Erling Haaland has given Manchester City fans something unexpected before the new Premier League campaign, swapping his familiar long blond hair for a sharply cut military-style buzz cut.

The Norway striker, 26, revealed the transformation on his YouTube channel ahead of City&#39;s opening fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday. His long hair has been closely linked with his Viking-inspired image since his arrival at the top level, making the sudden change stand out.

Haaland described the haircut as a fresh start with the new campaign getting underway.

&ldquo;This beautiful long hair, time to let it go,&rdquo; he said.

He explained that he had considered cutting it after the World Cup but never found the right time because of his schedule. With the new season beginning, Haaland decided the moment had finally arrived.

&ldquo;I was thinking of doing it after the World Cup but I was so busy so I didn&rsquo;t do it. The season starts now so it&rsquo;s time to get a fresh start.&rdquo;

<h2>Zlatan&#39;s Advice Did Not Stop Haaland</h2>

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/erling-haaland-net-worth/5742-5-0">Erling Haaland</a> also recalled advice from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, another renowned striker who has previously sported long hair.

According to Haaland, Ibrahimovic had told him never to cut it because his strength was in his hair, a reference to the biblical story of Samson.

The advice clearly did not settle the matter for Haaland, who has now gone in the opposite direction with his latest style.

His YouTube video also featured reactions from several familiar faces. Girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen was among those surprised by the change, while former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, City teammate Jack Grealish, lifelong supporter Noel Gallagher and Ibrahimovic also appeared.

The new hairstyle has quickly given fans another talking point before Haaland begins another campaign in Manchester City colours.

For a player whose appearance has become almost as recognisable as his powerful finishing, the change is certainly hard to miss. The Erling Haaland new look is dramatically different, but City supporters will have one simple concern once the season starts.

They will want the goals to look exactly the same.

Erling Haaland has ditched his trademark long blond hair for a military-style buzz cut, unveiling a striking new look before Manchester City’s season opener.

Erling Haaland Hair Cut Revealed Ahead of Man City Opener

Inter Miami&#39;s difficult run continued on Saturday as Toronto FC secured a 2-1 victory, leaving <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/lionel-messi-becomes-leading-world-cup-scorer/6516-7-0">Lionel Messi </a>and his teammates with four defeats from their last five games.

Messi scored Miami&#39;s only goal with eight minutes of normal time remaining, finishing first time from Rodrigo De Paul&#39;s through ball. The Argentine&#39;s strike gave the home side a chance to rescue a point, but Toronto held firm during the closing stages.

Toronto had done the damage shortly after half-time. Josh Sargent opened the scoring before Derrick Etienne Jr struck again just three minutes later, putting the visitors in control.

For Toronto, it was only their fifth win in 21 MLS matches this season. The result, however, carried extra weight as they extended their unbeaten run to four games and revived their hopes of pushing towards the playoffs.

Sargent described the result as a &quot;massive win&quot; for Toronto and called on the team to maintain the momentum as they look to climb the standings.

<h2>Inter Miami&#39;s Form Raises Concerns&nbsp;</h2>

Miami, meanwhile, are heading into a worrying stretch of the campaign. Their latest loss came after a 4-1 defeat against Nashville SC and elimination from the Leagues Cup following two losses.

A 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union in midweek had offered some relief, with Messi also finding the net in that match. It did little to change the broader picture.

Nashville have now opened a 10-point gap over Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters&#39; Shield standings. Miami remain second in the East, but their recent results have put greater pressure on the team ahead of the playoff race.

The concern is not simply about dropping points. Miami are also trying to secure a top-four position and home advantage in the opening playoff round, making every result increasingly important.

Head coach Guillermo Hoyos took responsibility for the team&#39;s current struggles after the defeat.

&quot;Right now, we&#39;re facing a struggle with results that we didn&#39;t have before,&quot; Hoyos said, acknowledging the impact the poor run has had on the team&#39;s mindset.

For Inter Miami vs Toronto FC, the final score told only part of the story. Messi delivered another important goal, but Toronto&#39;s quick second-half burst proved decisive.

Miami now face the task of stopping the slide before the gap at the top becomes even harder to close.

Lionel Messi scored again for Inter Miami, but Toronto FC held on for a 2-1 win as Miami slipped to a fourth defeat in five games.

Messi Scores but Inter Miami Suffer 2-1 Defeat to Toronto FC

Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that his extraordinary football career could be nearing its end.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain told Vogue that the upcoming campaign will probably be his final year in football, adding that he wants to leave a &ldquo;spectacular legacy&rdquo;. The comments come shortly after his sixth and final World Cup appearance with Portugal.

