Choking with emotion after accepting his award, Cristiano Ronaldo has taken the Ballon d’Or title – a prize Lionel Messi has dominated for four years.

Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic took his third goal of Euro 2012 to earn a 1-1 draw against Italy who let their rivals off the hook after taking the lead.

Fifa’s ethics committee cleared president Sepp Blatter in soccer’s bribery investigation on Sunday but temporarily suspended his former rival.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday he would stand down in 2015 if he is re-elected for a fourth term in June.

Two Fifa executive committee members were banned and fined following an investigation into allegations they had offered to sell their vote.

Bidding nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will seek a measure of clarity when Fifa considers the troubled process at a meeting on Friday.

The contest to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, due to be decided by Fifa has been thrown into uncertainty by allegations of vote-selling.

Fifa has dismissed allegations that North Korea’s coach and players were punished for losing all three of their games at this year’s Soccer World Cup.

Wesley Sneijder headed a second-half winner as The Netherlands came from behind to beat ten-man Brazil 2-1 on Friday.

Maicon produced an astonishing goal out of the blue to set Brazil on their way to a 2-1 win over a stubborn North Korea on Tuesday.

The Central American soccer director looked surprised when he was told that, to sell a player abroad, the fee had to be paid into a bank account.

France striker Thierry Henry will not be punished over the handball which led to the decisive goal in the World Cup qualifying playoff against Ireland