MICHEL PLATINI

The superlatives about Pelé over the years came from the likes of Nelson Mandela and Andy Warhol.

Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm says it was “a mistake” to award the World Cup to Qatar.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says picking Qatar to host the World Cup was a mistake 12 years ago.

Karim Benzema has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the highest-scoring man in the international soccer history with his 110th goal for Portugal on Wednesday.

A sprawling European Championship like no other is racking up air miles like never before.

Cristiano Ronaldo set the record for most goals at the European Championship with two of them in Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Hungary at a packed Puskas Arena.

Cristiano Ronaldo was stopped by a security official to have his identity checked before playing for Portugal against Hungary at the European Championship.

A tournament intended to be a celebration of European soccer will instead reflect many of the uncertainties that have beset the sport during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gerard Houllier, a Frenchman who won three titles in one season as coach of English club Liverpool, has died. “We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier," Liverpool wrote on Twitter. Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020." “Absolutely devastated by the news about Gerard Houllier," Jamie Carragher wrote on Twitter. His tenure at Liverpool was far more successful, leading the Reds to the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble in 2001.

City fans are celebrating a squad of lawyers outsmarting UEFAs judicial machinery in extra time and saving the club from a devastating two-year Champions League ban. It is still the biggest sanction for an English club since City was fined 30 million euros in the original 2014 FFP case for overspending. Clubs across Europe made a combined profit of 140 million euros in 2018 compared to losses of 1.163 billion euros in 2009 before FFP was implemented. The CAS verdict only reinforces City fans grievances with European footballs governing body. Meanwhile, City could end an extraordinary season by lifting UEFA's biggest club prize for the first time: The European Cup.

FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 19, 2018, former FIFA President Joseph Blatter in Moscow, Russia. According to documents Saturday June 13, 2020, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the target of a new investigation in Switzerland for suspected criminal mismanagement of soccer funds. The Swiss federal prosecution office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the AP. The Swiss prosecution document does not directly link the timing of FIFAs $1 million payment with the general election in Trinidad and Tobago. A second Swiss criminal proceeding has been open against Blatter since September 2015 related to FIFA payments to former UEFA president Michel Platini.