Ronaldo had already confirmed before the tournament in North America that the 2026 World Cup would be his last. He was eliminated with Portugal in the round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat by Spain, closing the door on one of the most remarkable international careers the sport has seen.

That tournament also added another record to his long list. Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different World Cups, while his international tally stands at 146 goals for Portugal.

Yet there is still unfinished business.

The forward remains within reach of 1,000 career goals and continues to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Reuters reported that he had reached 976 goals for club and country, leaving the milestone tantalisingly close.

For now, Ronaldo&#39;s attention remains on club football. His contract with Al-Nassr runs into 2027, meaning his decision to step away would come before the deal naturally expires. That makes the next campaign particularly significant.

The Ronaldo final season could therefore become a farewell tour of sorts, although he has not announced a specific retirement date or formally closed the door on continuing beyond the campaign.

His career already has a remarkable list of achievements. Five Ballon d&#39;Or awards, five Champions League titles and league championships in England, Spain and Italy sit alongside European Championship and Nations League success with Portugal.

He is also Real Madrid&#39;s all-time leading scorer and the leading scorer in men&#39;s international football. Few players have remained at the top for so long. Even now, his goals continue to arrive.

The Cristiano Ronaldo retirement conversation is no longer just speculation, though. His own words have given it weight, and if this really is the beginning of the end, football has one final Ronaldo season to watch.

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that the 2026-27 campaign could be his final season, bringing a remarkable 25-year football career closer to its end.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Legendary Career Could End After This Season

Lionel Messi, 39, has raised serious questions about his playing future after the death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi. In his first public message since the funeral, the Argentina superstar admitted he has &ldquo;serious doubts&rdquo; about continuing football for much longer.

&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what I&rsquo;ll do without you, I don&rsquo;t know how to go on,&rdquo; Messi wrote on social media, describing football as the one thing he had always played.

The admission comes days after Jorge Messi&rsquo;s funeral in Perez, near Rosario. Messi returned to the United States on Tuesday night after spending time with his family in Argentina.

His <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/jorge-messi-dies-aged-68-as-lionel-messi-mourns-father/7445-5-0">father</a> died last week aged 68. The cause of death was not disclosed, although local media had reported that Jorge had been suffering from cancer.

The timing has made Messi&rsquo;s comments particularly striking. His contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 season, yet the wording of his message has raised the possibility that his personal decision could come well before the deal expires.

<h2>A career built alongside his father</h2>

Jorge Messi was central to the career that turned a teenage prodigy into one of football&rsquo;s biggest names. When Barcelona invited Lionel to Spain at 13, Jorge left his job, wife and three other children in Argentina to move with him.

He was also the father who took Messi to training after work, watched his matches and later negotiated major contracts at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.

That history shaped Messi&rsquo;s message. He recalled how Jorge had urged him to play in one last World Cup. His father&rsquo;s health deteriorated shortly before the tournament, meaning he could not attend.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/lionel-messi-net-worth-2026-salary-contract-and-billionaire-status/5669-7-0">Messi</a> still delivered a remarkable campaign. At his sixth World Cup, he scored eight goals and helped Argentina reach the final against Spain. Argentina lost 1-0 in New Jersey.

Messi later returned to Rosario. He said his father initially believed the final had gone to penalties and could not fully understand what had happened.

The emotional toll was already visible during the tournament. Messi cried after scoring against Algeria and acknowledged that he was dealing with a situation outside football.

Now the Lionel Messi retirement debate has taken a sharp turn. There has been no announcement that he plans to quit, but his own words have made the question unavoidable.

The Jorge Messi death has left a personal void that may influence what comes next for the Argentina captain. His father had been present through almost every major stage of the journey.

&ldquo;You were a father, a friend, and an agent,&rdquo; Messi wrote.

For now, football has no answer about what Messi will do next. His contract remains, his status remains enormous, but the decision is suddenly personal rather than purely sporting. That choice could shape the final chapter of his career.

Lionel Messi has raised doubts over his playing future after his father Jorge Messi died, leaving supporters awaiting clarity on his next move today.

Lionel Messi Casts Fresh Doubt Over Future After Father’s Death

Donald Trump has stepped into FIFA&rsquo;s leadership crisis with a blunt warning: removing Gianni Infantino would be a &ldquo;terrible mistake.&rdquo;

The US president delivered his strongest public defence of the FIFA chief yet as pressure continues to build around the governing body&rsquo;s abandoned commercial restructuring plans.

