Benjamin Šeško
February 2026
Benjamin Sesko scored the winner at Everton and said he is fine not starting under Carrick, focusing on impact minutes rather than status. Sesko said his job is to help whenever he comes on, whether for five minutes or 90, and credited self-belief and teammate trust. The goal pushed United three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool in the top-four race.
Viktor Gyökeres
February 2026
Arsenal players held a heated group meeting after blowing a two-goal lead vs Wolves, then responded by hammering Spurs 4-1 to go five points clear at the top. Gyokeres said the squad spoke openly to “let it all out,” understand each other’s emotions, and rebuild unity. Arsenal then delivered a statement performance with braces from Gyokeres and Eze, and are now targeting another response with Chelsea next weekend.
Kylian Mbappé
February 2026
PSG will pay Mbappé €61m after choosing not to appeal a court ruling tied to withheld wages and bonuses from his final months at the club. The dispute hinged on PSG refusing certain payments after Mbappé left on a free, with PSG citing a verbal agreement, but the French legal system ruled against them. PSG said it is ending the matter to stop a prolonged process and refocus on its sporting project.
Igor Tudor
February 2026
Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal reinforced fears that Spurs are genuinely at risk of relegation, despite hopes of a “new manager bounce” under Tudor. Spurs had brief moments, including Kolo Muani pouncing on a Rice mistake and another goal ruled out for a shove on Gabriel, but Arsenal’s control exposed a major quality gap. Tudor’s pre-match bravado flipped to an internal reckoning, demanding the club “become serious” and saying the only fix is hard work and changing habits.
Franco Mastantuono
February 2026
Franco Mastantuono has not played a minute in Real Madrid’s last three matches, triggering criticism and concern in Argentina ahead of key national-team dates. Despite arriving for €45m and strong expectations, he has fallen out of the rotation under both Alonso and Arbeloa, including being unused while Madrid chased a late equaliser vs Osasuna. Argentina staff are reportedly worried he will lose match rhythm ahead of March’s Finalissima vs Spain and the 2026 World Cup build-up.
Florian Wirtz
February 2026
Florian Wirtz was pulled from Liverpool’s starting XI during warm-ups due to a back issue, but Arne Slot said it does not look serious and hopes he returns next week. Wirtz felt his back “too much” to be close to full fitness, so Slot replaced him with Curtis Jones. Liverpool still won 1-0 through Mac Allister’s 96th-minute goal, and Slot stressed that in the Premier League you must be at 100 percent to play, even if you are elite on the ball.
Gabriel Magalhães
February 2026
Gabriel Magalhães posted a mocking message after Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Tottenham, a result that reasserted Arsenal’s five-point lead at the top. Arsenal controlled the game with a heavy shot advantage and repeated their earlier 4-1 win in the fixture. The derby win also steadied the mood after a draw with Wolves, keeping City at arm’s length despite Arsenal having played a game more.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
February 2026
Ruben Loftus-Cheek suffered a fracture of the alveolar bone after a collision with Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi and is set for surgery, with a lengthy lay-off expected. Loftus-Cheek jumped for a header and was struck in the jaw by Corvi’s attempt to punch the ball. He was stretchered off, did not lose consciousness, but lost teeth and was diagnosed with an alveolar bone fracture that supports the tooth sockets, which could sideline him for months and damage his England World Cup hopes.
Igor Tudor
February 2026
Tottenham were thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal in Igor Tudor’s first match in charge, leaving Spurs 16th and only four points above the relegation zone. Arsenal overwhelmed Spurs, with Eze and Gyökeres scoring two each and Kolo Muani’s goal only a consolation. Tudor said the gap between the teams was too big, called out Spurs’ confidence issues, and demanded a mindset reset through work, telling players to “look in the mirror” instead of using Arsenal’s quality as an excuse.
Cristiano Ronaldo
February 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo played down speculation about leaving the Saudi Pro League, saying he is happy at Al-Nassr after returning from a short protest period and scoring twice in a 4-0 win that put them top. After missing three games amid frustration over league transfer dynamics and reported contract clauses, Ronaldo returned and delivered a brace. Post-match, he focused on chance creation, a clean sheet, and the importance of winning, while continuing his chase for major silverware and the 1,000-goal milestone.
