Soccer

SANTOS, Brazil (AP) — A tearful Neymar was welcomed back to his boyhood club on Friday by thousands of Santos fans and a concert in the home stadium beneath an electronic sign saying, “The prince is back.

MADRID (AP) — A first-half red card for captain Sergio González proved decisive for Leganes as its recent good run ground to a halt in 1-0 home loss to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Friday.

MONTREAL — CF Montreal president Gabriel Gervais says he's comfortable with his squad after an off-season that saw several key pieces depart the Major League Soccer club.

MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — The coaches of Montpellier and Lens were both sent off for blocking the referee’s view of the video review monitor during a turbulent 2-0 win for high flying Lens in Ligue 1 on Friday.

Alexandre Da Rocha has been named Canada's first-ever national women's futsal coach.

Attacking midfielder Julian Altobelli, who led Toronto FC 2 in scoring last season with 11 goals in 23 games, has signed with York United FC of the Canadian Premier League on a one-year contract with a club option for 2026.

Santiago Pierotti scored twice in the second half and Lecce won at Parma 3-1 to move out the Serie A relegation zone on Friday for the first time since early November.

U.S. national team veteran Crystal Dunn has signed with Paris Saint-Germain through the 2027 season. The move comes less than a week after Dunn parted ways with Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League.

BREMEN, Germany (AP) — Werder Bremen bounced back after missing an early penalty kick to beat Mainz 1-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday and move to within two points of the Champions League qualification places.

The National Women's Soccer League and its players' association agreed to a new collective-bargaining agreement that eliminated the college draft. Players, teams and the league are adjusting to the new reality .