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Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has sent out a strong message after scoring twice for his country in a 2-2 draw with Hungary in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. His brace means that the 40-year-old superstar has now scored 41 times in World Cup qualifying history, moving past the record of 39 previously held by Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz, but Portugal still have work to do to qualify.

• Ronaldo makes more history with Portugal

  Ronaldo has added yet another record to his extensive collection by scoring both of Portugal's goals against Hungary. The Al-Nassr ace equalised for Portugal in the 22nd minute and then netted again just before half-time. As well as making World Cup qualifying history, his goals also mean that Ronaldo has now scored 143 times for Portugal and 947 in total for club and country during his incredible career. He's previously stated he dreams of hitting the 1,000 goal mark before he finally decides to hang up his illustrious boots and his latest efforts have certainly moved him another step closer to reaching that aim.

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• Portugal star fires out message after latest goals

  Ronaldo took to social media to celebrate his latest achievement and posted a strong message. While he was happy to celebrate, he also made it clear he's eager to secure Portugal's place at World Cup 2026 as soon as possible, posting: "It is no secret that representing the National Team means a lot to me, and that is why I am very proud to have reached this unique milestone for Portugal. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here. See you in November to seal the qualification for the World Cup!"

• Ronaldo is an 'inspiration' to young people

  Ronaldo's latest efforts have drawn huge praise from Reinaldo Teixeira, the president of Liga Portugal, who spoke about the ageing superstar after the draw with Hungary.

  He told reporters: "Cristiano Ronaldo has an exemplary attitude; he is an inspiration to all young people and to all of us. May it last for many 40 years. We have a spectacular starting eleven and a bench full of quality. We lacked a bit of luck. We played well; if you hit the post twice, you're unlucky. We didn't win today, but we'll win because our team has a lot of quality and a lot of joy. Cristiano scored two, he was close to scoring three, but unfortunately we didn't manage it. But we'll win and go through."

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• Martinez complains Portugal 'couldn't kill the game'

  Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was disappointed at seeing his side miss out on qualifying in a home fixture but urged his players to learn from the match when he addressed the media after the game. He said: "We had both goals, we started the second half very well, and there was a period where we couldn't kill the game. A game that had special meaning. It changes who we are a little. But it's important to remember that there are no easy games. It's a shame, we wanted to qualify in front of our fans. But it can be a great learning experience and a way to manage the final 10 minutes.

  "We're a team that needs the ball, but we have a responsible team. We want to qualify, and that was probably trying to leave the game to close things out. It's a good lesson. We always need to have control of the ball and personality. We had two shots that hit the post, plus João Félix's. We had chances. We could have scored the winner to avoid being just one goal ahead. 

  "It's important to understand that we have a lot of competitiveness in the dressing room, and that it's important to always be ready. In November, we have two very important games, which create opportunities for a possible qualification call-up. It's better to have competitive games in Ireland and at the Dragão to continue doing what we want, to achieve the level we achieved in the Nations League."

While the UK transfer market closed at 7pm on September 1, West Ham could still sign free agents, provided they have enough room in their squad.

Graham Potter facing vital few weeks at West Ham

It’s an increasingly toxic atmosphere around the London Stadium right now, as supporters organise pre-match protests against West Ham’s owners before their Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday, and every Saturday home matchday thereafter (The Telegraph).

David Sullivan and Karren Brady are under mounting pressure as fans voice their frustration over ‘broken promises’ (The Telegraph), with some reports suggesting that under-fire boss Graham Potter could even be sacked if West Ham lose to Palace (Hammers News).

While this is yet to be backed up by reliable media sources, it is crystal clear that, if West Ham’s bad run of form continues, Potter could be handed his P45 as West Ham scour the market for potential replacements already.

It is believed that Slaven Bilic is a strong contender to replace Potter as the Hammers do their due-diligence on managerial candidates, with former Everton boss Sean Dyche and Nuno Espírito Santo also under consideration (Ben Jacobs).

