could Become World Class, Ten Hag Says

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (C) in action against Fulham's Antonee Robinson (R) and goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham in Manchester, Britain, 16 August 2024. (EPA)
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (C) in action against Fulham's Antonee Robinson (R) and goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham in Manchester, Britain, 16 August 2024. (EPA)
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Man Utd’s Garnacho Could Become World Class, Ten Hag Says

Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (C) in action against Fulham's Antonee Robinson (R) and goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham in Manchester, Britain, 16 August 2024. (EPA)
Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho (C) in action against Fulham's Antonee Robinson (R) and goalkeeper Bernd Leno (L) during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham in Manchester, Britain, 16 August 2024. (EPA)

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho has the potential to become a world class player if he keeps working hard, manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Garnacho, 20, assisted United forward Joshua Zirkzee's debut goal in their 1-0 league opener win against Fulham and scored in the Community Shield against Manchester City, which United lost on penalties.

The Argentina international, alongside Kobbie Mainoo, also scored in United's 2-1 FA Cup victory over City and provided many bright moments with seven league goals in United's lackluster season, as they finished eighth.

"To make that jump to being a world-class player, he has a long way to go. It starts with hard work," Ten Hag told reporters. "That has brought him to where he is now and that will bring him to being a world class player because I agree he has the potential."

"We need (exciting players) but I think every team at the top needs a player with the X factor. Garnacho definitely has it in him to become that player. If you want to be that player - world class - then you have to do it consistently and he has a high potential, 100%."

United's 19-year-old midfielder Mainoo wrapped up England's Euro 2024 campaign as a key player in former England manager Gareth Southgate's squad and Ten Hag said the experience has honed Mainoo's skills.

"Those experiences will only help him become a better player (this season). A perfect midfielder is one who is very good in attacking and very good in defending. He is a player who can do it, and he can play as an attacking midfielder and as a holding midfielder."

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Bayern's Diaz Gets Champions League Ban Reduced to Two Games

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - 1. FC Union Berlin v Bayern Munich - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - December 3, 2025 Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after the match with Manuel Neuer, Luis Diaz and Joshua Kimmich REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - 1. FC Union Berlin v Bayern Munich - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - December 3, 2025 Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after the match with Manuel Neuer, Luis Diaz and Joshua Kimmich REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
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Bayern's Diaz Gets Champions League Ban Reduced to Two Games

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - 1. FC Union Berlin v Bayern Munich - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - December 3, 2025 Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after the match with Manuel Neuer, Luis Diaz and Joshua Kimmich REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - 1. FC Union Berlin v Bayern Munich - Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, Germany - December 3, 2025 Bayern Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after the match with Manuel Neuer, Luis Diaz and Joshua Kimmich REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz's three-game Champions League ban for a violent tackle on PSG's Achraf Hakimi was reduced to two, the European soccer body UEFA said on Friday.

The Colombian winger was handed a three-game ban for "serious rough play" after he was sent off in a 2-1 Champions League victory over holders Paris St Germain in November.

According to Reuters, UEFA said his appeal on the charges was upheld, without delving into the reasons behind the decision, making the 28-year-old available for Bayern's game against Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise in January.

Bayern sit third in the Champions League table with 12 points across five games, having lost only to Arsenal in the tournament so far. They will next host Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

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Trump All Smiles as He Wins FIFA’s New Peace Prize

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US - December 5, 2025 US President Donald Trump wears his medal as he is awarded the FIFA Peace Prize. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US - December 5, 2025 US President Donald Trump wears his medal as he is awarded the FIFA Peace Prize. (Reuters)
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Trump All Smiles as He Wins FIFA’s New Peace Prize

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US - December 5, 2025 US President Donald Trump wears his medal as he is awarded the FIFA Peace Prize. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US - December 5, 2025 US President Donald Trump wears his medal as he is awarded the FIFA Peace Prize. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump became the first ever recipient of FIFA's new peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw Friday -- a compensation gift for a leader whose dream of winning the Nobel remains unfulfilled.

