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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Lloyd Kelly’s Incredible Journey: From Foster Care To Juventus And Champions League Nights

Lloyd Kelly celebrates after scoring for Juventus in the Champions League.

“I’ve come a long way.”

For Lloyd Kelly, those words mean more than most could imagine. The English defender’s path to Juventus — and now to the Champions League spotlight — has been anything but ordinary.

At just seven years old, Kelly was placed in foster care, living with three different families over more than a decade alongside his siblings, Mary and Marcus. Through all the challenges, he never lost sight of who he wanted to become.

“Fostering is something that I will always have a passion for,” Kelly shared. “I know first-hand what the foster care system can do for children. It gives them a sense of home, family, and meaning — and that means a lot.”

Kelly remains close with his last foster mum, Thelma, who has an open invitation to visit him in Turin. Now 27, he’s focused on giving his own son the stability he once longed for. “I want to be that role model,” he said.

From Newcastle To Juventus — A Bold Leap

Kelly’s move to Juventus wasn’t part of some long-term master plan. Struggling to break into Newcastle’s first team, he received an unexpected call from his agent about a possible move to Italy.

“It was a no-brainer,” he admitted. Within days, he was making his debut in a 2-1 win over Como. But it wasn’t smooth sailing — Juventus crashed out of Europe early, lost the Coppa Italia, and fell 12 points short in Serie A.

The chaos behind the scenes didn’t help either. Manager Thiago Motta was sacked, and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli — who brought Kelly in — left soon after.

Adjusting to a new culture, language, and tactical system while living away from family wasn’t easy. “It’s always difficult coming to a club with this status,” Kelly said. “The amount of history behind Juventus is huge. The players who’ve been here before me is insane.”

Finding His Footing Under Tudor

Under new boss Igor Tudor, Kelly has flourished. He’s started all nine matches this season, scoring key goals and showing the composure that once made him one of England’s brightest defensive prospects.

In a thrilling 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund, Kelly gave away a penalty late on — but made amends in the best way possible, scoring a 96th-minute equaliser to rescue a point.

“When you walk out and hear the Champions League anthem, it gives you chills,” he said. “At the start of my career, I never thought I’d be here. But being able to experience this is huge.”

Eyes Still On England

Despite his success in Italy, Kelly hasn’t given up on his dream of playing for England.

“The squad is so strong,” he acknowledged. “But all I can do is play my best football and see where it takes me. With the World Cup coming, it’s a big year.”

No Regrets, Just Growth

Looking back, Kelly speaks fondly of his time at Newcastle — even though things didn’t go as planned.

“It didn’t work out the way I wanted,” he admitted. “But I bear no ill towards Newcastle. They gave me an opportunity to grow and play at a really good club.”

He still remembers the roar of St James’ Park and is proud to have played a part in Newcastle’s long-awaited Carabao Cup triumph. A medal recognizing his contribution is already on its way to him — a reminder that every step mattered.

And, of course, there’s still admiration for Eddie Howe, who managed him both at Bournemouth and Newcastle. “The amount of players who’ve developed under him is top,” Kelly said. “I’ll always hold him in high regard.”

A New Chapter In Turin

Walking into the Juventus dressing room — once home to defensive legends like Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini — was a surreal moment.

Now, Kelly is writing his own story among those greats.

“I’ve come a long way,” he said, smiling. “You could say I’m just getting started.”

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Champions League Top Scorers 2025-26: Mbappe, Haaland, Osimhen Lead The Golden Boot Race

Champions League Top Scorers 2025-26: The Battle For Europe’s Most Ruthless Finisher

The race for the 2025-26 Champions League Golden Boot is shaping up into another heavyweight shootout, with Europe’s most lethal forwards firing at full throttle.

Last season, the scoring chart exploded as Raphinha and Serhou Guirassy both finished with 13 goals, one of the highest tallies in modern UCL history. It was a reminder that Europe’s attackers aren’t just competing — they’re breaking barriers.

Now, the 2025-26 campaign is delivering more fireworks as big names like Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane battle for the crown.

Below is the updated top scorer ranking after matches played on Wednesday, November 26.

UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorers 2025-26

Updated After Matches Played On November 26

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 9
2 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray 6
3 Harry Kane Bayern Munich 5
=3 Erling Haaland Manchester City 5
5 Anthony Gordon Newcastle United 4
=5 Harvey Barnes Newcastle United 4
=5 Marcus Rashford Barcelona 4
=5 Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal 4
=5 Vitinha PSG 4
=5 Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan 4

At the moment, Mbappe is setting the pace with nine goals as Real Madrid push for another deep run in Europe. Right behind him is Victor Osimhen, whose red-hot form at Galatasaray has shocked the continent.

