It’s been 25 years since a World Series winner repeated as champion, 50 years since Carlton Fisk ended one of MLB’s greatest games and most important telecasts, 75 years since baseball introduced the first bullpen car and the rule to mandate the home team bats second and 100 years since Pittsburgh beat Washington through the worst weather conditions of a World Series Game 7: rain, mist, fog and a field described by the as a “swampy bog.”

Happy new year, baseball fans. No sport is as informed by its past like baseball. While the Los Angeles Dodgers look fully capable of going back-to-back, the odds say you’re still better off taking the field rather than the Dodgers.

The biggest joys of a baseball season are always found in the surprises. But until then, to get you ready for 2025 here is what we know is coming. Be they milestones, schedule highlights, comebacks or trends to watch, here are 25 for ’25:

1. The return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound

You didn’t forget, did you? Before he blew out his elbow, Ohtani was one of the best pitchers in baseball. From 2021–23 he was 24–16 with a 2.84 ERA and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. In that span he ranked second in ERA+, third in ERA, third in strikeout rate and fifth in winning percentage (for a Los Angeles Angels team without a winning record). The Dodgers will slow-play his return, especially since surgery to repair his non-throwing shoulder set back his rehab timeline. You might not see Ohtani on the mound until late April or May and he probably will make only about 20 starts in Los Angeles’s six-man rotation. But imagine if the Dodgers get to October with a rotation of Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. Good luck, world.

2. The challenge system for balls and strikes

A sneak peek at the future of baseball is here. Every team (but not every ballpark) will get a trial run in spring training with the major league version of the system that has been used in the minors. The pitcher, catcher and batter each can challenge the pitch call by an umpire. Each team gets two challenges per game. (Challenges are retained if the appeal is successful.) Quickly, a video on the scoreboard shows whether the path of the pitch entered the strike zone, similar to line calls in tennis. The speed, accuracy and fan engagement should lead to calls to implement the system in the regular season this year. That’s not happening. But after proper review by MLB and the players, it should be in place for 2026.

3. The Decision, Roki Sasaki version

It’s coming between Jan. 15 and Jan. 23. Sasaki is not a finished product, and he will be under an innings limit in 2025, but the 23-year-old righthander with sick fastball movement and a nasty split has the ceiling of being one of the best pitchers on the planet. And he could be had for an international signing bonus no greater than $7.5 million and pitch this year in the majors at a minimum salary. Twenty teams sent interest to his agent, Joel Wolfe, which begs the question: why are 10 teams not even trying? Sasaki will soon narrow the field down in Round 2 and may visit the cities of teams that make the final cut. With careful handling, Sasaki has the stuff to be an instant sensation.

4. The first full season of Paul Skenes

The way Skenes finished the season (four earned runs and eight walks in his final seven starts) validated how well the Pittsburgh Pirates guided him through his rookie year. He averaged only four innings per start in his seven minor league outings, then pitched with at least five days of rest in all his major league starts. Will they pitch him on four days occasionally in 2025? Will they let him throw 180–190 innings this year, as he should have no problem reaching? His command, more so than his velocity, is what sets him apart. He could dominate MLB in 2025, starting with Opening Day, March 27 against the Marlins in Miami.

5. The Baseball Hall of Fame vote

Will Ichiro Suzuki be a unanimous selection? Will fellow first-ballot candidate CC Sabathia join him at what would be a huge induction ceremony in July? Will Billy Wagner, who fell five votes short last year, make it in his final try on the writers’ ballot? Will Carlos Beltrán (up 10.6% last year) continue to gain momentum after getting dinged for his role in the 2017 Astros’ sign-stealing scandal? How much support is there for first-time candidates Dustin Pedroia and Félix Hernández? The answers will come Jan. 21.

6. Juan Soto returns to the Bronx

Circle May 16–18. This should be fun. Maybe Plan B for the New York Yankees turns out better than Plan A, which was to re-sign Soto. (Mets owner Steve Cohen was not going to be outbid.) That requires Max Fried and Devin Williams to stay healthy and Paul Goldschmidt to bounce back at age 37 from the worst season of his career. One thing is for sure: Soto is going to hit. Always has, always will. He has the highest floor of any hitter in baseball.

7. Rivalry weekend

In a schedule change, MLB increased the key interleague rivalry games (such as Mets-Yankees) from four to six. Eleven of the 15 series the weekend of May 16–18 are matchups between such key interleague rivals.

8. Major league baseball in minor league ballparks

The Athletics (no city affiliation; just the team nickname) are playing in West Sacramento and the Tampa Bay Rays are playing at the Yankees’ spring training site, George M. Steinbrenner Field. Both venues will be retrofitted to major league standards (lighting, clubhouses, training facilities, etc.) but it’s not a good look, especially given weather challenges (summer heat in West Sacramento, heat and rain in Tampa).

