England v Italy is being played Napoli's Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where the Argentina legend played 257 times and won two league titles.

Diego Maradona died aged 60 in 2020.

An FA spokesperson "strongly condemned" the individual, saying the flag included a "highly offensive message".

"We immediately took steps to have their ticket cancelled before the match," a statement added.

Maradona, one of the greatest footballers of all time, famously scored his 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.

In England vs Italy, England fans complain of Naples treatment as 'water confiscated and buses go the wrong way

England supporters have taken to Twitter to complain about the treatment that they are receiving in Naples ahead of the match between the Three Lions and Italy. Some fans were fearful that they would not arrive at the stadium before the 7.45pm kickoff as the buses went 'the wrong way'.

Some of the committed supporters may not have made it to the stadium for kick-off though, with numerous fans taking to Twitter to complain that the routes that their coach drivers took were longer than anticipated.

TalkSPORT journalist Faye Carruthers tweeted: "Been speaking to many England fans arriving at the game (and those still not here) who say it's been farcical trying to get here - have friends who've been on a bus for 90 mins (it's a 25 min journey) - the bus went in the opposite direction to the stadium.

"They're not likely to make KO - crammed in with standing room only. One fan said the English police outside were "embarrassed" as nothing they said would happen organisation-wise has."

Other fans complained about how they were treated before entering coaches to head to the stadium. One supporter wrote: "Still on the coach and it's been nearly an hour. Police took water bottles off everyone before boarding." Another added: "Literally every England fan getting on these buses has been photographed, their ID photographed too, what is going to be done about that?"

Violence between supporters had been feared prior to the match, with authorities of both countries putting strict plans in place to minimalize the risk of any confrontations breaking out. The FA took action against one England fan earlier on Thursday who was seen with a flag that read 'Diego's in a box', in reference to Napoli legend Diego Maradona who has passed away.

The image was widely condemned on social media, prompting the British authorities to identify the individual and pass the information on to the FA, who cancelled his ticket. They then released a short statement that read: "We strongly condemn the actions of the individual who travelled to Naples with a flag that had a highly offensive message on it. We immediately took steps to have their tickets cancelled before the match. The matter will be reviewed further when we return to England."

The No.10 jersey in football is always an iconic one. Be it for any club, country or any team playing in a local tournament, usually the best player of the team or the attacker wears the No.10 jersey for the team. 

FC Barcelona, one of the best and historical clubs in the World, had some of the greatest players ever to wear the No. 10 jersey for them. Today, in this article, we will discuss 10 legendary Barcelona players who have worn the jersey no. 10. 

To give you the context of the article, let me remind you that, after a great 2024-25 season, Lamine Yamal is set to wear the No.10 jersey for FC Barcelona in the next season, only if Ansu Fati leaves the club. 

Read Also | Football jersey numbers: Significance of jersey numbers in football

1. Lionel Messi (2008-2021)

If you talk about any stats or legendary things about FC Barcelona, there is a chance that you will have to mention the little man from Argentina, Lionel Messi. Most goals, most trophies, most assists, most Ballon d'Ors, and many more records for the club - Messi has everything to his name.

Messi had 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances for FC Barcelona and left the club with the most number of titles. The 8-time Ballon d'Or winner wore the No.10 jersey for the first time in 2008 when Ronaldinho left the Catalan club to join AC Milan. 

Since then, Messi has worn the iconic jersey for 14 years, before leaving the club as the greatest Barcelona player. 

Read Also | 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

2. Diego Maradona (1982–1984)

An Argentine legend followed by another one. One of the greatest footballers ever, Diego Maradona, who is known for his time at Italian Club Napoli, spent two seasons at FC Barcelona as well. 

Although Maradona's stint at Barcelona was full of controversies and injuries, he scored 38 goals in 58 matches and won the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup for FC Barcelona. 

3. Ronaldinho (2003–2008)

With his Samba magic and flair, Ronaldinho is regarded as one of the greatest Barcelona players ever. The Brazilian legend was there when Messi made his debut and gave him all the support to fill his shoes later. Before Messi, it was Ronaldinho, who used to wear the No. 10 jersey for FC Barcelona. 