Trump wrote on social media that FIFA should not even consider replacing Infantino, arguing that the Swiss administrator had overseen the &ldquo;most successful World Cup&rdquo; ever.

The intervention lands at a sensitive point for FIFA. UEFA, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation have accused Infantino of breaking trust through &ldquo;deception&rdquo; over the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise, adding fresh pressure on his position.

<h2>Why Infantino Is Under Pressure</h2>

The FIFA Forward Enterprise plan would bring commercial rights and tournament operations under a new FIFA-controlled company. FIFA says the proposal could raise up to $4.2 billion from minority investors, based on an initial $20 billion valuation.

That proposal has triggered a fierce backlash across European football. UEFA has argued that football&rsquo;s major competitions should not be treated as assets available for outside investors, while other confederations have also raised concerns about the process.

The controversy has another politically sensitive angle. Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, was expected to be involved in the investor group. Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, Trump&rsquo;s son-in-law.

That connection has added another layer to an already uncomfortable debate.

Trump backs Infantino despite the growing revolt, insisting FIFA&rsquo;s fortunes would suffer if the president were removed.

Infantino&rsquo;s supporters can point to the 2026 World Cup, staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, as a major commercial success. Spain won the tournament after beating Argentina in the final.

But the bigger question now sits inside FIFA itself. Can Infantino survive the backlash over FFE, and can the organisation rebuild trust with its powerful confederations?

The FIFA president Gianni Infantino crisis is therefore far from settled. Trump&rsquo;s intervention may strengthen Infantino politically, but it also puts the dispute under an even brighter spotlight.

For FIFA, the next move could prove decisive.

Trump backs Infantino as pressure grows at FIFA, warning that replacing its president could damage football’s commercial future.

Trump Warns FIFA Over Gianni Infantino Exit Amid Growing Revolt

Jorge Messi&#39;s death has prompted tributes from across football, with Barcelona, the Argentine Football Association and several of Lionel Messi&#39;s former clubs among those offering condolences to the Argentina captain and his family.

Messi&#39;s former club Barcelona marked the passing before their friendly against Nottingham Forest in Udine. A minute&#39;s silence was held before the game, while the club acknowledged Jorge&#39;s involvement in the formative years of his son&#39;s career.

Barcelona thanked Jorge &ldquo;for his commitment to our club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo&#39;s football career&rdquo;.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/jorge-messi-dies-aged-68-as-lionel-messi-mourns-father/7445-5-0">Jorge Messi</a>, who was 68, died in Rosario after a long illness. He had been an important figure throughout Lionel&#39;s rise in football and became his son&#39;s agent when Lionel was 14. His role continued as Messi established himself at Barcelona, with Argentina and later Inter Miami.

The Argentine football community also paid its respects. Supporters gathered outside Messi&#39;s childhood home in Rosario, leaving flowers and flags, while Boca Juniors and River Plate observed periods of silence. The Argentine Football Association said it &ldquo;deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi&rdquo;.

Messi did not feature for Inter Miami in Saturday&#39;s 2-1 Leagues Cup defeat by Monterrey. The club used the occasion to honour his father, with Jorge&#39;s name shown on the stadium screens and black armbands worn by the players.

Inter Miami tributes Messi&#39;s Father also extended beyond the match itself. The club placed a black ribbon on its social media profile pictures and issued a message of support for its captain: &ldquo;Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.&rdquo;

A personal tribute came from Rodrigo de Paul during the match. After scoring Miami&#39;s goal, the Argentina midfielder removed his shirt to reveal one carrying Messi&#39;s name, while supporters in the stands displayed messages for the family.

Luis Suarez, who missed the match through suspension, also addressed the loss on Instagram. The former Barcelona forward wrote that Jorge would continue to watch over his son &ldquo;with pride, as he always did&rdquo;.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/paris-saint-germain-vs-bayern-munich-uefa-champions-league-semi-final-highlights/5656-7-0">Paris Saint-Germain</a> also offered its &ldquo;full support&rdquo; to Messi and his family, adding to the international response following Jorge&#39;s death.

The Inter Miami pays tribute to Jorge Messi response came as Messi stepped away from football following the loss of his father.

Inter Miami pays tribute to Jorge Messi alongside Barcelona and Argentina as the football world mourns the passing of Lionel Messi's father.

