Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé's X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked on Thursday, leading to the publication of several controversial posts.
One of the biggest talking points was a controversial statement regarding Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's long-standing rivalry that almost instantly went viral, leaving fans stunned. In addition to Newcastle, the hackers made a series of provocative posts about other top footballing clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham. Thankfully, Mbappé was able to regain control of the account and delete all posts made by the offending user.
It happened just after Mbappé made the big transfer from PSG to Real Madrid where he scored in his team's first trophy in the; UEFA Super Cup final. The hack brought an unexpected twist to what had already been a tumultuous time for the footballer.
In Europe, the landscape is changing too as the UEFA Champions League is set to launch with a new expanded format. The changes follow fears that fans will initially find the new system baffling -- particularly when compared with a grouping stage format already familiar to viewers and in place for more than two decades. The format is changed to 36 teams in a single league table, more games, and increased prize money as UEFA looks to inject the "exciting new dawn" of European club football.
However, this new format -- created in a bid to help keep the competition's competitive edge, give fans more action, and provide clubs with an unprecedented amount of prize money next season -- blends two ideas for UEFA Champions League design.
