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Kylian Mbappe, the prodigious French football sensation, embarked on his remarkable journey to stardom at a remarkably young age.

Born in Bondy, France, on December 20, 1998, he quickly captured the attention of football enthusiasts with his exceptional talents.

Mbappe's rise to prominence began with AS Monaco's youth academy, where his lightening speed, technical prowess and innate footballing intelligence caught the eye of scouts. In December 2015, he became the youngest first-team player for Monaco, making his debut at just 16-years-old. His breakthrough season came in 2016-2017, during which he spearheaded Monaco's charge to the Ligue 1 title and reached the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.

His rapid acceleration and clinical finishing led to his inclusion in the French national team, and he played an instrumental role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph, becoming only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final.

Mbappe's early career statistics and records are nothing short of impressive. He set a slew of records, becoming the youngest player to score for Monaco and the youngest French player to score in the Champions League. His prolific goal-scoring ability, coupled with his versatility to play across the frontline, made him a sought-after asset.

With a slew of accolades, including multiple Ligue 1 titles, domestic cups and individual awards, Mbappe's early career accomplishments have solidified his status as one of football's most promising talents.

Kylian Mbappe at Monaco

Kylian Mbappe's formative years in football were marked by his exceptional stint at AS Monaco. Arriving at the club's youth academy, he swiftly showcased a footballing maturity beyond his years and rapidly climbed through the ranks to the first-team.

Making his professional debut in December 2015 at the tender age of 16, Mbappé's breakthrough season came during 2016-2017. He became a linchpin in Monaco's dynamic attacking unit, contributing significantly to their Ligue 1 triumph in the same season. His partnership with Radamel Falcao and his ability to combine electrifying speed with clinical finishing earned him rave reviews across the continent.

But the 2016-2017 campaign saw Mbappe not only guide Monaco to the domestic league title but also propel them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Statistically, Mbappe's time at Monaco showcased his incredible promise. He amassed 26 goals across all competitions in the 2016-2017 season, demonstrating his potency in front of goal. His lethal combination of pace and precision led to him being recognized as one of Europe's most exciting young talents.

Mbappe's records and milestones during his Monaco days are truly extraordinary. He became the youngest player to score for the club, and his performances earned him the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award. Additionally, he became the youngest French player to score in the Champions League, marking his growing influence on the international stage.

His success with Monaco culminated in a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, where he continued to flourish and solidify his status as a global footballing superstar.

Mbappe's time at Monaco remains a pivotal chapter in his career, showcasing the early signs of his unbelievable talent and foreshadowing the meteoric rise that was to come.

Mbappe's Honours at Monaco

Ligue 1 (1)

2016/2017

Kylian Mbappe at PSG

Joining the club in 2017, initially on loan before making it permanent a year later, he quickly cemented his status as one of the world's most prodigious talents, propelling PSG to both domestic and international success.

Mbappe's €180m arrival at PSG was a record-breaking transfer, underscoring the immense potential the club saw in him. He was part of a formidable attacking trio alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani, forming a trio that came to be known as "MCN."

During his time at PSG, Mbappe's statistics and records have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has consistently registered impressive goal-scoring figures in Ligue 1, contributing significantly to the club's multiple domestic title wins. His searing pace, technical flair and ability to score from various positions on the field made him a nightmare for defenders.

Mbappe's records include becoming the youngest player in PSG's history to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 and being the youngest player to reach 50 league goals for the club. His exploits also extended to the Champions League, where he showcased his prowess on the grandest stage. He became the youngest player to score 25 goals in the Champions League, surpassing the previous record set by none other than Lionel Messi.

Milestones have abounded throughout Mbappe's PSG career. He has secured numerous individual accolades, including multiple Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards, further cementing his position as one of the league's dominant forces. His role in PSG's 2019-2020 run to the Champions League final also highlighted his capability to perform at the highest echelons of the sport.

Mbappe's tenure at PSG has not only been marked by his on-field exploits but also by his growing stature as a global football icon. He is renowned for his philanthropic endeavours and his charismatic personality off the pitch.

To date, the France international's PSG record stands at 212 goals in 260 first-team appearances, but over the last 12 months there has been a level of controversy surrounding his future in France.

