Piqué: the kind of guy who could smoke a cigar in a bombing raid
The Barcelona defender and Van Dijk don’t need to do anything special to ensure that all eyes are on them. Being special is enough
Xavi’s Plan B
The former player has the great qualities needed to be a special manager: knowledge, passion, charisma and that conciliatory sprit that forges a team
Iker Casillas stable after heart attack, but will he play again?
Spanish goalkeeper who now plays for FC Porto may never go back to top-level soccer, say some cardiologists
The merit of Barça in La Liga
It is wrong to assume that success is defined by the Champions. The domestic league is a measure of a team’s strength and stamina, and an indication of consistency
We were the lazy ones
These days, soccer players have to contest 10 or 20 more games a year than we did in my day, while pre-season matches are played out in paradisiacal destinations at 40ºC in the shade
Deconstructing Messi
It would never occur to me to say that Messi is more than Di Stéfano, Pelé, Cruyff or Maradona. But nor is he less
The Champions League and the legacy of Johan
Ajax and Tottenham are seeing their dreams come true, making something that looks very complicated simple: winning with a well-defined identity
The unusual rotations of Manchester United
Many were surprised by the choice of Solskjaer, but the club has opted for a person with human-management skills rather than someone who leads by imposition
Divine Cazorla
The Asturian player reminds us that great soccer is stored in a tank that has been filled with wisdom, thanks to genes and practice, an is released when inspiration strikes
The boldness of Ajax
At the Dutch club’s academy, they cultivate a sporting arrogance in a positive sense: we are Ajax and this is our style. You have to be brave. And this attitude has borne the fruit of a generation of daring young players
The cycling paradise I found in Madrid
Since moving to Spain, British journalist Charles Graham-Dixon has been pleasantly surprised by the region’s routes, which are frequented by amateurs and professionals alike
Women’s soccer game in Spain smashes turnout world record
More than 60,700 people came out to watch Atlético Madrid and Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Copa de la Reina, the biggest crowd ever for a match between female clubs
Spanish former pilot of plane in which soccer player Emiliano Sala died: “It didn’t fall to pieces”
Eduardo Hernández talks to EL PAÍS about his previous experiences flying the aircraft that crashed over the English Channel while carrying the Argentine forward
Soccer coach José Mourinho accepts one-year jail sentence for tax fraud in Spain
The former Real Madrid manager, who will also have to pay a €2-million fine, joins a long list of stars to be accused of fiscal crimes by the Spanish justice system
Record-breaking turnout for women’s soccer game in Spain
The quarterfinals of the Copa de la Reina received more spectators than any other female sports competition in the country
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo flies to Madrid to sign 23-month jail sentence
The Portuguese player, who will not be going to prison, has admitted to tax fraud committed while he was living in Spain as part of a deal with the public prosecutor
Star of ‘Eight Basque Surnames’ releases video of horrific bike crash
Spanish actor Dani Rovira and a colleague were struck by a vehicle on a French road while completing a charity challenge, and were miraculously left unhurt
Spanish soccer star forced to apologize over “blackface” controversy
To coincide with Kings Day, former FC Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta shared a picture of himself with men in costume as the Three Kings, one of whom was wearing black make-up
The Spanish man who insisted on biking through Siberia, and nearly froze to death
Andrés Abián was saved at the last minute by three passing Russians who pulled him out of his tent and rushed him to the hospital
Tennis star Rafael Nadal donates €1m to victims of Mallorca flash floods
The 32-year-old sports star appeared in newspapers the world over in the wake of the October 9 tragedy, when he joined the clean-up effort
How the dreams of Messi’s young Afghan fan turned into a nightmare
The family of seven-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi, who met his soccer idol in 2016, is currently living in fear of the Taliban
Spanish police expecting 500 violent fans for Boca-River final in Madrid
A hooligan leader was sent back to Argentina after landing at Barajas for Copa Libertadores match
What FIFA and the Vatican have in common
Both institutions have a long history of unacceptable behavior on the part of some of their members
Spain to host controversial Copa Libertadores final between River and Boca
The match was suspended twice in Argentina after fans turned violent and injured rival players
Spain offers Morocco joint bid with Portugal for 2030 FIFA World Cup
PM Pedro Sánchez made the offer on a state visit to Rabat, where authorities were reportedly sympathetic to the plan
Spain’s position on Kosovo could hurt its chances to host major sports events
International Olympic Committee says it will encourage international federations not to host competitions in Spain unless Kosovar athletes are allowed there under their own flag
Golf legend Seve Ballesteros still looms large over Ryder Cup
Spanish players share anecdotes about their one-time captain ahead of the tournament, which opens in Paris on Friday