Australia made history late last year when it implemented the first ban on social media for under-16s. The British government announced similar restrictions last month, expected to come into effect next year. Spain, Greece and Denmark are also planning to impose minimum age limits for social media use.

French lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bill, which was strongly backed by France’s President Emmanuel Macron. He will now sign it into law.

“Social media will be banned for children under 15 starting this school year,” he posted on X after the vote as he thanked lawmakers for passing the bill.

“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” he had said in a video message in January. “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, neither by American platforms nor by Chinese algorithms.”

Macron had ordered the French government to expedite the bill’s passage through parliament, with the aim of having legislation in place for the beginning of the new next school year in September.

It is not yet clear how the social media sites will verify users’ ages. Australia requires companies to “take reasonable steps” to prevent underage children from opening or keeping accounts, and the French government has promised to implement age controls to back up the law.

Members of the French Senate debate a draft law that aims to ban social media access for children under 15, in Paris, France, on March 31, 2026. Firas Abdullah/EPA/Shutterstock

The legislation also bans advertising promoting social media to children, including by influencers, and requires advertisements for social media platforms to carry the warning: “Dangerous products for children under 15.”

The new law will be enforced by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator. It is expected to apply to all the major platforms.

According to Arcom, children aged 12 to 17 in France spend an average of 1 hour and 21 minutes a day on TikTok. The regulator says the platform’s recommendation algorithm tends to promote the most “extreme” content, exposing teenagers to a continuous stream of anxiety-inducing or otherwise harmful videos.

Social media companies say they already take steps to protect children from some kinds of content.

‘Real change of atmosphere’

The proposal for a ban was welcomed by many French parents earlier this year.

“I think it’s great,” mother-of-six Geraldine Delacroix told CNN in March. “Now I’m waiting to see how it’s workable, but in any case, it’s better than nothing,” she added, noting that children could often get around existing parental controls. “Even if we block, they find ways to get around it,” she said.

In her work as a pediatrician, Delacroix has seen a growing distrust of smartphones and social media over the past decade among her patients’ families. “People are tense (about smartphones),” she said. “There’s been a real change of atmosphere.”

A smartphone displays a folder of social media applications, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, and YouTube, in Creteil, France, on March 31, 2026. Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Her daughter Ariane said she saw little downside to the ban, but wished it had come in sooner, telling CNN it was “a bit too late for the young people of my generation who are 13 to 14.”

“We have a tendency to say, ‘OK, I’m just going to look at my phone for five or 10 minutes’ and then, as it’s super-addictive, we spend an hour, two hours on the phone,” she said.

Ariane, who is on all the major social networks, said that while they provided “fast, easy entertainment, without effort,” she saw almost no upside for children of her own age.

Her older sister, Gabrielle, who said she’d had access to Instagram and TikTok since before her 10th birthday – well before the age limit of 13 for most social networks – blamed Covid-19-era lockdowns for sowing bad habits of excessive smartphone use among her generation.

“Once you’re, like, used to it, you just keep on using it,” she said.

Gabrielle added that she had no doubt that children would find ways around the restrictions and suggested the platforms should instead do more to filter out dangerous content.

‘Not a toy’

For the countries looking into age restrictions, ensuring effective age verification is a major challenge.

“Bans alone won’t be enough,” French Education Minister Édouard Geffray told lawmakers in January. “We can’t just restrict, we have to educate and propose different ways of socializing.”

Katia Roux, of Amnesty International France, sounded a similar note on Tuesday. “The debate over banning social media for those under 15 is legitimate,” she told CNN. “However, this measure is not enough to make digital platforms safe. Only a shift in the business model of social media companies will truly protect all users. To begin with, the platforms’ addictive and manipulative features must be banned.”

Across OECD countries in 2022, at least half of 15-year-olds in most countries spent 30 hours or more per week on digital devices, including learning activities in or out of school.

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said warned that “social media is not a toy,” in a statement calling for “age-appropriate restrictions.”

“In Europe, whoever develops a product is responsible for its safety. Car manufacturers must make their vehicles safe. We do not expect children to design their own seatbelts. We do not expect parents to fit airbags at home,” she wrote. “This is not about whether children can access social media. It is about whether and when social media can access our children.”

In France, some opposition lawmakers opposed the bill at an earlier stage over concerns about free speech and access to informative online content. Some senators had proposed a blacklist of certain social media platforms.

Teenager Nelya Ouali, whose mother does not permit her to have her own smartphone, said the law could impact her access to educational videos.

“We won’t be able to get more information as a result, because we don’t watch much television anymore,” she said, as she and her friends favor influencers’ videos. “But it’s still important for communication. Social networks are still important; they allow us to talk with our friends,” she said. “They allow us to be entertained, to take our minds off things.”

This is not the first time France has restricted access to online material. A ban on access to online pornography for minors overcame legal challenges to finally come into effect in 2025. It requires users to provide proof of age.

The France forward netted 10 goals in eight games to edge out Lionel Messi in a high-quality race.

Having struck eight times to finish top scorer at Qatar 2022, Mbappe has won the Golden Boot in back-to-back World Cups.

The 27-year-old was the first man to reach double figures for World Cup goals since Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970.

Only Just Fontaine, who hit 13 for France in 1958, and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, have scored more individual goals in a single tournament.

Mbappe is also now the men’s World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals – one ahead of Messi.

World champions Spain swept the rest of the awards, including captain Rodri winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Mbappe moved clear of Messi on Saturday with two goals in the bronze match, although he could not stop France falling to a 6-4 defeat against England and finishing fourth.

“When you score that many goals in the World Cup, it certainly takes you to a whole new level,” he said after Saturday’s match in Miami.

“But I would have preferred not to be the top scorer and to have played in the final. It’s good for my legacy once I’ve retired, but right now, that’s not what’s on my mind.”

Mbappe also scored twice against Senegal and Iraq in the group stage, as well as Sweden in the last 32.

He followed that with strikes against Paraguay in the last 16 – the 70th-minute winner from the penalty spot – and against Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Messi could have overtaken the Real Madrid forward with a hat-trick in the World Cup final on Sunday.

However, the 39-year-old could not find the net in New Jersey as his Argentina side were beaten 1-0 by Spain, and ended the competition with eight goals in as many matches.

England’s Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland of Norway scored seven times, while France forward Ousmane Dembele and English captain Harry Kane followed them in the list with six.

Golden Ball – Rodri (Spain)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Rodri has won the World Cup and Euros with Spain – plus four Premier League titles with Man City

Manchester City midfielder Rodri, a key figure in Spain’s run to a second men’s World Cup triumph, was named best player.

The 30-year-old received the Golden Ball from Fifa president Gianni Infantino on the field at the MetLife Stadium following the final in New Jersey.

It was the third major individual accolade of his career, having won the Ballon d’Or in 2023 and then Uefa Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament after Spain’s final triumph against England two years ago.

Messi won the Silver Ball as the second-best player, with Mbappe named Bronze Ball winner.

Golden Glove – Unai Simon (Spain)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Unai Simon was in goal for Spain in the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina

Spain’s Unai Simon claimed the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper after conceding just once in eight games.

The Athletic Club stopper kept seven clean sheets and was only beaten by Belgium’s Charles de Ketelaere in the quarter-final tie.

The 29-year-old was picked ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League title winner David Raya as Spain’s number one, and repaid manager Luis de la Fuente’s faith with a series of solid performances as they were crowned champions.

Best Young Player – Pau Cubarsi (Spain)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pau Cubarsi and the other Spanish individual award winners got their prizes from Fifa chief Gianni Infantino and United States President Donald Trump

Pau Cubarsi, the 19-year-old Barcelona centre-back, received the award for the tournament’s best young player.

He was a key figure in the Spanish defence that only conceded once all tournament and restricted Argentina to just two shots in the final with none on target.

Cubarsi played every single minute for Spain as they emulated their 2010 World Cup success in South Africa.

Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham set a new England World Cup scoring record as the Three Lions defeated Les Bleus 6-4.

England roared into a 4-0 first-half lead, only to be pegged back to 4-3 by a thrilling second-half fightback from France to set up a back-and-forth battle in the match’s closing minutes, with both sides trading goals before Jude Bellingham put the seal on a quite spectacular 6-4 win.

The first half undeniably belonged to England, who started fast, with captain Declan Rice surging forward and planting a long-range effort into the far corner to put England into a third-minute lead. Then Rice helped contribute to England’s second, with his corner headed into the far corner by a leaping Ezri Konsa on 18 minutes.

It looked like England could score with almost every attack, and a breakaway fronted by Marcus Rashford led to Saka adding a third on 37 minutes, and the Arsenal winger added a second in first-half stoppage time as he took possession on the edge of the area and finished superbly to send England into the dressing room 4-0 up.

If the first half belonged to England, the second was dominated by France, as Didier Deschamps made a raft of changes, and saw immediate improvements as his side came surging back into the game.

Kylian Mbappe scored either side of a Bradley Barcola effort as France threatened to completely wipe out England’s first-half lead. But despite their superior pace and creativity in the final third, they could not take full advantage of their chances, with Michael Olise guilty of two crucial misses as the French forced England onto the back foot.

England needed a change of impetus, and Thomas Tuchel turned to his bench, with the introduction of Bellingham and Elliot Anderson helping bring them back into the game. It set up a breathless final 10 minutes, with the action swinging from one end of the pitch to the other.

A lung-busting run from Djed Spence led to him being brought down in the box as England earned an 87th-minute penalty, and Saka stepped up to calmly complete his hat-trick, but there was still more drama to come.

With the match in stoppage time, Ousmane Dembele added a superb fourth for France to give Les Bleus late hope. But with France pushing for a dramatic equaliser, England broke away again, and Bellingham skipped past two defenders to slam home England’s sixth and secure the victory with the last kick of the game. Bellingham’s strike was his seventh of the tournament, and saw him move beyond Harry Kane and Gary Lineker for the most goals scored by an English player in a World Cup.

It meant that, after one of the most entertaining matches in World Cup history, England ran out the victors by six goals to four, and claimed third place in the tournament – the second-best World Cup finish achieved by The Three Lions.

The France centre-back has been dogged by a back issue for several weeks and carried the problem into the World Cup.

The issue appeared to be exacerbated during France’s semi-final loss to Spain when he was forced off after just 30 minutes.

Surgery is among the options that will be considered by the Gunners when he returns to London, though an operation would probably require a long-term lay-off to recover.

The 25-year-old made 50 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season, as they ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.

Earlier in the World Cup, Saliba said: “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months.

“I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.

“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”

He missed France’s final group game against Norway before returning to Didier Deschamps’ side for the knockout stage.

France play England in the third-place play-off on Saturday (22:00 BST).

Les Bleus and the Three Lions suffered respective defeats to Spain and Argentina, but this bronze medal match offers a chance at redemption. Here’s the breakdown as France and England battle for bronze in Miami.

Head-to-head

Matches played 32

France wins 10

England wins 17

Draws 5

France goals 41

England goals 72

France and England have met in 32 matches, with the Three Lions winning 17 matches compared to 10 for Les Bleus, while five games have been drawn. The teams’ most recent meeting was in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with France winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud.

Players to watch

France – Kylian Mbappe

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 7

– Goals: 8

– Assists: 3

– Yellow/red cards: 1/0

Though this World Cup will end in disappointment for Mbappe (regardless of the result of this Third Place Playoff), he could yet win the Golden Boot and/or Golden Ball, given his outstanding performances. If he can rack up a few more goals and put in another strong showing, personal accolades could yet follow.

England – Anthony Gordon

Tournament stats

– Appearances: 6

– Goals: 1

– Assists: 4

– Yellow/red cards: 0/0

After his fine performances through the knockout rounds – including his goal against Argentina in the semifinal – Gordon has proven himself as a reliable and elite performer for England. He will hope to cap off a fine tournament with a strong showing in Miami on Saturday.

Key stats

14.6 – France have the highest xG (expected goals) at the World Cup, with 14.6 in their seven matches thus far.

7 – Despite scoring eight goals, Kylian Mbappe has also missed the most ‘big chances’ – seven – at the tournament.

6 – Both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored six goals each – the first time that one team has two players on six or more goals in World Cup history.

26 – England have created 26 big chances at the World Cup, a number bettered only by France (27).

Tactical battle

In the third-place playoff, Didier Deschamps’ France will likely blend structure with attacking freedom, using a balanced, resilient system that becomes lethal once ahead, allowing stars like Mbappé to exploit space. With this his final game, expect controlled intensity and sharp transitions.

Thomas Tuchel’s England, however, are more methodical: built on structured possession, positional discipline and territorial control. Yet recent criticism of his over-cautious in-game management suggests a tension between control and risk.

The tactical battle hinges on whether Tuchel imposes control or Deschamps manipulates moments and punishes hesitation.

Broadcast details

Saturday 18 July

9PM: Third Place Playoff – France v England – LIVE on SuperSport World Cup Central

The dreams of the 57-year-old, who won the World Cup as both a player (in 1998) and a manager (in 2018), winning it a third time are over after their 2-0 defeat by Spain in Tuesday’s first semi-final.