It wasn’t exactly the summer window of dreams for Potter, either, which certainly hasn’t helped matters.

West Ham lost winger Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham in the summer, as well as Emerson Palmieri to Marseille, with their £38 million deal for Mateus Fernandes arguably standing out as their best signing of the window.

Having waved goodbye to Emerson and Aaron Cresswell, Sullivan brought in Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf to shore up Potter’s full-back options, but they’re still arguably light in that area.

Taking this into account, reports suggest that West Ham could now move for ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid full-back Sergio Reguilon — who is readily available on a free transfer after departing north London.

The 28-year-old boasts proven top-level experience, with the Irons apparently considering a move.

West Ham seriously interested in signing Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer

According to Spanish media sources, West Ham are seriously interested in signing Reguilon on a free transfer, even if he’s “sought-after” right now amid competition from Premier League rivals Everton.

The ex-Man United defender, who earned admirers at Old Trafford for some solid performances, is also wanted by Sevilla and Real Sociedad back in his homeland, with a quartet of sides considering the possibility of Reguilon at zero cost.

Despite spending the last few years attempting to establish himself as a key player, Reguilon has displayed flashes of quality, and at 28, he’s amassed well over 200 professional appearances.

He’s hardly past his prime, but carries the top-flight experience which could prove useful to West Ham as they look to avoid a relegation dogfight.

Celtic secured their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Sunday with a fantastic 4-0 win over Partick Thistle away from Parkhead at Firhill.

The Hoops strolled to a comfortable victory against the second tier outfit, who have not been in the Scottish Premiership in seven years, with four different goalscorers.

Hyun-jun Yang, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan all got their names on the scoresheet, and Tounekti was particularly impressive again.

The summer signing from Hammarby caught the eye against Kilmarnock, creating four chances (per Sofascore), and played an important role in the first goal against Partick Thistle with his pass for Benjamin Nygren, before going on to score his first goal for the club.

Brendan Rodgers will hope that the comfortable win will provide his squad with the confidence that they need to hit the ground running in the Europa League against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.

One Celtic player who needs to step up on the pitch in the coming weeks after a string of unimpressive displays is central midfielder Reo Hatate.

Why Reo Hatate needs to step up for Celtic

The Japan international put in a decent showing against Partick Thistle, a Championship outfit, but it was not a mesmerising performance that made up for some of his recent outings.

Hatate’s form has not been up to the standards that he has set himself throughout his Celtic career, particularly with his displays in the Champions League qualifier clashes against Kairat.

The Hoops failed to qualify for the league phase of the competition, losing on penalties after two 0-0 draws, and the midfielder’s lack of contributions in and out of possession played a part in that.

As you can see in the table above, Hatate was far too wasteful with the ball at his feet and weak off the ball, losing the majority of his duels, across the two matches.

The 27-year-old star also failed to score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team in his last two appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops, which shows that he has struggled in recent weeks outside of his showing against a lower tier opponent.

Hatate scored ten goals, including the one in the clip above, and created 14 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but he has been unable to deliver the same level of consistency in the final third this term.

This is why the Japan international needs to step up for the Scottish giants, because he is capable of being an exceptional performer for the club in the middle of the park with his ability at the top end of the pitch.

If Hatate is unable to recapture the form that his output last season proved he is capable of, Rodgers must consider removing him from the starting XI for a period of time.

The emergence of Colby Donovan, who has started the last two matches at right-back, shows that the manager is willing to provide academy talent with a chance if they are ready to be thrown in.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

With this in mind, Rodgers could find the next version of Donovan, who has been a solid performer in the last two matches with his defensive reliability and composure in possession, by unleashing Sean McArdle to replace Hatate in the XI.

Why Sean McArdle could replace Reo Hatate for Celtic

Of course, the manager does have club-record signing Arne Engels, who joined for £11m from Augsburg last summer, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo also at his disposal to select in midfield.

