Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been awarded a record third Golden Shoe trophy after finishing with the most league goals in Europe last season.

Stiliyan Petrov has admitted he would be “honoured” if offered the Aston Villa captaincy by manager Martin O’Neill.

WOKE up dis mawnin’… Or, rather, by the time you read this, yesterday morning, but why mess with the opening line of every self-respecting blues lament ever written? Anyway, waking up, whatever de mawnin’, is always an encouraging start to the day, I find.

Terry Venables has been approached to become the next manager of Bulgaria.

KRIS BOYD had a dream introduction to international football as the Rangers striker scored twice in Scotland’s 5-1 Kirin Cup win over Bulgaria at Kobe Wing Stadium.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is hoping to persuade midfielder Stiliyan Petrov to reconsider his decision to quit international football with Bulgaria.

SCOTLAND will need to fire on all cylinders to get a positive result in their qualifier against World Cup runners-up France, coach Walter Smith said yesterday.

Stilian Petrov is set to give Celtic manager Gordon Strachan more problems with Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov demanding the Scottish champions let him skipper his country.

Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho has been named the 2005 European Footballer of the Year.

Sweden continued their march towards the 2006 World Cup finals with a convincing win against 10-man Bulgaria on Saturday.

VILLARREAL’S Diego Forlan and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry will share the Golden Shoe award for being this season’s top goalscorers in Europe.

Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has backed away from a club-versus-country confrontation with Celtic over midfielder Stilian Petrov.

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr will risk incurring the wrath of Jose Mourinho by handing Damien Duff a starting place in tomorrow’s friendly against Bulgaria.

BULGARIA’S new coach Hristo Stoichkov has recalled defender Radostin Kishishev for their friendly against Ireland on August 18 at Lansdowne Road.

Sweden 5 Bulgaria 0

Sweden 5 Bulgaria 0

Russia midfielder Egor Titov has all the attributes of a potential World Cup superstar.

As a player whose heroic qualities are revered in both host countries, it is fitting that South Korea and Japan should provide Hong Myung-bo with the stage to make World Cup history.

Diego Maradona returned to the field to play his farewell match in front of 50,000 devoted fans in Buenos Aires.