Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo has finally spoken about the most difficult period of his career, revealing the mental health struggles that forced him to step away from football.

After months of silence, the defender has now returned to the pitch and, more importantly, to a better mental place.

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Following his comeback appearance against Albacete, Araujo admitted he felt both physically strong and emotionally stable again.

The defender explained that the match was an important step in his recovery and confidence.

“The truth is, I’m feeling really good. I felt very comfortable. I think I played a good game. I was also able to help with the goal, which was great for me. 

“Physically, I felt strong too. At the end, I was obviously tired because I hadn’t played so many minutes in a long time, but overall, I’m very, very happy.”

The red card against Chelsea

The Uruguayan also reflected on how much he has changed since his red card in London on November 25, an incident that marked the start of his break from football.

Araujo was sent off against Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

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“I’ve changed quite a bit because I’ve learned a lot during this time. I think it was what I needed to do after that decision I made. 

“I feel different and I’m happy about that because I’m more comfortable, happier. I can enjoy what I love doing, which is playing football, and that helps a lot.”

When asked what exactly had changed, Araujo explained that the time away helped him gain a new perspective on life and football.

“Well, you see things from another point of view. I felt that the worst of the worst was over and now I see things differently. 

“The time I took off was for a reason, because in the end I was able to work on it with professionals, with my family, and spiritually, which was what I needed.”

Looking back at the red card against Chelsea, Araujo revealed that the moment was only part of a deeper and longer struggle.

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“It was a combination of things. I hadn’t been feeling well for a long time, maybe more than a year and a half. You try to be strong, but I felt that I wasn’t well.

“Not only on a sporting level, but also on a family and personal level. I wasn’t feeling myself, and that was when I clicked and said: Something is happening, I need to raise my hand and ask for help.

“I’m one of those people who keep everything to myself, but you also have to understand that there are professionals who can help you.

“I needed to raise my hand and say that something was happening to me in order to recover.”

Been dealing with it for a long time

He also revealed the extent of the issue, admitting that anxiety had turned into depression while he was still playing matches.

Araujo has opened up on his mental state. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

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“In the moment, you feel sad, but then, when the game is over, it all hits you. I already felt that I wasn’t well, that’s the truth, but out of inertia, you try to keep going, and sometimes you need help.

“I had been suffering from anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and I was playing like that. That doesn’t help, because you don’t feel like yourself on the field.

“When I wasn’t feeling well, I knew something was going on. That day, I realised that I needed to talk to professionals and the club so they could help me.”

Despite the mental struggle, Araujo insisted that quitting football was never truly on his mind.

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“I didn’t think about giving up playing, but you consider a lot of things because I wasn’t feeling myself. 

“I knew my performance wasn’t what I’m capable of. That’s why you consider a lot of things, but it wasn’t the idea.”

Support from Barcelona

The defender also spoke about the reaction inside the club when he decided to speak up, starting with sporting director Deco.

“First, I spoke to Deco because he’s the sporting director and he’s close to us. I told him what was happening to me.

“At first, he was a little surprised because it’s not very common for a Barcelona player to tell him these things, but he took it very well, in a very personal way. 

“From the very first minute, Deco called the president and the coach. They were spectacular.

“I’m very grateful to Deco, the president, the coach, and also to the people behind the scenes who you might not see, who are part of our day-to-day lives. The club gave me everything I needed to recover.”

Araujo is thankful to Flick. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

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He also highlighted the support he received from Hansi Flick, who encouraged him to take the necessary time to recover.

“He took it very personally. Flick knows my condition, and it was clear that I wasn’t performing at my best. He knew something was going on.

“From the beginning, he sent me messages telling me to take my time recovering, that the most important thing was to get through it well.”

Araujo admitted that the dressing room also played a key role during his darkest days.

“A huge one. After making the decision, I had some really bad days. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was hard, because I had always dreamed of playing football and now I had to stop.”

He also remembered the encouraging words from teammates, which helped him stay motivated.

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“They were all very nice messages from Pedri, Frenkie… Messages like, “Take it easy, get well, and come back as the titan you always are.” That was really nice because you see that they trust you.”

Support from the football community

Finally, Araujo revealed that the support went beyond Barcelona, with players from other clubs reaching out privately.

“That surprised me a lot. When I decided to stop, I didn’t imagine the boom it would cause, but, of course, we’re at Barça. Players from other teams in Italy and Germany. 

“They appreciated what I had done.

“Some told me they had been through the same thing but had kept it to themselves because they were perhaps being paid, they were afraid to stop, afraid of how people would react.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo

Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas had perhaps the best eight-day period any boxer could ask for.

After defeating Abass Baraou in front of 12,000 of his hometown fans in San Juan on Jan. 31 to unify the WBA and WBO super welterweight titles, Zayas flew straight to San Francisco so he could rehearse with Bad Bunny for his Puerto Rico-inspired performance at Super Bowl LX’s halftime show this past Sunday.