Having danced their way through the tournament with a series of impressive attacking displays, France managed just 10 shots all match in Dallas, their lowest total in the World Cup, with an expected goals of just 0.3 as they belied their pre-match tag of overwhelming favourites.

Former France midfielder Patrick Viera told ITV: “They haven’t shown up. I was expecting more. There was a big expectations for France to win the World Cup.

“France will all disappointed by the result and the performance. All our top players went missing. Collectively we were really bad.”

Mbappe appeared to criticise France’s tactics, adding: “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain that’s hard.

“There was a lack of communication on the press. We should have done man-to-man press and forced them to run with us.

“When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semi-final, you don’t win. Spain respected their gameplan and what the team usually does.

“They are better than us at controlling a game. We didn’t manage to do it. We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.”

It will be zero consolation but Deschamps, in charge since 2012, set a record in Dallas for most World Cup games managed – 26.

He previously shared the mark of 25 with ex-West Germany boss Helmut Schon.

Deschamps confirmed in January 2025 that he would step down after this summer’s tournament and will mark his farewell game against the losers of England v Argentina in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

“It’s not time to talk about the future,” he said in his post-match news conference. “It is not important on a personal level whether I leave a competition in a semi-final or final.

“I am extremely happy. I am very proud of everything we’ve done to reach this stage and to win a World Cup – to take the French team to the highest level.

“I have been lucky as a player. I have enjoyed happy moments. Today is not such a moment. We must accept it without forgetting everything we experienced.”

‘He deserved to exit by the big door’

Deschamps is one of only three people to win the World Cup as a player and manager – alongside Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.

His longevity as manager is also rare in the current era, having led the national team for 14 years.

He won 20 of his 26 World Cup games as France boss, only losing three times – including this defeat by Spain in Texas.

As a player or manager, he was involved in more than half of the games France won at World Cups – and the two times they lifted the trophy.

Only three teams before now have reached the quarter-finals at least in four successive tournaments.

They lost to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final, coming desperately close to being only the third team to retain the World Cup.

More might have been expected from this side with joint tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe, plus Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and rising star Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, in front of an established Spain defence and midfield.

“There was extra motivation for all the players at this World Cup to give Didier the ending he wanted, and deserved,” said former France striker and BBC pundit Olivier Giroud.

“He deserved to exit by the big door. He did not quite manage that but he is still a great, for what he has already done in his 14 years.

“His record does the talking for him.”

Giroud, who won the 2018 World Cup under Deschamps, added: “He is like a second father for some players, like a second dad.

“For me it was not quite like that, but he gave me so many times his confidence, and I tried to repay him on the pitch.

“This makes us very close and because we won that World Cup, we are linked forever. I always call him coach.

“When you are in the national team, you don’t have much time to work on tactics and each manager has their philosophy.

“For Didier, his was more like ‘you are big players, I leave you some freedom on the pitch’. He gave some instructions too of course, to keep the balance, so you always knew where each player would be.

“The biggest thing he taught us was his desire, and his drive and ambition to be the absolute best and to win every single game. His competitive mindset was so clear.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Zinedine Zidane (centre) and Didier Deschamps (right) were team-mates for France and Juventus

‘Guy who will come in will find it hard’

Former France defender Gael Clichy, who played in the first year of Deschamps’ reign, praised him on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Deschamps, who has managed Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, replaced Laurent Blanc in 2012 after a poor run in tournaments as France had been eliminated in the group stage at the 2008 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup, with the squad refusing to train at the latter tournament because of a dispute with manager Raymond Domenech.

At Euro 2012 Laurent Blanc achieved a slight improvement by reaching the quarter-finals, only for France to be beaten by eventual champions Spain.

But the transformation under Deschamps has been considerable, maximising France’s regular supply of talent and creating a largely unified squad on his watch.

Deschamps has been unable to get over the line in the Euros but France made the final on home soil in 2016 and the semi-finals in 2024.

“His legacy was that he took a team that was below par and he managed to bring that team back up to the top,” said ex-Arsenal and Manchester City player Clichy, who manages third-tier Caen in France.

“This legacy of his really means we don’t have to talk about what he should or could have done.

“What he has done for French football as a player and a coach is fantastic. It is phenomenal.”

The favourite to replace Deschamps is former team-mate Zinedine Zidane.

ESPN reported in March that a verbal agreement was in place for Zidane to take over this summer.

The 54-year-old, who won the 1998 World Cup alongside Deschamps, won three Champions League trophies as manager of Real Madrid, his only managerial job.

He ended his second spell with the Spanish giants in 2021.

Clichy said: “The guy who will come in behind Deschamps will find it hard. It won’t be easy.”

It was a scoreline which few would have seen coming against Didier Deschamps’ heavily-fancied side, who had previously swept aside every obstacle placed in their path.

However, once Mikel Oyarzabal fired Spain in front from the penalty spot, there only looked like being one winner.

France looked desperately off the pace in comparison, best epitomised when Lucas Digne showed no spatial awareness whatsoever when inadvertently lashing out on Lamine Yamal in the box.

The Real Sociedad forward made no mistake from the spot, as Les Bleus fell behind for the first time at these finals.

A bad first half would get worse when William Saliba was forced off injured with what looked like a back injury, and Maxence Lacroix entered the fray.

Pedro Porro would then inflict a devastating hammer blow on France’s World Cup hopes just two minutes shy of the hour mark with a fine finish following a neat one-two with Dani Olmo.

Lamine Yamal was then denied a third after a marginal offside call, with Deschamps’ team firmly on the ropes.

Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign ends with a whimper, but this was a superb display from a La Roja side that has largely gone under the radar up to this point.

The world will certainly be taking notice now, as Spain extended their unbeaten run in matches after 90 minutes to 37 games, equalling Italy’s record and setting up a clash with either Argentina or England in New Jersey on Sunday.

2018 champions France are aiming to reach a third successive final, while 2010 winners Spain are bidding to become just the fourth team to hold both world and European crowns at the same time.

Both squads are bursting with talent, but all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

Mbappe’s global breakthrough came at the 2018 World Cup, when his quickfire double helped France beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the last 16 on their way to winning a second champions’ star.

Outshining one of the greatest players of all time was the first indicator that a changing of the guard was on the horizon – but now there is a new global star.

Eight years later, teenager Lamine Yamal is looking to replicate what Mbappe did to Messi and ignite on the biggest stage after a quiet debut World Cup so far.

‘Mbappe will become the greatest player we’ve ever had’

It is hard to look past Mbappe as the best player in the world right now.

After scoring 42 goals in 44 games for Real Madrid last season – making him the top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League – he has helped establish France’s attack as the most fearsome at this World Cup.

The second-most expensive player in history leads the Golden Boot race along with Messi with eight goals in six games, and has made more goal contributions (11) than any other player.

With 19 goals, if it were not for Messi (20), Mbappe would be the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer after surpassing Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record (16).

The only blot on his CV is that despite enjoying two magnificent individual seasons at Real Madrid, he is yet to win a major trophy in the Spanish capital.

After scoring in his first World Cup final, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in his second – but ended up on the losing side.

This summer the 27-year-old captain overtook Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading goalscorer, and now has 64 in 104 games.

“For me it’s just ambition and confidence,” Giroud told BBC Match of the Day when asked about Mbappe’s remarkable rise.

“He knows where he wants to go. He is a leader and you could see from a young age he was very at ease. He was mature for his age.”

Mbappe wants to break every record he can, but only if they serve the collective – it is no secret he is obsessed with equalling Pele’s record of three World Cup triumphs.

“He’s carried this team through three successive World Cups where he has been the pivotal player,” says French football journalist Luke Entwistle.

Yet, after his arrival in Madrid coincided with back-to-back trophyless seasons for Real Madrid, he came into this World Cup with something to prove.

“He’s put in great numbers, but the perception in France and abroad is that he’s a player who is detrimental to the collective,” adds Entwistle.

“There was talk about needing to run more off the ball, doing more defensive work. He has put that into action. The way France have been winning the ball back high this tournament would not have been possible otherwise.”

Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini are widely regarded as the two greatest France players of all time, but French football expert Julien Laurens believes Mbappe will surpass them.

“I predict him to be the number one by the end of his career. He has at least one more World Cup after this and the Euros to play in so he will probably become the greatest player we have ever had.”

‘The next 15 years belong to Lamine Yamal’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Lamine Yamal’s goal against Saudi Arabia made him just the second player aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a World Cup match after Pele

Lamine Yamal only turned 19 on Monday, but he is already the best young forward on the planet.

A breakout 2023-24 season with Barcelona ended with him being included in Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, and like Mbappe in 2018, he shone in his first major tournament and inspired his team to glory.

Last year he was the Ballon d’Or runner-up aged 18, but a hamstring injury sustained in April disrupted his preparations for the World Cup.

With just one goal in five starts, he certainly has not sparkled like Mbappe, Messi or Jude Bellingham.

“I ask him to be calm,” said manager Luis de la Fuente. “He came of age last year. He is 19. Now imagine I just told him to be calm, enjoy and forget about any anxiety. He should enjoy his football. The big day for Lamine has yet to come at this World Cup.”

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams’ lack of fitness has forced manager Luis de la Fuente to tweak Spain’s style – the European champions created chaos down the wings, whereas the current side prioritise control.

“It means Lamine Yamal is working with less space, more defenders doubling up on him, and less dynamism in Spain’s game as a whole,” says Spanish football journalist Ruairidh Barlow.

“So to a certain extent, it’s logical that he isn’t dazzling. What De la Fuente and Spain need from him – banking on control of the game and a solid defence – is two or three moments per game in which he unlocks or unbalances the defence. So far he has more or less provided that.”

De la Fuente reinforced that idea before Lamine Yamal won more duels than any of his team-mates in the quarter-final victory against Belgium.

“This is the moment for him,” the manager said. “Not the moment to score 10 goals, but the moment to be decisive in decisive matches.”

The strength of this Spain team is rooted in the collective, but there is still a level of deference to the 19-year-old.

“We sometimes forget his age and perhaps we demand too much of him, but he’s so capable,” Xavi, who gave Lamine Yamal his Barcelona debut, wrote in The Athletic.

“He has such an ability to do so many things on the pitch that his influence has grown. Team-mates search for him more. When there are problems at various points in the match, the ball goes to Lamine.

“He’s a leader on the pitch who makes the difference at a young age – something we’ve only seen with Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pele and maybe Ronaldo [Nazario].

“The next 15 to 20 years belong to Lamine, if he wants.”

Kylian Mbappé v Lamine Yamal

2026 World Cup so far

Source: Opta

There is no denying Mbappe has far outperformed Lamine Yamal in front of goal this summer.

The Frenchman has scored eight goals from his 30 shots (27%), while Lamine Yamal has converted just one of his 23 shots (4%).

Mbappe has provided three assists to Lamine Yamal’s none and created 11 more chances, though the winger does edge it on expected assists (xA) though, which suggests he has created better chances but his team-mates simply have not been as clinical.

Lamine Yamal has been far more successful with his dribbling, completing twice as many as the France forward, while he has also worked harder for his team defensively, making eight tackles to Mbappe’s one and winning the ball high up the pitch twice as often.

While France and Spain have only met once before at a World Cup – France came from behind to win 3-1 in the last 16 of the 2006 tournament – Mbappe and Lamine Yamal featured when the pair last faced each other at a major tournament.

Lamine Yamal scored a stunning equaliser as Spain came from behind to win 2-1 in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

Last summer Lamine Yamal scored twice and Mbappe once as Spain prevailed 5-4 in a thrilling Uefa Nations League semi-final.

The Spaniard has ended up on the winning side in eight of his 10 previous meetings with Mbappe, though the Frenchman has scored an incredible nine goals in those 10 games compared with Lamine Yamal’s six.

The latest edition of this growing rivalry is undoubtedly the most important – the victor will be expected to go on to lift the World Cup in New Jersey on 19 July.

France, Spain, England and Argentina are now two wins away from the world title, and with a place in the final at stake, the margin for error is now almost non-existent.

So what can we look forward to in the last-four ties? This is your guide to the World Cup semi-finals.

Mbappe v Yamal – European heavyweights go head-to-head

France v Spain, Dallas Stadium, Tuesday 20:00 BST

What to watch out for: With two of Europe’s strongest squads going up against each other, this fixture has all the ingredients for becoming a World Cup classic.

Kylian Mbappe dominated the headlines again as France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the semi-finals, taking his tally to eight goals for the tournament and moving just one behind Lionel Messi in the race to become the World Cup’s all-time top scorer.

But France’s biggest strength is their quality across the pitch, with Ousmane Dembele sealing the quarter-final victory and taking his own tally to five goals.

Michael Olise has provided the creative spark for Didier Deschamps’ side and leads the competition with five assists.

That depth could prove vital for the two-time winners against a Spain side who beat them 2-1 in the semi-finals on their way to winning the Euros in 2024.

There is a sense that Spain’s best football is yet to come.

Their star attraction, Lamine Yamal, is yet to truly announce himself at the World Cup. The Barcelona winger has scored only once – against Saudi Arabia in the group stage.