However, the minor success of Donovan, who won five of his nine duels and had 101 touches (per Sofascore) against Kilmarnock, could inspire the head coach to look to the academy once again.

McArdle is not a complete stranger to first-team football at Parkhead. Rodgers rewarded his strong form for the B team with two appearances for the senior side in the Premiership towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The 18-year-old star made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old against Hibernian in the Premiership, playing eight minutes off the bench in a 3-1 win.

As the manager said in the clip above, the young sensation earned his chance through his form for the B team, and it is down to him to take the next step in his career.

McArdle, who Rodgers claimed has “got a wee edge to him”, then played a second match against Aberdeen, again off the bench, and showed promising signs in both outings.

As you can see in the table above, the teenage whiz only lost possession twice in those 17 minutes, plus stoppage time, of football, whilst creating one chance for the side.

McArdle’s form at youth team level for Celtic also suggests that he can provide the goal threat that Hatate offers at his best, with seven goals in 53 matches, per Transfermarkt.

The Scottish starlet has scored in both of his appearances in the Challenge Cup this season, per Sofascore, including one against Alloa Athletic earlier this month.

These statistics show that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch to go along with his composure in possession, as evidenced by his pass accuracy in his first two first-team outings.

He was not phased by the occasion against Hibernian or Aberdeen, showing his class on the ball in both games, and this suggests that he has the mentality to take that next step to be Donovan 2.0 this season.

As good as Tounekti: 7/10 Celtic star is now a player "to be excited about"

This Celtic star was as good as Sebastian Tounekti in the comfortable win over Partick Thistle.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 21, 2025

It is now down to Rodgers to provide McArdle with that opportunity to impress once again to see if he can emerge as a genuine alternative to Hatate, who has been a shadow of himself of late.

Paris Saint-Germain are moving swiftly to extend the contract of club prodigy Senny Mayulu. The 19-year-old midfielder who scored in the 2025 Champions League final is being monitored by Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea as his current contract expires in 2027. However, the French champions are finalising a contract extension that could secure the future of one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

• PSG move to protect their homegrown star

  The Parisian club are quietly working to secure their long-term future and that means keeping Mayulu, the French prodigy who exploded onto the scene last season. Having risen through the club’s academy since 2018, Mayulu became a symbol of PSG’s renewed focus on developing local talent rather than losing them early, as seen with past departures like Kingsley Coman and Moussa Diaby.

  At just 19 years old, Mayulu has already earned his place in coach Luis Enrique’s rotation, impressing with his creativity, ambidexterity, and ability to handle pressure. The midfielder’s technique and tactical maturity have drawn comparisons to Warren Zaire-Emery, another PSG academy success. With Mayulu's contract extension, PSG not only wants to secure the talent they have but also intent to retain Parisian roots in a superstar-filled squad.

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  Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham eye Mayulu signing

  According to transfer specialist Nicolo Schira, PSG are now finalising a new three-year contract extension for Mayulu amid persistent interest from City, Chelsea and Tottenham. Scouts from all three English clubs have reportedly monitored his progress since late last season, viewing him as one of France’s most complete young midfielders, who is equally capable of dictating tempo or breaking lines.

  However, Mayulu’s priority remains clear. He wants to continue growing in Paris, surrounded by mentors like Enrique and Marquinhos, and within the environment that shaped him. “Paris is home,” a source close to the player told , emphasising his desire to repay the club that trusted him. 

• Mayulu's rise from academy to Champions League history

  Mayulu’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After debuting professionally in January 2024, he made 39 appearances in the 2024-25 season, scoring six goals and registering three assists across all competitions. His defining moment came in the 2025 Champions League final, when he came off the bench to score PSG’s fifth goal in a 5-0 rout over Inter, becoming the youngest French player ever to score in a Champions League final at just 19 years and 14 days old.

