Who is football’s most legendary No 9? Has there ever been a legendary No 28? And why exactly does Mario Balotelli love wearing No 45 so much? Here’s our list and the stories behind it

The relationship between players and numbers is a long-established one filled with memories and fascinating as well as fun stories behind them. With that in mind, the Guardian has had a go at deciding which male player is best associated with each squad number, from 1-50. Various factors were taken into consideration, including how long a player wore/has worn that number, what they achieved/have achieved in it, why they decided to wear it in the first place and, in some cases, how distinctly it has become associated with them in death. The below list is highly subjective and ultimately a bit of fun, but don’t let that stop you being shocked and furious in equal measure.

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A season-by-season breakdown after City were found guilty on all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 campaigns

Manchester City breached Premier League financial rules by creating “sham” contracts to help inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than £900m over a nine-year period, an independent commission found. The club say they are innocent of the accusations.

Here is a rundown of how they fared over that period, between seasons 2009-10 and 2017-18 …

• Infantino claims critics of World Cup ‘missed it all’

• He again defends Balogun affair and treatment of Iran

The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has launched an extraordinary attack at critics of the World Cup, accusing them of spreading hate and false narratives, while defending the tournament as a success that celebrated unity, safety and inclusion.

In a 15-part message published on Monday on Instagram, Infantino claimed detractors had overlooked the joy and togetherness experienced by millions of people around the world who witnessed the tournament, won by Spain and staged in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Midfielder got England back on level terms in fine fashion but pictures suggest illegal interference in the buildup

Norway’s goalkeeper, Ørjan Nyland, launches a goal-kick down the pitch two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half. The ball falls just inside England’s half, near the touchline, where Elliot Anderson is able to gather possession and drive forward.

With those words on 26 June 1996, Des Lynam ended his coverage of England’s defeat by Germany, one of the most unforgettable nights in English tournament history. So we did …

Des Lynam ended the BBC’s coverage of that European Championship semi-final between England and Germany on Wednesday 26 June 1996 by telling viewers that they “better remember where you were watching this tonight because in 30 years’ time somebody will probably ask you”. So, 30 years on, the Guardian asked six writers if they indeed remember where, and how, they watched the game. Fair to say it was an emotional trip down memory lane …

From Champions League redemption to that stunner against City, we look at half a dozen memorable moments from striker’s Anfield career

It was surely the worst moment of Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool career, yet the reaction said everything about his impact on the English game; the respect he had earned in his first season at Anfield. It was not just the Liverpool support who were upset to see Salah so upset, leaving the pitch at Kyiv’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium in tears, utterly inconsolable, having been levered out of the biggest game of his life by Real Madrid’s pantomime villain, Sergio Ramos. It was fans of all stripes. After the season Salah had enjoyed, what he did and how he carried himself, everyone knew he did not deserve this. There was the sense that Salah’s humility as much as his brilliance transcended tribal divides.

This weekend’s fixtures are the reverse of a first round in which Nottingham Forest thrashed Brentford and there was optimism at Spurs

Start-of-season shape:

• Hosts believe Senegal walk-off affected game’s outcome

• Brahim Díaz says his ‘soul hurts’ after Panenka drama

Morocco’s football federation has announced it will pursue legal action over the chaotic and controversial Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday based on a belief that the decision of Senegal’s players to leave the pitch, causing a 15-minute delay, had a material impact on the result.

Senegal secured their second Afcon title via a 1-0 victory at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Pape Gueye scoring the only goal on 94 minutes. But that came after an incredible denouement to normal time with Morocco awarded a penalty when El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalised, following a video assistant referee review, for a pull on Brahim Díaz as he defended a corner.

This year features a football World Cup, a Winter Olympics, a Commonwealth Games and a historic Test match

Jannik Sinner will be aiming to become only the second man in the Open era, after Novak Djokovic, to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles, while in the women’s draw Madison Keys will be seeking to defend the title she landed via a shock victory over Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final. Elsewhere, Roger Federer is scheduled to return to Melbourne Park for the first time since retiring from tennis in 2022 as part of a Battle of the World No 1s match, alongside Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. “It still makes me smile when I think about all the moments I’ve had here,” said the Swiss legend.

• Winger was described by Clough as ‘Picasso of our game’

• Scored in Scotland’s 1981 win over England at Wembley

John Robertson, the Nottingham Forest and Scotland legend, has died at the age of 72. Robertson was a hugely important part of the great Forest team that under Brian Clough rose from the second tier of English football to win multiple major honours, most famously back-to-back European Cups.

Robertson assisted the decisive goal in the first European Cup triumph in 1979 and scored the decisive goal in the second, contributions that mark him out as one of the most remarkable players in British football history. He earned 28 Scotland caps, notably scoring the winning goal in a Home Championship victory over England at Wembley in May 1981. Clough described him as “the Picasso of our game”.

Despair and disorder have engulfed the club since their title party, leaving all concerned in need of previous serenity

As Virgil van Dijk raised the Premier League trophy on a cool May afternoon at Anfield, the cap was sealed on a serenely glorious season for Liverpool. For sure there had been challenges en route to a 20th league title, but not many, and those that did arise were dealt with in a calm, orderly fashion. The ultimate prize had been captured with minimum sweat.

Cue the celebrations after a final‑day 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace: players and staff dancing on the pitch, supporters doing the same in the stands, and no sense this was as good as it was going to get for the just-crowned champions. It took less than 24 hours for everything to change and set in motion an astonishing seven‑month period in the history of a club where it was probably thought they had seen and done it all.