Gianni Infantino, the head of world football's governing body and a close ally of Trump, presented the 79-year-old with the award during the ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

"Thank you very much. This is truly one of the great honors of my life. And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this, we saved millions and millions of lives," Trump said.

Infantino said Trump won the award for "exceptional and extraordinary" actions to promote peace and unity around the world.

FIFA announced the annual prize in November, saying it would recognize people who bring "hope for future generations."

Its inaugural recipient was hardly a surprise.

Infantino, 55, has developed a tight relationship with Trump, visiting the White House more than any world leader since Trump's return to office in January.

The US president often insists that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending what he says are eight conflicts this year, including a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

He was snubbed by the Norwegian Nobel Committee last month as it awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Trump has put himself at the head of a "board of peace" for war-torn Gaza -- Infantino also attended the signing of that peace deal in Egypt -- while his administration this week renamed a Washington peace institute after him.

The US leader has made the World Cup a centerpiece of his second presidency.

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From Hunted to Hunter, Comeback King Verstappen Chases Fifth Title

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025. (AFP)
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From Hunted to Hunter, Comeback King Verstappen Chases Fifth Title

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the second practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025. (AFP)

Max Verstappen has won the Formula One title for the last four years, but it would be far from "more of the same" if he snatches a record-equaling fifth in a row at the Abu Dhabi season finale on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Red Bull driver has come back from 104 points behind McLaren's then-championship leader Oscar Piastri to 12 adrift of the Australian's teammate Lando Norris, now the frontrunner, in a span of just eight races.

As far as comebacks go, it is the greatest of the modern era in terms of reclaiming lost ground.

It could also be one for the ages, eclipsed only by some of the most heroic underdog stories, like Niki Lauda's return from a fiery crash to take the title down to the wire in 1976 before winning it in 1977.

"I think whether or not Max will win, it's probably fair to say that the world discovered an even more extraordinary Max this season, after his fourth world title," Verstappen's Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies told reporters at the Yas Marina circuit on Friday.

"It's up to you guys to say if... (2025) will become the best of his titles.

"But for sure, in terms of whatever happens next, the scale of the comeback is something that hopefully will go in a few history books."

STAND EQUAL WITH SCHUMACHER

Regardless of where it ranks, the Dutchman's quest to become only the second driver after Ferrari great Michael Schumacher to win five titles in a row stands in stark contrast to his four other title-winning campaigns.

Then, he was more hunted than hunter, if not dominant. Even in his hard-fought battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Verstappen was chased down by the Briton who drew level with him on points heading into the Abu Dhabi finale.

This year, however, he has had to fight off the back foot -- overcoming an initially uncompetitive car and navigating a Red Bull leadership reshuffle that had Christian Horner ousted as team boss.

At the same time, he has balanced his F1 responsibilities with his role as father to a baby daughter, born in May, and extracurricular pursuits like GT racing, even winning on his GT3 debut around German track Nuerburgring's fearsome Nordschleife loop.

Five of Verstappen's seven wins have come in the last eight races, all of which he has finished on the podium.

Misfortune for his McLaren rivals has also worked in his favor. But equally, every bit of his trademark tenacity and determination has been on display, as he has hunted down the McLaren pair.

Born in Belgium to an F1 racer father Jos and top-level go-karter mother Sophie Kumpen, Verstappen has been on wheels as soon as he could walk.

His speed has never been in question. But this year it has been mated to a newfound maturity and a calm confidence, making him an even more formidable competitor.

"Max is not an easy four-time world champion to knock off his perch," said McLaren chief executive Zak Brown on Friday.

"Arguably, definitely, one of the greatest ever. It's awesome racing against Max," added the American.

Verstappen still needs Norris to finish off the podium on Sunday to seal the title, even if he races to a fifth Abu Dhabi win.

But if anyone can spring an upset, Verstappen can.

"Look, this guy never gets it wrong, you know, Max just never does a mistake," said Mekies.