Four-goal Mikel Oyarzabal has blanked in the past two matches, so Luis de la Fuente’s side has needed late intervention from substitute Mikel Merino to edge past both Portugal and Belgium in the knockout rounds.

Looking to add to their 2010 triumph, Spain would hope Yamal, who will turn 19 on the eve of the tie, picks the semi-final to deliver a performance that justifies his talent.

Key stats: France will be playing in their eighth World Cup semi-final, equalling Brazil, with only Germany (12) featuring in more.

Spain are on the longest unbeaten run in their history and have now avoided defeat in each of their past 36 matches since a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024. They have won 27 and drawn nine of their matches during that period.

This will be just the second World Cup meeting between the sides. Les Blues came from behind to win 3-1 when they met in the last 16 in 2006.

A rivalry renewed – old foes meet

England v Argentina, Atlanta Stadium, Wednesday 20:00 BST

What to watch out for: This will be England’s second World Cup semi-final since 2018, but defending champions Argentina stand in the Three Lions’ way of a first appearance in the final in 60 years.

It’s a fixture fraught with passion and rivalry – falling 40 years after Diego Maradona almost single-handedly dumped England out in the quarter-final stage in Mexico.

This time, Argentina have another superstar number 10 in their ranks. Lionel Messi has never faced England, and what bigger stage to do so for the first time than in a World Cup semi-final.

Messi, who became the World Cup’s all-time top goalscorer this tournament, currently leads the Golden Boot race alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, with both on eight goals.

But England have their own iconic 10 in Jude Bellingham, who has scored twice in each of their past two knockout games – the first player to achieve such a feat since Maradona in 1986 – while captain Harry Kane is level with his team-mate on six goals so far this summer.

Neither nation have really been at their free-flowing peak so far this World Cup, battling and scrapping to victories in the knockout stages to reach this point.

It would not be a surprise to see Wednesday’s meeting also reduced to a battle of passionate wills, even if Thomas Tuchel has demanded his side show more quality than they did in the quarter-final win over Norway.

Key stats: England have reached the semi-finals in four major tournaments since 2018 – as many as they reached in their history prior to the 2018 World Cup.

The Three Lions have won four consecutive World Cup games, their longest winning run within a single edition since 1966.

Tuchel is only the second England manager to go unbeaten in his first six World Cup games in charge – the previous was Alf Ramsey in 1966, who had the exact same record after six matches (won five, drawn one).

Argentina have reached the World Cup last four for the third time in the past four editions – 2014, 2022, 2026. Prior to 2014, they hadn’t reached the semi-final since 1990.

And the progress of Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3) and England (4) was aided by a Fifa change for the 2026 World Cup.

They were put in separate quadrants of the draw so they could not meet before the semi-finals.

For that to happen they had to each win their groups – which they did.

The separation in the draw meant that Spain could not meet Argentina before the final.

Additionally, England and France were put in opposite sides of the knockouts and on a path to meet either Spain or Argentina in the semi-finals if they all progressed.

Fifa described the move as ensuring “competitive balance” by establishing “two separate pathways to the semi-finals”.

And now the semi-finals are France v Spain on Tuesday, and England v Argentina on Wednesday.

A similar approach happens at Wimbledon, and in the new Champions League format, at which seeds are kept apart in pairs.

Fifa rankings were introduced in 1994, but not used for that year’s tournament.

Belgium (2022), Germany (2018), Spain (2014), Italy (2010) and France (2002) were ranked in the top four and did not get out of the group.

At the remaining World Cups since 1998 – the top ranked teams did not all get through to the semi-finals.

When Fifa officials changed the draw process for this World Cup they did so with complete transparency.

World football’s governing body said it wanted to ensure the four top-ranked countries could not meet earlier in the knockout rounds, thus potentially saving blockbuster games for later in the tournament.

It was not really a problem before.

In a 32-team World Cup, group winners could not face each other in the last 16.

You must go back to 2010 to find two of the world’s top four meeting before the semi-finals, when the Netherlands beat Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

The 48-team World Cup, with an extra knockout round, made early meetings between group winners not only possible but almost certain.

It happened in three games in this summer’s last 16, with United States playing Belgium, England facing Mexico and Switzerland meeting Colombia.

So Fifa felt it had to make a tweak due to the expanded format for 2026.

Fifa wanted to prevent one of these matches being a glitz and glamour game, and thus guarantee losing a top-four team.

The same ranking system was used for the Club World Cup last year, though one of the four top seeds (Real Madrid) made it to the semi-finals.

This time, it has worked out as Fifa intended.

Les Blues were frustrated by well-drilled opponents in the first half and Mbappe saw a weak penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after the Real Madrid forward had been felled by Noussair Mazraoui on 27 minutes.

An inexplicable delay of over three minutes did not help Mbappe before the penalty, but Didier Deschamps’ men refused to panic on their way to securing a meeting with Spain or Belgium in Dallas on Tuesday night.

Mbappe netted his eighth goal of the finals to move alongside Lionel Messi as top scorer when he accepted a Desire Doue pass before swivelling to send a majestic finish flying into the corner of the net from the edge of the box on the hour mark.

Morocco appealed in vain for a possible handball against Adrien Rabiot in the build-up to the opener, but VAR refused to get involved.

And it was Mbappe’s run off the ball that enabled Dembele to sweep home the second six minutes later with Bounou failing to react quickly enough diving to his left.

In truth, Morocco, who lost 2-0 to France in the last four in 2022, were fortunate not to ship a third goal with their lack of attacking threat all too obvious.

Indeed, France goalkeeper Mike Maignan made only one save in the 85th minute to nudge away a hopeful shot by Azzedine Ounahi as the tournament favourites moved within two wins of a third World Cup triumph.

Mbappe was also replaced by Jean Philippe Mateta late on in what appeared to be a precautionary move before the semi-finals.

Four years ago, France ended Morocco’s extraordinary World Cup run in Qatar, knocking out the first African and Arab nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.

On Thursday in Boston they meet again, but this time Morocco aren’t returning as football’s dreamers.

They’re returning believing they belong.

“This is a revenge match for the Moroccan national team,” says Moroccan sports journalist Hamza Shteiwy.

“Especially for the players who were part of that 2022 squad. They felt that loss deeply, and now they’re looking to settle the score – for themselves and for the team.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: France beat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final in 2022

‘What happened in Qatar wasn’t a fluke’

I still remember standing inside Al Bayt Stadium that night in Qatar. Even in defeat, there was a sense that something extraordinary had happened. Morocco had changed the way the football world saw them.

Back then, simply reaching the semi-finals felt like a miracle.

Today, reaching the semi-finals would simply meet expectations.

“In 2022 we were the dreamers,” says Shteiwy. “Now people’s expectations are much higher. Anything less than the semi-finals wouldn’t be considered an achievement.”

That confidence isn’t built on nostalgia.

Since Qatar, Morocco’s Under-20 side has won the Under-20 World Cup, the senior team has climbed to sixth in Fifa’s rankings, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s (RMFF) long-term investment in youth development is beginning to bear fruit.

“What happened in Qatar wasn’t a fluke,” says veteran Moroccan journalist Hameed Bel Hassan.

“It was the result of years of strategic planning and programmes put in place by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. This has been a national project. We now have a formidable national team.”

Morocco have looked every bit the solid contenders throughout this tournament, standing up to some of world football’s heavyweights with confidence, discipline and belief. They held Brazil before beating Scotland, the Netherlands and Canada to set up another meeting with France.

“There’s deep faith in this team,” says Shteiwy.

“There are flights full of supporters coming from Morocco to the United States. Moroccans from around the world have travelled to follow the team. I dare say Morocco will have the stronger support.”

France, however, remain perhaps the tournament’s most complete side.

With Kylian Mbappe leading one of the world’s most talented squads, Les Bleus have reached the quarter-finals playing some of the tournament’s most fluid football.

“Individually they’re stronger,” Shteiwy admits.

“But Morocco’s midfield is about equal. If they can press France early, like they did against Brazil, they can create problems. The 11 players just need to perform as one.”

But Morocco believe their strength extends beyond tactics.

Influence of the players’ mothers

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: The images of Achraf Hakimi embracing his mother after each match during the 2022 World Cup went viral.

One of the more unusual features of the Atlas Lions’ rise has been the prominent role of the players’ mothers. During the 2022 World Cup, images of Achraf Hakimi embracing his mother and Sofiane Boufal dancing with his on the pitch became defining moments of Morocco’s historic run. This tournament has produced more of those moments, including Ismael Saibari running straight into the stands to embrace his emotional mother after scoring the winning penalty against the Netherlands.

When the team returned home from Qatar, the players and their mothers were welcomed together by King Mohammed VI.

Far from being spontaneous celebrations, Morocco’s football leadership say those moments reflect a deliberate philosophy.

RMFF president Fouzi Lekjaa has described having players’ mothers present during major tournaments as “one of the most effective and positive psychological support strategies” adopted by the federation, saying it gave the players “real impetus”.

“When the player sees his mother in the stands, it’s a huge boost and motivation,” says Bel Hassan. “The players themselves have spoken about how supported they feel.

“A mother’s prayer, nothing really comes close,” he added.

That emphasis on family, belief and emotional resilience has become part of Morocco’s identity, alongside years of investment in youth development, infrastructure and a clear footballing vision.

A rivalry steeped in history

This match carries weight beyond football.

France and Morocco share a long and complicated history, shaped by colonialism, migration and one of Europe’s largest Moroccan diasporas.

Many of the families travelling to back the Atlas Lions will have flown from France.

Several Moroccan internationals could have represented France but chose instead the country of their parents and grandparents, a decision that makes this as much about identity as football.

For Shteiwy, that adds another layer to Thursday’s encounter.

“There are players who played for France’s youth teams,” he says. “They’ll now play with strong feelings and will want to prove they could have represented Les Bleus, but chose instead the country of their heritage.”

Hakimi versus Mbappe – club team-mates, close friends and, for one night, rivals – has become the sporting symbol of that story.

So the question isn’t simply whether Morocco can beat France.

It’s whether the team that shocked the world in Qatar can prove that campaign wasn’t the peak, but the foundation.

In Qatar, Morocco made history. In Boston, they have the chance to prove it was only the beginning.

Celeste Amarilla, of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted her comments on X after her country’s defeat by France in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Mbappe responded: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.

“You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The French football federation (FFF) has announced plans to file ⁠criminal charges, describing Amarilla’s remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.

In a statement, the FFF said: “These remarks ​are criminal and reprehensible. ​They must be prosecuted here ​as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the ​public prosecutor’s office ‌with a ​view to legal ​proceedings.

“These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”

Mbappe scored a winning penalty in the second half of Saturday’s tie, setting up a quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.

With seven goals, Mbappe is the joint top-scorer in this year’s tournament, level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland.

Amarilla’s comments follow those of former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who said in the build-up to the match that his national side were facing “a squad from Africa”.

Those remarks also drew a response from FFF president Philippe Diallo, who called Chilavert a “disgrace”.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football,” Diallo said.

“If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”

Paraguay limited the two-time winners to very few chances until substitute Desire Doue was fouled inside the box by Brighton’s Diego Gomez, and referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.

Mbappe took the penalty and sent Orlando Gill the wrong way to ensure France’s progress, as he drew level with Argentina great Lionel Messi on seven goals in the tournament’s Golden Boot race.

The last-16 tie kicked off in extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 38C, but it appeared to be no deterrent for France, who dominated possession from the start.

However, the Paraguay defence proved difficult to break down, and that frustration was evident in the 36th minute when Mbappe lashed out after a foul on him by Andres Cubas.

Gustavo Alfaro’s side, who upset Germany on penalties in the last 32, defended resolutely during a cagey first half that ended goalless and with neither side registering a shot on target.

France showed greater urgency after the break and finally forced Gill into a save through Manu Kone’s effort from distance in the 54th minute – their first on target.

But it was not until Doué replaced Bradley Barcola on the left wing that Les Bleus found the moment they had been searching for.

The 21-year-old Paris St-Germain forward drove into the box four minutes after coming on and danced past a Paraguay defender before Gomez stuck out a leg to bring him down, allowing Mbappe to seal France’s place among the final eight.

Twana Jamal was given a five-year jail sentence in France in 2016, where authorities described him as one of the most successful people smugglers ever caught.

Prosecutors said the Iraqi Kurd, aged 36 at the time, had earned up to £100,000 a week for moving illegal immigrants across the Channel.

Following a tip-off this year, we traced Jamal to the village of Blaby and witnessed him working, driving a car without a licence and apparently using a false name.

Jamal’s presence in the UK raises serious concerns about whether existing border controls are effective in checking asylum seekers who have committed serious crimes overseas.

Immigration officers have told the BBC that since the UK left the European Union, it has become more difficult to check criminal records from some other countries.

We have found more than 20 active smugglers who have reached the UK – some with overseas convictions, and some claiming asylum using false names.

The man known as ‘Pasha’

Our exposure of Jamal came about as part of a BBC investigation which led to the arrest of a leading people smuggler, Kardo Jaf. That story is told in the BBC Radio 4 podcast, To Catch A King.

We received a tip-off that Jamal, another major figure in the trade, was now living and working in the UK. He was described as driving a BMW and looking “very very rich”.

