Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has expressed his disbelief after testing positive for a banned substance during a routine drugs test. The Ukraine international has been provisionally suspended by the Football Association (FA) while investigations are underway, though the player strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89 million, shared his reaction on social media, stating:

“This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened. I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon.”

Chelsea confirmed they had been contacted by the FA regarding “an adverse finding” in Mudryk’s urine test and are working to determine the cause behind the positive result.

The 23-year-old last appeared for Chelsea on 28 November and has missed the Blues’ last five matches in all competitions. Head coach Enzo Maresca previously attributed Mudryk’s absence to illness, particularly when the winger was included but did not feature in the squad for Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on 1 December.

Under FA and FIFA guidelines, players who intentionally take banned substances can face suspensions of up to four years. However, the circumstances surrounding Mudryk’s case are yet to be fully clarified.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is expected to offer support to Mudryk as the investigation progresses. The FA, meanwhile, has refused to comment on further details, including the timing of the test or specific substance involved.

Mudryk’s performance since his high-profile transfer has seen him contribute 10 goals across 73 appearances.

Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr has been crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at the prestigious ceremony in Doha, Qatar. The 24-year-old winger’s stellar performances during Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga-winning 2023-24 campaign earned him the accolade, marking his first-ever FIFA Best award.

Vinicius contributed significantly to his club’s success, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top football talents. His win comes months after Real Madrid and Vinicius boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Manchester City’s Rodri claimed top honors.

“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here,” Vinicius reflected emotionally while accepting the award.

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second consecutive year. Her victory highlights her dominant role in both club and international football.

The FIFA Best Awards are decided through a combination of votes from the public, journalists, and national team captains and managers, with each group’s votes carrying equal weight.

Spain’s Rodri, a key figure in his nation’s Euro 2024 victory, finished second behind Vinicius, while England and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham secured third place.

• England captain Harry Kane voted for Rodri, Bellingham, and Vinicius, respectively.
• Interim England manager Lee Carsley prioritized Bellingham, Rodri, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
• Brazil’s captain and coach both supported Vinicius.
• Notably, Spain’s representatives voted for Dani Carvajal, Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammate.

Vinicius’ triumph coincides with Real Madrid’s presence in Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been laid out for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland following the qualifying draw held in Zurich on Friday. Each nation now knows the challenges ahead as they vie for a spot in the tournament, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

England

Under the guidance of newly appointed manager Thomas Tuchel, England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in their group. With a blend of competitive and less formidable opponents, England will look to assert dominance and secure automatic qualification.

Wales

Wales finds itself in a group with familiar rivals Belgium, alongside North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. The clash with Belgium is expected to be a key fixture, as the Welsh aim to secure their place in the expanded tournament.

Scotland

Scotland faces Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. The Scots also have a separate challenge in March, with a two-legged Nations League promotion-relegation play-off against Greece, providing an early taste of their group dynamics.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has been drawn alongside Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the winner of the Nations League quarter-final between Germany and Italy. With a compact group, every match will carry added significance as they aim to contend for qualification.

The Qualifying Format

The qualifiers will take place during five international breaks between March and November 2025. The winner of each of the 12 groups will automatically secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed teams will advance to the play-offs. From Europe, a total of 16 teams will qualify for the tournament.

For Scotland and Northern Ireland, who are in four-team groups, the qualifying games will begin in September 2025. Until then, both teams have a critical focus on their Nations League campaigns, which could set the tone for their qualification journey.