Ronaldinho scored 94 goals and provided 71 assists in 207 matches for FC Barcelona. 

Alongside winning two La Liga titles, he also won the 2006 UEFA Champions League for the Spanish club.

Read Also | Top 10 Greatest EL Clasico Matches of All Time

4. Gary Lineker (1986–1989)

Gary Lineker is one of the greatest English players ever to play for FC Barcelona. From 1986 to 1989, Lineker played for FC Barcelona in 138 matches, wearing the famous No. 10 jersey. 

Lineker scored 51 goals for the Catalan club and helped them win the Copa del Rey in 1988 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989.

5. Rivaldo (1997–2002)

Rivaldo, the Brazilian legend and captain, joined FC Barcelona in the 1997 season and played 235 games for the Catalan, the most he played for any club in his career. The attacking midfielder scored 130 goals for Barcelona and won four titles, including two La Liga titles. 

Not only that, during his stint at Barcelona, he won the FIFA Best Player Award and Ballon d'Or award in 1999. 

Read Also | Football Facts: Players With Champions League, World Cup and Ballon d'Or

6. César Rodríguez (1939–1955)

Since there was no consistency in jersey numbers during the 1930s and 1940s era, it is quite unclear how many games he played wearing the No. 10 jersey for FC Barcelona. But Cesar, who wore the No. 10 jersey occasionally for FC Barcelona, played 344 games for the club.

In those games, he scored 226 goals and won 11 trophies for the club, including 5 La Liga titles. With 28 goals, he also finished the 1948-49 season as the top scorer of La Liga.

7. Juan Román Riquelme (2002–2005)

Another Argentine legend is on the list of legendary players to wear the No. 10 jersey for FC Barcelona. Riquelme, the legendary Argentine attacking midfielder, though he only played 42 games for FC Barcelona, made his mark before leaving for Villarreal and Boca Juniors. 

8. Michael Laudrup (1989–1994)

Laudrup, the Danish playmaker, was an integral part of Johan Cruyff’s dream team. The stylish midfielder played 226 games for FC Barcelona and scored 54 goals for the club. Along with his goals, Laudrup assisted 26 times as well. 

Laudrup won 9 trophies for FC Barcelona, including 1 UEFA Champions League, 4 La Liga titles, 1 UEFA Supercup and 2 Spanish Super Cups. Post becoming FC Barcelona.

After his successful 1992 and 1993 seasons, Laudrup joined Real Madrid the next season. 

9. Luis Suárez Miramontes (1955–1961)

One of the greatest Spanish midfielders, Luis Suárez Miramontes, is also one of the greatest FC Barcelona players. Luis Suárez Miramontes, in 176 games for FC Barcelona, scored 80 goals and assisted 21 times. 

Suarez won two La Liga titles and two Spanish Cup titles for FC Barcelona before moving to Inter Milan, where he flourished as a striker and went on to win two Champions League titles as well. 

But before leaving for Inter Milan, he won the 1960 Ballon d'Or while playing for FC Barcelona.

10. Hugo Sotil (1973–1976)

Hugo Sotil, the Peruvian striker, was one of the key players for FC Barcelona during the Johan Cruyff era. In 70 games, he scored 18 goals and helped FC Barcelona win the 1973–74 La Liga title.

Hugo was one of the key members of Barcelona's resurgence in the 1970s. 

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham broke Wayne Rooney's record for England in Friday's 2026 World Cup World Cup Qualifiers clash against Albania. Jude helped his side to win 2-0 at the famous Wembley Stadium to collect three points. 

Bellingham started in Thomas Tuchel's first starting XI as England's boss. It was the 41st appearance of the 21-year-old. The English midfielder overtook Wayne Rooney for the most senior appearance for the England national football team at 21 or younger. The former Manchester United legend made 40 appearances.

41 - Jude Bellingham is making his 41st appearance for England, overtaking Wayne Rooney's record (40) for most games for the senior side while aged 21 or younger. Baton. pic.twitter.com/wBVzvIiFlL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 21, 2025

Jude Bellingham made his senior debut for the National side being a 17-year-old in November 2020 on his debut England triumphed with a 3-0 victory over Ireland in a friendly match. He has since made 41 appearances and scored 6 goals and provided 10 assists.

Jude Bellingham continued his good form against Albania on Friday as well. He got the ball in midfield and went past a couple of players before putting a cross for the debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and the debutant scored the goal and put his side a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

Harry Kane scored the second goal in the 77th minute and helped the Three Lions clinch a 2-0 victory over Albania. England is now at the top of the group k of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The group also has Latvia, Serbia, and Andorra along with England and Albania.

Off to a winning start 🙌

A 2-0 success to start the Thomas Tuchel era and our @FIFAWorldCup qualifying campaign. pic.twitter.com/lXJYDIJsHA

— England (@England) March 21, 2025

While England beat Albania 2-0, Jude Bellingham spoke about things the Tuchel's managed side need to improve. Assessing his side's performance Jude said: (Via England Football)

Jude Bellingham against Albania:

- 90 minutes played
- 1 assist
- 0.43 xG
- 91% passing
- 102 touches
- 1 chance created
- 6 ground duels won
- 100% aerial duels won. pic.twitter.com/pAnrh2XGDy

— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) March 21, 2025

I think we had clear ideas on what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play. We tried that as much as possible. I know it is difficult when you play against a team that sits so low and is so compact.

At times the game takes you a different direction. You want to go on the ball and move around but generally, we stuck to the plan really well. We had a really good week of training, and it was a good way to start the new era.

Hello and welcome to another big night of international football. Tonight, we will be covering three out of four UEFA Nations League 2025 quarterfinals. 

This is Soumit Bhattacharya, with the buildup, news, LIVE updates, scores, and free commentary of the Italy vs Germany UEFA Nations League 2025 Quarter-final 1st Leg match.

Italy qualified for the quarter-finals after securing 13 points in 6 matches, finishing second in the League A Group 2. On the other, Germany topped the League A Group 3, having earned 14 points in 6 games.

This sets up an engaging match-up between two of the biggest powerhouses of European football in the UEFA Nations League 2025 Quarter-finals. So, sit back and relax as we bring you everything on the Italy vs Germany match from the web desk. 

Former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario, 'the phenomenon' named some of his colleagues, footballing legends and icons among his list of the 11 best players ever. Former Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus stars are on the list.

In this special article, we explore the greatest football XI as per Ronaldo Nazario.

The greatest football XI as per Ronaldo:

1. Pele
2. Lionel Messi
3. Diego Maradona
4. Zico
5. Romario
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
7. Marco Van Basten
8. Zinedine Zidane
9. Luis Figo
10. Rivaldo 
11. Ronaldinho

1. Pele

Ronaldo Nazario grew up in Brazil in the 80s, it is not a surprise that he picked Pele. While Ronaldo Nazario was too young to watch Pele play live, his legacy is still to this day within the football world. For many Brazilians, Pele will always be the Greatest of all time.

2. Lionel Messi

Ronaldo has often spoken highly of the Argentine forward, and it is not a surprise that he named Lionel Messi as one of the best players of all time.

Ronaldo Nazario said the following during an interview in 2020:

Messi is out of this world. He’s great. I like him much more than any other player. Everything he does is spectacular.

3. Diego Maradona

Ronaldo was born in 1976; he would have seen Diego Maradona in action during his development years and it is no surprise that the Argentine genius made such an impression on him. In reverse, Diego Maradona was always very complimentary of Ronaldo.

In 2018, Maradona said:

“If it were not for the injuries, Ronaldo would have been the best of all time.”

4. Zico

Zico spent the majority of his career playing in his native country for Flamengo. He enjoyed a brief spell in Europe with Udinese but only spent two years playing in Italy before he returned to Brazil.