Like Jaf, Jamal was linked to the so-called Ranya Boys, one of a small number of Kurdish gangs who European law enforcement agencies say have come to dominate cross-channel people smuggling over the past 15 years.

Jamal’s trial in France gave us key details about his background. Prosecutors said that from about 2012 until 2016, he had been operating out of the Grand Synthe camp near Dunkirk, charging his customers £4,500-£5,000 to cross to the UK.

At that time, the mode of travel preferred by cross-channel smugglers was freight lorries rather than small boats.

The court also heard that Jamal’s nickname in the camps had been “Pasha” – a Turkish word meaning someone of high rank.

Jamal claimed in the French court that his had been a case of mistaken identity, but he was found guilty and told he faced deportation back to Iraqi Kurdistan after his release.

Despite having served time in a French jail, however, he entered the UK and, when confronted, told us he had applied for asylum and was “still waiting”.

There are several legal barriers to criminals claiming asylum in the UK. The law says anyone who has spent 12 months or more in prison overseas should face a mandatory refusal.

However, it could be that Jamal’s criminal record was not checked, or that he used a false name.

When he was tried in France, the court heard that, as well as “Pasha”, he used several aliases – so many, prosecutors said, that he would write his assumed name inside his baseball cap to remember who he was supposed to be.

‘This city is ours’

We narrowed the search for Jamal with several sources – one of them arranged a call with Jamal under a false pretext and recorded their conversation.

Jamal said he was now based in Leicester, and boasted: “We know everyone in this city, this city is ours.”

He was making “good money”, he continued, and told our contact there was work to be had “moving cigarettes” from a warehouse.

Jamal also admitted driving a car without a licence, but said he was not worried about being investigated or caught.

“No-one touches us here,” he said. “Even the police won’t stop you.”

From this information, we searched for companies in the Leicester area that might be linked to Jamal, and found two mini-marts in Blaby – a village of about 6,000 people on the outskirts of the city.

The mini-marts, both named Candy Corner, are metres away from each other on opposite sides of the high street (by chance, one of them also stands next door to the constituency office of the local Conservative MP).

Over several days last month, we watched comings and goings at the brightly coloured stores, which sell vapes and sweets until late in the evening.

We had a photo from Jamal’s 2016 court appearance in France, which showed him flanked by police and wearing a weightlifter’s vest.

Before long, we saw someone who looked identical, now dressed very smartly in jeans and what appeared to be a cashmere coat.

To confirm it was Jamal, we made an undercover visit to one of the shops where he was staffing the till, and started a conversation.

He introduced himself as “Sultan”, and we noticed he had a tattoo on the back of one hand, which matched one seen on Jamal’s social media (where he calls himself Sultan Pasha).

If he was claiming asylum he should have been neither working nor driving, but we watched him doing both over several days.

‘I don’t care’

Finally, we confronted Jamal at one of the mini-marts, as he swept the pavement outside.

He told us he had never had any involvement in people smuggling and had not been jailed in France. Jamal claimed to have been in the UK since 2009.

When we produced the picture of him in a French courtroom in 2016, he did not deny it was him. However, when we put it to him that it was proof he had been arrested, he replied: “I don’t care.”

Jamal also denied he was working at the mini-mart where we now stood, even though we had seen him behind the till, as well as moving stock in and out of the store.

He refused to tell us his name, although he said the Home Office and immigration service knew it.

When we asked him why he was driving in a car without a valid licence, Jamal’s response was simply: “So what? Did I hit you?”

Sufficient checks?

Jamal’s case is not isolated. Our investigation has found more than 20 other people smugglers living in the UK. Law enforcement officers in Europe have confirmed 15 of those cases – including some with convictions from courts in France, Germany and Belgium.

We learned about one man convicted in France, who is now living in Manchester selling used cars and thought to be still involved in people smuggling.

Another man, also with a French conviction, is based in Blackpool. He has claimed asylum under a false name and boasts on social media of being given leave to remain.

Since Brexit, the UK no longer has a data-sharing agreement with many countries in the EU, making it more difficult to check criminal and immigration records of asylum seekers, according to Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union.

“If we were able to share databases, even if just with our nearest neighbours, with Germany, with Belgium, with Holland and France, say – then, yes, we’d know that they had a conviction for people smuggling,” she said.

Asylum seekers are fingerprinted on arrival in the UK and checked against UK police databases, but these would not necessarily show a conviction from another country.

The Home Office told us: “All asylum claimants are subject to mandatory security checks to confirm their identity for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks.”

This point was also made last November by the Minister for Border Security, Alex Norris, who added that to protect the integrity of the checking processes, details about the checks “are not disclosed publicly”.

The Home Office went on to say that the UK has “a number of agreements with countries which enable the sharing of criminal record information”, and that immigration enforcement action is currently at its highest level in history, with arrests for illegal working up 83%.

Mbappe was denied by the offside flag and the post before cutting inside from the left to net a superb strike on the brink of half-time to move clear of Miroslav Klose into second place in the all-time World Cup scoring charts with 17 goals, two behind leader Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Soaring temperatures in New Jersey were said to reach 36 degrees, but it was the sizzling display of the French attack that left the greatest impression as an inspired Michael Olise’s acrobatic scissor kick cannoned off the post before he slipped in Bradley Barcola to double the lead early in the second half.

The Bayern Munich star was at his creative best again for France’s third, putting a through ball on a plate for Mbappe to notch his tournament-best fifth assist.

The Real Madrid striker finished emphatically to complete his brace and move one goal behind Messi in the all-time charts but level with the Argentina great in the 2026 Golden Boot race with six goals apiece – albeit with the 39-year-old having played a game less.

France’s dazzling attacking display was a warning to their rivals for the trophy as they continued their bid for a third World Cup triumph with a fourth consecutive win at the tournament.

Should Les Bleus progress past Paraguay in the next round, they will meet either Morocco or Canada in the quarter-finals.

Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the United States are among the potential semi-final opponents for Didier Deschamps’ side, who were beaten on penalties by Argentina four years ago in one of the all-time great World Cup finals.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward cut in from the right to fire home a seventh-minute opener after Kylian Mbappe had offered an ominous warning of what was to come when he struck the post inside just 22 seconds.

Les Bleus, who were without coach Didier Deschamps due to the sad passing of his mother, doubled their lead 13 minutes later with Dembele again the man on target as he curled in a superb 20-yard strike.

Norway, who had made 10 changes to their line-up that included benching four-goal Erling Haaland, reduced the arrears seconds later through a smart finish from Thelo Aasgaard.

However, the half belonged to Dembele who was again afforded too much space on the right and once more found that far corner to restore the two-goal cushion on 32 minutes.

Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen had a chance to pull one back for Stale Solbakken’s men from the spot, but his 50th-minute penalty was well saved by Mike Maignan.

Desire Doue then added the icing to the cake with a headed fourth deep into stoppage time.

Norway’s second string offered little overall, but were already guaranteed a top two spot and will now face Ivory Coast in the round of 32 in Dallas on Tuesday, June 30. Meanwhile, as it stands, France will meet Sweden in New Jersey.

The doctor was “immediately admitted to a specialised facility” and is in a stable condition, the French health ministry said on Wednesday.

DR Congo announced an Ebola outbreak last month, but experts believe the virus had been circulating for weeks previously.

More than 260 people are confirmed to have died from the virus in the central African country, while 1,000 people have been infected.

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Mbappe netted early in both halves to take his World Cup goals tally to 16 in 16 games, two shy of Lionel Messi who broke Miroslav Klose’s record hours earlier.

France v Iraq became the first match at this World Cup to be interrupted by severe weather, with the second half beginning more than two hours after the first period ended because of lightning strikes in the area.

Heavy rainfall earlier in the day had delayed supporters’ entry to Philadelphia Stadium, although the match kicked off on time.

France began strongly and their early dominance was rewarded in the 14th minute when Mbappe arrowed a left-footed strike into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area.

But the 2018 champions struggled to create any clear chances after the first-half hydration break, with Iraq able to enjoy longer spells of possession despite losing striker and captain Aymen Hussein to injury.

France emerged from the extended break with renewed conviction but were gifted a second goal – Iraq keeper Ahmed Basil failed to control a short goal-kick taken by defender Zaid Tahseen and Ousmane Dembele teed up Mbappe for a simple finish.

Les Bleus had further chances to extend their lead – Adrien Rabiot missed a clear header and Michael Olise hit the crossbar with an audacious dink – before Dembele scored their third with a strike into the bottom corner.

The goal – set up by a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass from Olise – was Dembele’s first for France at a major tournament in his 20th appearance.

Iraq created two decent chances in the final 20 minutes, but defender Rebin Sulaka volleyed over from Zidane Iqbal’s corner before Ali Al Hamadi couldn’t get on the end of a teasing Marko Farji cross.

Mbappe then raced clear late on and looked set to complete his hat-trick, but he lashed a left-footed effort high and wide.

France, who are bidding to reach a third successive World Cup final, are top of Group I with six points while Iraq are bottom with zero.

Portugal forward Jota and his brother Andre Silva, tragically died in a car crash last July, while Konate’s dad Hamady passed away in January after a long illness.

The France international’s form was visibly affected in his final campaign at Anfield and the 27-year-old has now outlined the personal turmoil he was going through.

“There are low points, there’s depression. You can suffer from depression in football too; there’s no need to be ashamed to say so,” he told France Inter radio.

“It’s true that I’ve often heard players say they were suffering from depression and that fans or people on the outside didn’t understand because they were earning a lot of money. But no, that’s rubbish and you shouldn’t say that.

“Depression is personal; it’s deep inside you. When you’re depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that’s what’s hard, and we need to talk about it.”

Konate, who is closing in on a move to Real Madrid after confirming he will leave Anfield this summer, said the tragic death of Jota, who was one of his neighbours during his time on Merseyside, had a shattering impact.

“It devastated me. I didn’t have any interest in anything else at that point,” he added.

“You go back to football because you have no choice. We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties.

“We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There’s no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: The Diogo Jota’s funeral was attended by huge names from across football, including former team-mates like Konate

During this difficult period Konate was also carrying the burden of knowing his father was seriously ill.

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too,” he added.

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. And this is the advice I’d give to everyone: when you’re feeling down or something’s going on, you need to talk to those around you.

“It can help you and do you good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.

“The doctors then told us he didn’t have long to live, but we didn’t know it would happen so quickly.”

Konate returned early from compassionate leave to help Liverpool avert an injury crisis at the end of January but the centre-back conceded that things were never quite right.

He made 51 appearances across the 2025-26 campaign, 49 as a starter, but was unable to consistently produce the best form he had displayed across his previous four seasons on Merseyside as Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League.

Konate, who has been capped 27 times by France, is part of Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad for the World Cup, with Les Bleus among the favourites.

“There was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend,” he added.

“All of these tragic events happened so quickly and as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened.

“I had the support of all these fans, who are exceptional at Liverpool, my team-mates and especially my family but I also had to learn how to get back on my feet on my own because the team needed me more than ever and I know that my father would have wanted me to get back.”

As reported by the Daily Telegraph, Konate is close to agreeing terms over a move to the Bernabeu when his contract at Liverpool expires at the end of June.

Liverpool announced on Sunday that Konate would leave the club at the end of his current deal.

The 27-year-old had previously been in discussions to extend his stay on Merseyside but those talks came to an end amid a gap between the centre-half and the club over his value and wages.

Konate made 183 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and won the Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cups.

He originally joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m.

Konate is set to become the second player to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid for nothing in successive summers following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real last year.

Konate, 27, joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for £35m on a five-year contract and had previously been in talks to extend his stay at Anfield.

However, those discussions came to an end amid a gap between the centre-half and the club over his value and wages.

Konate made 183 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and won the Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cups.

The Frenchman thanked fans in a post on his Instagram account for “your love, your energy, and your incredible support” during his time on Merseyside.

But he was upset he did not get the opportunity to say farewell to them in Liverpool’s final Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth a week ago.

“I am deeply saddened that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to all of you at the last game. At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you,” wrote Konate.

“Anfield is truly a special place, and playing in front of you was something I never took for granted.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything. I love you all and will carry Liverpool with me wherever I go. This isn’t an easy goodbye, but it’s time for a new challenge and a new chapter.”

Liverpool said in a statement that Konate “will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution he made” and that everyone at the club “wishes him the best for the future”.

Konate said playing for Liverpool has been “an honour” and he leaves with “memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life”.

He added: “We’ve shared incredible moments together. Highs and lows, trophies, challenges, lifelong friendships, and heartbreaking moments that will stay with us forever, none more painful than losing our brother Diogo [Jota].

“Losing my father this year was one of the hardest periods of my life, but even through hardship, my commitment to this club never changed. During the toughest moments, I gave everything I had for this badge.”

Eight were in a serious condition, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in the capital, Paris. Fifty-seven of them were injured.

Nuñez said 780 people had been arrested over the violence – with more than 450 in custody. A person was found dead after an accident on Paris’s ring road, which rioters tried to block overnight.

Some 6,000 police have been mobilised for Sunday’s victory celebrations, which began at the Eiffel Tower.

