FIFA.com - News

The Week in Quotes

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:36:00 GMT

Featuring Carlo Ancelotti on prioritising food over football in London, Moritz Leitner on the Borussia Dortmund bug, David Beckham on his love of AC Milan and Javier Clemente criticising Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sabella: A coach must be a good person

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:00 GMT

In part two of an extended interview with FIFA.com, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella analyses the pressures of the modern game and reveals a secret or two about his home life.

Can anyone stop Boca?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:11:00 GMT

FIFA.com previews a Clausura campaign which Boca Juniors will begin as the heavy favourites to win back-to-back titles, with Velez Sarsfield, Lanus, Racing Club and Estudiantes expected to provide their biggest challenge.

Wins for Velez, nine-man Fluminense

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:16:00 GMT

The Copa Libertadores group stage commenced with impressive wins for Velez Sarsfield and a nine-man Fluminense, while Guadalajara and Deportivo Quito played out a 1-1 stalemate.

Former kings set as group action begins

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:56:00 GMT

The group stage of the Copa Libertadores gets underway with Vasco da Gama hosting Nacional and fellow former champions Internacional, Olimpia and Velez Sarsfield in action.

Brazil maintain perfect record, Argentina qualify

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:17:00 GMT

Brazil made it five trophies from five editions of the South American U-20 Women’s Championship with customary ease, while Argentina finished runners-up to join their arch-rivals in booking a trip to the world finals in Japan.

Zanetti apologies for Inter 'blackout'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:35:00 GMT

Javier Zanetti has apologised to Inter Milan fans after their 4-0 rout at the hands of Roma, with the Nerazzurri captain saying it is a performance they can never repeat.

Argentina seal spot at U-20 finals

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:26:00 GMT

Argentina have secured the second and final South American berth to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where they will be joined by newly crowned continental champions Brazil.

Transfers that transformed seasons

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:58:00 GMT

From Eric Cantona through Johan Cruyff to the great Alfredo di Stefano, FIFA.com looks back at some of the mid-season deals that have had the biggest impact on the clubs involved.

The Week in Quotes

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:04:00 GMT

Featuring Jeremie Janot on keeping warm during games, Ricardo Rocha on how his humorous mistake helped Brazil in 1994, Martin O’Neill on how his French sounds South Korean and Michael Rensing on Cologne’s disease.

Brazil reach women’s U-20 finals

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:02:00 GMT

Brazil qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup by beating Paraguay 8-0, while Argentina took a step towards joining them by defeating Colombia 3-1 in their penultimate game.

Pick your favourite team for FIWC12!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:13:00 GMT

Which team excites you the most in EA SPORTS™ FIFA12? Let us know!

Villarreal sign Martinuccio

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:40:00 GMT

Villarreal have signed Argentinian forward Alejandro Martinuccio on a six-month loan from Fluminense, the Spanish club have announced.

Libertad, Arsenal progress to group stage

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:32:00 GMT

Paraguay's Libertad and Argentina's Arsenal eased into the group stage of the Copa Libertadores with aggregate wins against El Nacional and Sport Huancayo respectively.

Deschamps: Lucho sale makes sense

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:55:00 GMT

Coach Didier Deschamps has explained that Marseille have agreed to sell midfielder Lucho Gonzalez back to FC Porto in an effort to "reduce the wage bill".

All in the balance as group stage awaits

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:23:00 GMT

Arsenal and Penarol may be all but sure of places in the group stage, but El Nacional, Internacional, Real Potosi and Union Espanola will carry just one-goal leads into the seconds legs of their preliminary-round ties on away soil.

Crespo leads Indian league auction

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Hernan Crespo will be heading the the new Indian Premier League Soccer auction tonight, ahead of the likes of FIFA World Cup™-winner Fabio Cannavaro and former Arsenal star Robert Pires.

The Week in Quotes

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:16:00 GMT

Featuring Pele comparing himself to legends of music and art, Lionel Messi on how criticism from Argentinians upset him, Carlos Alberto Torres writing off Brazil’s hopes in 2014, and Vinnie Jones on a day he will never forget.

January activity continues apace

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:44:00 GMT

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, FIFA.com rounds up this week's action in the global market, which has seen plenty of business on British shores.

Milan near decision on Tevez, Lopez

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:02:00 GMT

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has said that the club will make a final decision tomorrow on whether to sign Carlos Tevez or Catania's Maxi Lopez.

'mariula': Nobody can take this away from me

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:59:00 GMT

"I've discovered online games and I've became addicted to them!" Says Predictor Round 18 winner 'mariula'.

Argentina's Arsenal start brightly

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:53:00 GMT

The opening matches of the 2012 Copa Libertadores saw Argentina's Arsenal take a giant stride towards the group stage with a win over Peru's Sport Huancayo, while Ecuador's El Nacional edged Paraguayan giants Libertad.

Predictor enters second-half

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:01:00 GMT

Our FIFA Match Predictor prizes include a trip to Brazil 2014™, customized football jerseys and adidas Tango 12 footballs!

Copa Libertadores in numbers

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:27:00 GMT

With just hours to go until the start of the 53rd edition of the Copa Libertadores, FIFA.com whets your appetite with some fascinating stats from Latin America’s premier club competition.

Belletti: Ronaldinho was better than Messi

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:01:00 GMT

Ronaldinho at his peak was better than Lionel Messi is today according to Belletti, who also believes the Barcelona side he formed part of under Frank Rijkaard was superior to Pep Guardiola’s current cast.

