United News of Bangladesh

Brazilian star Neymar has undergone minor surgery on his left knee, Santos FC announced Monday. The 33-year-old forward underwent a minimally invasive arthroscopy performed by Rodrigo Lasmar, who also works with the Brazil national team, to address lingering joint issues that sidelined him from several matches this year. Speaking at a music event in Sao Paulo last weekend, Neymar expressed hope of playing in the upcoming World Cup and scoring in the final. “We will do the impossible to bring this cup to Brazil. In July, you can remind us of it. Hi, Ancelotti, helps us out!” he said, addressing Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has yet to announce his squad. Neymar has been recovering from an ACL tear sustained in October 2023 during World Cup qualifying. After returning to his boyhood club Santos in January, he played 19 of 38 Serie A matches this year, scoring eight goals, which helped the team avoid relegation.

Goals from Raphinha and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal powered La Liga leaders Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of the table to four points over Real Madrid. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 12th minute after earning a penalty while cutting inside the box. The Brazilian forward calmly converted with a slow run-up, sending goalkeeper Luiz Junior the wrong way for his seventh league goal of the season and Barcelona’s 50th in La Liga. Yamal doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute, finishing from close range following a goalmouth scramble set up by Frenkie de Jong. It was also the 16-year-old’s seventh league goal this campaign. The win marked Barcelona’s seventh consecutive victory in all competitions under coach Hansi Flick. The Catalan club, however, was without defender Andreas Christensen, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training on Saturday. Villarreal’s hopes faded late in the first half when defender Renato Veiga received a straight red card for a forceful challenge from behind on Yamal, who required brief treatment before continuing. The result allowed Atletico Madrid to climb into third place after a convincing 3-0 win away to Girona, having played two more matches than Villarreal. Thiago Silva parts ways with Fluminense, targets European return Atletico took the lead in the 13th minute through Koke, who struck a superb half-volley from outside the area. Jan Oblak later produced a brilliant one-handed save to deny Axel Witsel. Conor Gallagher doubled the lead in the 38th minute with a long-range effort that deflected past goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, while Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the win in stoppage time with a composed finish. Girona remain in the relegation zone. Elsewhere, Elche thrashed Rayo Vallecano 4-0 and Real Betis defeated Getafe by the same margin. On Saturday, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé marked his 27th birthday by scoring his 59th goal of 2025, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record for most goals in a calendar year. Source: AP 

Host nation Morocco began the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in style on Sunday, defeating Comoros 2-0 as fans and members of the royal family watched from the stands. Ayoub El Kaabi produced the standout moment of the night with a stunning overhead kick in the 74th minute to secure the win, drawing loud applause from Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, who attended the opening match and greeted both teams before kickoff. Despite being heavy favorites, Morocco faced stiff resistance from Comoros, ranked 108th globally. The visitors frustrated the home side for much of the match, with goalkeeper Yannick Pandor denying Soufiane Rahimi from the penalty spot early on. The breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute when Brahim Díaz found the net, easing the tension inside the stadium. El Kaabi later sealed the result with his acrobatic finish. Morocco suffered an early setback when captain Romain Saïss was forced off with an injury, leaving the pitch in tears. Coach Walid Regragui said the extent of the injury was still unclear. Regular captain Achraf Hakimi remained on the bench as a precaution after recovering from an ankle problem but appeared before kickoff to present his African Footballer of the Year award to supporters. Mbappé equals Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record with 59 goals in a year The opening ceremony featured performances by Angélique Kidjo, Jaylann and Lartiste amid a vibrant light show, with rain failing to dampen the festive atmosphere. Morocco, ranked 11th in the world and Africa’s top-ranked team, is chasing its second AFCON title since 1976. The final is scheduled for Jan 18. The tournament is being staged across nine venues in six cities, including the nearly 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Egypt begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on Monday, while defending champions Ivory Coast face Mozambique on Wednesday. The Confederation of African Football has also confirmed the tournament will shift to a four-year cycle in line with the FIFA calendar. Source: AP 

Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record for most goals in a single year. The milestone came in the 86th minute via a penalty in a 2-0 victory over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid’s final match of the year. The France striker, celebrating his 27th birthday, marked the achievement with a subdued version of Ronaldo’s iconic celebration, before blowing a kiss to the cameras. Since joining Real Madrid in summer 2024, Mbappé has scored 29 goals this season, including 18 in La Liga. “It’s incredible, in my first full year to do what Cristiano did. He’s my idol and the best player in Real Madrid’s history,” Mbappé said. Sevilla struggled after defender Marcao was sent off for a second yellow, and coach Matías Almeyda was expelled during halftime for protesting. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied multiple scoring chances, keeping the clean sheet intact until Mbappé converted the penalty awarded after Juanlu Sánchez fouled Rodrygo. Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, under pressure following a string of poor results, avoided further criticism with the win. Club president Florentino Pérez now has two weeks to assess the team’s performance before facing Real Betis on Jan. 4. Alonso acknowledged that while the team could have played better, the victory was crucial. Elsewhere in La Liga, Levante and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 before announcing new coaches — Luís Castro for Levante and American Pellegrino Matarazzo for Sociedad. Osasuna beat Alaves 3-0, with Ante Budimir scoring twice, while Real Oviedo and Celta Vigo played a 0-0 draw, featuring a flock of pigeons on the pitch. With the win, Madrid remains second in the league, just one point behind leaders Barcelona.