  That goal not only rounded off PSG’s capture of a first European title but also announced Mayulu as a top prospect. By the end of the campaign, he had also lifted his second Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, contributing key goals in each tournament. Across his senior PSG career so far, Mayulu has 54 appearances, nine goals, and five assists to his tally.

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  The future of PSG’s midfield

  With his current deal running until June 2027, PSG’s push for an extension is more about protection than urgency. The club want to ensure Mayulu remains untouchable amid Premier League interest, mirroring their approach with Zaire-Emery. Enrique, a long-time admirer of technically gifted and disciplined players, reportedly sees Mayulu as a cornerstone for the next phase of PSG’s evolution.

  Internationally, Mayulu continues to rise through France’s youth ranks, already a key figure for the U20 national team after success with the U18s. If his trajectory continues, a senior call-up seems inevitable.

Chelsea have now registered their interest in a surprise move for a “fantastic” Juventus star, who is being targeted by a number of Premier League clubs.

Blues join race for sought-after midfielder

The Blues’ 3-1 home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion perhaps underlined that they’re not quite ready to mount a Premier League title push, despite their heavy spending, with Jamie Carragher making it clear that Enzo Maresca’s squad lacks experience.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “How long will the rebuild after Abramovich last? At what point will they realize the need to buy ready-made, established stars who can take the team from fourth place to first, combining youth with experience?”

Maresca’s squad has the youngest average age in the Premier League, at just 23.4, with a gap of 0.8 between them and second-placed Sunderland, and Raheem Sterling, who is part of the ‘bomb squad’ is the only player not in his twenties.

As bad as Chalobah: 4/10 Chelsea gem showed he’s not ready for PL start yet

Chelsea suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Brighton and this player failed to step up.

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Sep 27, 2025

As pointed out by Carragher, the west Londoners need to bring in players with experience of winning major honours if they are going to become serious title contenders, and they have now joined the race to sign a new midfielder.

Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea have now registered their interest in signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli, which would be a surprising move, given that he does not align with their recent transfer policy.

At 27-years-old, the Italian is a lot more experienced than most players who make the move to Stamford Bridge, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, with any bids of €40m (£35m) deemed to be ‘unrejectable’.

With Romeo Lavia struggling on the injury front, a move for Locatelli would make sense, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature, as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Bayer Leverkusen have also expressed interest.

"Fantastic" Locatelli has the talent to succeed at Stamford Bridge

Hailed as “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Italy international is very impressive in possession of the ball, and has displayed his tackling ability on a regular basis over the past year, suggesting he is a well-rounded midfielder.

With Maresca keen on a central midfielder capable of progressing the ball up the pitch, the Juventus maestro could be an ideal option, and he also has a keen eye for goal, once scoring with a remarkable shot from distance for Italy.

At 27, Locatelli is by no means old, but his experience could be of great use to Chelsea, given that they have the youngest squad in the Premier League, and they should test the waters with an offer this winter.

U.S. international Timothy Weah set up Mason Greenwood to give Olympique de Marseille an early lead against RC Lens, but OM eventually fell 2-1. The American winger’s first-half assist highlighted another strong showing in his growing role with the club. His club, however, fall to third following the result.

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  Weah's playmaking shines early

  The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Weah combined in transition, driving into the final third before threading a decisive pass that Greenwood converted to open the scoring.

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  RC Lens produce a comeback to win 2-1

  Despite Weah’s contribution, Lens hit back quickly as Odsonne Edouard equalized from the penalty spot just six minutes later. They continued to press after the break and found a winner through a Benjamin Pavard own goal eight minutes into the second half. Marseille dominated possession late on but struggled to create clear chances, ultimately falling short.

• An up and down season for Weah

  Weah’s assist against Lens arrives after an eventful opening months at Marseille. The American has made 11 appearances for the Ligue 1 side but has only contributed to two goals so far, including his assist against Lens and his stunner against Real Madrid. 