9. The return of Mike Trout

He is 33 years old and has not played more than 140 games in nine years. Over the past four years, injuries have kept him out of 59% of the Angels’ games. But don’t forget that in those four years Trout slugged .575 with a .951 OPS. There is plenty left in the tank, though in a different form than the classic version of Trout. He is a pull-side slugger who should hit 40–50 home runs—if he stays healthy.

10. 2,000 hits for Manny Machado

The San Diego Padres third baseman is 100 hits short of 2,000. He would become only the 55th player to reach 2,000 hits by age 32. Of the previous 10 players this century to get there at that age, five made it to 3,000 (Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Adrián Beltré, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter) and five did not (Robinson Canó, Edgar Rentería, Iván Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Roberto Alomar).

11. 1,000 RBIs for Bryce Harper

With 24 more RBIs, Harper will become only the fourth player with 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 walks and 100 stolen bases by age 32. The others are Mickey Mantle, Carl Yastrzemski and Barry Bonds.

12. 1,000 RBIs for Trout

Trout needs 46 RBIs for a grand, so why not get it in the same year as Harper, his fellow 2012 Rookie of the Year? Through 2019, Trout led Harper in WAR, 72.5 to 32.2. Since then, Harper leads Trout, 18.8 to 13.8.

13. The MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol

The Atlanta Braves play the Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2. Lefthanded pull hitters will take aim at Turn 1. Righthanded pull hitters will try to go deep into Turn 2. Very cool. The idea of Elly De La Cruz stealing bags at the Speedway is perfect.

14. 4,000 total bases for Freddie Freeman

He needs only 134. How huge is that number? Freeman will become only the 10th first baseman with 4,000 total bases and 1,000 walks. Of the first nine to reach those thresholds, all are in the Hall of Fame except Albert Pujols, who is not yet eligible, and Rafael Palmeiro, whose candidacy was sunk by PED taint.

15. The Tokyo Series: Dodgers vs. Cubs

Los Angeles, featuring Ohtani (who is not expected to pitch in the series) and Yamamoto, take on Chicago, featuring Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, March 18 and 19 at the Tokyo Dome to kick off the 2025 MLB season. How much does Japan love baseball? Game 2 of the 2024 World Series, with Yamamoto as the starting pitcher, drew a bigger audience in the morning in Japan (15.9 million viewers) than in prime time in the U.S. (13.8 million). The five-game World Series averaged a bigger audience in Japan (12.1 million viewers per game) than did the five-game 2024 NBA Finals in the U.S. (11.3 million per game).

16. The twilight of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer

Don’t count out Verlander, who turns 42 next month, and Scherzer, 40. They may not be front-of-the-rotation workhorses any longer, but they are fierce competitors who would be an asset to any contender. Verlander and Scherzer rank 10th and 11th, respectively, on the all-time strikeouts list. Next up for Verlander: Walter Johnson, 93 strikeouts away.

17. The comebacks of Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw

Both pitchers are 36. They have five Cy Young Awards between them, but also only 10 starts last year. deGrom hasn’t thrown 100 innings since 2019. He should begin the year in the Texas Rangers’ rotation. Kershaw is not expected back from toe and knee surgeries until midseason.

18. 50 years of free agency

When arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled Dec. 23, 1975, in favor of pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally, he effectively ended baseball’s reserve clause. Owners appealed, and lost, forcing them to bargain with the players association on a system of free agency. Maverick A’s owner Charlie Finley wanted all players to be free agents every year, thus flooding the market and keeping prices down. Union chief Marvin Miller was too smart for that. And besides, other owners didn’t listen to Finley. The two sides came up with a threshold to qualify for free agency that exists to this day: six years of service time. The free-agent class next season is due to include Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Bo Bichette and Devin Williams.

19. 450 home runs for Giancarlo Stanton

Sitting on 429 homers, Stanton needs 21 for 450 and another three after that to pass Carl Yastrzemski into 40th place on the all-time list. His path to 500 homers and the Hall of Fame are coming into focus.

20. 2,000 strikeouts for Stanton

With just 37 more punchouts, Stanton will become only the eighth player with 2,000 strikeouts. Goldschmidt, his new Yankees teammate, is not far behind; he is 121 strikeouts away from Club 2K.

21. The next wave of young pitchers

Technology has pushed pitching development so far ahead of hitting development. That trend continues. The next generation of plug-and-play strikeout pitchers who will impact 2025 include Jackson Jobe of the Detroit Tigers, Andrew Painter of the Philadelphia Phillies, Bubba Chandler of the Pirates, Caden Dana of the Angels and Kumar Rocker of the Rangers.

22. National League dominance

Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly wasn’t wrong when he talked about the path the Yankees had to the World Series last year. It was easier than getting through the NL, and that doesn’t change in 2025. Last year seven NL teams won 89 games. Only three AL teams did so. Of the 15 free agents who signed for $75 million or more the past two offseasons, 12 of them signed with NL teams.