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“Man, the day of [the Super Bowl] was a very big energy,” Zayas told Uncrowned’s “The Boys in the Back” show Tuesday, “not just from me but from everybody in the cast — all the dancers, all the models, all the actors. Even [Bad Bunny]. Everybody was just so amped up when we got there and were setting up. When we were waiting for the music to start dropping, everybody was just so anxious and ready to go, fired up. You could tell it was just an amazing atmosphere.

A memorable UEFA Women’s Champions League season resumes this week with the first leg of the knockout phase playoffs, headlined by Arsenal’s attempts to defend their title and a batch of first-timers who hope to extend their stay in Europe’s top club competition.

The Gunners will face Belgium’s OH Leuven, who have become the Champions League’s Cinderella story during their first-ever stint in the competition proper. Leuven went undefeated against a handful of well-regarded sides during the league phase, proving their worth against some Champions League regulars in the process. How they match up against one of the game’s elites in Arsenal, who are in the midst of a resurgence after a poor start to the season, is another question entirely, though.

Fellow UWCL newcomers Manchester United also return to action with a tie against Atletico Madrid, one that will offer a litmus test of their progress in the midst of a memorable season. Two-time Women’s Champions League winners Wolfsburg, meanwhile, will take on six-time Italian champions Juventus and the fixture list is rounded out by Real Madrid’s faceoff with Paris FC.

The winners of these ties await meetings with Barcelona, OL Lyonnes, Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals after that quartet secured direct passageway to the final eight with a top four finish in the league phase.

Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.

How to watch

Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network will each be a one-stop shop for the first leg of the Women’s Champions League knockout phase playoffs, with both platforms simulcasting all coverage and every minute of the action. Coverage will begin with a new edition of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Today pre-match show before the early match, while studio coverage resumes in between matches and concludes with the post-match show to recap the action on Wednesday and Thursday.

UEFA Women’s Champions League bracket

Knockout phase playoffs first leg schedule

All times U.S./Eastern

Storylines for the knockout phase playoffs

Are Arsenal turning things around?: The reigning European champions got off to a slow start this season, so much so that they missed out on a direct berth to the Champions League quarterfinals and currently sit outside the top three in the Women’s Super League as things stand, meaning qualification for next season’s competition is no sure thing. They may have officially corrected course, though – they have just one loss in their last 14, a stretch that includes lifting the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The list also includes impressive wins over Chelsea and Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City in recent weeks, a signal that the Gunners might be peaking at just the right time as the business end of the European season begins.

They have an intriguing obstacle in front of them in OH Leuven, the Belgian side that have become everyone’s favorite underdog and reached the knockouts in their first-ever Champions League season. They went unbeaten against Paris FC, Twente, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain but their two losses in the league phase might be telling. Defeats to Barcelona and Arsenal, who breezed through a 3-0 win on Matchday 6, indicate that Leuven may  still be a step behind the elites of the game.

Can Manchester United keep going?: Manchester United have been on a steady upward trajectory since they were officially founded in 2018, a path that has allowed them to reach new heights this season. They currently sit second in the WSL, eight points adrift of league leaders Manchester City but rising above the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the process, and finished just one point short of a direct berth in the UWCL quarterfinals, returning to their first-ever European season as a true dark horse. Their knockout phase playoff tie against Atletico Madrid, though, will test them in more ways than one as United continue a memorable season.

United got the better of Atleti in a 1-0 win on Matchday 2 thanks to a goal from Fridolina Rolfo, who has been a boon since her summer move from Barcelona. Rolfo has three goals for United in the Champions League so far, doing her best to contribute to a goal-shy attacking unit that scored just seven times during the league phase. United are also one of three teams that qualified for the knockouts with a negative goal differential, though U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce will be counted on to come up big. Atleti, though, have their own attacking star in Spain international Fiamma Benitez, who has four goals in the UWCL this season. The Spanish side also have the benefit of experience – they have four of their last five two-legged ties in UEFA competition, while United have one win and one loss, a signal of their lack of experience at this level.

Jake Paul’s business partner and co-founder of MVP Promotions, Nakisa Bidarian, has highlighted three possible options for the internet star’s next outing.

The 29-year-old comes off a sixth-round stoppage defeat to Anthony Joshua in December, when a crushing right hand caused his jaw to break in two places.

Prior to the finish, Paul had spent most of their fight in survival mode, doing his best to evade each of Joshua’s attacks while repeatedly throwing himself to the canvas.

Given the terrific size difference between them, though, Paul could perhaps be forgiven for not wishing to engage with his hard-hitting opponent.

He is, after all, far from a natural heavyweight, and with such limited professional boxing experience, too, it seems that he has now made the wise decision to move back down to 200lbs.

Paul weighed just under 184lbs, in fact, when he suffered his only other defeat, via a split decision against Tommy Fury, in 2023.

Since then, the pair have expressed varying degrees of interest in a potential rematch, which MVP promoter Bidarian has named as a fight that ‘should be made.’