Stiff tests for continental big hitters

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:20:00 GMT

With four former champions in the preliminary stages alone, the 2012 edition of the Copa Libertadores looks to be one of the most keenly contested in recent years.

Zanetti, Sneijder hail Inter revival

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:52:00 GMT

Javier Zanetti has saluted Inter Milan’s seven-match winning run, for which Massimo Moratti has reserved special praise for Diego Milito, while Wesley Sneijder believes Claudio Ranieri's team can challenge for the Serie A title.

Messi hits hat-trick to down Malaga

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Lionel Messi scored an imperious hat-trick, his fifth of the season so far, as Barcelona temporarily reduced the gap to La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a comfortable 4-1 victory against Malaga.

Happy Birthday to you!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:53:00 GMT

FIFA.com again looks forward to a week of birthdays, including a pair of players in Xavi and Arjen Robben who met in the last FIFA World Cup™ final and two others in Gigi Buffon and Ahn Jung Hwan who met in Korea/Japan 2002.

Hosts Brazil eye more success

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:03:00 GMT

The Brazilian city of Curitiba today welcomes the fifth South American U-20 Women’s Championship, with the hosts and three-time continental champions strong favourites to emerge triumphant.

Mancini: Tevez return impossible

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:33:00 GMT

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has said that he hopes the Carlos Tevez saga will end "very quickly" as a return to the Etihad Stadium is "impossible".

Senegalese strikers top recent activity

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:26:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the recent transfers, including Papiss Cisse, Baba Diawara and Moussa Sow moving to England, Spain and Turkey respectively and Gary Cahill, Alberto Gilardino and Jadson also finding new homes.

Alves relishing derby, Xavi backs Messi

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:41:00 GMT

Dani Alves believes Barcelona-Real Madrid is a balanced fixture and is looking forward to its upcoming edition, while Xavi has tipped Lionel Messi to decide its outcome.

Win a pair of golden Messi boots!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:24:00 GMT

To celebrate Messi's FIFA Ballon d'Or success, we're giving away five pairs of limited-edition adizero F50 boots!

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:08:00 GMT

FIFA.com looks forward to a week of birthdays in the footballing world, including African stars El-Hadji Diouf, Seydou Keita and Karim Haggui as well as former Yugoslavian legends Pedrag Mijatovic and Alen Boksic.

The Week in Quotes

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:48:00 GMT

Featuring Sir Alex Ferguson on his ideal guests at a dinner party, Ezequiel Lavezzi on his popularity, Alejandro Sabella comparing Lionel Messi to Scalextric, and Alfredo Di Stefano justifying the jeering of Cristiano Ronaldo.

River Plate unveil Trezeguet

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:19:00 GMT

Former France striker David Trezeguet has been unveiled as a River Plate player as he returns to Argentina, the country where he began his career.

Catania snub Fulham's Lopez bid

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:13:00 GMT

Catania have revealed that they have rejected an offer for star striker Maxi Lopez, who has been linked with a move to AC Milan.

Players to watch in 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:40:00 GMT

From Thiago Alcantara through Ross Barkley to Julian Draxler, FIFA.com casts an eye over some of football's most exciting emerging talents, for whom 2012 promises to be a landmark year.

And the winners are…

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:18:00 GMT

We received over 46,000 entries for our FIFA/FIFPro World XI Predictor game. Congratulations to our winners!

Universal acclaim for Ballon d’Or winners

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:46:00 GMT

After captivating fans throughout 2011, football’s top players and coaches received well-deserved accolades at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala on Monday, where FIFA.com was on hand.

Comebacks and a coronation

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:41:00 GMT

Dramatic returns from Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes feature alongside the goalscoring exploits of Joe Cole and Antonio Di Natale, in-form Israeli pace-setters and Lionel Messi's latest Ballon d'Or in FIFA.com's latest stats review.

Argentina, Brazil to play in USA

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:10:00 GMT

South American giants Argentina and Brazil will face off in an international friendly in New Jersey, United States, on 9 June, the Argentine Football Federation announced today.

Sabella: You can’t say no to this job

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:59:00 GMT

Argentina’s recently appointed coach Alejandro Sabella spoke to FIFA.com about the demands of the job, Lionel Messi, the Brazil 2014 qualifiers and his goal of taking La Albiceleste back to the top.

Platini praises 'tremendous' Messi

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:04:00 GMT

Michel Platini has described Lionel Messi as "the great player of this generation" after the Barcelona and Argentina forward matched his achievement of winning three consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.

Messi: I’m very proud

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:36:00 GMT

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi was all smiles as he took receipt of the FIFA Ballon d’Or again on Monday, and FIFA.com spoke to the Argentinian about winning the prize for an impressive third year in a row.

Did your favourite win the Ballon d'Or?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:51:00 GMT

Lionel Messi has been awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or Award for 2011. FIFA.com wants to know whether you agree with the choice made by journalists, national coaches and national captains from around the world.

Messi wins third successive award

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:44:00 GMT

Lionel Messi became only the second player ever to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or three times back-to-back tonight in the illustrious 20 years of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and 55 years of the Ballon d'Or.

Messi, Sawa, Guardiola and Sasaki triumph at FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:13:00 GMT

Argentina’s Lionel Messi collected the FIFA Ballon d’Or, his third consecutive title while Japan’s Homare Sawa claimed her first FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award at the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala.

Messi, Sawa crowned at glittering Gala

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:05:00 GMT

The eyes of the football world turned to Zurich on Monday, as Lionel Messi and Homare Sawa were unveiled as the top male and female footballers of 2011 at the annual FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala.