On October 26, 2024, the death of Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Holden Trent was announced. He was just 25 years old. Two years on, his fiancée, family, friends and teammates are ready to talk; to remember a man who "went through a battle every single day to be the person he was". For more than two decades, Holden Trent defied debilitating medical conditions to reach professional status in the world's most competitive sport. This is his story. 📝 @AdamCrafton_ 🔗 nyti.ms/47FcGEW

Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle comes out of the speakers as Erik ten Hag's car stereo goes through a 1980s playlist. “In this period it was real music; now everything is computer." In the second part of @lauriewhitwell's exclusive interview, Ten Hag opens up on his time in charge of Manchester United and his career since: ■ Why a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in April 2023 was a turning point in his reign ■ How that summer’s pre-season ‘killed’ players ■ The signing of Antony and Jadon Sancho's reluctance to play on the right ■ "Amazing" Kobbie Mainoo and his "strong connection" with Alejandro Garnacho ■ Bruno Fernandes: “Sometimes he’s getting emotional, but he’s a winner" ■ How players are affected by Manchester United legends who are now pundits 🔗 nyti.ms/4zJGGLF

Erik ten Hag knows what it is like to be in the eye of the storm at Manchester United. @LaurieWhitwell spent two evenings with the Dutchman in his hometown of Enschede, in the east of the Netherlands, to peel back the curtain on his two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford. In part one, Ten Hag talks about: ▪️ The broken “promises” that led to his sacking ▪️ Why he had to act on Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who “let the team down” ▪️ His desire to sign Harry Kane and Declan Rice ▪️ The “toxic culture” and the "Madrid connection" that brought player power to the club 🔗 nyti.ms/4z9cp9d

“I always wanted to break records and (make sure) that people remembered my name. “But I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to be the top scorer of all time at the World Cup, at 27." @DTAthletic's exclusive interview with Kylian Mbappe. ▪️ Making World Cup history ▪️ Asking for a ‘Zidane’ haircut ▪️ Mid-air transfer talks with Liverpool ▪️ Why this could be his year for Ballon d’Or ▪️ The lure of being a ‘ghost’ ▪️Why he will never be silenced 🔗 nyti.ms/4cWI1pw

“I felt fine in the morning,” Keith Vigar explains. “But something was bubbling. I went into Billy’s room and just laid on his bed and then I was in bits.” He glances across at his wife Camilla. “We’re very different in the way that we deal with things. But we accept that. So that’s how, I guess, we get through, just day by day. “Billy’s in your memory constantly. Everything is looking for signs that he’s around, and you’re talking to him in your mind every day, which is comforting, to an extent. But it’s not easy by any means.” Camilla looks up with tears in her eyes. “I’m the opposite,” she says. “I do probably cry every day, but I find if I let it out, then it’s easier to put the face back on, if you like, and try to be normal. “We both said from the beginning that we’ve got two other living kids. So it can’t just be… I’m sorry,” she says, her voice cracking with emotion. Camilla pauses for a moment. “It can’t just be sadness because of Billy,” she continues, “because the other kids are still alive and you’ve got to keep going for them." Last year their son lost his life playing the game he loved. Billy hit his head on a concrete-block perimeter wall that was just under three metres from the touchline. He was 21. Keith and Camilla spoke to @stujames75 about their son, their hurt and their anger towards the Football Association. 🔗 nyti.ms/4iZ5NF3

Ousmane Dembele is the current Ballon D’Or holder. Fabian Ruiz is unbeaten in 50 games for the World Cup winners Spain. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the Champions League’s MVP last season and the best player who wasn’t at the World Cup this summer. In a room overlooking Paris Saint-Germain’s pristine training pitches, these three superstars are chatting to The Athletic in three different languages about beating Arsenal, chasing Champions League history, the Ballon d'Or and how even God doesn't know which is Dembele's stronger foot. 📝 @TBurrows16 and @tomas_hill 🔗 nyti.ms/3TtFfS5

🔹 Telling Lionel Messi to ‘control’ a team-mate 🔹 A ‘well done’ from Donald Trump 🔹 Revealing his retirement plans to a player In newly released footage, fans can watch snippets of the World Cup final from the perspective of referee Slavko Vincic. This is what we learned from the five-minute clip released by FIFA. ✍️ @Dan_Sheldon_ nyti.ms/4xO1zEE