Opinion

The Brazilian player defies age. He started with nothing and now plays for millions, still captaining his country 102 captaincies later.

Celebrations of Mark Francois' book, Spartan Victory, achieving best-seller status may be premature.

While the public followed the rules last year, the government thought it best to break them and play party games instead writes ALASTAIR CAMPBELL.

A one-time economic tiger and a linchpin of stability in a fragile region, Ethiopia now stands on the brink of disaster. What happened to Africa’s oldest independent country?

As Omicron spreads Christmas fear, our prime minister grapples with the truth and the world grapples with severe shortages in solidarity.

Philosopher NIGEL WARBUTON on how Covid isn't the only disaster we should be wary of.

Boris Johnson’s posturing over France is making a terrible situation even worse.

For generations, top private schools, including Eton, have taught students a sense of superiority, argues ALASTAIR CAMPBELL.

Joe Biden’s possible successor is the real success story of this administration.

Our columnist (who worked for his rival during the German elections) says Angela Merkel’s successor is a pragmatist, not an entertainer.

As a new variant hits, Austrians are once again dealing with the strangeness of life behind closed doors.

Comedian MITCH BENN ponders if the prime minister is making plans to open "Borisland" once his time at No.10 is done.

When it comes to becoming an icon to a new generation of moviegoers, Céline Sciamma has been there, done that.. and inspired the t-shirt.

WILL SELF on his recent stay St Thomas’ Hospital and how it made him realise that the NHS mirrors the strange state of the nation.

The Football Association lost influence over the sport when it ceded power to the Premier League in 1992. Now, ROB HUGHES asks who owns football?

CHARLIE CONNELLY on the truth behind a ludicrous “woke” controversy over the Costa Book Awards.

The new Commission for UK-EU Relations will propose solutions to problems caused by Britain’s botched exit.

As subsidies are cut and pigs are culled, it's unlikely farmers are part of the 18% who believe Brexit is going well.

With his decisive shadow cabinet reshuffle, Keir Starmer may have reached his Clark Kent moment.

History is home to various Black Fridays. In 1910, one such day had nothing to do with bargains, and everything to do with cost.

In the wake of the tragedy in the Channel, media commentator LIZ GERARD’s searing essay exposes how newspapers demonised refugees - and encouraged ministers to follow them.

WILL SELF on confirmation bias and its role in culture and society.

Despite it all, the prime minister is still seen as a winner, one Tory MP tells ALASTAIR CAMPBELL. But, here's how the opposition can change that.

Britney may finally be free – even to marry Sam Asghari – sadly, the same can't be said of the UK.

BONNIE GREER shares her admiration for the next in line to the throne, and how she, to her dismay, was born two days after him.

Alexander the Great spread the language far and wide. But where did it last the longest?

Bizarre events followed our publication of the “buyer’s remorse” story last week. Editor-in-chief MATT KELLY brings you up to speed.

Our columnist looks at “only in Berlin” syndrome and at how the country’s capital fails its democracy.

Whoever succeeds Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will inherit a hollow and lost group of players, writes ROB HUGHES.

Scholz doesn't do charisma. True to form, he delivered his address seriously and without needless bumbling or theatrics.

Christmas is coming and people are wondering if the PM’s goose, instead of getting fat, may be getting cooked. What else could possibly go wrong?

Finally – a Visa-free aspect to Brexit. At least that’s what the deluded Dominic Raab is likely to tell you...