Latest news with #KylianMbappe
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
List of 20 world's best footballers on EA FC 26 is 'LEAKED' two months before the game's release - with fans questioning an Arsenal player's inclusion and why one world-class star has been left out
A list of the highest-rated players on EA FC 26 has been leaked two months before the video game's release, but fans are already questioning its credibility after noticing that one world-class superstar has been excluded. Every year, before the new edition of the football game hits the shelves, fans are always excited to learn who the very best players will be ahead of the new season - and whether any stars will be given huge upgrades. And now, gamers have been given a sneak peak at EAFC's new ratings, if a leak shared to social media on Sunday is to be believed. According to the leak, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Rodri and Aitana Bonmati will be the highest-rated footballers in the game - all having been given scores of 91 overall. The talented quintet are followed by Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Vinicius Jr, Caroline Graham Hansen, Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz and Alexia Putellas, who are each rated 90. Several fans are claiming the ratings are fake, given that Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal is nowhere to be seen in the top 20 and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is among those with a rating of 89, despite his underwhelming season last term. Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (left) and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (right) are among the highest rated players on EA FC 26, according to a leak two months before the game's release The highest rated players on FC26 — ⚡️🇧🇼 (@Priceless_MCI) July 20, 2025 Joining Odegaard with a rating of 89 are Federico Valverde, Robert Lewandowski, Patri Guijarro, Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Christiane Endler and Sophia Wilson. 'Fake ratings lmao,' one fan posted on social media. 'If this is legit they are so out of touch. Might be fake but I swear its too late in the year to see fakes,' a second said. A third added: 'Odegaard 89? Even Arsenal fans don't rate him this year'. Another posted, with a laughing emoji: 'Ohdeargod higher rating than Raphinha, Yamal and Pedri.' 'Odegaard should be 82,' a fan also said. Another rating that has raised eyebrows is that of Wirtz, who completed a British record transfer of £116million to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last month. Questioning his 90 overall rating, one fan said: 'Wirtz is an 85 at most and that's being generous.' Fans have quickly questioned the credibility of the leak, taking particular issue with Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard being rated at 89 while Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is missing Others simply couldn't believe how highly Liverpool's new star Florian Wirtz had been rated '90 for Wirtz is crazyyyyy,' a second posted, while another said: 'Why the f*** is Wirtz 90 rated!'
New York Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Chasing catamarans at 40mph (and feeling queasy) at SailGP's Portsmouth Grand Prix
It was impossible to miss the dejected French team sitting on a wall — still in their wetsuits and life jackets — just before boarding a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) ahead of the third and fourth races of Saturday's Portsmouth SailGP Grand Prix. The France SailGP team, whose investors include Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe and had secured back-to-back podiums in the previous two grands prix in San Francisco and New York, did not even make it to the starting line due to damage to their 24-metre wing sail. Advertisement SailGP, a close-to-shore sailing championship, is a new sport in its fifth season, and with that comes teething problems. There are no spare catamarans, so there have been several occasions this season in which a team has been unable to compete because of various issues — France had to sit out the first two events of the season in Dubai and Auckland while their new F50 racing boat was still being built. But at the start of the day, who could have anticipated The Athletic would have a more successful afternoon on the English Channel than the French in chase of the 11 other teams which had made it to the start line? After completing a safety briefing, the French team (and dry land) were soon in the rearview mirror, with the RIB leaving Camber Quay for the Solent, a narrow straight between mainland Britain and the Isle of Wight. It is a stretch of water with history, as this was where Queen Victoria would often watch yachting races and regattas. The Portsmouth Grand Prix is the seventh of 12 events on this season's calendar, which will culminate in November in Abu Dhabi, and is the start of the European leg of the championship. Though F50s can reach speeds of over 50 knots (57.5mph; 92.6 kilometres an hour), our journey began at a relatively low speed; ferries taking passengers to the island just off the south coast needed to be avoided, as did dozens of privately owned boats that had lined the edge of the course. But then we entered the exclusion zone, a mass of water encompassing the course, and even in light wind conditions, the next 20 minutes were not for the faint of heart. The third race of the day — a grand prix that consists