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  Looking ahead

  Marseille will look to turn their momentum around in their upcoming league fixtures as they'll face Angers and then Auxerre in the Ligue 1 on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, respectively. 

The mood around Chelsea at the moment is far more optimistic than it was even a week ago.

Enzo Maresca’s side have managed to pull themselves out of the dip that saw them lose two Premier League games on the bounce with that dramatic win over Liverpool on Saturday.

Moreover, the fact that the 18-year-old Estevao scored the winner only helps to fuel the sense that the future is bright for the Blues.

In fact, while it will take them some time to reach their peak, Maresca has several genuinely exciting youngsters in his current squad, and a number coming up from Cobham, including one who could be as special as Estevao.

Chelsea's promising youngsters

Chelsea has a squad bursting with young talent, so in this instance, ‘youngsters’ will refer to teenagers, of whom the Blues also have several in the first-team squad, including Tyrique George.

The Cobham graduate has endured an interesting season so far this year, as while he is a winger, Maresca has played him up top in a few games, and he’s had mixed results there.

For example, he struggled to make much of an impact at all against Benfica, but scored and assisted in the game against Lincoln City, which saved his side from real embarrassment.

Interestingly, the Englishman has been starting ahead of an actual centre-forward, Marc Guiu.

It’s hard to judge the Spaniard on this season alone, as his 119 minutes of action have been split between the Blues and Sunderland, where he was on loan before Liam Delap’s injury, with just 16 minutes coming under Maresca.

With that said, the 19-year-old scored a goal for the Black Cats and found the back of the net six times in seven Conference League games last season, so there is undoubtedly a lot of potential there.

Moving into the backline now, and while he is still inexperienced and therefore hard to judge, Josh Acheampong did a fine job against Liverpool on Saturday. His combination of on-the-ball ability and defensive nous could see him become a star for the West Londoners.

However, the other young defender, Jorrel Hato, feels like even more of a sure thing, as despite being 19 years old, he has an incredible amount of experience.

Before joining Maresca’s side, the young Dutchman had made 111 appearances for Ajax and even wore the captain’s armband on occasion.

Last but not least, Estevao is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown when it comes to the Blues’ crop of young talents.

For example, before he even arrived on these shores in the summer, he had racked up a brilliant tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances for Palmeiras.

Moreover, while the goal against the Reds has grabbed the headlines, and understandably so, the 18-year-old has also looked incredible in other games, like against West Ham United, when his sensational close control allowed him to provide an assist for Joao Pedro.

In all, Chelsea have an abundance of absurdly talented youngsters in their current squad, and there is now someone in the academy who could join them and become a homegrown Estevao.

Chelsea's homegrown Estevao

As seems to be the case every year now, Chelsea have several exciting talents making waves at Cobham, such as Jesse Derry and Harrison Murray-Campbell.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

However, when it comes to a Cobham gem who could become something of a homegrown Estevao for the Blues, only one youngster sticks out: Shumaria Mheuka.

The 17-year-old centre-forward has been an exciting prospect for some time now, but has really stepped it up a level this season, and doesn’t look too far off getting another chance in the first team, like he did at points in the Conference League last year.

For example, in just nine appearances for youth teams this year, totalling 793 minutes, he has scored ten goals and provided one assist.

In other words, the Birmingham-born output machine has been averaging 1.22 goal involvements per game, or one every 72.09 minutes in youth football this season.

On top of that, he’s also been thriving on the international stage. In 16 appearances for England’s U19s, totalling 970 minutes, the teenage sensation has scored eight goals and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 88.18 minutes.

With numbers like these at such a young age, it’s easy to see why talent scout Jacek Kulig has already boldly proclaimed the Cobham gem as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, while it might be a little while longer until he’s given a real run in the first team, it looks like Chelsea could have their own homegrown Estevao-level talent in Mheuka.

