Diego Maradona took a swipe at Lionel Messi the day after his World Cup heartache by insisting the heir to his throne didn't deserve to win the Golden Ball award.

Lionel Messi's crowning as the World Cup's outstanding player shocked some prominent figures, but without his individual brilliance Argentina's goals dried up.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE MARACANA: The perfect team versus the perfect superstar that was the narrative here. On one side Die National Mannschaft, on the other Lionel Messi. Yet football has a way of confounding such expectation. Mario Gotze scored a team goal, true, but with a level of technique that would have won Messi the Golden Ball had it come from his foot.

Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has ignored all of the furore caused by him posing with what appeared to be a gun on Instagram by going jet-skiing with his fiancee Fanny Neguesha.

I am 51 now and would like to retire at 60. I realise I need to be looking long term, but at the moment I just see thousands slipping away. Is there anything I can do to protect my pension pot?

Do you think it is possible to successfully challenge this in a court of law, since I feel it is discriminating unfairly on grounds of marital status?

Despite putting their scouting and recruitment staff on furlough and discussions ongoing over a potential £350m takeover, club executives are pressing ahead in their attempt to sign Soumare.

A deal worth £300million from Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben Brothers to take control of the club from current owner Mike Ashley is close to being finalised.

CRAIG HOPE IN COPENHAGEN: Christian Eriksen will find himself a marked man against Republic of Ireland on Friday night after angering his opponents last year.

England and the Czechs are level on six points - although Gareth Southgate's side have played a game less - with Kosovo a point further back after a late 3-2 defeat of Bulgaria in Sofia.

The striker's immediate future at Old Trafford is one of uncertainty with United understood to be open to selling him. Inter Milan have expressed an interest but United want to recoup £75m on him.

According to The Sun , Magpies owner Mike Ashley is determined to land a manager with experience in the Premier League and Martinez fits that mould.

Romelu Lukaku was 'bored' at Manchester United and needed to leave for his own happiness, according to his international boss Roberto Martinez. 

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY ROB DRAPER: The best coaches are always learning, sometimes even from their players. Vincent Kompany helped Martinez plot the downfall of Brazil at the World Cup.

Romelu Lukaku has insisted he feels no pressure to score his 50th goal for Belgium after moving one goal from the milestone following his strike in a 4-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win at Scotland.

The former Ayr player has been selected for next month's European Championship qualifiers against Russia and San Marino after netting 15 goals in his first 12 games for his new club.

The winger joined Real Madrid in a £150million deal from Chelsea in the summer but has failed to meet expectations. He arrived in Madrid carrying extra weight and has struggled to shift it.

Romelu Lukaku scored his 50th international goal as Belgium thrashed San Marino on Thursday and became the first side through to the Euro 2020 finals.

Former Manchester City defender Omar Elabdellaoui is being lined up for a return to England by a string of Premier League clubs. Leicester and Watford are among the sides monitoring him.

Troy Parrott is keeping his fingers crossed that he did enough on his Republic of Ireland debut to be involved in Monday night's Euro 2020 showdown with Denmark.

Mick McCarthy says he is happier knowing Ireland have to beat Denmark on Monday to qualify for Euro 2020 - and he is considering using Spurs teenager Troy Parrott in the high-profile match.

RUSSIA 1-4 BELGIUM: Eden Hazard scored a brace as Belgium beat Russia 4-1 away to ensure they will finish top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group I.

If there is an edge to the game, then it comes from recent unflattering comments by the Danes about the Irish style of play. Now the manager intends to use those words as a motivational tool.

When Mick McCarthy says he would have taken this scenario on his reappointment then you really should believe him for this has been an ugly campaign even by Ireland's recent standards.

The Republic of Ireland take on Denmark in their final Euro 2020 qualifying game tonight at the Aviva Stadium. Follow all the action from the 7.45pm GMT kick-off with SAM MCEVOY.

Shane Duffy is ready to reach Euro 2020 the hard way after the Republic of Ireland saw automatic qualification snatched from their grasp.

England will step up their preparations for Euro 2020 with a friendly against Denmark next March. The two sides will lock horns on March 31 at Wembley.

Roberto Martinez took over the reins with Belgium back in 2016 and led them to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup after losing the semi-final to eventual winners France.

The Duke of Sussex was reportedly in Buckingham Palace yesterday for a series of meetings to plan his future work in the UK while wife Meghan returned to their son Archie in Canada.

Prince Harry and Meghan have been in the UK performing their last royal duties before starting their new lives in Canada. The Duke stayed in Britain while Meghan returned to their new home.

Meghan is self-isolating in Canada and is taking steps to protect her family from COVID-19, requiring 'everyone on their team to wear latex gloves at all times and are to follow a strict hygiene protocol'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took a private flight from Vancouver, where they have been staying since stepping down as senior royals, to LA where they are setting up a permanent home.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a last minute dash across the border from Canada to the US to start their new life in Los Angeles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been unable to visit Meghan's 63-year-old mother as they continue to isolate at a secluded mansion in a private gated community due to the coronavirus.

Royal fans have launched a campaign to celebrate Archie's first birthday by asking followers of Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, to donate to charities in Canada, South Africa and America.

Royal fans have raised £11,750 for charities in Canada, America and South Africa in just days as part of a campaign to celebrate Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle's, 38, son Archie's first birthday.

Dancing On Ice stars Alexander Demetriou and Carlotta Edwards have reportedly  taken 'a break from their marriage' amid his alleged closeness with skate partner Higgins.

Meghan Markle's high school sweetheart Luis Segura was spotted in LA, DailyMail.com photos show. He's a real estate agent in Pasadena, where the royal couple are looking for homes.

Canada Goose, in a sustainability report planning for its future, says it won't buy coyote fur from trappers starting in 2022 as CEO Dani Reiss insists the company wasn't catering to activists.

A Canadian nurse 'was found to have over 150 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of her car as she attempted to smuggle it into the U.S. through Detroit Ambassador Bridge customs' (pictured).

Justin Bieber returned to his roots amid COVID-19 by fleeing the U.S. to hunker down in Canada with wife Hailey.

Carlotta Edwards, 30, and Alex Demetriou, 28, are taking a break after he became very close with Love Island's Maura Higgins, 29, when she appeared on Dancing on Ice.

David Cannon has challenged former AFL player Jonathan 'Browny' Brown to a boxing match.   

The Richmond Tigers defender, 30, who was going through a marriage breakdown, announced he was retiring to focus on his 'family and faith' in December last year.

The Richmond AFL star, known for his grit on the field, has recently been delving into the fashion world - stepping in front of the lens for a number of campaigns.

Married At First Sight groom Seb Guilhaus has been exposed as an actor. 

On Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, Elizabeth Sobinoff's mother Gillian grilled Seb Guilhaus over his finances. 

He's the hunky former AFL star who is currently 'married' to Married At First Sight's Elizabeth Sobinoff.

Nadia Bartel has been keeping herself busy with workouts while in lockdown, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Premiership winning AFL coach Paul Roos is putting his stunning Brighton, Melbourne home on the market with a price tag of $6 million.