Inter Miami Pays Tribute to Jorge Messi

Mexico and Argentina have thrown their weight behind Gianni Infantino, handing the FIFA president a timely boost as football&#39;s governing body continues to deal with the fallout from its controversial commercial rights proposal.

The proposal, which has since been withdrawn, triggered criticism from several football organizations over concerns surrounding governance and decision making inside FIFA. While the issue has divided confederations across the world, support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to grow in key regions.

Mexico&#39;s Football Federation chose a different path from CONCACAF, its regional governing body, which recently demanded a broad review of Infantino&#39;s leadership. Instead, the federation praised FIFA&#39;s institutional framework and said football&#39;s development should remain the priority for all 211 member associations.

Argentina&#39;s Football Association also issued a strong endorsement ahead of next year&#39;s FIFA Congress in Morocco, where Gianni Infantino is widely expected to seek a fourth term. In its message, the AFA credited FIFA&#39;s leadership over the past decade for strengthening governance and expanding football development across the globe.

<h2>FIFA Divisions Continue to Widen</h2>

The latest statements underline how divided world football has become. The Confederation of African Football has also reaffirmed its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, adding another influential voice behind the current administration.

Elsewhere, opposition remains firm. <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/uefa-maintains-the-world-cup-boycott-threat-in-latest-statement/7421-5-0">UEFA</a> has maintained its boycott of FIFA competitions, while the Asian Football Confederation has expressed solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF over governance concerns. South America&#39;s <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/conmebol-criticizes-fifa-decisions-under-gianni-infantino/7416-7-0">CONMEBOL</a> has taken a more measured position, insisting that any move to remove the FIFA president must be decided through a vote involving all 211 member associations.

FIFA recently apologized to its members over mistakes linked to the commercial rights proposal and promised to strengthen its internal processes. Even so, the controversy has exposed growing political divisions inside world football.

With the FIFA Congress approaching, alliances are becoming increasingly important. The public backing from Mexico, Argentina and CAF has strengthened Gianni Infantino&#39;s position, but resistance from several influential football bodies ensures the leadership debate is far from over.

Mexico and Argentina have backed Gianni Infantino despite FIFA's latest controversy, exposing fresh divisions before next year's Congress.

FIFA Split Deepens As Mexico and Argentina Back Gianni Infantino

CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, recently welcomed FIFA&#39;s decision to scrap its private investment proposal. At the same time, the body said it remained concerned about FIFA&#39;s strategy under Gianni Infantino, who has taken several unilateral actions during the last few years.

CONMEBOL is generally regarded as a close supporter of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, its comments reflect the concerns raised by other football confederations, which said they were not informed in advance about the <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/fifa-investment-plan-uefa-fifa-dispute-global-backlash/7297-7-0">investment proposal</a> that FIFA withdrew on Saturday.

&quot;In light of the events affecting the football family, the CONMEBOL Council, meeting today, welcomes FIFA&#39;s decision to withdraw the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal,&quot; said the confederation&#39;s statement.

&quot;The Council also unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature.&quot; added the statement.

CONMEBOL, which backed Infantino&#39;s bid for another term as FIFA president earlier this year, said the controversy had taken attention away from what it described as an &quot;extraordinary&quot; World Cup.

&quot;Within a matter of days, football has gone from being at the center of global attention due to the staging of an extraordinary sporting event to becoming the focus of public debate on matters related to its governance,&quot; said the confederation&#39;s statement.

However, CONMEBOL made it clear that it would not back any effort to remove Infantino before the FIFA presidential election in Rabat next March.

Infantino&#39;s critics could still try to force him out by securing enough support for a vote of no confidence, which would require FIFA to hold an extraordinary Congress.

&quot;On 18 November, 2026, the deadline for submitting candidacies for the FIFA presidency will expire.&rdquo; said the confederation&#39;s statement.

&quot;Thereafter, the FIFA Congress will elect, through the votes of its 211 member associations, the person who will lead the organization during the next term, including overseeing the organization of the FIFA Centennial World Cup 2030.&rdquo; added the confederation&#39;s statement.

&quot;Accordingly, CONMEBOL will not support any action or procedure that disregards or departs from those institutional mechanisms.&quot; concluded the statement.

CONMEBOL welcomed FIFA's decision to drop its private investment plan, but raised concerns over Gianni Infantino's leadership and repeated unilateral actions.