Chelsea have a "future Ballon d'Or winner" who could eclipse Eden Hazard

The sensational Chelsea talent has the world at his feet.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 6, 2025

Marseille’s Champions League hopes have been hit hard by injuries, and Roberto De Zerbi made no effort to hide his frustration ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Atalanta. The Italian manager admitted that his squad is stretched to its limits, with several key players sidelined and little time to recover between games.

• Injury crisis deepens for struggling Marseille

  Marseille had hoped to welcome back a few players for Wednesday’s game, but De Zerbi confirmed in Tuesday’s press conference that there would be no returns. Timothy Weah, Bilal Nadir, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina, Amine Gouiri, Hamed Junior Traore and Geoffrey Kondogbia are all ruled out of the European clash against Atalanta. To make matters worse, Nayef Aguerd’s availability remains doubtful after his late withdrawal before last weekend’s win over Auxerre. Emerson Palmieri is suspended, while Pol Lirola and Neal Maupay are not included in Marseille’s UEFA list, leaving De Zerbi with very few options.

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  De Zerbi frustrated by mounting injuries

  In the pre-match press conference, De Zerbi opened up about the club's mounting injuries and didn’t hide his disappointment with the current situation.

  "Do you think I'm happy to play a Champions League match with eight or nine injured players, plus a suspended one? No, not at all," the Italian manager said. 

  "In analysing the situation, you have to consider everything. Great things often happen in adversity. The victory in Auxerre, where we didn't play well, came at a time when we were in serious trouble. The sun will shine again when Traore, Gouiri, Balerdi, Weah, Kondogbia, and all the injured players return. It will be a little easier. It's in the midst of problems that you have to give your best."

• Marseille boss fumes over tight schedule

  The Italian manager also voiced his frustration with Marseille’s packed run of fixtures, saying the constant turnaround between games has left his squad exhausted. The 46-year-old revealed that before the Auxerre match, the team could only hold a walking session because they had played just two days earlier. 

  "We did it walking because we had only played two days earlier. It was a way of saying that we had prepared for the match without the intensity of a normal training session. You can't prepare for a match 24 hours in advance," he added.

  "I like controversy, that's part of why I came here [to Marseille]. When you ask questions, it pleases me because you're always looking for a sharp retort. It's not about controversy, it's about truth. I have many flaws, but lying isn't one of them; I'm telling you the truth. We played poorly against Angers, but we lost two points in the 95th minute. We played poorly against Auxerre, but I see that some teams are doing less than us to win. From the match against Lorient – where we brought in six key players – until now, Marseille would be top of the table. I'd like to play better, but some of the criticism is a bit disastrous and harsher than reality."

  With only a few days to recover before facing the Serie A club, De Zerbi admitted the situation remains far from ideal. "It's a difficult time, so we need to be a bit tougher and more determined. If we can get through tough times like these, things will get better."

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  Marseille hit a rough patch after a bright start

  The injury pile-up has clearly taken its toll on Marseille’s rhythm. After that explosive 6-2 win where Mason Greenwood stole the show with four goals, things have gone downhill fast. They have since lost to Sporting CP and Lens, drawn 2-2 with Angers, and managed a sluggish 1-0 win over bottom-placed Auxerre.

  Still, Marseille haven’t let PSG run away with a big lead. They sit second in Ligue 1, just two points behind Luis Enrique’s side, who are also battling their own injury crisis. But with the schedule piling up and key players missing, it’s no surprise De Zerbi’s men look a little worn down juggling both league and European nights.

  While De Zerbi has urged his players to dig deep, the coming weeks will be a real test for the squad. After facing Atalanta, Marseille host Brest before a tricky away trip to Nice, followed by another demanding Champions League clash against Newcastle at home. De Zerbi will hope his patched-up squad can rediscover their form despite a deep injury crisis.

Through the many storied decades of MLB postseason history, there's only been a few recorded instances of no-hitters or perfect games.

