Newcastle, Liverpool and England legend Keegan dies

LONDON, England, July 20, 2026 – Former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan has died at the age of 75, seven weeks after he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer, his family have confirmed. ipltable.lol

One of English football’s most decorated players, Keegan enjoyed spells at Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle during an illustrious playing career.

He later went on to manage Newcastle, Fulham, England and Manchester City.

Keegan revealed he had stage four cancer in June, which is the most advanced stage of cancer and means the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

A statement on behalf of the Keegan family said he was “surrounded by his wife and daughters in his final moments”.

“Kevin, a double Ballon d’Or winner, was a much loved husband, father and grandfather,” it continued.

“The family would like to thank Kevin’s incredible medical team for all their support. This is a hugely difficult time and they are requesting space and privacy.”

Newcastle United paid tribute, describing Keegan as “one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history”.

The club statement added: “Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.

“Kevin’s impact will not be measured by appearances or results. It will live on in the memories he created with club and country, the dreams he inspired wherever he went, and the generations of supporters around the world who fell in love with football because of him.”

More to follow.

2026 FIFA World Cup Individual Awards.The curtain has officially fallen on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Spain crowned world champions after a memorable campaign. But the celebrations did not end with the lifting of the trophy. As has become tradition, FIFA also recognised the tournament’s standout individual performers, rewarding the players whose brilliance lit up football’s biggest stage.

Awards at a glance

Award	Winner	Key stat / note
Golden Boot (Top scorer)	Kyliân Mbappé (France)	10 goals — new all-time WC scoring record (22 goals in 22 matches)
Golden Ball (Best player)	Rodri (Spain)	Midfield maestro; Spain conceded 1 goal in 8 matches
Golden Glove (Best goalkeeper)	Unai Simón (Spain)	WC record: 650 consecutive minutes without conceding
Best Young Player	Pau Cubarsí (Spain)	Every minute played; 7 clean sheets; 19 years old
Fair Play Award	Netherlands	Eliminated in R32 (pens vs Morocco); exemplary discipline

Golden Boot — Kyliân Mbappé (France)

Kyliân Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer with 10 goals — including a brace in France’s third-place playoff against England. The Real Madrid captain’s final tally pulled him clear of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who finished on eight goals.

Mbappé now wins the Golden Boot at consecutive World Cups, having first claimed it in 2022. More significantly, his tournament tally takes his career World Cup total to 22 goals in 22 appearances — moving him one ahead of Messi (21) as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Golden Ball — Rodri (Spain)

Rodri’s selection as the tournament’s best player was the consensus choice of the competition. The Manchester City midfielder and reigning Ballon d’Or winner dominated matches from the centre of the park throughout Spain’s eight-match unbeaten campaign, dictating tempo, recycling possession and shielding a backline that conceded just one goal across the entire tournament.

His composure and intelligence were the engine of Spain’s possession-based system and a central reason they were never seriously threatened for extended periods in any match, including the final itself.

Golden Glove — Unai Simón (Spain)

Unai Simón claimed the Golden Glove after one of the finest goalkeeping campaigns in World Cup history. The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper was barely tested throughout Spain’s run, a reflection of his team’s dominance, but when called upon he was faultless.

Simón set a new World Cup record of 650 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, eclipsing the previous mark. Spain conceded just one goal across their entire tournament campaign — across all eight matches from the group stage to the final.

Read also :Spain vs argentina

Best Young Player — Pau Cubarsí (Spain)

Pau Cubarsí’s emergence as one of world football’s brightest young talents was confirmed when he was named FIFA Best Young Player of the Tournament. The 19-year-old Barcelona defender played every minute of Spain’s eight matches and kept seven clean sheets, anchoring the historically dominant defence. His reading of the game, composure under pressure and the key role he played in provoking Enzo Fernández’s red card in the final made him one of the tournament’s most complete performers.

FIFA Fair Play Award — Netherlands

The FIFA Fair Play Award went to the Netherlands. Despite a disappointing campaign that ended in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw with Morocco followed by a penalty shootout defeat, the Dutch were recognised for displaying exemplary discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Meilleur joueur de la Coupe du Monde 2026, Rodri fait taire enfin les polémiques nées de son Ballon d’or de 2024. Plusieurs observateurs pensaient qu’il ne méritait pas ce titre honorifique.

Depuis son sacre au Ballon d’Or 2024, Rodri n’a cessé d’être au cœur des débats. Si beaucoup ont salué la reconnaissance d’un milieu de terrain dont l’influence est souvent déterminante, d’autres ont contesté ce choix, estimant que d’autres stars méritaient davantage cette distinction. Les critiques et les polémiques se sont multipliées, alimentant les discussions pendant de longs mois. Mais le joueur espagnol a choisi la meilleure des réponses, celle du terrain.