Scenes around the Paris landmark appeared jubilant and peaceful as the parade got under way at around 18:00 local time (17:00 BST), with fans lining the streets.

PSG players and staff toured the Champ-de-Mars next to the Eiffel Tower and then attended a reception by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. Later celebrations are planned at the club’s home stadium, Parc des Princes.

AFP via Getty Images

Authorities say they are prepared to deal with any trouble

AFP via Getty Images

Scenes from Paris were similar to last year’s celebrations of PSG victory

Earlier, the interior minister said the security forces would be “firm” in their response to violence.

“We are a great country for maintaining public order. We allow freedom of assembly, but not excesses,” he said.

There was similar violence when PSG won the same trophy last year, with celebrations turning deadly.

Thousands of officers had been deployed this time to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in Paris.

The vast Champs-Élysées was swarmed by fans shortly after the local team won in a penalty shootout.

Footage shows flares being set off, electric bikes burning on roads and revellers smashing the glass of at least one shopfront. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in the city centre.

Paris police made 480 arrests, with 277 taken into custody, including 82 minors.

The figures were provisional, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. It added that offences ranged from attacks on officers to attacks on property, theft, as well as illegal possession of weapons.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the 24-year-old near Porte Maillot in the Paris ring road remain unclear. Some witnesses said he was riding a motorcycle when he crashed into concrete blocks.

A teenager was also in critical condition following a brawl in another area of Paris. It is not clear if they were involved in the football-related rioting.

AFP via Getty Images

Thousands of PSG fans are expected to watch their team parade the Champions League trophy near the Eiffel Tower

Getty Images

PSG fans were in good spirits as the victory parade began on Sunday evening

“The vast majority go out to celebrate and it goes very well,” the French interior minister said on Sunday.

“But other individuals, who are not PSG supporters, who don’t even watch the match, come to cause trouble and disturbances. We are here to prevent them from doing so. Our response is very firm.”

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on X: “Only in France does a football club’s victory spark riots.”

“Only in France does everyone feel compelled to lock themselves in their homes on the evening of a victory to avoid being confronted with violence,” she said.

AFP via Getty Images

A burnt out car pictured overnight on Saturday in the aftermath of the match

In total seven cases of hantavirus linked to the MV Hondius have been confirmed, with two other cases suspected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

The US health department said a second American national on the repatriation flight had also shown mild symptoms, adding that both passengers had travelled back in “biocontainment units out of an abundance of caution”.

French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said a woman was isolating in Paris and her health was deteriorating, with 22 contacts traced.

Three passengers have died after travelling on the ship, two of whom were confirmed to have had the virus.

The WHO said the person who is believed to have been the first to be infected in the outbreak died before he could be tested.

Two other British nationals with confirmed cases are currently being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa.

Hantaviruses are usually carried by rodents, but human transmission of the Andes strain – which the World Health Organization (WHO) believes was contracted by some of the Dutch ship’s passengers while in South America – is possible.

Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortness of breath.

Officials say the risk of a major outbreak is very low.

More than 90 passengers of the MV Hondius ship, currently docked in Spain’s Canary Islands, are being repatriated.

In its latest update from Tenerife on Monday, Spanish officials said 54 passengers and crew were still on board the ship. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García said six of those were passengers: four Australians, one Briton and one New Zealander.

Some 22 people would disembark the ship to fly to the Netherlands on Monday, she said – including the Australians who had been expected to be flown home directly but whose plane could not be guaranteed to arrive on time.

The MV Hondius was then expected to leave for the Netherlands later on Monday, she said.

Four Canadian passengers, meanwhile, have landed in Victoria, British Columbia, on Sunday evening after taking a chartered flight from Tenerife to Bagotville, Quebec. Authorities said they would be self-isolating and monitored for at least three weeks.

In its statement early on Monday, the US Department of Health and Human Services said all 17 US citizens on Sunday’s flight would undergo “clinical assessment” at a medical facility in Nebraska. A British national living in the US was also repatriated alongside them.

Seven other US passengers had already returned home and were being monitored in their home states.

Before the American case was confirmed, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the decision by the US not to follow his organisation’s guidelines over the hantavirus outbreak “may have risks”.

The WHO has recommended 42 days of isolation for those leaving the MV Hondius.

But Dr Jay Bhattacharya, the acting head of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said he did not want to cause public panic, insisting that human-to-human transmission was rare and it should not be treated like the Covid virus.

Cruise ship passengers were pictured wearing blue gowns, bouffant caps, and medical face masks as they disembarked on Sunday at the port of Grandilla de Abona in Tenerife.

The tournament, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is already generating intense debate over which nation will emerge victorious in football’s biggest competition.

Asamoah, who was born in Mampong, Ghana, and moved to Germany at the age of 12, speaking to Flashscore.com in an interview as the tournament builds up, said, “France is a strong side and also Spain.”

“I wouldn’t put Germany right at the top, although they can always surprise. Then you have Argentina, with great team spirit, especially with Lionel Messi. Brazil are always unpredictable, you never quite know what you’ll get from them. But if you ask me, I think it could come down to France and Spain. Spain, in particular, are very good at building a team.”

Gerald Asamoah made history in 2001 as the first African-born Black player to represent Germany at the senior level.

Over his international career, he earned 43 caps, scored six goals, and featured in two World Cups, finishing runner-up in 2002 and third on home soil in 2006.

With the expanded 48-team format set for its debut, expectations are rising for one of the most unpredictable and competitive editions of the tournament in modern history.

The France forward left the pitch at Anfield on a stretcher, and Liverpool fear he faces a long absence, and that he may miss the start of next season.

On Wednesday, the 23-year-old went for scans, which are expected to confirm the extent of the damage.

Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last July and has been one of their standout performers this season, with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions.

Speaking post-match about Ekitike, head coach Arne Slot said: “I think we could all see that it didn’t look well and didn’t look good. Let’s wait and see what it will be. But we could all see it didn’t look good.

“In the second half, he went home so I haven’t seen him yet. Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but again – as it seems to be – losing a player is something we’ve had so many times this season.

“It’s especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season.”

In January, Ekitike became just the second player after Kenny Dalglish to score in five different competitions during their debut campaign with Liverpool.

He made his France debut in September and was set to be part of Didier Deschamps’ squad for this summer’s World Cup.

Liverpool have suffered a number of setbacks this season, with both Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley out for the rest of the season with injuries.

Alisson Becker and Wataru Endo also remain sidelined, while Alexander Isak returned earlier this month from an ankle injury that he sustained in December.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, April 8, by President Macron after bilateral talks with President Mahama during his state visit to France.

The meeting formed part of wider engagements between the two leaders, touching on key sectors such as health, agriculture, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, regional security, and Ghana’s ongoing economic recovery efforts.

Central to the discussions was the proposed Accra–Kumasi Expressway, identified as a major infrastructure project that would require close collaboration between the two countries.

President Macron also highlighted the importance of the Accra Reset Initiative being advanced by President Mahama, indicating that it has attracted considerable attention during recent international engagements.

Earlier, President Mahama was given a full state welcome with military honours at Les Invalides ahead of his official talks with the French leader. The ceremony, marked by precision and tradition, underscored the long-standing diplomatic ties between Ghana and France.

During the visit, President Mahama also met with Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate, where both sides discussed ways to deepen trade and investment relations, strengthen regional security, and enhance cooperation in combating terrorism.

Support from France in areas such as maternal health and agriculture was also discussed, alongside Ghana’s improving economic outlook.

President Mahama was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, National Security Advisor Prosper Bani, Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, Presidential Advisor and Special Aide Joyce Bawah Mogtari, and Ghana’s Ambassador to France Mavis Ama Frimpong.

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The incident took place shortly before 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday morning between Béthune and Lens in the northern Pas-de-Calais region.

Two people initially deemed to have sustained critical injuries following the crash were “doing well”, while 13 others sustained minor injuries, local authorities said.

The driver of the lorry, which was carrying military equipment at the time, is in police custody, but officials said it was too early to determine the cause. An investigation into potential aggravated manslaughter is underway.

The vehicle belonged to a commercial haulier, and the driver was not a member of the military, officials said.

The train had been travelling from Dunkirk to Paris when the collision occurred. After hitting the lorry, it continued moving for several hundred metres before coming to a stop.

One person staying nearby told regional newspaper La Voix du Nord that they heard the train’s horn blaring for about 8 to 10 seconds before the crash.

Max, who is staying around 500m from the collision site, said the windows of the house rattled from the impact.

CEO of France’s state-owned rail operator, Jean Castex, confirmed the train driver had been a 56-year-old long-term employee of the company at a news conference on Tuesday.

“My first thoughts go to his family, his loved ones and colleagues,” he said.

“I also want to pay tribute to the two train staff members who were on board and who calmly stepped in and helped the passengers.”

Castex, also a former French prime minister, said there had been no indication of a problem with the barriers at the level crossing, adding that a lower-speed train had passed through minutes earlier.

The region’s President Xavier Bertrand described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”.

A passenger on the train told La Voix du Nord that some people had broken their noses due to the impact.

Eliot, who had been commuting to Paris for work, described seeing windows shattering and passengers hitting their heads, adding that he was “lucky” compared to them.

The regional rail network, TER Hauts-de-France, said direct services between Béthune and Lens had been suspended until Thursday, with trains taking an alternative route.

Services on other lines in the area are gradually resuming, but with significant delays.

Rail union SUD-Rail has called for “total transparency” regarding the investigation into the incident.

The collision comes less than a fortnight after a person died in the south-eastern Var region following a collision between a regional train and a truck.

Collisions at level crossings in France are relatively rare – but much more common than in the UK.

There were 89 incidents recorded in France in 2024, causing 20 deaths, compared to six in the UK, official figures show.

More than 100 collisions were recorded each year in France in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The summit brings together world leaders, health ministers and global health experts to deliberate on issues at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.

Upon arrival, President Mahama was warmly received by members of the Ghanaian community in Lyon. A number of families gathered to welcome him, expressing excitement at the opportunity to meet him on Easter Monday.

Following the summit on Tuesday, the President is scheduled to travel to Paris for a bilateral meeting with President Macron.

The meeting will take place at the Élysée Palace, where both leaders are expected to discuss areas of cooperation between Ghana and France.

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According to a statement issued by the President’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, President Mahama will begin his trip in Lyon, where he will participate in the 2026 One Health Summit. He will later travel to Paris for bilateral engagements at the Élysée Palace.

During the summit, President Mahama is expected to co-chair the high-level segment alongside President Macron, joining global leaders, health ministers, and experts to deliberate on critical issues affecting global health systems and sustainable development.

He will also deliver two keynote addresses, including one at a meeting on Global Health Architecture co-chaired by President Macron and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization.

The summit will focus on reforms in global health systems and strategies to address emerging health challenges.

On April 8, President Mahama will hold bilateral talks with President Macron aimed at strengthening Ghana–France relations in key areas such as health, education, trade, investment, and regional security.

He is also scheduled to meet with Gérard Larcher before returning to Accra at the end of the visit.

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Zidane, 53, reportedly reached a verbal agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football to replace Didier Deschamps, who has held the role since 2012.

Zidane, who managed LaLiga powerhouse Real Madrid for two stints (2016-18, 2019-21), has long been expected to eventually become the coach for France.

As a player, the dynamic midfielder won the 1998 Ballon d’Or and was a three-time Fifa World Player of the Year (1998, 2000 and 2003). He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and finish second in 2006.

He was infamously sent off during the final of the latter World Cup when he headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest.

The 33-year-old brothers are among five defendants on trial near Paris, accused of a double murder and several subsequent attempted killings in 2020, according to reputable French newspaper Le Parisien.

It reports that both are suspected of conspiring to plot the double murder, but that DNA on an assault rifle used in one of the later gun battles could only be from one twin.

A police officer told the court that forensic experts were unable to tell which of the brothers had been conclusively implicated.

“Only their mother can tell them apart,” one investigator is quoted as telling the court in Bobigny, north of the French capital.

There is reportedly a tense atmosphere in the court where the trial is taking place. On Tuesday, both twins were said to have been expelled from the courtroom for refusing to stand up.

Police believe they have taken advantage of their resemblance to cover their tracks. A senior officer quoted by Le Parisien said the pair frequently exchanged clothes, phones and identification documents.

Identical twins develop from a single fertilised egg that splits during pregnancy. Because they originate from the same egg and sperm, they share exactly the same DNA, making forensic identification extremely difficult.

With genetic data unable to distinguish between them, investigators relied on phone records, surveillance footage, wiretaps and efforts to corroborate their whereabouts and movements, according to Le Parisien.

But the crucial question of who fired the recovered weapon remains an open one.

The trial continues, with court due to reach a decision in late February.

One aspect of Mbappe’s legal victory raised eyebrows – PSG were told they must hand over 1.5m euros (£1.3m) in “ethics bonus” payments to the France forward.

For football fans in the UK an ethics bonus might sound a little strange, but in France it is a normal part of a professional athlete’s contract.