In June 2023, Mbappe announced his intentions not to renew his contract in the French capital, which runs until June 2024. It was widely reported that he was eyeing up a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2023. Mbappe refuted those claims, saying publically that he was happy at PSG in response, but the club's president Nasser Al-Khelaifi's stance was that he would not play for PSG again if he refused to sign a new deal.

The stand-off led to Mbappe being excluded from PSG's pre-season tour to Japan, but it was announced in August 2023 that he would be reintegrated back into Luis Enrique's first team plans following productive discussions being the player and the French giants.

Mbappe's Honours at PSG

Ligue 1 (5)

2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2021/2022, 2022/2023

Coupe de France (3)

2017/2018, 2019/2020, 2020/2021

Coupe de Ligue (2)

2017/2018, 2019/2020

Trophee des Champions (2)

2019, 2020

Kylian Mbappe with France

Kylian Mbappe's international career with the French national team has mirrored his remarkable success at the club level. Bursting onto the scene as a prodigious talent, he quickly became a vital component of the national setup.

His journey with Les Bleus reached a pinnacle during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Playing a pivotal role, he showcased his electrifying pace, exceptional dribbling and clinical finishing. Mbappe's standout performance in the tournament earned him the prestigious FIFA World Cup Young Player Award. His crowning moment came in the final when he scored to become only the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final, after the legendary Pelé.

His statistics and records for France are equally impressive. He has consistently been one of the team's top goalscorers, contributing vital goals in crucial matches. Mbappe's versatility and ability to thrive in different attacking roles have made him an indispensable asset for the national team.

In March 2023, France manager Didier Deschamps named Mbappe the new captain of France following the international retirement of long-standing captain Hugo Lloris.

To-date, Mbappe's record for France stands at 70 caps and 40 goals, with his most recent goal coming in a 1-0 victory over Greece in a UEFA European Championships qualifier, in June 2023.

Mbappe's Honours with France

FIFA World Cup (1)

2018

UEFA Nations League

2020/2021

Kylian Mbappe's Personal Accolades & Records

Kylian Mbappe's burgeoning career has been punctuated by an array of personal records and prestigious awards.

His rapid ascent began with AS Monaco, where he became the youngest player to debut for the club in December 2015. Then, his breakthrough season in 2016-2017 yielded the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and his position as the youngest French player to score in the Champions League.

However, it was on the global stage that Mbappe truly made history. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he became the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup final, helping France secure their second world title. His electrifying performances earned him the FIFA World Cup Young Player Award.

At PSG, Mbappe has maintained his record-breaking momentum. He became the youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 goals for the club and the youngest to score a hat-trick in the league.

Accolades such as multiple Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards and his remarkable feats in domestic and international competitions underscore Mbappe's status as a generational talent and an individual who continues to rewrite the record books while amassing a trove of footballing honours.

It surely is only a matter of time before he collects his first Ballon d'Or.

Mbappe's Personal Honours

Ligue 1 Player of the Year (4)

2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023

Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year (3)

2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019

Ligue 1 Team of the Year (6)

2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023

UEFA Champions League Team of the Season (4)

2016/2017, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022

FIFA FIFPRO World XI (3)

2018, 2019, 2022

Golden Boy (1)

2017

FIFA World Cup Golden Boot (1)

2022

FIFA World Cup Silver Ball (1)

2022

FIFA World Cup Young Player Award (1)

2018

Kopa Trophy (1)

2018

French Player of the Year (3)

2018, 2019, 2022

UEFA Team of the Year (1)

2018

Ligue 1 Top Scorer (5)

2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023

Ligue 1 Top Assist Provider (1)

2021/2022

UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot (1)

2021

Victoria vaulted back into contention for the Sheffield Shield final after bowling out Western Australia for 213 on day four

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2018
ScorecardVictoria has vaulted back into contention for the Sheffield Shield final after a crushing 255-run win over Western Australia at the WACA.The Bushrangers needed just two wickets on the final morning to complete the rout but they were frustrated by Josh Inglis and Matt Kelly, who put together a 109-run partnership for the ninth wicket.Victoria opted not to bowl any of their frontline quicks on the final day leaving Daniel Christian, Cameron White and Glenn Maxwell to try and finish the job. Inglis moved within sight of his first Sheffield Shield century before he was trapped in front by Christian on 87.Kelly also fell to Christian nine balls later for his highest first-class score. Christian finished with 2 for 27. Chris Tremain was named Man of the Match for his first career 10-wicket haul.

