Kevin Keegan, one of English football’s greatest players and a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, has died at the age of 75 following a battle with cancer.

The former England captain, forward, and manager — affectionately known as “King Kev” or “Mighty Mouse” — passed away on Monday, July 20, 2026. His family confirmed the news and requested privacy while thanking the medical team for their care during his illness.

Keegan enjoyed a glittering playing career that saw him rise from humble beginnings in Doncaster to become a global superstar. He shone brightest at Liverpool, where he won multiple league titles and European Cups, before enjoying successful spells at Hamburg, Newcastle United, and Southampton. He earned 63 caps for England, captaining the national side, and was twice named European Footballer of the Year (1978 and 1979).

After retiring as a player, Keegan transitioned into management. He enjoyed notable success with Newcastle United in the 1990s, transforming them into Premier League title challengers, and later managed England between 1999 and 2000. His charismatic personality and attacking philosophy left a lasting impression on the clubs and players he worked with.

Tributes have poured in from across the football world. Newcastle United described him as the “beating heart” for generations of fans. Former player Alan Shearer called him “My Hero. My manager. My friend.” Liverpool, Manchester City, and the England national team have also paid respects, with plans to honor him at Wembley Stadium in September.

Keegan had been open about his stage four cancer diagnosis earlier in 2026, which followed an initial revelation in January. He remained positive and engaged with fans during his treatment.

Details of funeral arrangements have not yet been released. Football fans and former colleagues will remember Keegan as a dynamic talent whose energy, skill, and leadership defined an era of the sport.

Neymar Jr. has purchased a £17 million superyacht, completing the deal after Brazil’s shocking round-of-16 exit from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Norway.

The Santos forward’s new vessel, christened “Enejota” — a phonetic play on the Portuguese pronunciation of his initials “NJ” — is a meticulously refurbished cargo ship constructed in Brazil.

Measuring over 46 metres in length with a usable area of 800 square metres, the yacht recently docked in Angra dos Reis, within the state of Rio de Janeiro.

It is powered by four Caterpillar engines, each producing 1,450 horsepower.

The acquisition places Neymar alongside fellow football enthusiasts Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent £5.5m on his yacht in 2020, and David Beckham.

However, the timing of the purchase follows what the forward described as a painful conclusion to his international career.

Neymar confirmed his retirement from the Brazilian national team immediately following the 2-1 loss to Norway, a match in which he scored his 80th and final goal for the Selecao.

Speaking to Globo after the emotional defeat, he said: “I tried, I tried.”

As the “Enejota” now sits in the waters of Rio de Janeiro, the 34-year-old enters a new chapter — one that includes a luxury sanctuary from media scrutiny and a net worth capable of absorbing eight-figure purchases on a whim.

(Leadership)

• Getty images/ Sportsbible

FIFA’s global football development chief, Arsène Wenger,says the long-term future of hydration breaks remains uncertain as football’s governing body prepares a thorough review following Sunday’s final.

A hydration break is a mandatory pause during a sports event—most notably association football—where play is halted specifically to allow athletes to drink fluids, lower their core body temperatures, and prevent heat-related illnesses.

The three-minute stoppages, mandated for all games at this year’s tournament, are not yet a standard feature across global soccer.

But they have already caught the attention of broadcasters, who view the breaks as a potential gateway for commercial advertising in future media rights negotiations, several soccer executives told Reuters.

FIFA acknowledged the backlash generated by the mid-half pauses and confirmed that a full analysis would be conducted after the World Cup concludes.

” No, sometimes people didn’t like it and we have to analyse after the World Cup what is the impact,” Wenger said during a news conference.

“It didn’t look to me that it changed the results of the competitions. But we are here to serve people who watch football and we will come to the conclusions after the competition.

“In some games, it was really needed and because we want to make any difference between the way games are handled we decided at the start of the competition to do it. We will have a deep analysis after the competition.”