23.  The 50-year drought?

This is the 50th season of MLB baseball in Seattle, including one by the Seattle Pilots. The city has never hosted a World Series, the longest such drought by any metropolitan area. Among those playing the waiting game longest, Seattle is followed by Pittsburgh (45 years), Milwaukee (42), Baltimore (41) and Cincinnati (34).

24. The Mets retire David Wright’s No. 5

It’s the 10th number worn by a Mets player to be retired by the club, the first such single digit. It’s the eighth No. 5 to be retired and the first since 2007, when the Astros retired Jeff Bagwell’s No. 5.

25. A fantastic finish?

The regular season ends Sept. 28. Eight of the 15 matchups are among division rivals, including Orioles-Yankees, Diamondbacks-Padres and Cardinals-Cubs.

Former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz, who passed away on January 6, died from a suspected drug overdose, according to a report from the Phoenix Police Department that was obtained by . Matusz, who was 37, spent the majority of his eight-year career with the Baltimore Orioles.

According to the report, Matusz's mother Elizabeth went to his house to check on him. When there was no answer at the door, she entered the residence through a bathroom window and discovered Brian laying on his back on a couch in an upstairs room. Matusz was cold to the touch with a white substance in his mouth, and drug paraphernalia in the form of a lighter, a straw and a small piece of aluminum foil were discovered on the floor near his right hand.

The Phoenix Police Department said there were no apparent injuries, trauma or signs of foul play.

Matusz, who had a history of substance abuse, was advised to seek the help of a mental health professional after he was taken to the emergency room two days before his death. The reason for the visit was redacted in the report. Matusz's mother told police that he made comments like "there is nothing left for me" and that he used to "have it all."

After a standout career at the University of San Diego, Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, became a full-time starter in his second season in the big leagues, tossing 175 2/3 innings for Baltimore in 2010. During his career as both a reliever and a starter, he, somewhat famously, became known for his effectiveness against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, whom he held to a .138 batting average in his career. In 280 games, Matusz recorded a 4.92 ERA.

Sadio Mane says he rejected a move to Manchester United a year before signing for Liverpool. When the forward was impressing at Southampton, the Red Devils were keen on signing the Senegal international. But Mane has revealed he was "not convinced" by then-manager Louis van Gaal's assertion that he would be a first-team regular.

• Mane wanted by Premier League giants

  Mane joined Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg in 2014 for just under £12 million ($15.5m), which was a club record fee at the time, and went on to score 25 goals in 75 appearances. But before he headed to Anfield for a fee worth up to £36m ($47m) in June 2016, Mane had the chance to move to Van Gaal's United the year prior. However, he seemingly had doubts that he would play ahead of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, and Angel Di Maria at Old Trafford. The decision to bide his time proved to be a good one as he went on to become one of Liverpool's all-time greats, guiding them to Premier League and Champions League glory in a six-year spell.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Mane unconvinced by Van Gaal's pitch

  In addition to Rooney, Van Persie, and Di Maria, United also had attackers such as Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial – which planted more seeds of doubts in Mane's mind.

  The Al-Nassr star said, via ESPN: "Manchester United called me that time, I was talking to Van Gaal. I was talking to Van Gaal that time. Rooney was there. And Di María was there. And … and [Memphis] Depay was there. When they failed to get me, they bought [Anthony] Martial. Van Gaal called me and he said, 'Mané, how are you? What are you doing?' He said, "I want you to come to Manchester United. I said, 'Really?' He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'OK. Now I'm talking to my agent. [Van Gaal said] 'We'll see what is the best, because I know you're a good player and you can help the team, and we can help you also to become better players'.

  "And then I said, 'OK, so my question: you have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Di María, you have Van Persie, I think the same. 'So where am I going to play?' That was my question, because me, I want to play. He said, 'I know your talent, you're good. But if you do good training, good impression, you will play. But we have another player which is also good'.

  "I was not convinced about his explanation. I talked to the coach, but he told me that I will play if I'm good; if not. But at the time, me, I was not ready, I can say. I was young. I still needed someone to help me more. And one or two more years to become what I want to be. Because I was still in Southampton; I was not consistent. And then we said, 'OK, we'll see'."

• Mane could have joined Liverpool's rivals

  Mane also revealed he spoke to Tottenham the same summer that United tried to sign him. In fact, the pitch that Spurs put to the Senegalese was more tempting. 

  He said: "I have a meeting with Tottenham. At the same time, Mauricio Pochettino called him [my agent] and he said, 'I want to have Sadio to come to Tottenham training ground. And then I go to Tottenham training ground one week after. I see the facility, I meet the coach, I talk to him, and I was more convinced than the Man United project. Because Man United was too many… the problem was too many big players."

  What might have been for Mane…

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  What comes next for Mane?