of two days of racing of multiple heats before a winner-takes-all showdown on a Sunday between the three top-ranked teams — was won by New Zealand and was already under way by the time The Athletic made it into the exclusion zone. Immediately, it was clear how quickly the foiling catamarans were travelling once they were above the water. Advertisement A whistling noise, generated by the vibrating foils, pierced the wind as the Brazil team made a turn and headed back downwind to finish the race. Providing expert analysis throughout on this sport — which has been likened to Formula One on water — was Hattie Rogers, a 25-year-old who is one of the world's best foiling sailors and hopes to one day compete in SailGP. After the third race had ended — each race lasts a maximum of 16 minutes — The Athletic's boat made its way to where most of the F50s had gathered. Each team was quickly joined by their support boat ahead of the fourth and final race of the afternoon. Circling above were two helicopters, capturing the action for the TV coverage. A boat that was able to keep pace with the F50s was filming the race, too. It was at this moment that Rogers informed everyone on board that we were going to chase the boats from the start to the first mark on the course — a message that could be translated to 'Hold on!'. Launching out of a timed start, the fleet can accelerate at speeds close to 100kmh as they converge on Mark 1; getting there first gives a team a huge advantage before they head downwind for two laps of the course. As the 10,000-strong crowd counted down from 10, we quickly found ourselves trying to keep pace with the F50s — but even reaching speeds of 35 knots (40mph) wasn't enough to stay with the 11 teams. The wind pounded against my face as I attempted to look straight ahead, turning me temporarily into a Wallace and Gromit character. To shield myself, I moved my head to the left and right for split seconds at a time. One person on board was left feeling somewhat queasy as the RIB ripped through the water. To watch the athletes on board dart from one side of the F50 to the other at speed brought home the physicality of this sport. They had already completed three 12-minute races in relatively quick succession, but still had the energy to sprint nearly 10 metres across a moving boat. The Australian team, now owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and led by Tom Slingsby, an Olympic and America's Cup champion, had built up a solid lead. But there was an incredibly close call with the Great Britain team, which even caused Rogers to wince. Rogers was quick to explain that any penalty would have to be taken on the water and that Britain would be asked to slow down if one was given. Advertisement Britain weren't penalised and managed to hold off the Italian team to finish second, capping off a good day's work on home waters. They won the first race in front of a roaring crowd, and followed that up with two second-place finishes and a third-place finish. As the Flying Roos celebrated their win, the RIB made its way back to Camber Quay, where we, along with several other boats, were instructed by the harbourmaster to wait until a ferry had docked before proceeding forward. After the thrill of chasing the F50s, it was a reminder that the Isle of Wight ferry waits for no one.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Vinicius Jr's 'contract talks continue to stall as door opens for potential Saudi Pro League move'
Vinicius Jr's future at Real Madrid has been cast into further doubt as talks over a new contract appear to have hit a standstill. AS report that all negotiations were put on hold after the initial approach which was made back in February. The figure required was transmitted by his agent Frederico Pena and since then it is understood that there has been no further contact. The Brazilian's current contract, which sees him earn somewhere in the region £330,187-a-week. After a stellar 2023-24 campaign that saw him finish second in the Ballon d'Or standings, the Brazilian was forced to adapt last year as Real welcomed the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. Vinicius ultimately ended the season with 11 league goals from 24 starts as Carlo Ancelotti was unable to leverage his latest blockbuster arrival into yet more domestic glory. Back in February, Vini made a statement that highlighted the situation: 'I hope the talks will be resolved in the coming days. It's very exciting to be able to open talks with Real Madrid about my renewal. 'I have a contract until I'm 27, but I've always said I want to play here for a long time, to make history, and to receive the affection of the fans alongside the president and the coaching staff. 'God willing, the negotiations will be resolved in the coming days, and I'll be able to stay here for much longer.' Throughout his glittering spell in Madrid the 25-year-old has been consistently linked with becoming the latest high-profile star to join the Saudi Pro League. Vinicius is said to have met with officials from the league, namely vice president Saad Al Lazeez, in Prague in 2023 as they attempted to sell him on the move. Talks between the two parties have reportedly continued ever since, with the gulf state prepared to offer him a five-year deal worth £830million to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. The deal would also reportedly see the forward serve as an ambassador for the World Cup in 2034 in the country.