There have been just two no-hitters in MLB playoff history, while there's only been one perfect game—and it happened nearly 70 years ago. These are two very rare occasions in baseball in general, so it's even more difficult to achieve under the pressure of the playoffs.

A no-hitter is when the pitcher allows zero hits over the course of the game, while a perfect game is when the pitcher doesn't even allow a runner to reach base (no hits and no walks). It's extremely tough for pitchers to accomplish these feats because the game has so many talented batters nowadays.

The First No-Hitter in MLB Playoff History

The MLB postseason's first no-hitter actually happened to be a perfect game, too. New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen allowed no hitters and no walks against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1956 during Game 5 of the World Series. Jackie Robinson was the closest Dodger to reaching base in the game. Larsen threw 97 pitches to accomplish this difficult feat.

Perfect Games in MLB Playoff History

Larsen's perfect game in 1956 remains the only perfect game in MLB postseason history to this day. That just shows how tough it is to achieve this piece of history. There's been just 24 perfect games in all of MLB history.

No-Hitters in MLB Playoff History

Roy Halladay – NLDS, Phillies vs. Reds, 2010

There's only been two no-hitters in MLB history. The first sole no-hitter in MLB postseason history didn't happen until the 2010 season when Philadelphia Phillies starter Roy Halladay accomplished the feat in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Phillies went on to sweep the series and advance to the NLCS, but lost to the San Francisco Giants before the World Series.

It was Roy Halladay's first postseason start at 33 years old. Halladay had thrown a perfect game during the MLB regular season in 2010, too. He won the Cy Young Award that year. Additionally, Halladay was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, and his No. 34 jersey was retired by the Phillies.

Astros Combined – World Series, Astros vs. Phillies 2022

The Houston Astros pitchers in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series combined for a no-hitter vs. the Phillies. Starting pitcher Cristian Javier first had six no-hit innings to begin the game. The relief pitchers Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly followed up by continuing the no-hitter.

It was the second combined no-hitter that Javier was involved in during the 2022 season. This time, it was during the World Series when the Astros were down 2–1. It helped propel them to become the eventual champions.

The two most recent playoff no-hitters were both thrown at Citizens Bank Park, the first being thrown by a Phillies pitcher, and the second being against the Phillies. Coincidentally, Dusty Baker was involved in both no-hitters in these games—first with the Reds, then with the Astros.

Near-Misses: Almost No-Hitters and Perfect Games in the MLB Playoffs

There's been 10 close calls in MLB playoff history. Here's a quick rundown of all of those games.

Braves Combined – World Series, Braves vs. Astros, 2021

During Game 3 of the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros, the combined pitchers of Ian Anderson, A.J. Minter, Luke Jackson and Tyler Matzek went seven innings with no hits. Starter Anderson had walked three batters during his five innings. When Matzek took over in the eighth, Aledmys Díaz hit a single to end the Braves' no-hitter campaign.

Aníbal Sánchez – NLCS, Nationals vs. Cardinals, 2019

Washington Nationals starter Aníbal Sánchez was on track to record a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals until Jose Martinez hit a single in the eighth inning with two outs.

Michael Wacha – NLDS, Cardinals vs. Pirates, 2013

Michael Wacha almost recorded a no-hitter in his postseason debut during his rookie season in the 2013 NLDS vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wacha, who is currently in the playoffs with the Kansas City Royals, had no hits until Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. The Cardinals still won Game 4.

Tigers Combined – ALCS, Tigers vs. Red Sox, 2013

The Detroit Tigers' pitching staff of Aníbal Sánchez, Al Alburquerque, Jose Veras, Drew Smyly and Joaquin Benoit attempted a combined no-hitter. Starter Sánchez walked six through six innings. The relief pitchers closed out the innings until Daniel Nava hit a single off of Benoit in the ninth inning.

Jim Lonborg – World Series, Red Sox vs. Cardinals, 1967

Jim Lonborg had bids for a perfect game and a no-hitter, until he gave up a walk in the seventh inning, and then a double in the eighth inning. The Red Sox won Game 2, but the Cardinals ended up winning the World Series.