The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket

Steven Lynch19-Sep-2005The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket:

Kevin Pietersen’s 473 runs in the Ashes puts him in joint second place for the most runs in a debut series © Getty Images
Shane Warne dismissed Andrew Strauss six times in the Ashes series – is this a record? asked Amin Shukla from Trivandrum
The amazing Warne also dismissed Ashley Giles six times in the epic series that has just finished. As it turns out these were the 45th and 46th instances of a bowler taking the same batsman’s wicket six times in the same series, starting in 1894-95, when England’s Tom Richardson kept removing Syd Gregory. But the record is seven, which has happened four times now: the first was the South African Jack Siedle, who fell to a previous Australian legspinning legend, Clarrie Grimmett, seven times in 1935-36. Another South African opener, Trevor Goddard, lost his wicket seven times to Brian Statham in England in 1960. The other two are more recent: in the 1989 Ashes series Geoff Lawson dismissed David Gower seven times, while in 1997 Glenn McGrath accounted for Mike Atherton on seven occasions. While we’re on this subject it might be worth mentioning the England opener Peter Richardson, who had eight innings in the 1956 Ashes series and was caught behind in each of them, although the bowlers were different.Before the end of Kevin Pietersen’s epic 158 at The Oval, a caption showed that he was approaching the record for the most runs in his debut Test series. Did he get there? asked Ben Elmington from Glasgow
He didn’t quite break the record for England, which is still held by RE “Tip” Foster, who scored 486 runs in the 1903-04 Ashes series, including 287 on his debut at Sydney. But Pietersen did finish up with 473 runs in his first series, which puts him level in second place for England with Paul Gibb, who made 473 in South Africa in 1938-39, in the series that included the famous Timeless Test at Durban. George Gunn (462 in 1907-08) and Brian Luckhurst (455 in 1970-71) also made more than 450 runs in their first Test series for England. The Ashes record is 557, by Australia’s Herbie Collins in 1920-21, while Arthur Morris (503 in 1946-47) also made more than any Englishman. But all of these are quite a long way adrift of the record for any debut series. In 1970-71 Sunil Gavaskar collected 774 runs in just four Tests in his maiden series, for India in the West Indies. He broke the previous record, George Headley’s 703 for West Indies against England in 1929-30.Who has scored the most Test runs without ever making a half-century? asked Nusrat Vohra from Pakistan
It’s quite well-known that Shane Warne, with 2767 now, has scored the most Test runs without a century, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever been asked this question before, The answer is Pakistan’s Waqar Younis, who’s actually the only man to make more than 1000 Test runs without the aid of a fifty – his highest score in 87 matches was 45. Fred Trueman of England lies second with 981, ahead of Craig McDermott (940), Derek Underwood (937), Courtney Walsh (936), Andy Caddick (861) and Bob Willis (840). Caddick did have a near-miss – his highest Test score was 49 not out against Australia at Edgbaston in 2001.Is it true that Jai Prakash Yadav’s 69 in the recent Videocon Series was the highest score by a No. 9 in ODIs? asked Ganesh Mali from India
Yes, JP Yadav’s 69 against New Zealand at Bulawayo last month did indeed break the record for the highest score by a No. 9 batsman in ODIs. The previous record was 64, shared by Michael Holding for West Indies against Australia at Perth in 1983-84, and Andy Bichel for Australia v New Zealand at Port Elizabeth in the 2002-03 World Cup. Tahir Naqqash hit 61 for Pakistan v New Zealand at Auckland in 1984-85, and there have been 14 other ODI half-centuries from Nos 9 or 10 in the order, three of them by South Africa’s Lance Klusener, and one by Irfan Pathan in the same match as Yadav.Recently Muttiah Muralitharan, almost unnoticed, went past Wasim Akram’s overall record of international wickets, and is closing in on 1000. Who else has more than 800? asked Haider Abbas from Pakistan
Murali’s nine wickets in last week’s first Test against Bangladesh in Colombo took him to 939 international wickets all told – 558 in Tests and 381 in Odis. (He also has 999 Test runs as I write!) Wasim Akram did indeed hold the previous record, with 916, but Shane Warne has equalled him now. The only other one over 800 at the moment is Glenn McGrath, with 842, although Anil Kumble had 790 before the first Test against Zimbabwe.Where does the name “Cross Arrows” come from? asked Stephen Sellick
The Cross Arrows Cricket Club is the one that plays matches throughout September on the Nursery Ground at Lord’s. It’s mostly made up of people who work there – MCC staff members as well as current and former groundstaff players. They play a high standard of club cricket, against local teams and organisations, as well as the occasional centenary or other celebration game. The Cross Arrows were founded in 1880, and legend has it that early on, before the club had a proper name, they had an away fixture out in the wilds of Middlesex. Asked where the match was, one of the players said “It’s across ‘Arrow way” (Harrow, home of the famous school, is out to the north-west of London) … and the name stuck. I’m not quite sure if it’s true, but it’s a good story!

