Dear Flamengo supporters, I am writing this message before the Copa Libertadores final — Flamengo’s most important game in recent years. We are one of the biggest teams in the world, but it has been a long time since we have had a moment like this.

I think children understand the world better than adults do. Especially when it comes to how we treat other people. Sometimes people ask me this question in interviews and it is very difficult to answer. They say, “Kouli, how does it feel when the fans make these racist howls at you? Does it bother you? What should be done?”

he influence of Nike on the World Cup was thrust awkwardly into the spotlight in 1998. The largely anonymous role of Brazil’s Ronaldo in the final is still something of immense conspiracy. Rumours abound of Mário Zagallo withdrawing the player following a breakdown, only to be forced into reversing his decision by Nike.

Dear 17-year-old Gianluigi, I write this letter to you tonight as a 41-year-old man who has experienced many, many things in life, and has made some mistakes. I have some good news and some bad news for you. The truth is that I am really here to speak to you about your soul.

I couldn’t breathe. I was trying not to panic. This was in the dressing room right before the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2018.

Veganism is on the rise in top-level football. Arsenal's Hector Bellerin and Roma loanee Chris Smalling are among the players to have adopted fully vegan diets in recent years, while England internationals Fabian Delph, Jack Wilshere and Jermain Defoe have spoken about the benefits of eliminating red meat and dairy from their meals.

Czech football legend Petr Čech will appear in the goal again! Not in football, but in hockey!

The life of a football player is unpredictable. Last weekend on Saturday FC Petržalka had three goalkeepers available to play. Couple hours later, due to the unfortunate injuries of Peter Sokol and Frederik Valach, they had only one.