Mint
2 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Why is Kylian Mbappe's €180,000 donation under scrutiny? Check details
Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid star and French national team captain, is known for his generosity off the pitch, often donating his international match bonuses to charitable causes. However, his recent donation of €180,300 from his 2022 FIFA World Cup bonus to five French riot police officers has landed him in trouble. The funds, meant as an act of gratitude for the officers' protection during the Qatar tournament, where France finished as runners-up, have triggered a formal investigation by French authorities. But why? Let's find out. Kylian Mbappe distributed the €180,300 to five members of France's riot police unit (CRS), who ensured the safety of the French team during the 2022 World Cup. Four officers received €30,000 each, while their commanding officer was given €60,300. The payments were made via personal check in June 2023, drawn from Mbappe's World Cup bonus. While Kylian Mbappe's intention was to honour the officers' service, France's anti-money laundering unit, Tracfin, flagged the transactions as 'unusual,' prompting an investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) and the Paris Public Prosecutor's office. The investigation centers on concerns about the legality and ethics of the payments. Tracfin, tasked with monitoring financial crimes like money laundering and tax fraud, raised questions about whether the donations were properly declared and if they were truly for the officers' World Cup duties. A key point of contention is the involvement of one officer in Mbappe's 2023 trip to Cameroon, where he accompanied the footballer as part of the French Football Federation's (FFF) security team. This has led to speculation that the donation might have been a payment for personal security services, which could violate French laws on undeclared work. French regulations are strict about public servants receiving private funds, as such payments could imply favouritism or hidden compensation. Penalties for undeclared work include up to three years in prison and fines of €45,000, with even harsher consequences if money laundering is proven. The investigation aims to determine if the payments were lawful or constituted 'under-the-table' transactions. Jean-Baptiste Soufron, the lawyer for the officer who received €60,300, has defended the donation's legality. 'This donation received for the 2022 World Cup was made by check and did not need to be declared,' Soufron stated. 'My client's interventions did not receive any compensation and fell within his normal role as head of security for the FFF,' he added. As the probe continues, authorities will determine whether the donations adhered to legal and ethical standards.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Arsenal are not his destination' – Liverpool move into pole position for Real Madrid star
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes remains the most likely big-name departure from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, but there is still little clarity on where the Brazilian could end up. The Premier League seems his most likely destination, but there is not the plethora of options one might imagine for a player of his talent. The 24-year-old maintained a star billing at the start of last season in spite of the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, but as the season went on, his influence waned. After being taken off during the Copa del Rey final at half-time, he did not play again until the first game of the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal. Despite providing an assist for Gonzalo Garcia Torres, it remains his only start in their last 11 matches. Arsenal ruled out of move for Rodrygo Arsenal were consistently the side most closely linked with Rodrygo over the last couple of months. After moves for Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres though, the Gunners were cast as much less likely to move for Rodrygo, and now Cadena SER report that Arsenal definitively will not be his destination this summer. Image via Getty Images Liverpool his most likely destination Now it appears Liverpool are currently the side most likely to move for Rodrygo. The Reds are currently in pursuit of Hugo Ekitike after signing Florian Wirtz for big money, but if a deal for Luis Diaz to be sold can be orchestrated, they would have more room on the left for a star attacker, and more money to sign one with. Price tag for Rodrygo Prices between €80m and €100m have been quoted for Rodrygo in recent weeks, but increasingly Real Madrid are in a poor negotiating position. The Brazil international seems not to have a place in the starting XI with Xabi Alonso, and he would be an expensive substitute, who would be unhappy with a residual role. With few other destinations on the table, Liverpool may be able to negotiate a lower fee.