Speaking with Boxing Social, Bidarian discussed the likelihood of Fury-Paul 2 while, at the same time, mentioning Viddal Riley and Darren Till as possible opponents.

“The most obvious [opponent] is Tommy Fury – that’s a fight that should be made if Tommy is reasonable, in terms of what the terms are of the fight.

“But I think Viddal Riley’s an interesting fight; I think Darren Till’s an interesting fight. Those three names come to mind as interesting fights.”

British champion Riley and would be considered an almighty favourite against Paul, with his most notable wins having come against Cheavon Clarke and Mikael Lawal.

Former UFC fighter Till, meanwhile, is perhaps a more favourable option for Paul, given that their levels of boxing experience are not exactly worlds apart.

This is not a secret: the Minnesota Vikings will onboard a new quarterback this offseason, either to support J.J. McCarthy as a veteran backup or compete for his job at training camp. And thanks to NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero, an early list is reportedly on the table, including Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, and Geno Smith.

Pelissero’s list puts Cousins, Jones, Murray, and Smith in the Vikings’ orbit as Minnesota weighs its big quarterback decision.

It’s not a list from heaven, but Minnesota could do much worse.

Pelissero’s List Illuminates Minnesota’s Quarterback Plan

The quarterback position takes center stage early in the Vikings’ offseason.

Kirk Cousins

If Cousins’ return to Minnesota is a genuine possibility, the central question becomes not whether it happens, but what role he would fill.

Cousins was an undisputed QB1 for years, but that’s no longer the case. A reunion would be complex, and Kevin O’Connell would face three options: immediately install Cousins as the Week 1 starter, allow him to compete with J.J. McCarthy, or use him as a strictly backup option — the same insurance role he was projected for in Atlanta in 2025.

In 2023, his last season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the NFL among quarterbacks in EPA per play. In 2024, that number plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying passers. Any assessment must consider his torn Achilles from a few years ago; projecting Cousins’ performance in 2026 demands more realism and less nostalgia.

The primary allure of a return lies in the financial aspect. Because the Falcons have essentially already paid Cousins — handsomely — for 2026, his next contract will likely be a bargain. That changes the discourse significantly. The cap-related frustration that followed him from 2018 to 2023 disappears if his salary aligns with that of a backup.

If affordability eliminates the resentment that once surrounded Cousins, will parts of the fanbase that rejected him at his previous price now embrace him at a discount — especially if his role is flexible rather than guaranteed? Who knows.

Mac Jones

The main item surrounding Jones’s 2026 plans isn’t if he can start in the NFL, but what it would cost to acquire him.

In 2025, Jones started eight games for San Francisco, leading the 49ers to a 5–3 record. Extrapolated to a full season, those numbers project to 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 69.6 percent completion rate. That’s Top 15 QB stuff.

Those statistics are also comparable to Sam Darnold’s 2024 season, the same year Minnesota finished 14–3. Neither Jones’s recent game film nor his efficiency metrics suggest he would suddenly regress in Minnesota.

San Francisco is positioned to capitalize on the desperation of quarterback-needy teams via trade, and Minnesota must decide if it will enter the Jones sweepstakes. Jones is a good fit for many teams. Ultimately, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski must decide if sending 1st- or 2nd-Round pick to The Bay — or something similar — is worth it.

Kyler Murray

Murray’s talent is evident, regardless of other options.

Over seven seasons, his EPA+CPOE numbers exceed those of Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Daniel Jones — all quarterbacks currently projected to start in 2026. That established efficiency isn’t negotiable, even though some Vikings fans are oddly hesitant about Murray to Minnesota.

Arizona’s situation strengthens Murray’s case for change. With a new head coach, the Cardinals seem ready to move on after seven years and just one playoff appearance with Murray. The man could be traded any day or released in March.

Considering only realistic possibilities, Murray quickly emerges as a top candidate. Based on his career production and status as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, he represents the best quarterback Minnesota could realistically acquire this offseason, barring improbable trades involving players like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson.

Murray has everything going for him on any given Sunday — aside from height — passing accuracy, arm strength, speed, mobility, and experience.

Geno Smith

Smith’s extensive resume sets him apart from many quarterbacks available this offseason, making him an attractive option for teams that want stability and insurance.

Since 2013, Smith has started 98 games, with his teams compiling a 42–56 record along the way. He averages roughly 203 passing yards per game, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 124 to 89, and has added 12 rushing touchdowns.

Seattle’s decision to name him their starter in 2022 revitalized his career, as Smith seized the opportunity, delivering a breakout season with 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He retained the role for three seasons before joining the Raiders via trade, which propelled the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win after signing Sam Darnold in 2025 free agency.

However, Smith’s tenure in Las Vegas appears short-lived. With the Raiders widely expected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza using the first overall pick in April, Smith could be traded or demoted. Should he seek a new team, Minnesota is a decent landing spot for all parties.

It’s worth noting that Smith will turn 36 in October.