  Since leaving Liverpool, where he scored 120 goals in 269 matches, Mane has played for Bayern Munich, before joining current club Al-Nassr in 2023. Now, he is targeting winning trophies for Cristiano Ronaldo's team. 

  He added: "It’s normal to dream big because Al Nassr is one of the best teams in the league. The title, we know [that it’s a target], so we don’t need to talk about it. And, of course, having new players like Kingsley [Coman] and Joao [Felix], which is a dream for us to get them because we need them and we are really happy to have them. For sure, the fans and the club expect a lot, but I have no doubt about it that they will deliver for us. It’s going to be a really exciting season for all of us. We can’t wait to achieve the best things that we want."

West Ham chiefs have now been told exactly what they need to complete a deal for AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez in January, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in the market for another centre-forward as Niclas Füllkrug packs his bags.

The Hammers are stepping up their pursuit of a number nine ahead of the winter transfer window, with Fullkrug set to depart as the injury-ridden German international seeks a new chapter (Fabrizio Romano).

Fullkrug, according to multiple reliable media sources, is exploring options to leave, with talks already happening, after having struggled with injuries and a lack of overall form since his move from Borussia Dortmund last year. His impending departure has intensified the need for attacking reinforcements, with Nuno apparently keen to bolster his forward options following a difficult start to the campaign.

The East London club have “already” begun scouring the market for potential targets (Fabrizio Romano), and West Ham are reportedly keeping an eye on Man United striker Joshua Zirkzee as a potential reinforcement, among others.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

West Ham have been linked with Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque and explored a loan move for Real Madrid’s Endrick, before Lyon swooped in to take command in the race for his signature as the Ligue 1 giants press ahead with a deal.

Additionally, Gimenez has emerged as a target for West Ham too.

The Mexico international, who scored for fun in the Eredivisie and even once commanded an £88 million price tag, hasn’t managed to carry on that form at the San Siro since making his eventual £28 million move to Milan earlier this year.

Gimenez has managed just seven goals in 30 total appearances for the Rossoneri, and Milan chiefs may now green-light a mid-season departure for the 24-year-old, who had previously starred under Arne Slot at Feyenoord.

The North American racked up 26 goals in 41 appearances in Slot’s final season at Feyenoord, and finished the previous campaign as their top scorer whilst firing them to the title that year.

Interestingly, Milan are believed to be interested in Fullkrug as a replacement for Gimenez, with the prospect of a swap deal even touted in the press very recently.

West Ham told Santiago Gimenez deal conditions as Fullkrug swap deal mooted

While the possibility of a swap deal or even part-exchange is apparently there, a report by Calciomercato has detailed exactly what David Sullivan needs to do to make a deal happen.

According to their information, West Ham’s hopes of securing Gimenez in January hinge on meeting strict conditions set by the Italian giants.

Milan will only consider selling for a permanent transfer fee of at least £22 million, and crucially, the deal must come from a club that Gimenez himself approves. The Italian outlet emphasizes that without these two conditions being met, any discussions remain purely hypothetical.

The situation presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Nuno’s side. However, that being said, there is reason to believe that Gimenez would be a major upgrade on Fullkrug.

The eight-year age difference between the two strikers means that West Ham would certainly benefit from a swap for the long-term, and unlike Fullkrug, Gimenez enjoyed 20-plus goal seasons in the build up to his Milan move.

Gimenez’s “sensational” form at Feyenoord attracted interest from elite Premier League sides, including Arsenal, and West Ham could now have a chance to help him rediscover his goalscoring touch in England.

Milan’s willingness to sell means a deal is there to be done, so Gimenez could genuinely be one of Nuno’s better options.

Gary Neville singled out one "ambling" Manchester United player for criticism in a furious outburst during his former club's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to a 10-man Everton side. The United flops were deservedly booed off the pitch at full-time after their five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end.

Luke Shaw savaged by Neville

After an injury-riddled 2024-25 campaign, which saw Shaw spending a considerable amount of time on the sidelines, the English defender has finally regained full fitness and has featured in Ruben Amorim's starting lineup in every single Premier League game the club have played so far this term.

Amorim has used Shaw as the left centre-back in his three-man defence and it seems the seasoned campaigner has won back his manager's trust. However, United legend Neville is far from convinced by Shaw's performances, and tore into the England international for his lack of urgency during the dismal loss to Everton.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportShaw labelled 'waste of time'

Analysing the game as a pundit on Sky Sports, Neville came down hard on Shaw as he said: "I'm not saying it's easy playing against ten men, you have to play with some urgency, you have to put as many players as possible forward, into forward areas. Shaw is starting to move forward a little bit, but he's ambling forward, let's be clear. 

"You can't do that. You should be running forward every single time, I don't care. Yoro, I have more sympathy with because he's not as comfortable on the ball, but Shaw shouldn't be playing there. It's a waste of time, I don't care. Honestly, what he's doing there, you're not conning anybody."

