Martin O’Neill might feel sad about saying goodbye to Robbie Keane — and sadder still that, as he’s often pointed out, he didn’t have the services of the record goalscorer in his prime — but the Ireland manager finds consolation in the fact that, even at 32, another of his strikers, Jon Walters, is good to go again.

“It’s the first time — which is ironic — that my young son Hudson is going to walk out with me and it’s my last time ever to play for Ireland. So it’s going to be a special moment and something I will certainly treasure.”

It’s been a week of hotshots and superlatives to add to the store of good things in Irish football in 2016.

Ireland’s football trendsetter across so many eras, writes Liam Mackey

Prepared statements “on the occasion of” can often come across as bland, off-the-peg affairs, a poor substitute for facial expression and the spoken word.

MIGRATION has shaped our world and is reshaping it today.

Daniel Sturridge may be Liverpool’s only fit striker, but manager Jurgen Klopp does not expect him to carry the goalscoring burden alone.

Who is the star of this Germany team? It was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on a stage in January in Zurich when he came third in the Ballon D’Or vote for the world’s best player.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Despite adding another two goals to his astonishing record for Ireland in Faro, Robbie Keane is not taking for granted that he will retain his place for tonight’s tougher assignment against Georgia.

SHAY GIVEN 7

It might have taken a while for the goals to come but Martin O’Neill was happy his team’s 4-0 win in Faro, coming hard on the heels of Scotland slipping up in Georgia, capped off a good night for Ireland in European Championship qualifying Group D.

Scotland’s assistant manager Mark McGhee surprised nobody when asked yesterday to identify the principal threat to Scottish hopes in Friday night’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier at Celtic Park.

An impressive snapshot. It’s the mid-1970s. Flanked by two of Germany’s greatest ever players, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, Noel Campbell strides towards the dressing rooms.

John O’Shea was singing the praises of Robbie Keane after the Republic of Ireland striker scored a hat-trick in their 7-0 Euro 2016 qualifier win against Gibraltar yesterday.

Robbie Keane modestly shrugged off his goalscoring feats after establishing himself as the top marksman in European Championship qualifying history.

Robbie Keane plundered a hat-trick as the Republic of Ireland maintained a perfect start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 7-0 demolition of minnows Gibraltar.

MUNSTER SHC QUARTER-FINAL REPLAY:

The mood in the Sweden camp is serious ahead of tonight’s crucial clash with Kazakhstan, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic adding his voices to those demanding focus on the tie in Astana rather than speculating about likely play-off opponents.

Miroslav Klose made history in Munich and helped Republic of Ireland group rivals Germany put one foot in Brazil in the process.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo was happy to do his talking on the pitch in the wake of recent comments from Jose Mourinho after scoring twice to lead his side to a 3-1 victory over his former coach’s Chelsea.

Alex Ferguson has said that Ryan Giggs is not the man to replace him as Manchester United coach when he eventually steps down at Old Trafford.

Lionel Messi has signed his two-year contract extension with Barcelona.

When news broke last week that Pep Guardiola had agreed to become the next coach of Bayern Munich, much of the reaction focused on how wise Guardiola had been to choose a ‘real club’ with proper football values over the kind of plastic pop-up projects on offer at Chelsea or Manchester City.

Alex Ferguson has admitted Pep Guardiola’s decision to join Bayern Munich has caught him by surprise.

Lionel Messi won an unprecedented fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d’Or last night after his record-breaking 91 goals in 2012 – but still branded the year not one of his best.

Lionel Messi strengthened his claim to be considered the greatest footballer of all time by winning a record-breaking fourth consecutive Fifa Ballon d’Or last night.

Lionel Messi won a record-breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d’Or at an awards ceremony in Zurich tonight.

As I start writing this sentence, Lionel Messi has just brought his goal tally for 2012 to 90 but by the time I’ve finished it, there’s every chance he’ll have increased it by another one or, more likely, two.

Lionel Messi has agreed a new contract to keep him at Barcelona until 2018.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been hailed as the greatest player of all-time by team-mate and fellow Argentinian Javier Mascherano.

In football’s catechism of cliché it is customary to claim that some one-season wonder is “frighteningly good”.

Lionel Messi may have last night secured another jaw-dropping record, that of Gerd Muller’s 85 goals in a calendar year, but it is the style in which he has accomplished the feat that illustrates how the 25-year-old has soared to yet another level.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi last night broke Gerd Muller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year as his double helped Tito Vilanova’s side to a 2-1 victory at Real Betis.

Lionel Messi is hoping to face Real Betis on Sunday after escaping a major injury scare last night.

Lionel Messi worked out in the gym as his Barcelona team-mates trained this morning, and the Argentinian could yet be fit for Sunday’s match against Real Betis despite being carried off in last night’s Champions League clash with Benfica.

Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has defended his decision to include Lionel Messi in last night's Champions League game against Benfica after the Argentina star suffered a knee injury.

Lionel Messi ended the night on a stretcher instead of the history books as an under-strength Barcelona battled to a goalless draw against Benfica last night.

Barcelona 0 Benfica 0

Barcelona 5 Athletic Bilbao 1