Checked out over the international break? Check again. We have Messi's Argentina farewell, Europe's surprise package, and familiar Premier League names popping up all over the globe.
Lionel Messi’s last dance
In sport, it’s always best to go out on your own terms, and that time is now for Argentina great Lionel Messi. The GOAT has chosen to take his leave from international football, stating last month that he has “nothing more to give” in the colours of his country.
The beaten World Cup finalists have arranged three friendly games at home, with Messi due to only take part in one final fixture, joining up with the squad ahead of next Tuesday’s clash with Benin.
Lionel Messi’s final game for Argentina will see him wear a special one-off kit from adidas
Fitting opposition for arguably the best player we’ve witnessed in our lifetimes’ last dance? We’re not sure, but it’s certainly a piece of trivia we’ll never forget.
Speaking of which, Messi will earn a national record extending 208th cap when he takes to field at River Plate’s Monumental on 6 October. And in a career littered with big moments, we fully expect him to add to his 125 goals for the Albiceleste.
New hope for the Greek national team
Having just failed to reach a sixth major tournament in a row with their absence from the summer World Cup, not a lot was expected from Greece coming in to the new Nations League cycle.
But away wins in Serbia AND Germany back up a theory developing in some circles that Greeces’ Serbian coach Ivan Jovanović is cooking up something special with the Ethniki. European football’s greatest surprise package (see Euro 2004) might well be on the march again.
The spirit of Euro ‘04 lives on!
With Vangelis Pavlidis still banging in goals for fun at Benfica (he has 14 in 13 this season), Christos Tzolis’s successful introduction to Arsenal’s Premier League winning side, plus the emergence of Brighton striker Charalampos Kostoulas, Dortmund wonderkid Konstantinos Karetsas, and namesake Tzolakis, the keeper at Hull City, the future is looking bright.
Germany’s B Squad out to state their claim
In a move that the higher ups at the DFB have already insisted will not be repeated, Jürgen Klopp called up two different squads for the four Nations League fixtures that mark the former-Liverpool bosses’ first furore in to international football.
And after his A Squad failed to beat Netherlands and lost to Greece, it’s over to plan B for tonight’s game vs. Serbia, and Sunday’s revenge mission in Athens.
Too many cooks in the kitchen? Jürgen Klopp called up 44 players for this international break
At the time of the squad announcement, Klopp insisted that the two different sets of players were divided up evenly, but we’ll see how that is reflected by results now the likes of Florian Wirtz, Aleksandar Pavlović, Nick Woltemade, and Karim Adeyemi have arrived in camp.
USMNT vs. MEXICO
Two of the host nations from the summer’s World Cup jamboree, and outright archrivals in CONCACAF competition, meet for a ‘friendly’ on Saturday night.
Mauricio Pochettino’s recent focus on youth has seen teenagers Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, and Mathis Albert all contributing to goals scored in the wins over Peru and Chile. While, for Mexico, breakout star Gilberto Mora has also notched his first senior international goal during this international break.
CONCACAF’s Big Two clash for the first time since the 2025 Gold Cup final
El Tri ended a run of six games without victory on US soil when they lifted the 2025 Gold Cup against their great rivals, and with the next edition of that tournament plus the Nations League finals on the horizon for next year, they’ll want to reassert themselves as the best in the region before a return to competitive action.
He’s gone where now!?
You could be forgiven for thinking the FotMob Transfer Centre would be looking pretty slow now that the transfer window has well and truly slammed shut. But you would be wrong, because a number of clubs have chosen this gap in league play to throw the dice big time!
Free agents and fading stars have been making some pretty interesting moves. Chris Smalling, last seen plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, signed up for a return to Champions League-level football, joining FC Porto in a deal confirmed just last night.
Elsewhere, former-Real Madrid defender David Alaba recently popped up in Serie A, Hakim Ziyech swapped Moroccan league football for Brazil, and Philippe Coutinho left boyhood club Vasco da Gama only to link up with Neymar at divisional rivals Santos just a few days later!
The FotMob Transfer Centre is a treasure trove of information - check it out here
Pato dips a toe in to EFL club ownership
Once the next great hope for Brazilian football fans, Alexandre Pato is now the face of a new dawn at fourth tier English club Northampton Town.
The Cobblers, currently two points off the bottom of the football league after relegation to League 2 last season, have been bought by a consortium fronted by the former AC Milan forward, and promising a turnaround in fortunes.
Pato is the new owner of Northampton Town! Cobblers! No, it’s true.
But that’s not the only former player making moves in the boardroom - Brad Friedel, USMNT legend and 10th on the all-time list for Premier League clean sheets, is close to a take over at Northampton’s League 2 rivals Shrewsbury Town!
THURSDAY
Germany vs. Serbia: Will Jürgen pick up his first win in charge of Die Mannschaft?
Greece vs. Netherlands: Xavi Hernández is out to upset the Greeks
Denmark vs. Portugal: How will the Portuguese fare after friend of FotMob Cristiano Ronaldo walked away from the squad?
Wales vs. Norway: Erling Haaland needs two goals to match Kylian Mbappé’s 67 in international football
Malta vs. Gibraltar: Two of Europe’s lowest ranked nations test unlikely unbeaten runs in the Nations League
Women’s Champions League: MD2 of the league phase continues tonight
FRIDAY
France vs. Italy: Zinedine Zidane tests his 100% start against Mancini’s Azzurri
Belgium vs. Türkiye: The Turks are hunting for their first win in this Nations League cycle
Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Sweden: Can Gyökeres and Isak bring home the bacon?
England U21s vs. Slovakia U21s: The Young Lions look to make it eight games unbeaten in Euro qualifiers
SATURDAY
Spain vs. Czechia: The World Champions have not lost in 40 matches!
Croatia vs. England: Expect a strange atmosphere with the home crowd banned and just 100 English fans permitted to travel
North Macedonia vs. Scotland: Can the Scots bounce back from defeat to Switzerland?
Argentina vs. Burkina Faso: Africa’s 12th best ranked nation travel to Buenos Aires
India vs. Brazil: Carlo Ancelotti’s Seleção face the Blue Tigers for the first time in history
USA vs. Mexico: It’s a CONCACAF showdown in Arizona!
SUNDAY
Greece vs. Germany: Jürgen wants to avenge last week’s surprise result in Bavaria
Portugal vs. Norway: Will Bernardo Silva and Martin Ødegaard make nice after that late tackle in last weekend’s game?
Ireland vs. Israel: What protests will we see when these two meet again in Serbia?
Morocco vs. Ghana: After important qualifiers, African giants face off in a friendly
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: It’s El Clásico femenino in the latest round of Liga F
Customise your feed via the League tab
With this international break going on a bit, you might want to double-check your match feed.
To catch all the scores for the games we’ve mentioned, make sure to ‘Follow’ any tournaments you want to keep track of.
This can all be sorted out in the Leagues tab where you can use the edit feature to fully customise your feed. You could also take the opportunity to get your house (match feed) in order before the return of club football next week.