Ex-Everton star unimpressed by Neville

While Neville pulled now punches on Shaw's performance, he himself was on the receiving end of criticism from an ex-Everton player. Former Premier League star Yannick Bolasie savaged the United icon on social media as he took a jibe at his punditry. 

Bolasie wrote on X: "I’m watching this game on mute. I respect opinions but not when he’s giggling all over the mic thinking he’s the second coming of guardiola, allow it…great player but the tactics give it a rest laaaad."

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Getty Images Sport18th time is the charm!

Ex-United boss David Moyes finally won a game as a visiting manager to Old Trafford in his 18th attempt as the Toffees clinched crucial three points under immense pressure. The Everton players showed incredible determination despite multiple challenges right from the start of the game. Their crisis started with Seamus Coleman being forced off injured just minutes into his first start in two months, and the combination of losing their captain and going down to 10 men appeared to put Everton in a vulnerable position. 

Yet the team responded with a collective sharpness, reorganising defensively and committing to a compact shape that United struggled to break down. After the match, Moyes highlighted his team’s strong mentality and acknowledged the significance of finally winning at Old Trafford, particularly under such challenging conditions, noting that his players "showed the toughness behind the scenes". 

Moyes' Everton next face Newcastle United in a challenging Premier League fixture at home on Saturday. United, meanwhile, are set to travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Glamorgan’s promotion bid encounters further resistance despite Crane taking five wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025Saif Zaib continued his prolific summer, becoming the first Northamptonshire batter to score six Championship tons in a season since Lance Klusener in 2006 as he posted 145 (186 balls) on day three of this Rothesay County Championship against Glamorgan at Wantage Road.Zaib, the second leading run-scorer in Division Two, extended his overnight score of 76, smashing a total of 22 fours and two sixes as he shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 56 in 15 overs with debutant Ben Whitehouse (6 not out).Despite Mason Crane taking 5 for 126, his second five-wicket haul this season, Zaib’s innings further held up Glamorgan’s promotion hunt as Northamptonshire moved to 413 for nine, 54 runs behind, when rain ended play early after just 95 minutes. With Ben Kellaway off the field injured, part-time spinner Kiran Carlson finished with 2 for 43.Earlier heavy morning rain prevented play getting underway until 1.50pm, Northamptonshire resuming on 309 for five. New batter Aadi Sharma (25) came out determined to make up for lost time, saving the follow-on when he pulled a dragdown from Carlson for six before flicking Crane through midwicket and slog sweeping him for another maximum. Sharma’s aggression ultimately proved his downfall though as he pulled Carlson straight to the deep midwicket fielder on the side with the longer boundary.Zaib moved through the 80s as he reverse swept Carlson for four, while Lewis McManus ran a single to take Northamptonshire to 350 and secure a third batting bonus point.But McManus soon became Crane’s fifth victim when he went to cut and edged behind, Northamptonshire quickly losing an eighth wicket when Liam Guthrie was adjudged lbw to Carlson.Zaib though was undeterred, advancing closer to his century when he reverse swept Crane for four to move to 99. He turned down a single to protect Whitehouse, before crunching one straight down the pitch to reach three figures off 136 balls.Whitehouse proved an admirable foil as Zaib continued to attack the Glamorgan spinners, sweeping a full toss from Crane for four and depositing Carlson over deep midwicket for six.With the skies starting to darken, Timm van der Gugten and James Harris took the new ball under the floodlights, Zaib responding by playing a remarkable pull shot over fine leg for six.Despite Whitehouse’s stoic defence, Glamorgan’s seamers will regret not targeting his stumps more, the debutant bringing up Northamptonshire’s fourth batting bonus point when he edged Harris low through the slip cordon for four. Zaib then emphatically pulled the Glamorgan quick through midwicket to bring up the 50 partnership off 74 balls.It took a dazzling bit of fielding from sub fielder Zain ul Hassan at deep cover who initially fumbled the ball, before turning in a direct hit to run out Zaib coming back for a second run without putting in a dive to ground his bat.With the rain returning shortly afterwards, the players took an early tea, but hopes of a resumption at 5.30pm were dashed by further downpours.

MatériaMais Notícias

O legado de Pelé foi reverenciado pela Fifa e a Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), nesta sexta-feira (29), data que marca um ano da morte do Rei do Futebol.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalUm ano sem Pelé: relembre a despedida do Rei do FutebolFutebol Nacional29/12/2023Fora de Campo1 ano sem Pelé: toda eternidade ao ReiFora de Campo28/12/2023Fora de CampoMausoléu do Rei Pelé: onde fica e como funcionaFora de Campo28/12/2023

Em seu site, a Fifa publicou uma longa reportagem sobre a trajetória de Pelé, relembrando recordes e curiosidades do eterno camisa 10 (clique aqui e confira), classificado pela entidade que comanda o futebol no mundo como “o maior jogador de todos os tempos”.