Justin Kemp’s magnificent unbeaten 100 from 89 balls completely changed the complexion of a match that seemed to be in India’s bag. Here at the stats highlights from his knock

S Rajesh26-Nov-2006

Justin Kemp scored 65 from his last 27 balls as India reeled under his onslaught © Getty Images
240.74 – Justin Kemp’s strike rate in his last 27 balls. After 62 balls he had made just 35.76 – The number of runs South Africa scored in the five-over period from 43 to 47. The sequence read 12, 15, 19, 11, 19.138 – The eighth-wicket partnership between Kemp and Andrew Hall, which is a record for that wicket in ODIs, beating the earlier mark of 119 between Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1993-94.240 – Kemp’s strike rate against Irfan Pathan (24 off 10 balls). Against Zaheer Khan he hammered 21 off 11, while Harbhajan Singh vanished for 27 off 24. The only bowler who had respectable stats against him was Anil Kumble, who conceded just 11 from 25 balls.24.07 – Kemp’s average in his 20 previous ODIs this year. He had only scored two fifties in these matches.3 – The number of No.7 batsmen who have scored hundreds in ODIs. Before Kemp, only Hashan Tillakaratne (100 against West Indies at Sharjah, 1995-96), and Mohammad Kaif (111 not out against Zimbabwe at Colombo, 2002-03) had managed this feat51.20 – Rahul Dravid’s average in ODIs against South Africa in South Africa. In 11 innings, he has scored seven fifties25.89 – Sachin Tendulkar’s average against South Africa in South Africa. In 18 matches, he only has one fifty-plus score

West Ham United are currently top of the Premier League table following their victory at Kenilworth Road, so supporters won't be worried about a lack of new additions on Deadline Day.

However, the Hammers did miss out on a golden opportunity to add quality depth to their defensive presence this evening, with a new update emerging on a target who wanted a move to the London Stadium.

Who were West Ham interested in on Deadline Day?

According to The Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea full-back Ian Maatsen wanted to join West Ham, despite being touted for another loan move back to Burnley this afternoon.

As per the report, the west London club agreed an initial loan with an obligation worth £31.5m for Maatsen, but the youth prospect was reluctant to agree to the deal as he preferred a move to remain in London, and it is now looking like he will stay at Stamford Bridge.

How good is Ian Maatsen?

The Hammers are currently unbeaten in the Premier League which will be a huge relief to David Moyes after losing a number of key players this summer, however, a missed opportunity to sign Maatsen will surely haunt the manager as they step into their Europa League campaign.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The left-back – who is a product of the famous Cobham academy – was one of the most promising prospects in the Championship last season during his season-long loan at Turf Moor, where he made huge contributions to Burnley's successful promotion back to the top flight.

Over 39 Championship appearances, the 21-year-old – once hailed as "hugely talented" by Coventry City goalkeeper Simon Moore – scored four goals, registered six assists, created a whopping 11 big chances and tallied up an 83% pass completion rate, as per Sofascore.

Not only that, the Netherlands native ranked in the top 20% of his positional peers across the eight leagues most similar to the Championship for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive carries, progressive passes and interceptions per 90 minutes played, offering a glimpse at his diverse skill set and strengths.

