Salah Wins Soccer Writers’ ‘Footballer of the Year’ Award in England for Record-tying 3rd Time 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
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Salah Wins Soccer Writers’ ‘Footballer of the Year’ Award in England for Record-tying 3rd Time 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was voted “Footballer of the Year” in England by soccer writers for a record-tying third time Friday, while Arsenal striker Alessia Russo won the women’s award.

Salah previously won the award, handed out by the Football Writers’ Association, in 2018 and 2022. Arsenal great Thierry Henry is the only other player to have captured it three times.

The FWA’s accolade is the oldest individual soccer award in the world. It was first awarded in 1948.

The FWA said Salah won 90% of the votes cast by more than 900 members, making it the “biggest winning margin this century.” Teammate Virgil van Dijk was second and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak was third.

Salah has the most goals (28) and assists (18) in the Premier League this season and played a key role in Liverpool winning the title for the second time in five years.

Russo finished ahead of Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw and Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey, with FWA chair John Cross saying Russo’s performances in the Women's Champions League have helped her stand out.

Arsenal, which is second in the Women’s Super League, has reached the Champions League final after beating eight-time winner Lyon in the semifinals and will play Barcelona in the title match.



Mbappe 100 Percent, Bellingham Fit, Says Real Madrid’s Arbeloa

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe 100 Percent, Bellingham Fit, Says Real Madrid’s Arbeloa

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (C) attends a training session of the team in Madrid, Spain, 21 March 2026. (EPA)

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Saturday he has "maximum confidence" in French superstar Kylian Mbappe ahead of the derby clash against Atletico Madrid.

Mbappe returned from a knee sprain as a substitute against Manchester City on Tuesday after missing five games and Arbeloa said he was excited to have the forward back at 100 percent, along with fit-again England international Jude Bellingham.

The duo will be in Madrid's squad for Sunday's La Liga game against Diego Simeone's Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I already told you that the day (Mbappe) came back would be when he was at 100 percent," Arbeloa told reporters.

"I think that in the minutes we saw him in Manchester, with the two or three bursts of pace he made, every one of those actions showed he's in great shape and, above all, (it's about) his own feelings...

"We have maximum confidence, maximum security, maximum excitement to have a player like him back, so decisive and at 100 percent."

Mbappe is Madrid's top goalscorer this season with 38 goals in 34 games across all competitions.

Arbeloa said he was happy that the French national team have called up Mbappe for matches against Brazil and Colombia next week in the United States.

"I think it's fantastic. He's a player who's available to the coach, who has already played with us, who's definitely going to play tomorrow, so I don't see any problem with him going with his national team," added Arbeloa.

England coach Thomas Tuchel called up Bellingham for international duty even though the midfielder has not played since February 1 because of a hamstring injury.

"He's now available, he'll be in the squad tomorrow. We'll see if he plays. I think he will, he's available and I'm really looking forward to seeing him out on the pitch," said Arbeloa.

"From there it's normal that he can go with his national team.

"It's clear that Jude Bellingham is a very intelligent player, he knows especially well what he's doing at every moment and the situation he's in, but from my side I'm very happy that he'll be available tomorrow and ready to help us."

Madrid will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is set to miss several weeks with a thigh injury, but Arbeloa said he had faith in his replacement Andriy Lunin.

"The best goalkeeper in history gets injured, and we have another outstanding goalkeeper who will once again show how good he is," said Arbeloa, adding he has "utmost confidence" in the Ukrainian.


Dortmund Extend Injured Captain Can’s Contract

14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
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Dortmund Extend Injured Captain Can’s Contract

14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)
14 December 2025, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Freiburg im Breisgau: Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can thanks the fans after the German Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund at Europa-Park Stadium. (dpa)

Borussia Dortmund have made good on their promise to support captain Emre Can as he recovers from an ACL injury, extending his deal by one season until 2027 on Saturday.

Can suffered the season-ending knee injury in Dortmund's 3-2 home loss to Bayern Munich in February after slipping on advertising hoardings.

The 32-year-old was expected to move on in the summer, but Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken said the club discussed an extension with Can once the diagnosis became clear.

Calling Can "an absolute role model and a leader," Ricken said in a statement: "We said immediately after his serious injury that we wanted to continue supporting him.

"Now Emre needs to focus entirely on his recovery, and then we'll be delighted when he returns to the pitch."

Can arrived at the club in 2020 from Juventus and is set to become Dortmund's longest-serving current player next season.

"My goal is to get healthy again as quickly as possible, to be back on the pitch with my teammates, and to be successful with the club," Can said.


Wimbledon to Introduce Video Review Technology

The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
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Wimbledon to Introduce Video Review Technology

The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)
The Wimbledon logo on a water feature during the 2021 Wimbledon at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, England, July 3, 2021. (AFP)

Wimbledon will introduce ‌video review technology this year that will allow players to challenge judgement calls made by the chair umpire, the Grand Slam's organizers said on Saturday.

Players will not be able to challenge the decisions of the electronic line calling (ELC) system that was introduced at Wimbledon last year, but video reviews ‌will be available ‌to check other scenarios, ‌like ⁠whether a ball ⁠has bounced twice or touched a player's racket or body.

"Players will be allowed to review specific judgement calls made by the chair umpire (such as, for example, ‘not-up’, ‘foul shot’, ‘touch’) either on a point-ending ⁠call, when a player immediately ‌stops play, or ‌immediately after the completion of a point (in the ‌case of hindrance)," the All England ‌Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) said in a statement.

"Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request."

The ‌video reviews will be introduced on six show courts, including the ⁠Centre ⁠Court and Court One.

"The technology will be available on Centre Court and Court One throughout the championships and on the other show courts until the conclusion of all singles matches on those courts," the AELTC added.

Visual indicators for the ELC will also be introduced, with scoreboards on all courts displaying "out" and "fault" calls.

This year's Wimbledon starts on June 29.