➡️1 ano sem Pelé: toda eternidade ao Rei

Pele. 🕊️

One year since we said goodbye to a legend. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8aXVF0HxQZ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 29, 2023

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Já a CBF relembrou as homenagens que prestou ao craque nas competições que organiza e a passagem do atacante pela Seleção Brasileira, pela qual conquistou três copas do mundo (clique aqui e confira).

You could feel the elation rippling from the pitch. It was palpable. It was a reminder of what this squad are capable of doing to the best teams in the world. Liverpool had beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League for the second year running.

Following the professional win over Aston Villa to stop the rot of a four-match skid in the Premier League, head coach Arne Slot must have felt his side had turned a corner, but last weekend’s sobering loss at Manchester City showed the Reds have merely gone in circles.

Liverpool were outfought across every inch of the Etihad Stadium, and Slot will be chagrined after being outplayed by Pep Guardiola on the tactical chessboard. Granted, he’s not the first coach to lose such a battle against the Spaniard.

But the Reds are struggling to do the basics, and are such a far cry from the level of last season, when they dispatched so many opponents and won the league title with relative ease.

Tactical imbalances have been clear all season, and it’s obvious that Liverpool are missing Luis Diaz, who is doing so well with Bayern Munich this season.

If the problems continue for Slot, FSG may be forced to sign a new version of the Colombian.

Liverpool looking to replace Diaz

Florian Wirtz’s struggles since leaving Bayer Leverkusen and joining Liverpool for £116m this summer have been well documented.

The German playmaker, 22, is one of the most talented footballers out there, but he’s yet to find the physicality and fluency to succeed in the Premier League, and he might want to take a leaf from Diaz’s book in that regard.

Aside from Diaz’s potency in the final third, he is relentless in his work rate and rapid besides, adding width and dynamism down the flank. Liverpool need some of that, and appear to have found a candidate.

Indeed, according to Spanish sources, sporting director Richard Hughes has registered Liverpool’s interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who has fallen well down the pecking order under Xabi Alonso.

Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on the Brazil international, while Manchester City’s intrigue was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano this summer.

Florentino Perez wants €90m (£79m) for the versatile forward, but given his reduced role at Real Madrid over the past year or so, FSG would likely push to whittle down that hefty price tag.

What Rodrygo would offer Liverpool

Rodrygo finished the 2024/25 campaign at a low ebb. A few terms ago, the 24-year-old was regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, but a limited role at Real has precluded that tag from staying put.

This season, Alonso has handed Rodrygo only three starts across La Liga and the Champions League. He hasn’t yet scored, racking up two assists on the continent. This all points toward a divorce from the Santiago Bernabeu, for this is one of the most exciting and talented wide forwards in Europe, and he should have a role at a side that reflects that.

Liverpool could offer him this. Slot wanted to provide Rio Ngumoha with a pathway to the first team during the summer, and that is ostensibly why Diaz was not directly replaced.

This has proved a mistake, with the 17-year-old as yet untrusted to start games and feature prominently.

Rodrygo has the maturity and the world experience to not just challenge Wirtz and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth but stake his claim for a starring role deep into the Anfield pitch.

Sometimes, statistics must be viewed through a wider context. Take Rodrygo’s woes in the Spanish top flight last year, only scoring six goals and supplying six assists across 30 matches.

Poor, right? Well, Rodrygo was only afforded 12 starts by Carlo Ancelotti, and Sofascore data suggests he missed just one big chance, underscoring his clinical nature.

Furthermore, the South American maverick posted six goals and assists apiece from left wing last year, despite only being handed a berth on that side 12 times across all competitions. At Liverpool, it is the left which beckons, and there he could refashion that world-renowned status that has been seen on the biggest stages before.

And even after this testing period, Rodrygo’s underlying quality does not lie, evidenced through many tactical similarities with Diaz across the past 12 months.

Goals

0.31

0.47

Assists

0.23

0.20

Shots taken

2.78

2.92

Shot-creating actions

4.71

4.21

Pass completion %

85.4

83.0

Touches (att pen)

6.49

6.27

Progressive passes

4.40

4.21

Progressive carries

5.91

3.73

Successful take-ons

2.47

1.98

Ball recoveries

3.75

4.40

Tackles + interceptions

2.09

1.36

It’s curious to note that the tactical differences between the two are not that great. And this in spite of Rodrygo having fallen to the Los Blancos fringes well before the managerial shift this summer.

With Alonso at the helm, it’s patent that Rodrygo will not enjoy the regular minutes that his talent deserves. After all, Luka Modric once described him as being among the club’s “world-class superstars”.

Diaz has found remarkable prolificness since switching Liverpool for Bavaria in August, and while such levels were rarely sustained at Liverpool, with the Premier League notoriously difficult, there’s no denying Liverpool miss Diaz and his athletic profile.