CONMEBOL Voices Concern Over FIFA's Independent Decision-Making

Real Madrid appear ready to end months of uncertainty surrounding <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/real-madrid-ended-vini-jr-renewal-saga/7331-5-0">Vinicius Junio</a>r after fresh negotiations moved both sides to the brink of a long-term agreement. The latest developments have dealt a major setback to Arsenal, who had quietly positioned themselves as serious contenders for one of football&#39;s biggest transfers.

The latest round of discussions took place at Real Madrid&#39;s training complex, where club officials met directly with the Brazilian winger and his representatives. Those talks reportedly produced significant progress, with the Spanish champions improving their financial offer and strengthening confidence that an agreement is now within reach.

The proposed package is expected to make Vinicius one of the club&#39;s highest-paid players, with reports suggesting an annual salary worth around &pound;18.5 million. That revised offer has shifted momentum firmly in Madrid&#39;s favour after negotiations first began in early 2025.

Arsenal had remained optimistic for months. The Premier League side were willing to meet the player&#39;s earlier salary expectations and believed they had a genuine opportunity if negotiations stalled. Instead, Vinicius Junior contract extension discussions have accelerated at exactly the right moment for Real Madrid.

<h2>Romano confirms breakthrough after decisive meeting</h2>

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the meeting involving Vinicius, his Roc Nation representatives and Real Madrid executives brought both parties remarkably close to a final agreement.

According to Romano, the club always wanted to resolve the situation before it became the dominant story of the transfer window. That objective now appears within touching distance.

The growing optimism arrived only hours after Vinicius surprised millions of supporters by deleting every post from his Instagram account. With nearly 64 million followers watching, the sudden social media wipe sparked fresh speculation that an exit could be imminent.

Instead, the move now looks unlikely to signal a departure.

Manager Jose Mourinho reportedly views the Brazilian as one of the key figures for the upcoming campaign and has backed the club&#39;s efforts to secure his future. His influence behind the scenes is believed to have strengthened Madrid&#39;s position during the latest discussions.

For Arsenal, the outcome represents a frustrating end to an ambitious pursuit. Manager Mikel Arteta recently admitted his squad would continue searching for reinforcements before the transfer window closes, but Real Madrid transfer news now points firmly toward Vinicius remaining in Spain.

While paperwork has yet to be completed, all signs indicate the deal is entering its final stages. Unless negotiations take an unexpected turn, Real Madrid transfer news is set to deliver the outcome the club has wanted all along, with Vinicius expected to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for years to come.

Vinicius Junior is close to signing a new Real Madrid contract, leaving Arsenal's ambitious transfer pursuit on the verge of collapse.

Vinicius Rejects Arsenal As Real Madrid Seal New Contract Deal

Lionel Messi added another remarkable chapter to his career after scoring twice in Inter Miami&#39;s 4-2 win over Atletico San Luis in the opening round of Leagues Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

The Argentine captain entered the night with a chance to rewrite tournament history and did exactly that. His two goals lifted his overall tally to 14, making him the highest scorer the competition has seen since its launch between Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs.

<a href="https://www.tapmad.com/blog/lionel-messi-returns-in-inter-miami-vs-columbus-crew-draw/7344-7-0">Inter Miami</a> faced an early setback when David Rodriguez found the net in the fourth minute. The visitors looked sharp, but their advantage lasted only seven minutes before Messi calmly brought Miami level with a precise finish.

Momentum shifted quickly. Telasco Segovia put the home side ahead in the 26th minute after a flowing attacking move, giving Miami complete control before the interval.

Messi struck again moments before half-time, extending the lead with another clinical finish. Deep into stoppage time, Brazilian defender Micael added a fourth goal, leaving Atletico San Luis with a mountain to climb.

Rafa Llorente managed to score after the break, but the visitors never seriously threatened a comeback as Inter Miami comfortably saw out the contest.

The latest milestone adds another memorable achievement to Messi&#39;s growing legacy with the Florida club. He played a key role in guiding Inter Miami to the inaugural title in 2023, and his latest performance suggests he remains central to the club&#39;s ambitions in Leagues Cup 2026.

Elsewhere in the competition, FC Dallas defeated Queretaro 2-0, while Leon edged Nashville 1-0 to begin their campaigns with valuable victories.

The tournament has only just begun, yet <a href="https://www.tapmad.com/watch/fifa-2026-lionel-messi-silver-boot-winner/13382890">Lionel Messi</a> has already provided its biggest headline, setting a record that could stand for years.

Lionel Messi struck twice as Inter Miami defeated Atletico San Luis 4-2, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history.

Leagues Cup 2026 Begins with Lionel Messi Record-Breaking Brace

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