The “ethics bonus” has made headlines before, primarily when details of Neymar’s PSG contract were revealed by Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

The Brazil forward’s deal stipulated a monthly ethics payment of 541,680 euros (£475,876). For Mbappe the bonus was worth 500,000 euros (£438,000) a month.

Reports picked up on clauses that required Neymar to show “courtesy, friendliness and availability to supporters”. He was also expected to “greet fans before and after each game”.

The truth behind the ethics bonus is very different.

What is an ‘ethics bonus’?

In English football, clubs are able to fine a player up to two weeks’ wages for a misdemeanour.

French law forbids any deductions from a worker’s salary. Sports teams therefore make a small portion of it an ethics bonus. The base wage and the ethics bonus are in effect a player’s total salary.

In 2021 it was claimed in some reports that Neymar received extra money for clapping the fans, but the details paint a different picture.

Neymar was expected to behave responsibly to sponsors and referees. He had to turn up to training on time and was barred from placing bets. In effect, it was a moral code.

“Clubs are very keen to protect their image,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport.

“They don’t want anybody going nuclear and criticising the club, which means that they call them good behaviour clauses.

“We saw similar with Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong [who had morals clauses with sponsors]. So behavioural clauses are quite common within sport.”

In 2018, Marco Verratti had part of his ethics bonus withheld after being caught drink-driving.

Hatem Ben Arfa also lost the bonus when he failed to attend PSG’s mid-season training camp in Qatar.

In 2023, Lionel Messi was punished by PSG after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Rugby union club Racing 92 took action against winger Teddy Thomas by “retaining his ethics bonus for February” after an incident following a Six Nations match between France and Scotland.

Neymar’s ethics clause

Source: El Mundo

Star players can earn ‘another 40%’ in bonus payments

Bonuses are now a large part of a player’s contract. They cover loyalty payments, received each year on the anniversary of a player joining a club, through to image rights and goal bonuses.

“The contract which used to be written on the back of a napkin is now an investment by a series of stakeholders,” Maguire said.

“You’ve got the club, you’ve got the agent, you’ve got the management company, you’ve got the player. And quite often the player’s intellectual property rights company as well.

“I’ve seen some of the big six contracts, and there are 25% uplifts for Champions League participation.”

The world’s best players are in such high demand they could earn huge top-ups through their image rights, as high as “60% basic and another 40% on top of that”, Maguire added.

Francis, who suffered a serious injury during last week’s friendly against Japan, underwent surgery after fracturing two bones while trying to block a shot in the second half.

The GFA confirmed that the operation was successful and without complications, and the player immediately began the initial phase of his rehabilitation under careful medical supervision.

“Francis Abu’s condition has improved considerably,” Asante Twum said. “The surgery went as expected, his spirits are high, and the early stages of rehabilitation are progressing well. He is expected to leave the hospital this weekend.”

Francis had been stretchered off during the match, drawing concern from teammates over the injury’s severity. A GFA official will accompany him back to France upon discharge.

The 21-year-old, who joined Toulouse from Cercle Brugge earlier this year, was recalled for Ghana’s November friendlies after missing the World Cup qualifiers in September and October.

The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward is claiming the sum, which includes 55m euros (£46.3m) in unpaid wages, from the European champions as damages in response to a contract dispute and alleged perceived ill-treatment by the club.

PSG, however, are claiming their figure as compensation for Mbappe’s failed 300m euros transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in 2023.

He joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer the following summer.

The tribunal is not expected to come to a decision for several weeks.

The long-running dispute began in July 2023, when Mbappe turned down the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Mbappe believes he was sidelined by the French champions for that decision and for refusing to sign a contract extension.

He was not invited to take part in PSG’s pre-season tour of Asia and missed their first match of the season before being reinstated to the side.

PSG claim this followed the player’s agreement to forgo some of his end-of-contract payments to protect the club’s financial health.

However, Mbappe’s representatives have dismissed this as “fantasy”, with the player still waiting for salary and bonus payments.

Following Monday’s hearing, PSG said they were seeking “recognition of the significant damages suffered by the club” for what they called Mbappe’s “serious breaches of his legally binding contractual commitments”.

The club say Mbappe “acted disloyally by concealing for nearly eleven months, between July 2022 and June 2023, his decision not to extend his contract”.

They also rejected any claim of “harassment or pressure” and said Mbappe “benefited from exceptional conditions for seven years at Paris St-Germain”.

Mbappe was at PSG from 2017 to 2024, and scored 256 goals in 308 games, winning 15 trophies.

The Real Madrid striker was initially claiming 55m euros (£46.3m) in unpaid wages from the Ligue 1 champions in a dispute which went through French football’s governing bodies before reaching the courts.

After a goalless first half, the hosts ran riot in a dominant second period with the glut of goals kick-started when they were awarded a spot-kick after Michael Olise was fouled inside the box.

Real Madrid striker Mbappe stepped up to send a chipped penalty down the middle as goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin committed to a dive.

Ukraine will have felt aggrieved as just moments before they thought they might be awarded a penalty.

After initially waving play on following a challenge by Dayot Upamecano inside the box, referee Slavko Vincic was asked to check the monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR), but opted to stick with his original decision.

Mbappe twice went close to adding to his goal before Olise fired home to ensure France could breathe a bit easier.

Mbappe then scored his second of the match from close range in the closing stages, with that goal – the 400th of his career – taking him to 55 for his country, edging him closer to Olivier Giroud’s France record of 57.

With two minutes remaining Mbappe selflessly set up Ekitike to produce a clinical finish through the legs of the goalkeeper to get up and running for France.

According to the Ministry, the final phase of work includes a leak test on the aircraft’s fuel tanks, a third engine ground run, painting of the lower wing panel, and an acceptance flight test.

These procedures follow the repair of fuel leakages discovered in the right-hand wing tank and the restoration of corroded sections, which had delayed the completion of the overall inspection.

Addressing Parliament, Deputy Minister for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi assured that the jet will be brought back to Ghana once all necessary tests are completed and it has been certified airworthy.

“The Falcon 900 executive aircraft was ferried to Falcon Services in France on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, for a periodic inspection. Corrosion spots were reported within the aircraft, which affected the delivery date, but extensive repairs have been completed. During the inspection, fuel leakages were observed in the right-hand wing tank. After successfully repairing this issue, additional challenges were encountered, leading to further delays. The repairs have now been completed, and the aircraft will undergo a final leak test and inspection before an acceptance flight is performed. After this, the aircraft will return to Ghana,” he explained.

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The Guardian newspaper reported that the man claimed to have been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smuggling gangs in France.

The Home Office declined to directly confirm the report but said a migrant had been detained and their removal was being sought as soon as possible.

Forty-two people who arrived in the UK illegally have been removed so far under the scheme in which the UK agrees to take in asylum seekers who have a case for protection.

The BBC understands the man is an Iranian national and was initially detained on 6 August and was removed on 19 September, becoming the third person to be sent to France under the scheme. He returned four days ago on 18 October.

The male migrant—who the Guardian has not named—told the newspaper he returned to the UK because he feared for his life in France.

Speaking about his alleged treatments at the hands of smugglers, he said, “They took me like a worthless object, forced me to work, abused me, and threatened me with a gun and told me I would be killed if I made the slightest protest.”

Asked about the report, a Home Office spokesperson said, “We will not accept any abuse of our borders, and we will do everything in our power to remove those without the legal right to be here.

“Individuals who are returned under the pilot and subsequently attempt to re-enter the UK illegally will be removed.”

Maddie Harris, director of Humans for Rights Network, told BBC News her organisation has been in direct contact with the Iranian man.

She said, “From very on early [after his removal] he was experiencing acute fear… as a result of the experience he had at the hands of the smugglers.

“While in France he experienced horrendous treatment at the hands of the people who are organising journeys to the UK.”

She said the man returned because he felt he “was not receiving protection in France and feared those individuals may continue with that horrendous treatment.”

She also said her organisation had seen cases of others returned under the scheme who have had “compelling” evidence of mistreatment and who were not able to receive “adequate legal advice” during the “rushed” removal process.

Asked about the “one in, one out” scheme on Wednesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “We’ve been clear about the arrangement with France, that this is the beginning of a landmark scheme which is not in itself a silver bullet.”

The scheme, which was announced in July, is intended to deter people from crossing the Channel and encourage migrants to make asylum claims on the continent. Twenty-three people have returned to France.

Under the treaty, France agreed to take back migrants who had travelled to the UK by small boat and had their asylum claim rejected.

For each person returned to France, the UK has agreed to accept someone with a case for protection as a refugee who has not attempted to cross the Channel.

On Sunday, the Home Office said 16 people had been removed to France on a single flight, the largest group removal under the scheme yet.

The Iranian man’s return to the UK came as small boat arrivals on Wednesday meant that the number of attempts to cross the Channel this year has now exceeded the 36,816 recorded in 2024.

An official figure won’t be confirmed until Thursday.

The record number of arrivals for a single year was 45,755 in 2022, and this year’s rate is closely tracking that.

Home Office figures show that there were no crossings on six out of the last seven days but that 369 made the journey on 18 October

Source: BBC

The 28-year-old France forward scored 35 goals and made 14 assists in 53 matches for PSG last season as they won the treble, including their first Champions League.

He was the joint top scorer in Ligue 1, with 21 goals, and named the French top flight and Champions League player of the year.

And he also helped PSG to the Club World Cup final where they lost to Chelsea in New Jersey.

Dembele, who beat Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal to the award, was able to attend the ceremony in Paris – and was in tears as he stood on the stage – despite the fact his team were playing on Monday evening.

The forward is currently sidelined through injury, meaning he missed PSG’s 1-0 home defeat by Marseille in a game which was rearranged because of a storm.

It caps off a sensational career revival for a player who had not scored double figures in a league campaign season since he was a teenager at Rennes.

PSG manager Luis Enrique – who was named coach of the year – deserves huge credit for Dembele’s award because of a tactical switch in mid-December.

He moved Dembele from a wide right to centre-forward role against Lyon on 15 December, by which stage he had only scored five goals.

He hit 30 goals for PSG from that date onwards.

Dembele has finally shown the quality that persuaded Barcelona to pay an initial £96.8m, potentially rising to £135.5m, to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

However PSG – who dominated the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards – were the team who got the bargain by recruiting him for just £43.5m in 2023.

Dembele also scored twice in seven caps for France in 2024-25.

He is the sixth Frenchman to win the award and only the second of the 21st century after Karim Benzema in 2022.

Lamine Yamal, 18, finished second – and also won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player.

PSG and Portugal midfielder Vitinha was third, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was fourth.

Chelsea and England’s Cole Palmer finished eighth.

Last year’s winner, Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, did not make the shortlist this time after an injury-hit campaign.

Gyokeres wins top scorer trophy

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres won the Gerd Muller Trophy, which is awarded to the top scoring player in 2024-25 in European football for club and country.

The 27-year-old scored 54 goals in 52 games for Portuguese club Sporting last season – and nine goals in six Nations League games for Sweden.

He joined Arsenal in a deal worth up to £64m in the summer.

The exact criteria for the award is not known, meaning the winner was uncertain before the ceremony even though it is factually based.

Last season’s was shared between Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (although for his time at PSG) – with 52 goals each.

The previous winners for the award which was launched in 2021 were Robert Lewandowski, twice, and Erling Haaland.

Lamine Yamal wins second Kopa Trophy

Lamine Yamal may have been disappointed not to win the Ballon d’Or, with rumours emerging hours before the event that he had won it.

But the Barcelona star did receive the Kopa Trophy, for the best player under the age of 21, for the second consecutive year.

The teenager is the first player to win it twice, although it was only created in 2018.

He helped Spain to win the domestic double last season of La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

The winger scored 18 goals – including netting in three different Clasicos – and made 21 assists in 55 games.

And he also helped Spain to the Nations League final, where they lost on penalties to Portugal, after scoring twice in a memorable 5-4 semi-final win over Dembele’s France.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

When that was reduced on appeal to 18 months in October, the ‘if’ was taken out of the equation. The ‘when’ remained partially unanswered, but it was then the ‘where’ that was on everyone’s lips.

When an emotional Pogba put pen to paper on a two-year deal in the quaint village of La Turbie at the end of June, we had our answer.

Having not played since September 2023, it was AS Monaco who offered the 32-year-old a route back into the professional game, although they were far from the only interested party – even if clubs did bide their time following the expiry of his ban in March.

There were links to the United States, Saudi Arabia and Japan, as well as teams in his native France.

“We thought about [signing Pogba], we wanted to do it,” said Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia in February. “The problem is, if we want to bring in a Pogba, who is not yet fit, does it make sense to alter the balance?”

Benatia didn’t rule out his side making an approach but ultimately, because of significant doubts about the player’s fitness, they didn’t.

Monaco did. Pogba’s availability for no fee, following the termination of his Juventus contract, was not inconsequential to the principality club’s decision – even if, as Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro pointed out, “free agents have salaries too”.

Amid a financial crisis that has gripped the French game, Monaco, like everyone, are attentive to market opportunities, of which Pogba was certainly one of the most tempting.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pogba, who left Le Havre aged 16 to join Manchester United’s academy, has never played domestic professional football in France

Pogba’s signing was more symbolic of a shifting strategy at Monaco, one targeting the squad’s age profile.