In fact, Maatsen would have been a dream replacement for Aaron Cresswell as he outperformed the Hammers full-back in a number of key attributes last season, albeit at a poorer level.

Indeed, those metrics included goal contributions (10 v 1), pass completion rate (80.6% v 77.8%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.30 v 0.04), percentage of dribblers tackled (52.5% v 38.7%) and successful take-ons (40.3% v 28.6%), as per FBref.

Cresswell is now 32 years old and his current contract with the east London club will expire at the end of this season, so it will definitely feel like a huge chance has been missed for the Hammers to not only sign a worthy and youthful successor, but a potential upgrade on the left-back.

With that being said, there is no doubt it will be disappointing for West Ham supporters that Maatsen couldn't complete a deal with the club this summer, however, should he stay at Chelsea it could still present an opportunity for the future if the youngster is open to a move in January.

Celtic could be set to lose one of their rising stars, with a new report revealing that he’s already been watched by scouts from a huge club in Germany.

How have Celtic started the season?

In the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers’ side have made a fantastic start to the new campaign where they find themselves top of the table on ten points having won three and drawn one of their opening four games, as per Sky Sports, though a lot of the players have recently been away on international duty.

The Hoops had a total of 11 squad members representing their country over the past fortnight, including the likes of Callum McGregor, Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi, but there was another less well-known youngster from the academy who also received a call-up for his nation.

Parkhead’s attacking midfielder, Rocco Vata, who currently plies his trade for the B side, has been in action for the Republic of Ireland’s U21s, and with his contract set to expire in less than a year, he has emerged as a target for several teams outside of Glasgow.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph previously confirmed that Serie A side Torino were interested in the 18-year-old alongside other unnamed clubs across Europe, and with the teenager having changed agents to CAA Base Ltd, there’s a possibility he’s done this to try and force a move to a new club in 2024.

Is Rocco Vata leaving Celtic?

According to The Daily Record, Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig “ran the rule” over Vata during Ireland’s 3-0 victory over San Marino on Tuesday night.

Marco Rose’s side sent a scout to watch the talented prospect in action, but they weren’t alone with representatives from the Premier League’s Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion also in attendance.

Due to his contract situation, it’s stated that the youngster could leave for just £350k in training compensation next summer.

How good is Rocco Vata?

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vata is an “exciting” up-and-coming player and one who has an extremely bright future ahead of him, and he’s already shown the bags of potential that he has to offer for the second team at Celtic.

The Hamilton-born talent has posted a remarkable 18 contributions (17 goals and one assist) in 24 B side outings, and with his high standard of performances having impressed members of staff, he made four senior league appearances off the bench last season.

Sponsored by Adidas, he also has the ability to operate in five various positions over the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline alongside two roles in the midfield, so with the excellent versatility that he provides, it would be a real blow to lose him next year.

Whilst Rodgers won't want to sanction the sale of someone like Vata, he will understand that he will want to move onto new pastures in the not too distant future should he not receive the regular game time he's craving, so his fate is currently hanging in the balance.

Liverpool have boasted their fair share of foreign talents over the years, signing the likes of Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, Xabi Alonso and, of course, Mohamed Salah to aid the Premier League side in their ambitious endeavours over the years.

That list is by no means exhaustive, but the prestigious outfit have housed some of the division's finest names, and while they only secured their maiden Premier League title in 2020, the memories made by superlative stars will last forever in the Anfield folklore.

Of course, none have been greater than Steven Gerrard. Captain, leader, legend, the Scouse-born sensation enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished career with the Reds.

What did Steven Gerrard win at Liverpool?

Gerrard may well be the greatest player to ever don the Liverpool shirt. Having completed 710 matches for the side, scoring 186 goals and providing 157 assists, he is irrefutably one of the finest players of his generation.

Winning the Champions League, two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2005, the now 43-year-old has been praised by many, with Ballon d'Or winner Kaka saying: “For me, and I have always said this, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders ever. No doubt.”

His career was one for the record books, no doubt, and on an individual record, he was one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, perhaps in the history of the game.