Rodrygo could be the perfect tonic to turn the ship around. After all, Alonso doesn’t seem to want him, and Liverpool require just the profile.

Whether the Reds manage to pull off an audacious winter swoop is anyone’s guess, but Premier League rivals are also on the hunt, and Hughes needs to pull something off if this season is to be viewed as a success.

Liverpool star is quickly becoming their biggest "disaster" since Keita

Arne Slot has a Naby Keita-style situation on his hands with this expensive Liverpool flop.

2 ByKelan Sarson Nov 13, 2025

Abject. It is, painfully, an accurate way of summing up Liverpool’s form this season. The Premier League champions will not retain their belt, not like this, not with such deep tactical cracks and incoherent players and non-existent belief in Arne Slot’s plan.

The most concerning part of the recent 3-0 defeat in Manchester against Pep Guardiola’s resurgent outfit is that Liverpool were outplayed across the park. Be it physical, mental or tactical metrics, Manchester City shone, and the Reds were blinded by their opponent’s superiority.

Jeremy Doku stood out, darting this way and that, scoring a stunning goal in the second half after breaking away from Ibrahima Konate. The Belgian winger completed seven of eight dribble attempts and created three chances, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool have got so many problems, and the recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid provided only the veneer of a revival as City hit the Merseside club with a sobering reality check.

Among Slot’s biggest concerns is the enduring slump of Mohamed Salah. For so many years, the Egyptian has been an unstoppable force for Liverpool, but, aged 33 and at the front of a sinking ship, he is struggling to recover more than a flicker of his former greatness.

Mohamed Salah is becoming a problem

Will we see the best of Salah in a Liverpool shirt again? There’s every chance that the right winger expended incredible amounts of mental and physical energy driving his club to the league title last season, and across all competitions, he scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists.

Almost three months into the new campaign, Slot’s second in the dugout, Salah has recorded eight goal involvements, but his general play and the accuracy of his shooting have paled in comparison to the many years behind him. Salah is not himself.

This is a worry, to be sure. Not just because Liverpool are playing without their talisman in his groove, but because Slot has shown a hesitance toward unleashing Federico Chiesa right from the start of last season, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon.

How much longer can it go on like this? Man City reduced Liverpool’s superstar to half-chances and a role within the defensive press. How many times has Salah picked Pep apart? How often has he been the leading light against this arch-rival of modern times?

Premier League

19

9 (6)

Champions League

2

2 (1)

Community Shield

2

1 (1)

FA Cup

2

0 (0)

Carabao Cup

1

1 (0)

There is, of course, the caveat to all this that Salah would be far better placed in a system of greater fluency. This has been anything but the case for the Anfield side this season.

But Father Time is not on the Premier League legend’s side, and, having penned a new two-year extension worth £400k per week in April, Salah has around 18 months to show that FSG have received more than bang for their buck one final time.

But there’s a very real possibility that Salah is past his prime, and that Liverpool need to find a successor.

An onerous task if ever there was one. However, Liverpool actually have a Kirkby prospect who has what it takes to swipe the icon’s shirt.

The Liverpool teen who can take Salah's #11

Slot needs to find a solution to Liverpool’s current woes, but let’s all take a breather, just for a moment. Liverpool have so much talent. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will come good. But, more excitingly, there’s a wealth of teenage talent soon to be at Slot’s disposal, with one prospect a cut above the rest.

Rio Ngumoha knew he was headed to the upper crust of the Premier League, and a youth system that has shown itself since Jurgen Klopp came along to be a hothouse for those immensely gifted young stars.

Chelsea’s loss was Liverpool’s gain. Ngumoha was poached from Cobham in 2024 and made his professional debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup midway through his maiden year on Merseyside.

A left-sided winger with incredible speed and dribbling, the 17-year-old Ngumoha has the potential to become a superstar at Liverpool, with his physical, athletic and fierce playing style offering shades of that man Doku, Anfield villain last weekend.

You could say Ngumoha is preternaturally talented. After all, journalist Kieran Gill is among those to have singled him out as a “generational talent”, and he certainly illustrated his potential with an incredible strike on his Premier League debut, netting the winner against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in August.

Since then, he has featured sporadically for the Redmen, playing seven games in all competitions but only starting in the Carabao Cup, among that youthful group who were brushed aside by Crystal Palace last month.

Ngumoha’s time will come. He is so fast, so sure of himself when on the ball. He is among the youngest goalscorers in Premier League history, and that goal is sure to be the first of many.

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Time must be afforded to one so young. Take Doku. Criticised often at Man City for being endowed with such ferocity and fleet-footedness, but lacking end product and elite decision-making.

Doku is only 23, and his performance against Slot’s beleaguered lot last weekend was the display of a winger reaching new levels of maturity and technical understanding.