Bill Bevens – World Series, Yankees vs. Dodgers, 1947

Bill Bevens walked 10 batters during his no-hitter campaign during Game 4 of the 1947 World Series. The ninth inning was where it all went wrong for Bevens and the Yankees—Cookie Lavagetto hit a walkoff double and brought in two of the batters Bevens had walked earlier in the inning. The Dodgers won the game, but the Yankees went on to win the World Series.

Red Ruffing – World Series, Yankees vs. Cardinals, 1942

Yankees starter Red Ruffing walked five batters, including two in the first inning, but didn't allow a hit until the eighth inning when Terry Moore hit a single.

Monte Pearson – World Series, Yankees vs. Reds, 1939

Monte Pearson fulfilled a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series, but his no-hitter bid ended when Reds' Ernie Lombardi hit a single in the eighth inning. Pearson only walked one batter during the game.

Burleigh Grimes – World Series, Cardinals vs. Athletics, 1931

Burleigh Grimes walked three batters, but his no-hitter campaign ended in the eighth inning when Bing Miller hit a single. It happened to be the first time Miller ever got a hit off of Grimes.

Herb Pennock – World Series, Yankees vs. Pirates, 1927

Herb Pennock was close to recording the first perfect game in MLB playoff history as he entered the eighth inning—that was, until Pie Traynor hit a single. The Yankees still won the game and the World Series.

Manchester United have registered their interest in signing an “incredible” star, but they will have to shell out a huge fee to get a deal done, with it being revealed his club could demand £120m.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder despite Casemiro resurgence

Ruben Amorim’s faith in Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro as a midfield pair has paid off in recent weeks, with his side winning their last three Premier League games on the bounce, and the Brazilian has caught the eye with his recent performances.

Having returned to form, scoring in the 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, Rio Ferdinand hit out at Jamie Carragher for his previous comments about the midfielder.

Ferdinand said: “Players lose confidence, they lose form, sometimes players’ legs go, but I think the call was too early and I thought it was highly disrespectful for someone who’s achieved so much in the game.”

However, given the level of Fernandes and Casemiro’s recent performances, with the former assisting Harry Maguire’s winning goal at Anfield, it has been difficult for Kobbie Mainoo to force his way into the side, and speculation over the 20-year-old’s future persists.

Doubts over Mainoo, coupled with the fact Casemiro is now 33 and has one year remaining on his contract, may exacerbate the need for Amorim to bring in a new midfielder, and Man United have now registered their interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

That is according to an update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, who states the Red Devils are “closely monitoring” Anderson, alongside Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Forest are aware of the interest from elsewhere, and Plettenberg reveals the Premier League strugglers are expected to demand £100m – £120m to sanction a departure, given that there is no release clause in the midfielder’s contract.

"Incredible" Anderson could flourish at Old Trafford

Widespread recent reports have suggested United do not plan to trigger the extension in Casemiro’s contract, which means Amorim will need to bring in a new midfielder next summer, and the Forest star could be the ideal heir.

Spanish newspaper drops bombshell on 'new Messi' amid possible offer from Man Utd

What a signing this could be.

By
Henry Jackson

Oct 27, 2025

Much like the former Real Madrid man, the English midfielder flourishes defensively, as showcased by his performance across several important metrics per 90 over the past year.

While United’s current midfielder may have the edge at the moment, the England international is still very young at 22-years-old, meaning he has plenty of time to develop, and he is more impressive in possession of the ball.

Lauded as “incredible” by journalist Miles Starforth, the former Newcastle man recently put in a commanding performance for the Three Lions, completing 121 passes in the 5-0 victory over Latvia, 32 more than any other player.

That said, while Anderson has been impressing for club and country, it is probably a little early for his value to be £120m, which would make the central midfielder by far the most expensive signing in Man United history.