They prioritise providing a pathway into the first team for their academy products, with Maghnes Akliouche, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Soungoutou Magassa recently making the step up.

They also recruit young. George Ilenikhena, Christian Mawissa and Lamine Camara were Monaco’s most expensive summer recruits last season – none were above the age of 20.

In the same summer, two of the most experienced players, Wissam Ben Yedder and Guillermo Maripan, left.

By January, Scuro saw a need to adjust.

“My understanding is that, in the summer, with the goals that we have, we were becoming too young,” said the Brazilian.

“The next step that we see is getting the performance players on board. That is the challenge.”

Attempts to sign England midfielder Jordan Henderson from Ajax failed in January. Moatasem Al-Musrati arrived instead on loan, but Monaco did not trigger an option to buy the Libyan.

Monaco’s pursuit of Pogba was more recent, with ‘La Pioche’ visiting the club’s installations in mid-May, meeting with manager Adi Hutter and president Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Former England defender Eric Dier, another experienced head, also arrived for free this summer from Bayern Munich.

“We want to keep our [youth-centric] strategy, balance it a little but not step away from it,” added Scuro.

Pogba expected to return in October

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pogba travelled with the squad but did not feature on the pitch during Monaco’s pre-season trip to England

Monaco view Pogba as a player who can help the group mature through his vast experience and natural leadership qualities, which have already been evident during a seamless integration process.

He quickly forged a strong link with the older and younger elements of the squad during Les Monegasques’ pre-season training camp in England.

While Pogba’s positive impact has been felt in the dressing room, it is hoped it will also be felt, in time, on the pitch – even if there may not be an over-reliance on the Frenchman.

Bar Paris St-Germain, it can be argued, prior to Pogba’s arrival, Monaco already had the best midfield in Ligue 1.

He is therefore something of a wildcard, a bonus, but not a player the club will need to rush back out of necessity.

That suits, because Pogba is far from operational. At the start of June, the midfielder revealed an “ambition” to play against his formative club, Le Havre, on the opening day of the season.

But Scuro quickly tempered expectations.

“I can guarantee he won’t be on the pitch against Le Havre. We are here to be realistic. We expect a three-month process,” he said.

That would have Pogba on course to play his first professional match in more than two years around the start of October.

‘It is very rare to see me cry like that’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pogba says he wants his kids to see him celebrate a goal with his iconic dab

Monaco and the rest of Ligue 1 will look to benefit from Pogba’s profile in the meantime.

At the time of his presentation, more than half of the Monaco shirts ordered were printed with the World Cup winner’s name, while social media content surrounding his arrival gained 400 million impressions.

Rennes manager Habib Beye and Brest manager Eric Roy have praised the signing, as has the president of the league, Vincent Labrune.

“The league will benefit not only from his talent and his charisma, but also from his international standing,” he said.

Monaco will also stand to benefit on the pitch, should Pogba prove to be the player of old, but there is no guarantee.

Even before his ban the Frenchman had been dogged by injury issues for months, even years, and even admitted to seeing a witch doctor about them.

Pogba was forced to make that admission following accusations from his brother, Mathias, that he had used a witch doctor to place a curse on Kylian Mbappe before PSG’s Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United in 2019.

Those accusations were part of a wider extortion attempt that dates back to the midfielder’s time at Old Trafford.

In March 2022 he was kidnapped by masked men, who demanded a payment of 13m euros (£11.3m). His brother was sentenced to a three-year prison term, two years of which were suspended.

Pogba believed that difficult chapter impacted him on the pitch.

“It is all linked,” he said at his presentation, which he began by explaining his tears upon signing for Monaco.

“If the mind is good, it will go well on the pitch. It is very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it. There were so many images that came into my mind.

“We know the doping story, my injury… everything came back to me during the signing and I just couldn’t hold it back. It was a moment of joy.”

Clearly marked by an unsavoury spell in the footballing wilderness, Pogba has now turned the page in his career and is eager to enjoy a fresh start.

“I spoke with multiple people [during my ban] who helped me to see things in the present, to not think about the past or the future,” he added.

Now “more determined”, Pogba has extra motivation, too, for his comeback.

“I wanted my kids to see me on the pitch – my dream is to see my kids celebrate one of my goals with a dab,” he joked.

A return to the international set-up is also a major objective, and he couldn’t be in a better place to add to his 91 caps, with France boss Didier Deschamps’ residence just a stone’s throw away from Monaco’s performance centre.

Next summer’s World Cup will be Deschamps’ final tournament after 14 years in charge. Pogba was one of his key players during Les Bleus’ 2018 triumph in Russia and, with a second chance and new lease of life, he could yet be once more.

France becomes the first country within the Paris Club framework to grant Ghana this relief after the country underwent a debt restructuring exercise caused by unsustainable levels post COVID-19.

While expressing gratitude at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson appealed to other countries within Paris Club framework to consider Ghana’s economic gains and emulate France’s gesture.

“Today is a milestone, a milestone in the sense that it has taken us some time to get here. But it is the most significant one. The most significant one, which will pave the way for others to also emulate the steps taken by France in signing this bilateral agreement”, he said.

“We expect to complete the process as soon as possible so that Ghana will breathe again.” Dr. Forson asserted in anticipation of a speedy process.

The signing comes a day after the finance minister delivered the mid-year budget statement for the 2025 fiscal year.

The ceremony hosted the French ambassador to Ghana, Jules Armand Aniambossou as well as the co-chair of the official creditors committee and the Secretary General of the Paris Club, William Roos. Also in attendance were officials from the Ministry of Finance, Official Creditors Committee and the French government.

The Member of Parliament for Ajumako Besease was optimistic that the current economic gains being enjoyed by the country will be considered by other members within the Paris Club framework and quicken the process leading to the completion of Ghana’s external debt restructuring.

“We have gone through turbulent signs but we can see that hope is in sight. We can see that the economy is recovering from economic crises. Inflation which was at 54% is now 13.7% and we expect it to be better.”

The French Ambassador said the action taken by France signifies the healthy relations that exist between the countries.

According to him, the move was crucial due to Ghana’s unique role in the submission and its economic recovery programme.

“This decision was taken not recognise the relationship between the two countries. When your friend or family is facing difficulties, you have to show that you are there for them and take some key actions.”

“This day is also crucial because it enables Ghana to continue its financial recovery.” Amb. Aniambossou noted.

Meanwhile, Willaim Roos, has called for effective collaboration to ensure Ghana sails through its restructuring exercise successfully.

“We have to learn to work together. We have to progressively build a strong trust between France, China and the G20 and Paris Club members.”

Source: myjoyonline

The aircraft, which has been undergoing servicing, was found to have severe corrosion in its fuel tanks. In addition, the air intake plug receptacle of the second engine was also corroded, contributing to the prolonged delay.

A major component, the jet’s turbofan, had to be replaced entirely after assessments deemed the original beyond repair.

This is not the first time the presidential aircraft has suffered setbacks.

The Falcon 900EX has faced a growing list of maintenance issues in recent years, raising concerns about its airworthiness and reliability.

Source: Myjoyonline.com 

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Paris St-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele goes into Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid tipped by many to claim this year’s prize for the world’s best player.

His goals have already helped a young and vibrant PSG side win the Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France this season – now he has his eyes on completing a quadruple in the United States.

Not only does the tie at the MetLife Stadium in New York pit the current European champions against the record winners of the competition, it also sees Dembele go head to head with friend and former PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe is PSG’s record goalscorer with 256 goals after joining them from Monaco on an initial loan in 2017, but it was not until after his departure that football’s holy grail – the Champions League – finally ended up in Paris.

Ironically, you could also credit Mbappe’s PSG exit last summer with paving the way for 28-year-old Dembele to have the greatest season of his career to date.

‘If he doesn’t win it there is a problem with the Ballon d’Or’

Most people believe this year’s Ballon d’Or – with the nominations due in August – is a straight race between France’s Dembele and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal. It has been eight years in the making for the former.

His talent has never been in question.

France striker Dembele was once the second-most expensive player in the world when he signed for Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £135.5m in 2017 and, four years later, was described by Barca president Joan Laporta as “better than Mbappe”.

A week later, the newly-appointed Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said he was a player who “when used properly, could be the best player in the world”.

Four years on and with his six-year spell of inconsistency and unfulfilled potential at Barcelona behind him, Dembele is certainly being used properly.

He has scored 34 goals and made 15 assists in 51 matches in all competitions in the season of his life so far, with those close to him adamant his form warrants the ultimate accolade on 22 September.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told DAZN before Wednesday’s heavyweight semi-final: “Ousmane’s season is magnificent.

“If he doesn’t win it, there is a problem with the Ballon d’Or. He has done everything.”

PSG needed a new talisman – step forward Dembele

In August 2023, PSG bought the France international for just £43.5m, and he scored six goals and made 14 assists as PSG won the league and cup double.

He was far from the main man though with club-record scorer Mbappe netting 44 in all competitions in the best of his seven seasons for PSG. It turned out to be his last as Real Madrid came calling.

A new-look PSG needed a new leader and talisman. Step forward Dembele.

Last summer, manager Luis Enrique told Dembele that without Mbappe in the team he needed more goals from him to go with his large number of assists – carte blanche for the player to show a more selfish approach with less passing and a bigger desire to score.

In private, the coaching staff have frequently told him that if he managed to convert a decent percentage of the chances he creates, it could lead to collective success and then individual honours.

Dembele took it all on board and has relished playing in his new tactical role.

In 2023-24, he was mostly played on the right. There was no way of dislodging Mbappe from the central role.

Now he operates as a false nine, inside, where he touches the ball more, enjoys a greater freedom to receive passes and participates in the build-up but with more chances to finish.

“Would I vote for Dembele? Yes,” Mbappe said when asked who should win the Ballon d’Or last month.

“I don’t think it needs much explaining. People are talking about Lamine Yamal and Dembele, but my choice is clear: I vote for Dembele.”

Dembele was once Barca’s most-fined player – what changed?

To put Dembele’s transformation solely down to Mbappe’s Real move would be wrong. That was simply the final piece in the jigsaw.

Despite being largely injury free at Rennes and Dortmund, he sustained 14 muscle injuries in his time at the Nou Camp, spending 784 days sidelined.

Concerns over discipline and professionalism led the club to assign private chefs to him, while late nights because of gaming affected his training punctuality, making him the club’s most-fined player in recent years.

Still, when fit, his explosive pace and dribbling made him a game-changer, as he showed glimpses of the talent Barcelona invested in.

So what changed him?

Those that know Dembele best – and few do – say he changed after marrying his girlfriend Rima in Morocco in December 2021, and soon after he had a child.

The wedding came as a surprise to many of his team-mates, not least because they did not even know he had a partner.

So the big changes to his life occurred in his last two seasons at Barcelona when, essentially, he grew up.

Dembele worked at home with a physiotherapist and frequently went to France to receive specialised preventative treatments. With the eyes and mind of a father, he began to see things differently.

He finally took on board the importance of good nutrition and, for the past few seasons, has employed a French nutritionist who has helped him maintain a healthier lifestyle.

For some time many believed that a Champions League triumph for PSG would be dependent on the on-field achievements of one of France’s heroes.

They were right – just not with Mbappe, but a rejuvenated Dembele.

The captain finished well for the 45th-minute opener following a pass from Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.

And Mbappe set up the second goal six minutes from time when he pounced on a mistake from Robin Koch and unselfishly squared the ball for Michael Olise to slot into the empty net.

Germany had their chances, though, with both a penalty award and goal overturned by the video assistant referee (VAR).

First Karim Adeyemi was awarded a spot-kick after being brought down by France keeper Mike Maignan, but the Germany forward was instead booked for diving after a VAR check.

And then Deniz Undav’s effort was disallowed after Niclas Fullkrug was deemed to have fouled Adrien Rabiot in the build-up.

Adeyemi also had three shots saved by Chelsea target Maignan, while Florian Wirtz struck a post.

But France could have added to their goal haul in Stuttgart too. Marcus Thuram’s curling strike hit the post, while Mbappe missed the target several times and forced a great save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany have now failed to win in three games, including Wednesday’s semi-final defeat by Portugal.

Captain Joshua Kimmich told RTL: “We should have been leading 3-0 after six minutes. Then we went into the break a goal behind.

“We lost patience too early and lost our structure in the second half. We made too many mistakes and gave them what they wanted.”

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps added: “Mike [Maignan] was a fantastic last line of defence and he kept us in it at the start.

“I thought the scoreline at half-time against Spain [2-0] was incredibly severe. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say that we deserved to go into half-time today in the lead, but it allowed us to go on and become better.”

Spain, who beat France 5-4 in their last-four tie, and Portugal play in the final later on Sunday (20:00 BST) in Munich.

The 17-year-old Barcelona forward, one of the contenders to win the Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world this season, helped his side into 4-0 and 5-1 leads in Stuttgart.

But they were nearly pegged back as France staged a thrilling fightback, scoring three times in the last 11 minutes in a desperate attempt to take the game into extra time.

But Spain held on and they will face Portugal in the final in Munich on Sunday, while France take on Germany in Stuttgart in the third-fourth play-off.

