Good morning. European football’s players’ union calls for fundamental changes to Fifa’s structure, Lamine Yamal says he’s the best player in the world, and everything else you need to know.
Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
English League Cup 3rd round (Sept 15): West Ham vs Fulham, 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET. West Ham have been in excellent form, beating Wrexham 6-0 on Friday in what was their fourth victory in a row. Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa has endured a difficult start at Fulham, collecting just one point in the Premier League. Liverpool vs Tottenham, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET. Liverpool have lost just one of their last 30 meetings with Tottenham at Anfield in all competitions. Spurs are also yet to score a goal away from home this season, losing 3-0 at Brentford and drawing 0-0 at Nottingham Forest. Ipswich Town vs Arsenal, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET. Only one of Arsenal's last 11 EFL Cup runs has ended as early as the third round, and they head into this fixture having won every game they’ve played this season. Ipswich have been in mixed form, winning three and losing two in their last five matches in all competitions. See all English League Cup fixtures here.
Results…
TOP TALKING POINTS
FIFA Restructure Demand
European players’ union FIFPRO Europe has called for reforms to Fifa’s decision-making structures after claiming Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s abandoned Forward Enterprise proposal exposed flaws in how world football is governed. It wants an independent review of Fifa Council decision-making and a formal role for players, clubs and leagues in shaping major changes, rather than letting Fifa’s leadership advance proposals alone.
Infantino unveiled the proposal earlier this year before withdrawing it following widespread opposition. FIFPRO said the plan would have turned Fifa’s biggest competitions into assets for private investors without proper consultation, while arguing that the governance problems which allowed it to progress remain unresolved.
Its report also highlighted European football’s importance to Fifa, saying European clubs employed 856 players at the expanded 2026 World Cup and released players worth around €16.9bn, representing 94% of the tournament’s total player value. FIFPRO also noted that the share of World Cup revenue distributed as prize money has fallen from around 10.5% in 2006 to 7.7% in 2026.
Yamal Claims Supremacy
Lamine Yamal has said that he and Kylian Mbappe are the best players in the world, and that his World Cup success should edge him for the Ballon d’Or this year. Yamal’s comments follow Mbappe’s suggestion last week that no player was better than him last season, despite not winning any silverware. The Ballon d'Or will be awarded in London on October 26.
“I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I’d deserve it because of what I’ve won,” Yamal said in an interview. “As far as I’m concerned, Mbappe and I are the two best in the world. It’s clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it.”
Yamal, who scored a brace in Barcelona's 4-2 win over Levante on Sunday, was named La Liga’s best player in 2025-26 and played a key role in Spain’s World Cup win. He has also started this season in good form, scoring seven goals in Barcelona’s flawless opening five games of the La Liga season.
Champions League Opening Data
Premier League clubs were comfortably the strongest performers in the opening round of the Champions League, with every English team winning their first league-phase match. Data analysed by The Guardian showed they collectively out-shot their opponents 102-44, registered 28 more efforts on target and created 24 big chances while conceding only five.
English clubs also topped the competition for combined expected-goal difference by country, while Serie A finished bottom. Como were the only Italian winners, Roma drew with Fenerbahce, and both Napoli and Inter lost, although Inter produced more shots than any away team in league or European football had managed in a single 90 minutes for eight years.
There were also very few shocks across the opening 18 matches. Sixteen produced a winner, but only two were won by teams considered underdogs by bookmakers. Real Betis’ 3-2 victory at Lille was the biggest surprise based on pre-match predictions, although the sides are ranked 49th and 52nd respectively in Opta’s Power Rankings.
ON THE BALL
Europe
• The VAR and assistant VAR from Sunday’s Manchester derby fixture will not officiate until at least after the international break (More) | James Milner, who has the most appearances in Premier League history, will temporarily join Liverpool’s academy coaching staff (More)
• Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele said he has “never been the chosen one” after Kylian Mbappe used the phrase to describe himself last week (More)
• Midweek La Liga fixtures see Elche host Real Madrid on Tuesday (Sept 15) at 20:30 BST / 15:30 ET; see all La Liga fixtures (More)
• The Championship continues with Middlesbrough vs Millwall and Bristol City vs Lincoln kicking off on Tuesday (Sept 15) at 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET (More) | Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64 (More)
Americas
• Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Neymar has retired from the national team (More) | Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has joined Brazilian side Santos on a contract until the end of the season (More)
• Mexico’s anti-trust commission has launched an investigation into potential monopolistic practices in the country’s football (More)
• Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan recorded his first two-goal game in MLS, and assisted another goal to help the Philadelphia Union cruise to a 5-0 victory over San Diego (More)
• The CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-final between Platense and Fluminense takes place on Tuesday (Sept 15) (More)
• Forge FC and FC Supra du Quebec meet in the Canadian Championship on Tuesday (Sept 15) following their 1-1 draw in the first leg (More)
Rest of the World
• Al Sadd have signed midfielder Marcelo Brozovic on a one-year deal following his release by Al Nassr (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Should Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United have been ruled out for offside because of Enzo Fernandez’s interference?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 ⬜️ 👍 Yes (68%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (25%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (7%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 P.M: “The goalkeeper was focused on Fernandez, and could not reshape his body to challenge Haaland. I saw it straight away, so how did VAR not take that into account?”
🙅♂️ A.J: “Everyone complains that the offside rule, in its current form, goes against the spirit of the game by being too harsh on the attacker. It’s the reason why Wenger wants to change the rule to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker. Yet, when someone ‘interferes’ with a goal, everyone wants it to be called offside. I say we err on the side of more goals.”
✍️ N.A: “The problem with VAR is that the arbitrators are different at each match. I believe they need to adopt a centralised control room similar to the NHL, MLB, and NBA. One room, one VAR team looking at all the matches and applying the letter of the law. This ensures all matches are looked at by the same group of VAR officials each week. It will eliminate the emotional aspect affecting match officials.”
EXTRA TIME
How quick are footballers, actually?
A day in the life of a Premier League player.
Inter Milan unveil new third kit in ‘90s throwback.
Why is Roma playing with no midfielders, and is it working? (video)
The numbers that defined the WSL weekend.
Opta’s Europa League projections released.
Aubameyang joins an exclusive goalscoring club.
GAME FACE ON
Who Am I…
My first professional contract was with Sheffield United.
I play for Senegal.
Everton sold me this summer.
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I don't believe skill was or ever will be, the result of coaches. It is a result of a love affair between the child and the ball.
Answer
Iliman Ndiaye.