Son Heung-min has been rewarded for his growing importance at Tottenham with a new five-year contract.

The South Korea international, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, has pledged his future to the London club until the end of the 2022-23 season.

Son, 26, has steadily taken on a more prominent role under Mauricio Pochettino and featured 37 times in the Premier League last term, including 27 starts.

His 26 league goals over the past two seasons have eased the burden on star striker Harry Kane and helped Spurs to consecutive top-three finishes.

Son became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history with the winner against Crystal Palace last November, surpassing the tally of 19 set by former Manchester United man Park Ji-sung.

 A mes…

Ernesto Valverde is not concerned about Lionel Messi retiring anytime soon after the Barcelona star suggested he was beginning to think about bringing his playing days to a close when he received a record sixth Ballon d Or.

Messi, 32, overtook long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d Or stakes on Monday when he beat the Portugal forward and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to the individual gong, despite the latter being many people s favourite.

During Messi s acceptance speech, he remarked that he is aware of how old I am, everything happens very quickly and I know that the moment of withdrawal is approaching .

Barca team-mate Luis Suarez insisted Messi s comments had been misinterpreted by many, adamant the Argentina great will continue for a long wh…

Jurgen Klopp spoke glowingly of Harvey Elliott after he became the youngest player to make a competitive start for Liverpool in the 2-0 EFL Cup win over MK Dons.

Elliott, 16 years and 174 days old, impressed on his debut on Wednesday, though he missed a golden chance early on when he turned James Milner s delivery against the crossbar.

Stuart Moore s calamitous error from Milner s 41st-minute strike gifted Liverpool the lead, however, and despite a spirited display from the home side Ki-Jana Hoever s header wrapped up the result.

There was still time for Elliott to hit the woodwork again, this time curling a strike against the bar from the edge of the box.

Only Jerome Sinclair, who made a substitute appearance against West Brom in September 2012 aged 16 …

Ary Borges stole the headlines on day five of the Women’s World Cup as her hat-trick helped Brazil thrash tournament debutants Panama 4-0 in Adelaide.

There were also plenty of goals in Melbourne where Germany brushed aside Morocco 6-0, with captain Alexandra Popp bagging a brace, while Italy left it late to beat Argentina 1-0.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at all of Monday’s action.

Borges powers Brazil

Brazil’s opening match of the tournament was all about Borges, who scored the tournament’s first hat-trick and set up Bia Zaneratto for the other in a one-sided match in Group F.

The winger had a first-half brace, both headers from Debinha’s crosses, before her neat backheel laid on the third of the match for Zaneratto just three minute…

Jose Mourinho says Manchester United defender Antonio Valencia is the best right-back in football.

United triggered a one-year contract extension for the 31-year-old this week, tying him to the club until 2018.

Initially signed as a winger in 2009, Valencia has established himself as a key cog in Mourinho s defence, making 23 starts across all competitions this season.

And Mourinho is overjoyed with his performances, which he believes have put him at the top of his new position and made him fully deserving of his new deal.

I don t think of it is a reward, I don t see it in this perspective, Mourinho said to MUTV.

I just think he is the best right-back you can have. There is no better right-back in football. It is just for us to keep the best. I …

Alessia Russo is leaning on the advice shared by ex-England captain and “heartthrob” David Beckham as the Lionesses prepare for their World Cup quarter-final.

The 24-year-old won England’s starting centre-forward role over Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly, and opened her account four minutes into England’s 6-1 win over China to conclude the group stage.

Russo is now hoping to extend her maiden World Cup campaign with a win over Colombia in Saturday’s last-eight clash in Sydney, with the former Manchester United great’s pre-tournament words of wisdom still ringing in her ears.

She said: “It was amazing actually. He has been one of my idols – and heartthrobs – ever since I was a little girl.

“It is one of my biggest highlights off the pitch t…

Santiago Solari expressed pride in Vinicius Junior s ability to break down the door and win Real Madrid fans over, ahead of their pre-season friendly with his Club America side.

After coming up through the club s reserve ranks, Solari was faced with the unenviable task of being Real Madrid s caretaker first team coach in a post-World Cup year when Julen Lopetegui was sacked in October 2018.

The 45-year-old lasted less than five months, but Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti arguably went on to reap the benefits of his integration of players such as Vinicius and Federico Valverde, while shifting Isco and Marcelo to the periphery. Vinicius was a particularly inconsistent case initially, before enjoying a breakout season last term, culminating with his goal in May s Champ…

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were the goalscorers as Arsenal started the new Premier League season with a routine 2-0 victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium.

Germany international Havertz had the home fans on their feet midway through the first half thanks to a fine assist from Saka in sunny north London on Saturday.

David Raya had to make a brilliant save to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen a debut Wolves goal midway through the first half.

Havertz and Thomas Partey went close for the hosts after the break before a revival from the visitors should have seen parity restored when Matheus Cunha shot straight at Raya after pouncing on a poor misplaced pass from William Saliba.

The brilliant Saka then ensured there would be no misstep to start a campaign in which Ar…

Ange Postecoglou is unequivocal in his belief that Tottenham will come through this tough period but has warned his squad, life will never be comfortable during his reign.

Spurs claimed an unwanted Premier League record on Thursday night when they went ahead for a fifth-consecutive Premier League match, but again failed to hold on with West Ham able to secure a 2-1 away win.

It continued the club’s poor run of results, which has coincided with their squad being depleted by injuries and suspensions but the latest example of Postecoglou’s team taking the lead and throwing it away sparked debate over the historic ‘Spursy’ tag.

“It’s how focused and committed you are to really go on the path that you’ve started. I’m unwavering with that.”

An…

Gleison Bremer revealed Juventus greats Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have been invaluable sources of advice since he joined the Bianconeri, as he targeted a spot in Brazil s squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

Having been named Serie A s 2021-22 Defender of the Year while starring for Torino, Bremer joined Juve in a reported €40million move after Matthijs de Ligt was sold to Bayern Munich last month.

Bremer led the way across Europe s top five leagues for interceptions last season (105), as well as making more recoveries (284) and winning more aerial duels (132) than any other Serie A player.

The Brazilian has taken Chiellini s number three shirt after he departed for Los Angeles FC, and is doing his best to learn from both him and current Juve skipper …