Leading 2-0 through goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, Yamal earned a penalty when he was fouled by Adrien Rabiot, and calmly sent goalkeeper Mike Maignan the wrong way from the spot.

Pedri made it 4-0, collecting a Williams pass and clinically finishing before France pulled a goal back through Kylian Mbappe’s penalty following a foul by Tottenham’s Pedro Porro.

But Yamal grabbed his second and Spain’s fifth with a fine low strike and the game looked over.

However, France substitute Rayan Cherki sparked the revival when, on his international debut, he collected Mbappe’s pass, flicked the ball up and volleyed home a wonderful strike from 20 yards out to make it 5-2.

Spanish defender Dani Vivian slid the ball into his own net with six minutes left and then, in the third minute of injury time, Randal Kolo Muani headed in Cherki’s cross to make it 5-4, but France could not find an equaliser.

In the south-west town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening, local media reported.

A 23-year-old man who was riding a scooter in central Paris was also killed after being hit by a vehicle, the prosecutor’s office said.

Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters smashed and cars torched amid wild celebrations as PSG won the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.

Paris police prefect Laurent Nuñez said PSG’s Champions League trophy parade will go ahead on Sunday evening – but there will be an increased police and military presence on the ground.

Nuñez spoke after the French interior ministry said 192 people were injured in the overnight clashes and 559 people arrested, including 491 in Paris.

Twenty-two police officers and seven firefighters were injured, the ministry said, adding that 264 vehicles were set on fire.

Nuñez said: “The toll is lower than what we have seen in the past, but we will never get used to this kind of abuse, with people who only came to commit acts of vandalism and who did not even watch the match, and we will always have a very firm response.”

“This is just half time for us because the PSG players are coming to Paris,” he said, with a celebration expected around the Parc des Princes where players will meet fans.

“There again we are expecting some clashes, some scuffles and we will be there and we will be very strong in our response against the vandals, against the thieves who have a go at the police officers.

“We will not tolerate any abuse today and the fans who want to enjoy the parade, can do so safely.”

He added that “PSG supporters shouldn’t be mixed up with gangs of looters and vandals”.

Separately, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office told the BBC “several shops were looted” in the Place des Ternes area. About 30 people were arrested and taken into custody near a Foot Locker on the Champs-Elysées that was robbed, the office said.

Elsewhere across France, Dax mayor Julien Dubois, reacting to the fatal stabbing, said his “thoughts are with the young victim, his family and friends”.

“We are floored by all the drama tonight,” he wrote on social media. “It is advisable to quickly shed light on these facts in order to severely punish the perpetrator.”

Getty Images: Cars were burned amid the disorder after PSG won the largest-ever victory in a Champions League final

While clashes broke out near the city’s Champs-Élysées avenue and PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, the majority of fans celebrated PSG’s 5-0 win over Inter Milan peacefully, with many singing and dancing in the streets or blaring their car horns.

The Eiffel Tower was illuminated with PSG’s blue and red colours.

French President Emmanuel Macron, a keen supporter of rivals Olympique de Marseille, posted on X: “A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.”

Getty Images: Most fans celebrated peacefully

Approximately 5,400 police were deployed across Paris in anticipation of the raucous celebrations.

At least 300 people detained were suspected of possessing fireworks and causing disorder, Paris police said.

“Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysees were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects,” police said in a statement.

Riot police reportedly used a water cannon to stop a crowd reaching the Arc de Triomphe, and fired tear gas into the crowds.

Other clashes between police and crowds occurred on the Paris ring road. At least two cars were torched near the Parc des Princes.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau took a hard line against the disorder, writing on social media: “True PSG supporters are enjoying their team’s magnificent match.

“Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police.

“It’s unbearable that it’s unthinkable to party without fearing the savagery of a minority of thugs who respect nothing.”

Reuters

Meanwhile, outside Paris, police said a car ploughed into PSG fans in Grenoble in south-east France, leaving four people injured.

All those hurt were from the same family, police said. Two were seriously injured.

The driver handed himself into the police and was placed under arrest. A source close to the investigation told the AFP news agency it was believed the driver had not acted intentionally.

The trophy parade in central Paris – scheduled for 17:00 local time (16:00 BST) – will run for one hour from the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe.

After the parade, the PSG players and staff will be received at the Élysée Palace and later on Sunday evening the trophy will be presented in front of season ticket holders at the Parc des Princes.

Fast forward six months – with a potential Champions League semi-final reunion a growing possibility – and Paris St-Germain’s brilliant young forward has captured the imagination of Europe.

For someone whose name translates to ‘desire gifted’ in English, the 19-year-old has shown vast quantities of both since putting that false start behind him in spectacular fashion.

Doue’s day of disappointment came in a 2-0 loss at Emirates Stadium in the tournament’s new league table format.

Since then, he has matured into a central piece in the new PSG assembled by coach Luis Enrique, performing superbly when Manchester City were beaten 4-2 at Parc des Princes in January, then delivering a brilliant cameo as a substitute before scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout win at Anfield in the last 16.

And, in his most mesmerising display yet, he scored a stunning curling equaliser while running Aston Villa ragged in PSG’s captivating 3-1 win in the quarter-final first leg.

All eyes will be on Doue at Villa Park on Wednesday, one of the poster boys – along with young Georgian genius Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – for the new PSG model as they move away from the so-called ‘Bling Bling’ era of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to a structured team ethic.

It has been a meteoric rise for Angers-born Doue, who was not even a guaranteed starter at Rennes last season before making a £43m move to PSG in the summer as they tried to fill Mbappe-sized holes in their attack.

Doue comes from strong footballing stock, with his 22-year-old brother Guela playing right-back for Strasbourg after leaving Rennes, while cousin Yann Gboho is a talented attacking midfield player at Toulouse.

He is of French-Ivorian descent, making his full France debut in the 2-0 win against Croatia in the Uefa Nations League quarter-final in March, again scoring a penalty as they went through after a shootout.

Brother Guela has other international allegiances, winning international caps for Ivory Coast.

The brothers developed under the watchful guidance of father Maho, who worked with them every day – organising training sessions outside the work they were doing at Rennes, and still exerts a wise and steadying influence on their careers.

Some eyebrows were raised when PSG paid such a large fee for Doue in the summer, but Rennes are as good at driving a hard bargain as they are producing young gems.

They have history, selling Doue’s current team-mate Ousmane Dembele to Borussia Dortmund, Eduardo Camavinga to Real Madrid and Mathys Tel, now on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, to Bayern Munich.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Manchester United and Newcastle United all showed serious interest in Doue – but it came down to PSG or Bayern.

French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport: “PSG probably would have liked to pay about £34m and tried to get it down, while Bayern were happy to pay more than £50m – but he wanted to go to PSG.

“It might have felt a little high, as it was when PSG paid £34m for Bradley Barcola after six good months as Lyon, but there is a premium, as there is in England, when you sell from French club to French club.

“The key was that Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos were both convinced they were getting a superstar in the making.

“Doue is so talented, strong mentally and physically. At PSG, they say he’s got rugby players’ legs because the bottom half of his body is so strong.

“They knew in Paris it would take time but they were ready. Luis Enrique was so happy to sign him. He was the player he wanted. They were aware he may need half-a-season, a season, but were happy to wait if needed.”

Despite these new burdens, PSG insiders have been hugely delighted with Doue’s dedication and professionalism.

“The club have been very impressed with his fitness work, gym work,” said Laurens.

It was the same at Rennes, former coach Bruno Genesio saying: “Away from the pitch he’s a dream: easy, calm, with a streak of leadership while still asking for advice. He’s both care-free and conscientious in his work. He’s already a pro in his head.”

Doue first hit the radar when France won the European Under-17 Championships in Israel in 2022, then he was on the bench for the Olympic final in Paris two years later, coming on after 77 minutes when France lost 5-3 to Spain after extra time.

The Olympics arguably contributed to his slow start at PSG, lacking a proper pre-season, but he has been the beneficiary of careful management by Luis Enrique – who has worked individually with Doue, encouraging him through his quiet start.

He has only made five starts in the Champions League this season, with seven appearances as a substitute, scoring three goals and adding two assists.

It was at Anfield where he made his mark, coming on after 67 minutes to deliver a performance of remarkable maturity, capping it by being entrusted with the spot-kick that sent PSG through.

Doue has been kept out of the limelight by PSG, while the calming, grounded influence of his family is a huge factor.

Laurens explained: “The dad, Maho, is very influential in everything they do. Some families think their son is the next Cristiano Ronaldo, oblivious to everything going on on the pitch, but they were realistic.

“After the Arsenal game, where he did look out of his depth, they said he wasn’t ready for the big step up another level. They understood he had to work a lot, he had to mature. They were very realistic about what he had to do. It was very impressive, very refreshing. They understood.”

Doue has also had to adjust to life in the Paris goldfish bowl, away from quieter Rennes.

He lives in the fashionable Boulogne-Billancourt area and Pierre-Etienne Minonzio, based in Paris with influential sports paper L’Equipe, told BBC Sport: “Recently he was in a very popular shop. He was there just looking for a book when somebody spotted him.

“It was totally normal because he is so young, but maybe he did not understand it is going to be hard for him to be in crowded places in Paris.

“It is good that he thought he was not a star, but he probably hasn’t been back. He’s very into performance, wanting to be the best. If you tell him one of the next steps in his evolution is not to be seen so much in public, he will understand no problem.”

It took until December for Doue to score his first PSG goal, in the 3-0 win away to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, but since then it has been lift-off.

“He was born in 2005 and in France’s football world, everybody said the big thing in France born in 2005 was Mathys Tel, now at Spurs,” Minonzio said.

“For his generation Doue was not the one because he was less talented than Tel, but when you get older the psychological attributes make a lot of difference and Doue has shown incredible mental strength.

“Everybody thought for this generation of players Tel would be the main guy, but now the talk is Doue.”

And to crown his development, Doue was called up by France coach Didier Deschamps, overtaking two other players regarded as potential members of the new generation, Lyon forward Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.

Laurens said: “It all changed from a wider perspective after his debut for France. He was outstanding against Croatia. He was not scared, demanded the ball, scored a penalty. This guy had arrived.”

In France, the general view is that Doue’s form left Deschamps with no option.

Minonzio says: “Deschamps is obsessed with the Champions League. He wants his players to show him their ability in high-level games. He is always a little hesitant to take players who are very good in French league games but don’t play in Champions League.

“It was obvious in March that Deschamps had no choice other than to select him.”

Villa Park is the next step on his development. And while the sky seems the limit, there is still caution.

“A few months ago I would have told you the face of the new PSG would be Warren Zaire-Emery. Just 19, Parisian, lots of talent.” says Minonzio.

“Everything he did was so impressive but you always have to wait to see how they react when there are problems.

“This is the fascination with Doue in France. We still don’t know how good he will be but at the moment he is free, does not ask any questions and life is good. He has been incredible.”

The former Juventus and Manchester United midfielder was given a four-year ban as a result of a failed doping test that took place in August of 2023, after an away match against Udinese in Serie A.

The 2018 World Cup winner was prohibited from any involvement in professional footballing activity, was forced to train away from the club’s training centre, and eventually had his contract terminated by Juventus in November 2024. The suspension was later reduced, and Pogba has been allowed to return to competitive football since March 2025.

Speaking in an interview with GQ France, Pogba revealed: “I would have quit football had I taken four years. I didn’t want to say it publicly, but that’s what I thought.”

Describing what life was like training away from Continassa while his teammates carried on as normal, he added: “I took the ball and played outside, alone. I made do with what I had. But I didn’t want to stay in Turin. The next morning, I dropped my children off at school, which was right next to the training centre, what a pain …”

And, describing his initial reaction after learning of his four-year suspension, Pogba said: “I didn’t understand. What for? They gave me the maximum sentence, which meant that they didn’t really listen to what I’d told them.”

Pogba’s suspension was later reduced, and he became eligible to play competitively again at the beginning of 2025.

But, how did the Frenchman end up ingesting a prohibited substance, particularly when he has access to top-class facilities and experts in the Juventus medical staff?

“Football is like that today,” columnist Daniel Rioli added.

“All players have services on the side, which they deploy on top of what they do with their clubs. They employ people for their physical preparation, their diet, their mental health, but also for protection, or even a hairdresser or secretary.

“It’s part of the individualism of modern football, but we have to wonder if there was an injury risk when this kind of individualised approach is added to what a club has already said. IF that is the case, Pogba has had a lot of injuries in his career.”

Michael Olise ignited the turnaround with a stunning free-kick just seven minutes into the second half, halving Croatia’s aggregate lead after their 2-0 victory in the first leg.

The Bayern Munich star then delivered an assist to the in-form Ousmane Dembele, whose first-time finish forced the tie into extra time.

Kylian Mbappe came closest to breaking the deadlock but was thrice denied by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, ensuring the French star’s eight-month wait for an international goal continued.

But it was Livakovic’s counterpart Mike Maignan who proved the hero in the shoot-out, with the AC Milan stopper saving two penalties, paving the way for Dayot Upamecano to strike the decisive spot-kick.