Ngumoha will only get better and better as the years go on, and while he can contribute this season, these foundational years could see him bloom at the end of next term, when Salah supposedly leaves, and he could take his shirt, stepping up as Liverpool’s new wide talisman.

Can Nghumoha reach those heights, take that #11 from Salah himself? You’ll have to stay tuned. But Ngumoha will make it easy to do that. Watching him play football is a treat, and he has the capacity to not just emulate a stylistic peer like Doku but become one of the very best in world football.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell made a bold move during the summer transfer window when he swooped to sign Youssef Chermiti from his former club Everton.

The Light Blues paid £8m to sign the Portugal U21 international from the Premier League side, which is the highest fee they have paid for a player since the £12m move for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Because of that transfer fee, Chermiti’s performances for Rangers his season have been under the spotlight, and he has failed to justify the huge outlay as of yet.

Pundit Michael Stewart described his finishing as “so poor” against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final earlier this month. Fellow pundit Ally McCoist also noted on TNT Sport that the striker is “showing nothing” to prove he was worth the fee paid for him.

Chermiti has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, per Sofascore, which may be why pundits like Stewart and McCoist have been harsh on him.

However, the former Premier League flop is not the only summer signing who has struggled at the top end of the pitch this season, as Bojan Miovski has failed to live up to expectations.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Bojan Miovski

Danny Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the summer signing from Girona from the starting line-up because he struggled once again in the 3-0 win over Dundee last weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

The Macedonia international was handed the chance to led the line at Dens Park, but was removed by the German head coach at half-time after a dismal first-half display, with zero shots and two out of nine duels won, per Sofascore.

Miovski was signed from Girona for a fee of up to £4.2m and arrived with a big reputation in Scotland, thanks to his form for Aberdeen in the past, as shown in the graphic below.

However, pundit Charlie Mulgrew recently noted that there is more pressure on him at Ibrox. The ex-Celtic defender said: “When you play for Aberdeen, you can get away with not scoring for three or four weeks. At Rangers, you don’t get six or seven games to find your feet. You’re in the spotlight and you need to hit the ground running, and that’s why there are question marks around him.”

Miovski, who was described as “non-existent” by one Rangers podcaster, has struggled to deal with the pressure of leading the line for the Gers, as shown by his form this season.

Appearances

8

4

Goals

1

0

Minutes per goal

506

N/A

Big chances missed

3

1

Big chances created

0

0

Assists

0

0

Ground duel success rate

32%

44%

Aerial duel success rate

29%

17%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed marksman has not offered much in the way of quality in front of goal or reliability out of possession in the Scottish Premiership or the Europa League.

Miovski should be in the prime years of his career at the age of 26, but his performances for the Scottish giants suggest that the opposite is true, as he has struggled badly in comparison to his previous form in the division, with just one league goal.

This is why Rohl should ditch him from the starting XI, and possibly even from the club in the January transfer window unless he can turn his form around in the next few weeks.

However, as aforementioned, Chermiti has also failed to impress since his £8m move from Everton, which is why the manager may need to get creative with his team selection.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up by unleashing Mikey Moore in a brand-new role as a centre-forward at Ibrox.

Why Rangers should play Mikey Moore as a striker

Rangers signed the England youth international on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and he endured a difficult start to life at Ibrox.

The 18-year-old forward did not provide a goal or an assist in his first five outings in the Premiership, but he has registered a goal and an assist in his last four matches, per Sofascore, which shows that the youngster has been improving.

Moore started as a right-midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 against Dundee at Dens Park last weekend. However, it was by drifting into a central position that he created and scored his first goal of the season.

The teenage whiz looked far more comfortable playing quickly and directly in a central position through the build-up to this goal, which suggests that Rohl could get more out of him by playing the Spurs loanee in a new role.

In fact, his overall career statistics, for Spurs at first-team and academy level, indicate that he is more likely to deliver goals and assists when playing in a central position.

Left wing (19)

4

6

Attacking midfield (10)

6

4

Centre-forward (7)

11

4

Right wing (10)

1

0

Left midfield (1)

0

1

Right midfield (1)

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Moore has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 17 starts as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, whulst his numbers as a winger, on either flank, are not as impressive.

With this in mind, the English attacker could thrive if unleashed as the striker in the team ahead of Miovski and Chermiti, given his goal at Dens Park and his record for Spurs at youth level.

Danilo played as the number ten against Dundee, behind Miovski, and the Brazilian could interchange roles with Moore as a fluid front two in that 4-2-3-1 system, with both players capable of switching between striker and attacking midfield throughout matches.

That could cause problems for opposition defenders, who could get confused about who to step out to or who to mark, and create some interesting dynamics in the final third when Rangers are building attacks.

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ByDan Emery Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up in order to unleash Moore in this new role, as it could be an exciting tactical change for the Light Blues.