Messi Named FIFA Player of the Year

...team to three separate Spanish and European titles. The 22-year old Messi beat 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 2007 winner Kaka, and teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League...

Ten best players of the decade

Dominic Raynor offers his selection of the ten greatest players of the past decade.

Messi on top of the world

Lionel Messi was rewarded for a stunning year in which he helped Barcelona to an unprecedented six trophies by being named FIFA's World Player of the Year.

FC Barcelona's Messi wins World Player of the Year

Lionel Messi is the FIFA World Player of the Year after leading FC Barcelona to an unprecedented trio of Spanish and European titles.

From the Golden Ball to the Golden Bin

Svend Frandsen reports on the stalling career of Inter Milan winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Real Madrid 6-0 Real Zaragoza

...s side then added two more goals in the second half through big-money summer signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema - on his 22nd birthday - to record their biggest win of the season.Pellegrini...

La Liga: Real Madrid hit six, Soldado nets brace

Real Madrid took advantage of Barcelona's absence to keep up the pressure at the top of La Liga by hammering six goals past Real Zaragoza.

Real Madrid v Real Zaragoza: Preview

...old centre-back is a huge blow for Madrid, who have already seen world-record signing Cristiano Ronaldo miss 10 matches earlier this season with an ankle injury and lost Brazilian superstar Kaka for...

The year of the "Mad Drog"

Dominic Raynor gets all mist-eyed as he looks back on 2009 in a The Year That Was special.

Patrice Evra guarantees David Beckham a warm welcome

Patrice Evra will help roll out the Old Trafford welcome mat for David Beckham - and then try to boot the former Manchester United star out of the Champions League.

Jean-Michel Aulas pleased with Karim Benzema reunion

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is looking forward to renewing the "great bond" between his club and Karim Benzema after Les Gones were drawn against Real Madrid in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

England's reputation takes a dive

The South Africa Angle explains why England can no longer occupy the moral high ground.

Man Utd 3-0 Wolves: Champions ease to win

Angry Wolves fans launched a blistering attack on manager Mick McCarthy for a team selection that virtually handed Sir Alex Ferguson a 3-0 victory on a plate to mark his 900th game as Manchester United manager.

Real Madrid broke the world transfer record to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million

The biggest stories of the decade

Mark Lomas picks out the ten biggest stories from a decade of football trials and tribulations.