So often the man of the moment at Anfield, he was let down too often by his languishing teammates, and ultimately didn't quite enjoy the sustained success that his skill set deserved.

That could have been very different if only Liverpool had followed up their clear interest in David Silva, who then forged quite the career for himself.

Did Liverpool nearly sign David Silva?

According to the Guardian, Liverpool held a vested interest in Spaniard Silva in 2009, when he plied his trade for Valencia, but were dissuaded by ostensible intrigue from Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as concerns over the LaLiga side's £25m asking price.

It was in anticipation of the possible sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, who indeed completed a transfer to Los Blancos for around £30m in August that year, and while the Reds had bolstered their transfer war chest, they opted to delve down the cheaper route.

That culminated in the £20m acquisition of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who proved to be a colossal failure, playing just 28 times across two seasons, partly hampered by injury, and failing to make his mark as Liverpool started to sink into mediocrity, in what became known as the dark days.

One year later, Manchester City signed Silva from Valencia for £30m, proving to be quite the successful deal, wouldn't you say?

How good was David Silva?

Playing the lion's share of his senior career in Manchester, Silva would make 436 appearances for the Citizens, scoring 77 goals and supplying 140 assists as the fulcrum of their midfield for a decade. Coincidentally, that happened to be a goal involvement every two games, the same as Gerrard managed at Anfield.

The 125-cap Spain star has been hailed as a "terrifying talent" and a "legendary footballer" by compatriot David Villa, who paid homage to his journey with Manchester City upon his departure.

Boasting an unparalleled footballing intellect and an innate eye for a line-breaking pass, Silva is easily one of the greatest players to have ever earned their wage in the Premier League, and the impact that he has had at City (and could have made in Liverpool) has been nothing short of profound.

Now 37-years-old, Silva has revelled in a glittering career of the highest pedigree and served as a creative centrepiece across two phases of world-class Manchester City sides, also a distinguished champion with his nation and having enjoyed success in his Spanish homeland with separate outfits.

World Cup

x1

European Championship

x2

Premier League

x4

FA Cup

x2

Copa del Rey

x2

English League Cup

x5

Community Shield

x3

Truly, an incredible player, and as his time with the Sky Blues neared its culmination in 2020, former teammate Raheem Sterling heaped praise on the midfielder.

The England international said, "He's a perfect example of how to be a great professional and a top player, with many, many trophies behind him." Full of adulation, Sterling continued, "If it is his last season (in English football), he'll be sorely missed because he brings so much to the club and if you want to follow in his example it is always to keep that humility."

Gerrard achieved some brilliant things with his boyhood club and has more than etched his name into the club's record books: he is the embodiment of the Merseyside outfit, the celestial midfield machine and forever the catalyst of some of the greatest nights in Liverpool's history.

Liverpool pushed for Silva in 2009 and failed to get the deal over the line, indeed opting for the shrewder route of signing Aquilani, which turned out to be a tremendous success. Sigh.

It was a watershed moment for Liverpool, unbeknown at the time, the Reds would slowly sink away from prominence and into an abyss, and while the 2013/14 season brought the joy of an enthralling, albeit unsuccessful, title race, it wasn't until Klopp took the helm in 2015 that the future started to show signs of prosperity once again.

Sadly, that came too late for Gerrard to secure a maiden Premier League trophy, with his outfit labouring for much of the latter phase of his Anfield career – an end unbefitting for such an immortalised figure for the club.

Had Silva been signed, there's no telling the impact that he could have made, and indeed the partnership that could have been forged with the iconic skipper.

Silva's elegance and supreme technicality joining with Gerrard's all-conquering style would have melded like a stream into the sea, and indeed the unrelenting torrent of Liverpool's might would have been quite the thing to behold.

Alas, it didn't happen. But surely, had Silva arrived and made his mark for Liverpool instead of Manchester City, it all could have been so different.

Lionel Messi's advert for the upcoming Super Bowl LVIII has been released, which also features NFL legend Dan Marino and Ted Lasso's Jason Sudeikis.

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Messi already a hit in the U.S.Stars in first Super Bowl advertFeatures alongside Marino and SudeikisWHAT HAPPENED?