Meanwhile, serial scorers Haaland and Kane remain firmly in the race, proving yet again why they are two of the most reliable forwards in world football.

Who Won Last Season’s Champions League Golden Boot?

The 2024-25 Golden Boot ended in dramatic fashion — and with two winners.

Both Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) and Raphinha (Barcelona) finished tied on 13 goals, with UEFA refusing to use tie-breakers such as assists or minutes played.

The result?
A shared Golden Boot, and a season remembered for its goal-scoring chaos.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Hansi Flick Defends Lamine Yamal After Chelsea Clash And Calls For Teen Star To Step Up

Lamine Yamal looking frustrated during Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to Chelsea.

Flick Backs Yamal After A Rough Night In London

Barcelona’s Champions League setback at Stamford Bridge has dominated headlines, and one storyline took center stage — Lamine Yamal vs Marc Cucurella. The 18-year-old starlet struggled to break free from Cucurella, whom Hansi Flick boldly labelled “one of the best full-backs in the world.”

Despite the tough showing and the teenager’s visible frustration when he was subbed off late in the match, Flick stepped in with both support and a challenge.

“Lamine is fine. Many players aren’t happy when we substitute them,” Flick said. “Cucurella is one of the best in the world… but now it’s Lamine’s turn to step up.”

A firm hand. A soft landing. Classic Flick.

Barcelona Need A Reaction After The Chelsea Collapse

Barca’s 3-0 loss featured an own goal from Jules Kounde and clinical finishes from Estevao and Liam Delap. The defeat leaves Barcelona sitting in the playoff zone of their group instead of the automatic qualification spots — not exactly the Blaugrana standard.

Flick admitted it was “tough” and the team was “feeling down,” but he pushed back against the idea that the defence alone should carry the blame.

Barcelona’s high line makes headlines every season, but Flick made the tactical demand crystal clear:

“It’s not just the defenders. If we don’t all press effectively, we’ll have problems.”

Translation?
If one gear misses, the whole Barca machine stutters.

Injury Updates: More Problems, Some Solutions

Ahead of the weekend clash against Alaves, Barcelona’s squad news is mixed:

❌ Ronald Araujo

Out with a stomach virus — and coming off a red card vs Chelsea.

❌ Fermin Lopez

Experiencing discomfort after the Chelsea match. Flick joked that sometimes even “new boots with new monthly colors” can cause issues.

✔️ Pedri

Expected to return in the second half.
Barcelona fans exhaled collectively.

✔️ Marc Bernal

Will get minutes after recovering from injury.

✔️ Andreas Christensen In Midfield?

Yes — Flick is seriously considering it alongside Eric Garcia.

✔️ Raphinha

Flick says he’s “one of the most focused players” and admits he has missed the Brazilian’s spark.

Spotlight: Yamal Must Answer The Call

Cucurella may have won the duel at Stamford Bridge, but Flick’s message is clear:

This is not about one bad night.
It is about how the young star responds.

Barcelona need energy, leadership, and bravery — and Flick believes Yamal can provide it.

For an 18-year-old carrying expectations this huge, the next match will be more than just another LaLiga fixture.
It’s a character exam.

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Ballon d’Or

Thomas Frank Backs Vitinha For Ballon d’Or After Spurs’ 5-3 Thriller Loss To PSG

Tottenham gave Paris Saint-Germain a real scare in Paris but ultimately fell 5-3 in a thrilling Champions League clash. Spurs twice led the defending champions, but a stunning second-half display from PSG, led by Vitinha, proved decisive.

Despite the defeat, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank praised his side’s performance, highlighting their grit, personality, and aggressiveness. “I’m pleased with the performance. It was the reaction I wanted from the players, from the team. Much more character, personality, aggressiveness… Today we saw it, and I’m pleased with that,” Frank told reporters.

Frank also reserved high praise for PSG midfielder Vitinha, who scored a hat-trick and finished third in this year’s Ballon d’Or. “When we played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d’Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield… Vitinha. Wow, what a player,” said Frank. “Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d’Or winner.”

The match saw Tottenham showing signs of life after their 4-1 drubbing by Arsenal, with strikers scoring two goals and promising performances from Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Midfielder Gray reflected positively on the game, noting that Spurs faced “probably the best team in Europe at the moment” and that there were valuable lessons to take forward.

While Spurs now face back-to-back heavy defeats, Frank’s words underline that the team’s identity and fighting spirit remain intact. For Tottenham fans, there are positives to build on even in defeat, and lessons from facing Europe’s elite could prove invaluable.

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