Lors de la Coupe du monde, il a une nouvelle fois démontré pourquoi il est considéré comme l’un des meilleurs joueurs de sa génération. Véritable métronome de son équipe, il a dicté le rythme des rencontres, récupéré d’innombrables ballons et apporté une sérénité précieuse dans les moments décisifs. Son influence a été déterminante dans le parcours de son équipe jusqu’au sacre mondial. Une performance collective récompensée par un titre de champion du monde, mais aussi par une distinction individuelle prestigieuse : le trophée de meilleur joueur de la compétition.

Un message spécial au Real Madrid et Pérez

En remportant cette Coupe du monde et en étant désigné meilleur joueur du tournoi, Rodri envoie un message fort surtout au Real Madrid à sa tête Perez. Sacré sur le terrain, le milieu espagnol répond de la meilleure des manières au club madrilène, qui avait boycotté la cérémonie du Ballon d’Or, ainsi qu’aux partisans de Vinícius Júnior, nombreux à estimer qu’il ne méritait pas cette distinction. Ceci est une nouvelle démonstration de son influence et de son statut parmi les meilleurs joueurs du monde.

Cette récompense vient renforcer la légitimité de son Ballon d’Or 2024. Là où certains voyaient un choix contestable, Rodri a répondu par des performances de très haut niveau, confirmant qu’il est bien plus qu’un simple milieu défensif. Il est le véritable chef d’orchestre de son équipe.

Dans le football, les débats ne s’arrêtent jamais, mais les trophées se gagnent sur le terrain. Et en ajoutant un titre de champion du monde ainsi que le prix du meilleur joueur du tournoi à son palmarès, Rodri a offert la plus convaincante des réponses à ses détracteurs.

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LONDON, England, July 20, 2026 – Argentina are likely to face a Fifa investigation following the ugly scenes at the end of the World Cup final.

Fifa had already begun the process of potential disciplinary action against Argentina when their players held a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following the 2-1 semi-final win against England.

After the 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the Argentina team and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players as they began to celebrate their World Cup success.

Any player or coach involved in the fracas at the MetLife Stadium could face suspensions, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) may also be fined.

It was initially reported by Fifa that Argentina’s Leandro Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic after he pushed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat.

Paredes’ red card was removed from the record shortly afterwards and there is now no evidence of any disciplinary action being taken at the time.

Argentina had already had one player dismissed, with Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee will now await the official match reports before taking any action.

What happened after the World Cup final?

As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, a few Argentina players – including Lionel Messi – slumped to the turf.

Others stood there motionless as Spain’s players raced across the pitch in jubilation.

Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates.

As the Manchester City midfielder went past Nahuel Molina, the Argentina defender appeared to punch Rodri on the arm or stomach.

This was the fuse which ignited the trouble.

Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner.

Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involved too, jabbing Garcia in the throat.

Unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene, only to be forced to the ground by Thiago Almada.

Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard’s face.

Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo.

“Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’s face. He went for them,” Alan Shearer said on BBC One’s coverage. “There is no place or space for that.

“We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.”

Joe Hart added: “The game’s done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour.”

But Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who had attempted to calm down the situation, appeared to play down the incidents in his post-match interview.

“We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat,” he said. “Today, we are showing that we know how to lose.

“We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.”

What action could Argentina face?

Fifa’s disciplinary committee has a number of options open to it.

It could look to issue three-match bans for violent conduct, but it is more likely to use its disciplinary code to give stronger charges.

Article 13 covers offensive behaviour and the principles of fair play.

The actions of the players and staff could be judged as “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” and “behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or Fifa into disrepute”.

The Fifa disciplinary committee takes into account “both aggravating and mitigating circumstances”, and it has the power to enforce the ban globally.

Fifa used this clause to charge then-Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win against England.

Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years in 2023 and lost an appeal to get it overturned.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

It meant the Liverpool player missed the first nine games of the Premier League season.

It is unlikely that Paredes, Molina and Ayala will face bans as long as this.

The AFA, however, has faced issues with the behaviour of its players in recent years.

Argentina faced charges related to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct of players and officials” following the 2022 World Cup final.

The South Americans beat France on penalties but were criticised for the way they celebrated.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his Goalkeeper of the Tournament trophy, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star Kylian Mbappe.

Argentina were fined £18,300 and no action was taken against any player involved.

But Martinez was banned for two games in 2024 for ‘offensive behaviour’ in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

Martinez repeated his infamous celebration using a replica Copa America trophy following a 3-0 win over Chile. Four days later, he hit a camera with his gloves as a cameraman approached him on the pitch after a 2-1 defeat by Colombia.

At this World Cup, the AFA is already facing a probable fine for the banner held up after the England game.

Their players celebrated while holding a cloth which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

In 2014, the AFA was fined £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.

It is possible that Fifa could issue bans to the players who were holding it: Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, former Spurs player Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez.

After Spain’s 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England, their captain Alvaro Morata and team-mate Rodri were banned for one game by Uefa after they chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their victory celebrations.

So when could Fifa make a decision on any potential charges?

After the 2022 World Cup final on 18 December, Fifa officially charged Argentina on 13 January but it took another month for a decision to be reached.

There will not be a resolution any time soon.