Wayne Rooney strikes mega-money deal to take on new role

Wayne Rooney has reportedly signed a big-money deal to become a regular pundit on Match of the Day.

The programme is set to undergo a revamp after Gary Lineker departed the BBC’s flagship football show after more than 25 years of sitting in the host’s chair.

Lineker’s presenting duties will now be shared between Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates, who will rotate as hosts of Match of the Day and its Sunday counterpart, Match of the Day 2.

Joining them in the studio will be Rooney, who, according to The Sun, has agreed to a blockbuster deal worth a reported £800,000 per year.

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Rooney is set to earn far more than Alan Shearer. / Matthew Ashton – AMA/GettyImages

That figure makes him one of the BBC’s highest-paid pundits – more than double the most-recent salary of Alan Shearer, who earned up to £384,999 for his appearances during the 2023/24 season. Shearer will remain a fixture on the show, alongside Chapman, Logan, Cates, and now Rooney.

Rooney is no newcomer to punditry.

The former England captain has made several guest appearances for the BBC and Sky Sports in recent years, but has leaned further into the role since his sacking as Plymouth Argyle manager on New Year’s Eve.

Now, he’s making his biggest move yet in the media world – one that will also see him join the BBC’s team for the 2026 World Cup in North America, where he’ll feature alongside the likes of Shearer, Jurgen Klinsmann, Rio Ferdinand and Joe Hart.

With Match of the Day ratings expected to take a hit following Lineker’s departure, the BBC will no doubt be hoping Rooney can be the headline act they need to steady the ship.

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Barcelona x Kobe Bryant-inspired Mamba 2025/26 away kit leaks

Barcelona’s 2025/26 away kit is expected to launch in the coming weeks, with a Kobe Bryant-inspired Mamba collection set to accompany its release.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend shared strong ties with the Catalan club before his tragic passing in a helicopter crash in 2020. Not only did he play against Barça’s basketball team on multiple occasions, he also visited Camp Nou several times, even taking part in a charity football match there in 2011.

Now, five years on, Barça appear set to honour one of their most high-profile fans with a kit inspired by his legacy.

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Kobe Bryant was a Barcelona fan. / MARK RALSTON/GettyImages

Images shared by memorabilia1899 show the away shirt featuring a bold and elegant colour palette of gold, violet, and black – echoing the colours worn by Bryant during his legendary Lakers career.

A standout detail is the black “Sheath” logo – Kobe’s personal emblem – displayed on the chest opposite a blacked-out Barça crest, which itself includes a faint snakeskin texture, a subtle nod to Bryant’s “Black Mamba” nickname.

The kit is expected to launch between Monday, July 21 and Saturday, July 26.

And the tribute doesn’t stop there.

Barcelona, Nike, and the Bryant brand are reportedly collaborating on a new sneaker: the Kobe Bryant x FC Barcelona x Nike Air Force 1 Low Protro. As per House of Heat, the shoe features a faux snakeskin leather upper in rich purple – a nod to both Kobe’s Lakers legacy and Barça’s historic away colours.

Mamba branding hits the heel, midsole, and lace tag, tying the shoe directly to the man it honours. The sneaker is tipped to release sometime this autumn.

With a kit and sneaker both steeped in symbolism, Barcelona’s tribute to Kobe Bryant looks set to be one of the most powerful crossovers between football and basketball yet.

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Argentina’s 2026 World Cup home kit leaked

Reigning champions Argentina are set to defend their World Cup crown next summer – and they’ll do so in a kit that pays tribute to their glorious past.

Leaked by Footy Headlines and Opaleak, the reported 2026 Argentina home shirt introduces a bold new take on the Albiceleste’s iconic look.

The kit nods to Argentina’s World Cup-winning history – 1978, 1986, and 2022 – by weaving those eras into a modern redesign of the traditional stripes.

Sky blue and white remain at the core, but this time each blue stripe features a two-tone gradient fade, shifting from light to dark for added depth. Navy accents appear on the shoulders and sleeve cuffs, giving the shirt sharper contrast and a cleaner finish.

The kit will also reportedly feature three stars above the Argentina crest, one for each of their previous World Cup wins.