It was announced late last month that the Inter Miami superstar would be making his bow on American TV screens in an advertisement for Michelob ULTRA Beer. A snippet released earlier this week showed that Ted Lasso himself Sudeikis would be joining Messi, with the full-length video also showing Marino's cameo on a glitzy yacht.

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Messi's inclusion in arguably America's showcase sporting event of the year demonstrates his seamless transition to life in the States. Since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, fans up and down the country have gone crazy for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. 'Messi mania' even led to Inter Miami shooting up the MLS rankings in terms of club value, which will no doubt take another boost after this latest ad appearance.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Away from the big screen, a friendly date awaits the mercurial Argentina against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr later on Thursday – but the Portuguese won't be in attendance due to injury. Football fans far and wide have been deprived of the opportunity to see the eternal rivals face off one last time following Ronaldo's late withdrawal. Messi, who has played Miami's last three games, could still feature.

Charlotte FC are in advanced negotiations to sign Uruguayan starlet Luciano Rodriguez from Liverpool Montevideo, GOAL understands.

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Charlotte FC near deal for strikerHero of U-20 World CupHad drawn interest from River Plate and FeyenoordWHAT HAPPENED?

The third-year MLS club is closing in on the striker, who was Uruguay's star at the U-20 World Cup in 2023 as they triumphed in Argentina. Charlotte are in negotiations to sign the 20-year-old forward to a Young Designated Player contract and, while some details are still being ironed out, the fee would be among the largest ever in MLS. Sources say the fee would end up being among the top five in MLS history, which puts it at at least $12 million. The current MLS record is Thiago Almada, who was signed by Atlanta United for a $16m transfer fee.

The potential deal comes after Charlotte lost two of their three DPs this offseason. Karol Swiderski departed the club for Hellas Verona on an initial loan while Kamil Jozwiak made a permanent move to Granada. That leaves just Enzo Copetti as the club's lone DP, with Rodriguez set to join to provide Charlotte with a young striker to help lead the attack.

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Rodriguez has burst onto the scene over the last year thanks to his exploits with Uruguay's youth national teams. He was his country's hero at the U-20 World Cup as he scored the winning goal in the final against Italy to help Uruguay lift the trophy for the very first time.

Rodriguez has also shone for Uruguay's U-23s, having scored six goals in as many appearances, and in January he was named to the country's squad for CONMEBOL Olympic qualifiers. Uruguay, unfortunately for Rodriguez, crashed out, despite a hat-trick performance from the striker against Paraguay and goals against both Peru and Argentina.

On the club level, Rodriguez joined Liverpool Montevideo in 2023 after coming through the ranks at Progreso. In his first season, he scored nine goals for the club and was named the Uruguayan League's Young Player of the Year in 2023. Additionally, he was named to the Uruguayan Primera Division Team of the Year.

The striker has previously drawn interest from the likes of River Plate and Feyenoord.

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Rodriguez is the latest Uruguayan to make the move to MLS, with the league continuing to be a hotbed for young South American talent. Diego Rossi and Facundo Torres have become stars in MLS after making their own early-career moves to the US, while legendary Luis Suarez recently signed with Inter Miami to link up with former teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHARLOTTE FC?

Charlotte FC will open the MLS season, the club's first under new coach Dean Smith, on February 24 at Bank of America Stadium as they host New York City FC. The club is entering its third season having made the playoffs for the first time in 2023 before falling to the New York Red Bulls in their first match.

The Gunners spent more than £200 million last summer, but still don't have a squad strong enough to win the Premier League

Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice both said the exact same thing after Sunday's 2-1 loss at Fulham: "Not good enough." And they were right. Arsenal didn't deserve to take any points home from their trip to Craven Cottage, so dire was their display.

The real concern for the Gunners, though, is that same phrase could be applied to their squad. As it stands, Arteta's men don't look remotely good enough to challenge for this season's Premier League title.

Rice added on , "There are a lot of media who talk and say Arsenal are going to win the league this year and we are better this year, but we don’t get involved in that." Which is the right approach, really, because it wouldn't do anyone connected with the club any good to dwell on the fact that the squad is actually weaker now than it was last season – and that's a deeply depressing thought for the fans, given the club spent more than £200 million ($250m) during the summer transfer window.

