Sports

Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko scored a dazzling goal in West Ham s 2-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa, sparking an emotional celebration.

Yarmolenko, who has hit 44 goals to sit second behind Andriy Shevchenko in the Ukraine national team s all-time goalscoring charts, was granted time off by West Ham boss David Moyes last month when Russia s military began to invade his homeland.

The 32-year-old made his first appearance since the war in Ukraine began during Sunday s match against Villa at the London Stadium, coming on as a substitute after 52 minutes to a standing ovation.

Yarmolenko marked the occasion in superb fashion after 70 minutes, turning on Said Benrahma s pass before poking into the bottom corner with the outside of his left boot to open t…

Lionel Messi has ruled out the possibility of participating in the Paris Olympics, conceding it would be too much to play two straight tournaments .

Messi is gearing up for Argentina s Copa America title defence, which begins against Canada on June 20, while they will also face Chile and Peru in Group A.

The final takes place on July 14, with the Olympic tournament beginning in Paris 10 days later.

With three overage players allowed per team in the primarily under-23 event, leading to speculation that Messi could feature for La Albiceleste.

However, the 36-year-old, who was a gold medallist in Beijing 16 years ago, revealed he would not be partcipating following a discussion with Argentina under-23s coach and former team-mate Javier Mascherano.

O…

Pep Guardiola has no doubt Pele would have dazzled in any era as he paid tribute to the late Brazil great – but Lionel Messi remains his choice for the greatest of all time.

Manchester City manager Guardiola said Pele s legacy will be eternal , remembering how as a young boy he was told all about the Brazilian by a physio at Barcelona.

When Guardiola watched clips of Pele in his prime, he was wowed by the all-round ability of the Santos superstar, who won three World Cups with his country, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Pele toured the world with Santos, as teams lined up for the chance to play against him, and he resisted offers to play for European teams, including Real Madrid.

Following his death at the age of 82, announced by family on Thursday, tributes h…

Thomas Partey has signed a new contract with Atletico Madrid that will tie him to the club until June 2022.

The Ghana international s previous deal was due to expire in 2019, but he has now opted to commit his long-term future to Atletico by inking a three-year extension.

I am very happy with my new contract and grateful for the faith shown in me, the holding midfielder stated.

I have always been very fond of this club and I want to keep on developing at Atletico.

I will give everything for this club.

has extended his contract until 2022
Congratulations! 

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)

Partey, 23, joined Atletico in 2011 and went on loan to Mallorca and Almeria before making his official first-team debut in N…

New Barcelona signing Thomas Vermaelen had no hesitation in moving to Camp Nou despite reported interest from Manchester United.

The Belgium international centre-back completed his switch to the Liga giants from Arsenal on Sunday, with Barcelona confirming a €10million fee was paid with up to €5million due depending on his own personal performances, while a possible €3.8million could be due from Barca s achievements.

Vermaelen had been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford throughout the close-season, with new United manager Louis van Gaal reportedly keen to bolster his defensive options.

However, the 28-year-old revealed there was only one option once he heard of Barca s interest.

Coming to Barca is a dream come true, he said at a press con…

When Roberto Mancini watched Manchester City slump to a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday, he might have rued how his former club have frittered away their inheritance.

The sight of Yaya Toure s raking pass for Sergio Aguero to give City a second-half lead would have been familiar – two towering figures of the Mancini era stepping up on the big stage as they did when Manchester was, briefly, the only battleground that mattered in the fight for English footballing supremacy.

During Alex Ferguson s record-breaking tenure at Manchester United, City were rarely more than, at best, a minor irritant. He witheringly upgraded them to noisy neighbours after Sheikh Mansour s cash-splashing takeover drastically altered their horizons.

NOISY N…

Paris Saint-Germain will aim to keep the pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Marseille this weekend when Nice visit the Parc des Princes.

Laurent Blanc s defending champions briefly returned to the top of the table after a 3-2 victory over Metz last Friday, but Marseille moved back into first with a win over Bordeaux.

PSG are only one point behind and can maintain their unbeaten start to the season with victory over mid-table Nice on Saturday.

Having beaten Ajax 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, PSG now turn their attentions back to domestic action and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is desperate to end his goal drought in the league.

The Sweden international has not found the net in Ligue 1 since August due to a heel injury and he cut a frustrated figure aga…

Arsenal have handed new long term deals to Francis Coquelin and Chuba Akpom, .

Coquelin has been rewarded with a new four-and-a-half year deal after impressing since returning from a loan spell with Charlton Athletic two months ago.

The 23 year old was part of the squad that won the Premier Academy League with the Gunners in 2009, though he has spent much of his time since then out on loan with spells at Lorient and Freiburg before moving to The Valley back in November.

Akpom, who has extended his stay at the Emirates Stadium until 2019, has made five appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side in all competitions so far this season, and has previously gained experience in brief spells with Brentford and Coventry City.

Arsenal travel to local rivals Tott…

Gareth Barry says Everton must use the disappointment of twice giving away the lead against AFC Bournemouth to spur them to victory in their League Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in the last 10 minutes of normal time, Everton looked to have snatched a vital Premier League win at the Vitality Stadium thanks to Ross Barkley s 95th-minute goal.

But it was not to be for Roberto Martinez s men, as the hosts raced up the other end and levelled through Junior Stanislas second goal of the game.

That 3-3 draw does mean though that Everton are now unbeaten in five league games heading into the clash against in-form Boro, with Aitor Karanka s side – who knocked out Manchester United on penalties at Old Trafford in th…

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is thankful his team got off more lightly than Premier League counterparts Tottenham in Thursday s Champions League draw.

Spurs face a daunting task having been drawn alongside title holders Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, with Cypriot side APOEL seemingly making up the numbers in Group H.

City have regularly tangled with European heavyweights in the round-robin stage since their competition debut in 2011-12, but they will be favourites to progress from a Group F containing Shakhtar Donetsk, Napoli and Feyenoord.

Brazil international Fernandinho is set for a reunion with Shakhtar, who he left to join City in 2013, while Pep Guardiola pitting his coaching wits against Napoli s Maurizio Sarri will make for t…