Veteran center back Thiago Silva has ended his spell at Fluminense and is reportedly seeking a move back to Europe in a bid to keep his World Cup ambitions with Brazil alive. The Rio de Janeiro club confirmed on Wednesday that the 41-year-old’s contract had been terminated six months ahead of schedule. Silva rejoined Fluminense in May last year, having previously represented the club between 2006 and 2008. In a statement, Fluminense praised Silva for leaving “a legacy of dedication and love” for the club. During his latest stint, the former AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea defender played a key role as Fluminense reached the semifinals of the Club World Cup in July and featured regularly throughout the domestic season, which concludes in December. Mbappé brace carries Real Madrid past Talavera in tight Copa del Rey tie Speculation over his next destination intensified after former Chelsea captain John Terry said on TikTok that he would welcome Silva’s return to Stamford Bridge. Terry noted that Silva’s two sons are part of Chelsea’s academy and suggested the family would be back in London for the Christmas period. Silva has been a mainstay of Brazil’s national team over the years, appearing in squads for the last four World Cups. His international honors include titles at the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2019 Copa América. Source: AP 

Kylian Mbappé struck twice as Real Madrid edged third-tier Talavera 3-2 in the Copa del Rey round of 32 on Wednesday. The France forward opened the scoring from the spot in the 41st minute, then restored Madrid’s cushion late in the second half with a long-range effort, marking his 10th goal in his last six appearances across all competitions. Mbappé also played a role in the move that resulted in Manuel Farrando’s own goal during first-half stoppage time. “He made the difference,” said Madrid coach Xabi Alonso. “Kylian has a natural instinct for goals. The third goal was crucial, which is why he stayed on and why he started.” Talavera rallied through Nahuel Arroyo in the 80th minute and Gonzalo Di Renzo deep into stoppage time, but Madrid held firm to avoid a shock exit that would have intensified scrutiny on Alonso after recent uneven performances. A late save by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin proved decisive. Madrid controlled proceedings early despite resting several regulars. “We managed the first half well and went ahead, but failing to make it 3-0 kept it open,” Alonso said. “The second half was competitive. We pushed for the third earlier and had chances. It was an exciting cup tie. Mission accomplished.” Madrid wrap up 2025 with a league trip to Sevilla on Saturday. Atletico advance Antoine Griezmann scored once in each half as Atletico Madrid secured a gritty 3-2 victory at Atletico Baleares. Giacomo Raspadori added the third for Diego Simeone’s side, which survived sustained pressure, including an 80th-minute missed penalty by the hosts. It was Atletico’s third straight win in all competitions. Top-flight upsets Several La Liga teams were knocked out by lower-division opponents. Villarreal fell 2-1 after conceding twice before halftime, with Ayoze Pérez pulling one back late. Celta Vigo lost to Albacete on penalties after a 2-2 draw, while Levante were beaten 1-0 by Cultural Leonesa. In an all–top-flight clash, Alaves edged Sevilla 1-0 via a late penalty. Barcelona advanced Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Guadalajara. Source: AP 

An Ibrahimovic could once again be celebrating silverware with AC Milan, but this time it may be Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s son, Maximilian. The Rossoneri have called up 19-year-old Maximilian Ibrahimovic for the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, with the young forward joining the senior squad amid a growing injury list. He is one of six players from Milan’s reserve team included in the traveling party. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of Milan’s most iconic players, scored 93 goals in 163 appearances across two spells at the club, winning two Serie A titles and the Italian Super Cup. While the former Sweden striker has not come out of retirement, his son could make his senior debut and potentially lift a trophy in the coming days. “They have good skills,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said of the young call-ups. “I wanted to reward them for what they are doing in training.” Milan, the Italian Cup runner-up, faces Serie A champion Napoli in the Super Cup semifinal on Thursday. Italian Cup winner Bologna will meet Serie A runner-up Inter Milan in the other semifinal, with the final scheduled for Monday. Despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Sassuolo at the weekend, Milan sits second in Serie A, one point behind Inter and one ahead of Napoli. “Tomorrow is a different match, it’s a knockout game where the aim is to reach the final,” Allegri said. Milan won its eighth Italian Super Cup last season, defeating Inter in the final.  

Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí were honored as the world’s best male and female players of 2025 at FIFA’s Best Awards on Tuesday, further cementing their dominance in a year that also saw both win the Ballon d’Or. Dembélé enjoyed a standout season with Paris Saint-Germain, playing a key role in the club’s maiden Champions League triumph, while Bonmatí impressed at both club and international level with Barcelona and Spain. The FIFA Best Awards are determined through votes cast by national team captains and coaches, journalists and fans worldwide. Coaching honors also went to two European champions. England manager Sarina Wiegman was recognized after guiding her team to a second consecutive Women’s European Championship title, defeating Spain in the final in Switzerland. On the men’s side, Luis Enrique was rewarded for leading PSG to Champions League glory along with domestic success in France. Notably, the winners of the four top awards mirrored the results of the Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris in September, underlining a consensus on the standout performers of the year. FIFA hosted the annual awards ceremony at a private dinner in Doha, timed around PSG’s appearance against Flamengo — the reigning South American champions — in Wednesday’s Intercontinental Cup match. Source: AP 

FIFA has sharply reduced prices for a limited number of World Cup tickets for the most dedicated supporters following a wave of global criticism, allowing some fans to buy seats for as little as $60 — including for the final — instead of paying up to $4,185. The move marks a rare retreat by FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, who have faced mounting backlash over World Cup planning decisions, particularly high ticket prices and closer political ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. FIFA announced Tuesday that $60 tickets will be available for every match at the North America tournament. These tickets will be allocated to national football federations whose teams are competing, with each federation responsible for distributing them to loyal supporters who regularly follow their teams at home and abroad. Between 400 and 750 tickets per team per match are expected to be offered under what FIFA now calls a “Supporter Entry Tier.” The tournament will be staged across 16 cities — 11 in the United States, two in Canada and three in Mexico. While FIFA did not directly explain the sudden policy shift, it said the lower-priced tickets are intended to better support traveling fans throughout the competition. However, Football Supporters Europe (FSE), which represents grassroots fan organizations, described the move as a response to intense global criticism. It said the decision exposed flaws in FIFA’s ticketing policy, claiming it was rushed and introduced without meaningful consultation. The expanded 48-team World Cup — up from 32 — is projected to generate at least $10 billion in revenue for FIFA and is set to be the most expensive tournament ever for fans. Despite protests over pricing, FIFA said it has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in the latest sales phase. FSE warned that most supporters would still face extremely high prices, exceeding those of any previous World Cup. Early promises and rising criticismFans reacted angrily last week when FIFA’s original ticket plans showed that participating teams would receive no tickets in the lowest-priced category, despite being entitled to 8% of stadium capacity. Group-stage tickets were priced between $140 and $265 for matches not involving host nations. Higher prices applied to games featuring popular teams such as Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and England. Critics noted that the host countries had promised during their bid that hundreds of thousands of tickets priced around $21 would be available before the knockout rounds. European fans have also criticized FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing and added resale fees, practices common in the U.S. entertainment market but unfamiliar to many football supporters. Fan anger grew further when it emerged that supporters reserving tickets for all potential matches through the final would only receive refunds after the tournament. FIFA said Tuesday it will waive administrative fees on those refunds. Disability access concernsFSE also urged FIFA to overhaul its approach to fans with disabilities, saying resale platforms were offering accessible seats at inflated prices without guarantees they would reach disabled supporters. It added that free companion tickets — available at the last World Cup in Qatar — are no longer provided. “True inclusion requires action,” FSE said, calling on FIFA to honor its commitments and move beyond symbolic statements. Source: AP 

Manchester United and Bournemouth played out a spectacular 4-4 draw on Monday in one of the Premier League’s most exciting matches of the season. United, who dominated much of the first half, took an early lead in the 13th minute when Amad Diallo nodded in Diogo Dalot’s cross near the goal line. Bournemouth responded before halftime through Antoine Semenyo, only for Casemiro to restore United’s lead with a header from a Bruno Fernandes corner. The second half saw Bournemouth turn the game around in just six minutes. Evanilson scored after 37 seconds following a precise through ball from Marcus Tavernier, and Tavernier himself curled a left-foot shot past the United wall to put the visitors 3-2 ahead. United fought back with a superb Fernandes free kick in the 77th minute and a clinical finish from Matheus Cunha two minutes later, reclaiming a 4-3 lead. Yet Bournemouth staged another comeback when Eli Junior Kroupi curled in a late equalizer with six minutes remaining, securing a 4-4 draw. “Fans will definitely enjoy it, but for us on the pitch it was frustrating,” Tavernier said. “We started the first half slow but came back in the second to take an amazing position in the game.” The draw lifted Manchester United to sixth place in the league, while Bournemouth, winless in seven matches, sits 13th.