The Former Brazilian midfielder also earned 71 caps for Brazil and scored 48 goals on the international stage. Despite never winning the World Cup, he is still considered one of the greatest players in the country’s history.

5. Romario

Ronaldo played a total of 19 games alongside Romario for Brazil and the pair combined for 12 goals during their time together. 

Ronaldo told Bobo TV during an interview in 2022.

In 1997, I was an important player already. I had already won the Ballon d’Or. 

During the training retreat for the Copa America, Romario suddenly told me: ‘Get ready, we go out tonight, don’t worry.’

He had prepared a ladder to climb over the hotel’s wall and there was a taxi waiting for us on the other side.

We returned at five am and I was exhausted the following day in training. I understood that Romario did it on purpose to tire me out and take my spot in the starting XI.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo

While Ronaldo Nazario neglected Cristiano Ronaldo from his three greatest players of all time, he still names the Portuguese forward in his best XI.

Ronaldo Nazario told ESPN: 

Cristiano has an incredible career; he has scored in every way possible and successfully adapted to different positions. He is undoubtedly one of the best, but not the greatest.

7. Marco Van Basten:

There can be no denying that the three-time Ballon d’Or winner ranks among the greatest players of all time. At club level, the Dutchman scored a whopping 283 goals in just 379 appearances for Ajax and AC Milan. Like Ronaldo, Van Basten had to retire his career short because of injuries.

8. Zinedine Zidane

During their time together at Real Madrid, Ronaldo played 139 games alongside Zinedine Zidane and the pair combined for 31 goals during that time. Considered by many to be the greatest midfielder of all time, it is no surprise that the Frenchman cuts into Ronaldo’s elite list.

9. Luis Figo

Ronaldo shared a close bond with Luis Figo during his playing days as the pair played alongside each other at Barcelona and Real Madrid. In fact, throughout Ronaldo Nazario's career, only Iker Casillas and Roberto Carlos played more games with him than Figo played.

The former Portuguese winger won 22 trophies throughout his career and undoubtedly ranks as one of the best players of his generation.

10. Rivaldo

Rivaldo was also recognized by Nazario as one of the best players of all time. Former Brazilian international won the Ballon d'Or in 1999. While they never played together at club level, they did make 46 appearances alongside each other when playing for the national team.

11. Ronaldinho

The last name that Ronaldo gave when naming the best players of all time was Ronaldinho. A fellow Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner, this list would feel incomplete without the legendary attacking midfielder. The pair made 39 appearances together for Brazil and won the World Cup and Copa America together.

2024 has been a sensational year for football as the world witnessed many memorable performances that will go down in history. Many footballers have emerged as breakout stars while renowned players have continued to grace the pitch with exceptional performances.

However, some footballers have consistently performed well in 2024 with their club or country and continued to stand out among others. In this article, Sportz Point explores the five best footballers of 2024. 

Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)

Vinicius Jr. has been one of the most instrumental assets for Real Madrid's success in recent years. The 24-year-old Brazilian racked up loads of goals and assists for Los Blancos to enlist himself as one of the best players in 2024.

Vinicius Jr. led Madrid's attack along with Jude Bellingham to clinch the 2023-24 La Liga title, having scored 15 goals while providing 6 assists in 26 appearances. He became a walking nightmare for every defensive line-up in Europe with his sublime ball control, acceleration, and footballing skills. 

The 2023/24 Player of the Season 💫#UCL pic.twitter.com/JImV2RLKBg

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 3, 2024

However, Vinicius unleashed his ultimate best in Real Madrid's UCL-winning campaign in the 2023-24 season. He earned the UCL Player of the Season award with 11 goal contributions by his name. Vini performed well in the group games as well as in crucial knockout games; the semi-final and final, against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Although his second-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d'Or ranking sparked severe controversies, Vinicius Jr. had no trouble in proving himself as one of the most prolific footballers in 2024.

Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)

Lamine Yamal is certainly the most promising young talent in football discussions worldwide. Making his debut for FC Barcelona's senior team in 2023, the 17-year-old winger completed his 50th appearance for Barcelona in April 2024, becoming the youngest footballer to achieve the feat. 

However, Lamine's breakout performance for Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 is the definite highlight of his year. The Spanish teenager, who only turned 17 in July 2024, lifted the 2024 Euro as the youngest winner of the tournament. Lamine won the Young Player of the Tournament award as well, having bagged 1 goal and 4 assists in the competition.

Lamine Yamal has played in the 2023 U17 European Championship and Euro 2024 over the last 14 months.

U17 Euros:
⚽️ 4 goals
🤝 2 assists
🏆 Team of the Tournament

Euros:
⚽️ 1 goal
🤝 4 assists
🏆 Young Player of the Tournament

Shining at all levels on the big stage ✨ pic.twitter.com/iD9iJB4Lfj

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 15, 2024

Lamine has added some more glory to his list of personal accolades in 2024 by winning the 2024 Golden Boy Award and the Kopa Trophy.

The youngster continued his record-breaking stint also for his club, as he became the youngest footballer to score in a Clasico game during Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in October 2024. He has been instrumental for Barcelona since the start of the 2024-25 season as well. It seems that the talented winger will continue to showcase his jaw-dropping capabilities with a football at his feet.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah has been one of the most consistent footballers for Liverpool in recent years, and now he is paving the way to enter the globe of all-time Premier League greats.

Since Arne Slot arrived in Anfield as Jurgen Klopp's successor, Salah has been a cheat code for the Reds across all competitions. Although he had a distressing start to 2024, now he has transitioned into an even more complete version of a traditional winger. 

The 'Egyptian King' has been responsible for almost 64% of the goals Liverpool scored this season in the league and UCL. It clearly shows his impeccable ability to orchestrate the attack while leading from the front. He has 20 goals and 17 assists by his name in 26 appearances in all competitions so far this season. 

Another record broken by Mohamed Salah 😳📊 pic.twitter.com/RbW6qV1ftL

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 29, 2024

The 32-year-old forward has also hit the headlines for breaking Premier League legend Wayne Rooney's record for 36 games with a goal and an assist in a single game.

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

In a world where the forwards steal all the limelight, it is simply exceptional for others to ensure themselves in consideration of the top performers without a doubt. Jude Bellingham is the kind of footballer who not only plays well but also ensures his dominance everywhere on the pitch.

Bellingham left Dortmund in 2023 and signed for Real Madrid, where he continued to elevate his footballing prowess. The Englishman finished 4th on Laliga's list of most goal contributions with 19 goals and 6 assists. Nevertheless, he was named the 2023-24 La Liga Player of the Season for his dynamic performances.

Jude Bellingham has won the 2023/24 LaLiga Player of the Season! 🚨🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/NeVcQ8kvuv

— LiveScore (@livescore) May 28, 2024

However, Bellingham could not play in his natural position in the 2024 Euros. This positional shift restricted his goalscoring proficiency but he continued to offer his physical ability, defensive quality, and accurate passing skills to help England reach the Euro final. He also came out on top to assist Cole Palmer who scored the only goal for England in the final. 

The 21-year-old youngster also received the prestigious Lareaus World Breakthrough of the Year Award for 2024 to brighten his list of individual honours. Despite finishing third in the 2024 Ballon d'Or ranking, he was certainly one of the best footballers in 2024.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Harry Kane left Tottenham Hotspur in 2023 to join Bayern Munich, but he did not forget to bring his goalscoring boots to Germany. The 31-year-old striker has comfortably enlisted himself as one of the best footballers of 2024. 

The England captain not only possesses lethal finishing skills but also has brilliant positioning sense which helps him to be a very natural number nine. However, Kane found his best version in Bayern and concluded the 2023-24 Bundesliga season with his personal best tally of 36 goals which led him to win his maiden European Golden Boot trophy in 2024. 

Kane has already scored 20 goals and provided 9 assists in 20 matches in all competitions this season and continued to be one of the best footballers in 2024.