Austin Ekeler MNF Spotlight: Player Props for Monday Night Football Week 16

Kylian Mbappe made France proud with an extraordinary performance despite Les Bleus heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to Argentina, says president Emmanuel Macron.

France looked destined for a demoralising loss after going two goals down at Lusail Stadium, but Mbappe scored twice in the space of 97 seconds after the break to force extra time.

After seeing his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi put Argentina back in front, Mbappe converted a late penalty to become just the second player to score a hat-trick in a men s World Cup final – after England s Geoff Hurst in 1966.

While shoot-out misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni crushed France s hopes of retaining the trophy, Macron – who was seen talking with Mbappe after the defeat – sa…

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his Premier League return in style last weekend, and he will almost certainly be leading Manchester United s line again on Sunday when the Red Devils face West Ham.

David Moyes will be desperate to get one over on his old club and build on the Hammers promising start to the season, while there is also the small matter of a London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea.

Newcastle United open up the weekend against Leeds United on Friday, while there is a mouthwatering fixture list to look forward to on Saturday, too.

Why not test yourself ahead of the weekend with our quiz, fuelled by Opta data? The answers are at the end.

1. Ronaldo s second-debut double at Old Trafford last week came against Newcastle United, with visitin…

Liverpool must do everything in their power to agree new contracts with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

That is the opinion of former Liverpool striker Durk Kuyt, who has urged his old club to seal the futures of two of their star attackers.

Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton in June 2016, the year before Salah traded Roma for Anfield.

Since Salah scored on his debut against Watford in the Premier League in August 2017, no player has netted more times in the competition than the forward, who has 117 goals in 176 league appearances for the Reds.

Meanwhile, Mane is joint-fourth on the list of Premier League goalscorers in that same timeframe, behind Harry Kane (100) and Jamie Vardy (86), alongside Raheem Sterling on 75.

The duo have been i…

Lucien Favre held nothing back when assessing Borussia Dortmund s performance after a humiliating 5-1 home loss to Stuttgart on Saturday.

The stunning result means Dortmund have now suffered three straight defeats at home in the Bundesliga for the first time since the 2013-14 season, when Jurgen Klopp was in charge. 

Favre s future will come under scrutiny following this latest setback, despite steering BVB through to the last-16 stage of the Champions League.

The Swiss coach admitted his side without the injured Erling Haaland were masters of their own downfall, branding the display very, very bad while also praising their opponents.

That was a disaster. It was bad, Favre told the media after the game.

We weren t good at winning the ba…

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has expressed her pride over her role in the King’s coronation last weekend, describing it as an “amazing experience”.

The Australia international on Saturday led her country’s delegation in the formal procession, carrying the flag as they made their way into Westminster Abbey.

Kerr, who helped Chelsea thrash Everton 7-0 in the Women’s Super League the following day, said: “I got offered the opportunity to be part of it about a month ago while I was in international camp, and I originally thought the Everton game was on the same day, so I thought it was not doable.

Sam Kerr today led her nation’s delegation at the Coronation of King Charles III.

We’re so proud of you, .

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) <…

Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Franck Kessie on a free transfer following the end of his spell with Milan.

The midfielder has agreed a four-year deal with the Blaugrana, which was made official on Monday following months of speculation.

Kessie spent five seasons at San Siro, the first two of those on loan, and helped Milan to their first Scudetto triumph in 11 years in his final campaign with the club.

He played in 31 of Milan s 38 Serie A matches and scored six goals from midfield, a tally only bettered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (eight), Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud (both 11).

However, fresh terms could not be agreed between the Rossoneri and Kessie, meaning the Ivory Coast international became a free agent on July 1.

Barca were always con…

Former Milan midfielder and head coach Cristian Brocchi is hopeful the Rossoneri can maintain their charge for a drought-ending Serie A title as they vie for domestic silverware with neighbours Inter.

Milan have not won the Scudetto since 2011, but the Italian giants top the table at the halfway stage of the season – two points clear of Inter despite a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Atalanta.

Following years of pain, Stefano Pioli s Milan and their fans are daring to dream as they rise to the summit of Italian football once again.

Monza head coach Brocchi was part of the successful Milan era between 2001 and 2008, after a brief spell with city rivals Inter, winning two Champions League titles, the Scudetto, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, Coppa Italia and Superco…

Sven Ulreich is enjoying one of those rare spells where everyone at Bayern Munich depends on his safe hands, and the loyal deputy to Manuel Neuer hopes this will not prove to be his final season at the club.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper – two years Neuer s junior – has played second fiddle to the Germany great throughout his time at Bayern.

This is Ulreich s seventh season with the Bundesliga champions, with his Bayern career broken up by one year away at Hamburg in 2020-21, where he spent a campaign as a first-team regular, albeit in Germany s second tier.

Ulreich was a Bayern mainstay in the 2017-18 season, but that was only because Neuer fractured a foot, keeping him out for almost the entire campaign.

The former Stuttgart number one has been a dutif…

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledges Thursday s Champions League meeting with Arsenal will be a difficult challenge for his Atalanta side following a mixed start to their Serie A campaign.

Atalanta sit eighth in the Italian top flight with two wins and two defeats from their first four games of 2024-25, having beaten Fiorentina 3-2 in a thriller on Sunday.

La Dea twice trailed to goals from Lucas Martinez Quarta and Moise Kean, only to fight back for victory with Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman scoring.

Gasperini led Atalanta to Europa League glory last season, and they are preparing to step up to the revamped Champions League, with Arsenal the visitors for their first league-phase match next week.

Gasperini knows the Gunners will pro…

Bayern Munich head coach Julian Nagelsmann cut a frustrated figure after seeing his team lose at Augsburg, saying he must think about everything .

A goal from Mergim Berisha just before the hour at Augsburg Arena condemned Bayern to their first defeat of the season.

However, it made it four games in the Bundesliga without a win for the defending champions, their longest period without tasting victory in the league since the 2001-02 season.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Augsburg boss Enrico Maassen after the game, Nagelsmann praised the victors, but believed his team should still have won the game.

Congratulations to Augsburg and Enrico for their victory against us,  he said. If I look at the statistics I think we should win that game, if we…