Mockups of the shirt have prominently featured Lionel Messi, the hero of Qatar 2022 and the nation’s greatest-ever player. But whether he’ll wear the jersey in an actual World Cup match remains to be seen.

“I think about it and wait and see, but I don’t want to set that goal either,” Messi said recently about his potential participation next year. “I’ll take it day by day and see how I feel physically above all else, and be honest with myself too.”

For fans – and for football – the hope is that one final World Cup chapter remains in the Messi story.

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Cristiano Ronaldo museum opens in Hong Kong to huge fanfare

Cristiano Ronaldo has taken his legacy global with the grand opening of the CR7 LIFE Museum in Hong Kong – an immersive tribute to both his footballing triumphs and the personal journey behind his legend.

Officially opened on July 7 at K11 MUSEA in Tsim Sha Tsui, the attraction, which is a massive 12,000 square feet, drew huge crowds as thousands of fans queued to step into Ronaldo’s world.

The museum houses over 40 exclusive exhibits, ranging from match-worn jerseys and boots to some of the most prestigious trophies in football – including his 2008 Ballon d’Or, Golden Boots, and his FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball.

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The CR7 Life Museum is set to stay in Hong Kong for around a year. / HOLMES CHAN/GettyImages

But it’s not just about the accolades.

One of the most intimate highlights is a faithful recreation of Ronaldo’s early-career bedroom in Lisbon, offering fans a rare glimpse into his life off the pitch during his formative years – a time when his dreams were just beginning to take shape.

Even Ronaldo’s off-the-pitch life makes an appearance: his YouTube content studio is on display – though only VIP ticket holders get to step inside the replica setup he uses to connect with millions of fans online.

Running through June next year, the exhibition is expected to draw over 12 million visitors, marking it as one of the biggest football-themed showcases Asia has seen.

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SIUUUUU! / HOLMES CHAN/GettyImages

The Hong Kong museum marks Ronaldo’s third personal museum dedicated to his life and career.

In November 2023, he opened the CR7 Signature Museum in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, where he currently plays for Al-Nassr following his departure from Manchester United.

But the flagship and permanent location remains the Museu CR7 in Funchal, Madeira – the Portuguese island where Ronaldo was born and raised. There, fans can explore over 100 of his career trophies, countless pieces of memorabilia and multiple wax figures of the football icon.

The museum sits beneath the Pestana CR7 Hotel, a luxury boutique property co-owned by Ronaldo and the Pestana Group. Everything – from the decor and the dining experience to the rooms themselves – pays homage to the Portuguese star.

Outside, a towering bronze statue of Ronaldo greets visitors, cementing the site as the ultimate destination for his fans.

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Alphonso Davies reacts with horror to Jamal Musiala injury on livestream

Jamal Musiala suffered a horrific injury during Bayern Munich’s Club World Cup exit against Paris Saint-Germain, breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle in a brutal collision with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The moment unfolded when Donnarumma charged out to claim a ball in the box, crashing into Musiala’s planted leg at full force. The impact left players, fans, and commentators frozen in disbelief – as Musiala’s leg buckled under the contact.

Watching from home, Musiala’s Bayern teammate Alphonso Davies could barely process what he was seeing.

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Jamal Musiala will miss a considerable amount of time / Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages

The Bayern star, recovering from his own ACL injury, was livestreaming to fans during the match. As the moment played out, Davies threw his hands to his head in horror.

“Oh my God, no, no!” he shouted. “Please no, no.”

Bayern later confirmed that Musiala fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle. He is set to undergo surgery and will be out for an extended period.

Club sporting director Max Eberl said Musiala’s injury “hits FC Bayern hard.”

“Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he plays for our team,” he said. “Furthermore, the human impact is incredibly bitter; we all feel for him. Jamal has just recovered from an injury and will now be out for another long period.”

Eberl added: “He will get everything he needs from us. We will support him intensively and be by his side, and we are already looking forward to him being back on the pitch.”

For Musiala, it’s a cruel twist in what should’ve been a showcase tournament – turning a golden stage into a nightmare in seconds.

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