Rice, to his credit, has proven an excellent acquisition. His goals alone have been worth five points to Arsenal, and that's without getting into what he adds to the midfield. Jurrien Timber was also desperately unfortunate to suffer a serious injury on his debut after impressing in pre-season, but the decision to spend £62m ($78m) on Kai Havertz remains as baffling now as it was last July. The Germany international has enjoyed something resembling a mini-revival in recent weeks, but there's still no shaking the feeling that Arsenal's ambitions would have been far better served by signing a proven goalscorer.

However, it's been made abundantly clear during the first half of the season that Arsenal aren't just short up front. Indeed, a squad that was meant to challenge for the title is alarmingly short in several key areas…

GettyGoalkeeper

Arteta can't be criticised for wanting an upgrade on Aaron Ramsdale, who is error-prone and poor with the ball at his feet, and David Raya looked like the right addition, given how impressively he'd performed at Brentford last season.

However, despite the constant support of his manager, Raya has looked very, very shaky at times this season, and been beaten by shots that never should have got past him. The Spaniard just doesn't inspire confidence and that's a major problem for a back four.

There's no suggestion that Arsenal will look to sign another goalkeeper this month, with Arteta clearly set to stick with Raya, but rather than solving a problem, the manager has unintentionally created one.

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Arsenal looked quite well-stocked in this position before the season began, given the impressive versatility of Timber, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

However, Timber might not return until March, White's form has fluctuated wildly, Kiwior is a liability at left-back, as the Fulham defeat hammered home, Tomiyasu has had his injury issues and is now off to the Asian Cup, while Zinchenko's defensive deficiencies have been repeatedly exposed.

Consequently, many supporters have questioned the wisdom of the decision to allow Kieran Tierney to leave on loan to Real Sociedad, as some still consider him the best left-back on Arsenal's books.

Whether the Scot would have made a major difference to the title tilt, we'll never know, but what's clear is that unless Arsenal dip into the transfer market – or recall Tierney – they're going to have issues on either side of the defence until Timber returns to full fitness.

Getty ImagesCentre-back

White, Tomiyasu and Kiwior can all play at centre-back, but it's honestly come as no surprise to hear rumours of Arsenal trying to signing Matthijs de Ligt, given the Dutchman has struggled to lock down a starting spot under Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes obviously make for a solid pairing. Indeed, if the former had not missed the end of last season, Arsenal may well have held onto their lead at the top of the Premier League. As it was, the back four capitulated without Saliba, which only underlined Arsenal's fragility without the Frenchman. Another spell on the sidelines really would put paid to their title aspirations.

So, while Timber's return will ultimately give Arteta another excellent option to play alongside Saliba, they look worryingly short on quality at centre-back right now. In that sense, selling Gabriel would appear out of the question, but the Brazilian, who was heavily criticised by Ian Wright for his performance at Fulham, is prone to dropping clangers and if the incessant Saudi Arabian interest in his services materialised into a solid bid, the money made could be put towards a more reliable partner for Saliba.

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GettyCentral midfield

Rice was touted as the missing link for Arsenal, the kind of player that could propel the club to a first Premier League title since 2004. However, while the England international has made a big impact, he's not proven a game-changer because the make-up of Arteta's midfield is still not right.

Thomas Partey's injury issues obviously haven't helped, even if Arteta was using the Ghanaian as a right-back during the early stages of the season. One imagines that if Partey had stayed fit, he would have eventually been used in his preferred deep-lying, play-making role that would have offered greater protection to the back four, while at the same time allowing Rice serve as the link-man between the midfield and the attack. With that option unavailable, the latter has often been asked to do far too much from a defensive perspective, given he's often got two No.10s (Martin Odegaard and Havertz) for company in the engine room.

Of course, Partey is now poised to return to action, but doubts remain over his future as a mooted move to Saudi Arabia would allow Arsenal to at least partially fund a move for another defensive midfielder. Still, while talk of a move for Fulham's Joao Palhinha makes an awful lot of sense – the Portuguese showed Arteta exactly what he's missing in the middle of the park with a tremendous display at Craven Cottage on New Year's Eve – one wonders whether Arsenal would have sufficient money to make it happen, given it's believed that they'll have to sell before they can buy this winter.