Sergio Aguero was as good as his word on Sunday when he scored the stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers that sealed Manchester City’s first title for 44 years.

The Argentine, signed for a reported £38m from Atletico Madrid, vowed at the time he would “fight to the death” to bring the glory days back to City and with 60 seconds of stoppage time left at the Etihad and the score 2-2 he delivered.

Speeding into the area he was as cool as a cucumber to smash the ball past QPR keeper Paddy Kenny before celebrating by whipping off his blue shirt and waving it above his head and then being buried under a pile of his team mates.

It was his 23rd league goal of an impressive first season in English football and by far the most priceless.

“I’m really really happy,” Aguero, husband to one of Diego Maradona’s daughters, said on the pitch as ecstatic fans chanted his name inside the stadium following the 3-2 win that nicked City the title on goal difference from Manchester United.

“We can hardly believe it ourselves. We thought the Premier league had gone but thank God it worked out for us.”

“We scored twice in the final five minutes. It’s absolutely unbelievable.”

“It was getting very complicated and difficult for us but we made the most of that five minutes (of stoppage time).”

With former crowd favourite and fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez having fallen out of favour with the club’s fans following his public spat with coach Roberto Mancini after refusing to warm up in a Champions League tie in September, Aguero has become the new darling of the Etihad faithful.

“They’ve treated me very well from the moment I arrived,” he said. “Let’s hope this is the first of many titles.”

“My personal objective is to keep improving as a player and win more trophies. This has given me even more confidence.”

Pablo Zabaleta, Aguero’s countryman who gave City a halftime lead before things got sticky in the second half, said the striker’s impact had been crucial this season.

“He makes all the difference,” he said. “He is an unbelievable player and he always appears in the best moments.”

Radamel Falcao scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to win the Europa League in Bucharest on Wednesday night.

The Colombia striker produced two moments of magic in the first half before Diego’s late goal put the seal on Atletico’s second title in three years.

Diego Simeone’s side were vastly superior in their eagerly awaited all-Spanish final against Bilbao as Marcelo Bielsa’s men froze on the big occasion.

Falcao’s 11th and 12th goals of the tournament not only earned him the top scorer prize ahead of Schalke’s Klaas Jan Huntelaar but took his all-time record in the competition to 29 in 29 games.

Bilbao had come into the tournament through the qualifying round, after they drew their home leg 0-0 with Trabzonspor but were spared a tricky return clash in Turkey after their opponents were promoted to the Champions League to replace Fenerbahce, withdrawn by the Turkish FA amid a match-fixing investigation.

They have thrilled and delighted onlookers since, never more so than in their win over Manchester United, but never truly got going tonight as their big names disappointed.

Arda Turan’s cross provided the first Atletico chance for Adrian Lopez, who glanced his header across the face of goal.

Diego was unable to make clean contact after another high-tempo move but Atletico got their reward in the seventh minute.

Falcao bided his time on the ball in the right of the penalty area, worked a yard of space and curled a magnificent left-footed effort inside the far post.

Fernando Llorente headed Ander Herrera’s free-kick wide, while being manhandled by Diego Godin, and was then too early on Markel Susaeta’s cross and scuffed his volley wide.

Herrera was perhaps lucky only to be booked after hacking down Diego two-footed just outside the box.

Iker Muniain’s long-range shot at the other end, having been gifted possession, was well saved by on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But Falcao doubled Atletico’s lead in the 34th minute. Fernando Amorebieta dwelt terribly on the ball and lost possession on the edge of the box and, from Arda’s cutback, Falcao brilliantly turned Jon Aurtenetxe and lashed home.

He then curled a right-foot effort high over the bar as half-time brought welcome respite for Bilbao.

Bielsa made a double-change at half-time, Ibai Gomez and Inigo Perez replacing Iturraspe and Aurtenetxe.

And his side started more brightly, Andoni Iraola playing in Muniain whose cross was cleared behind by Joao Miranda. Javi Martinez headed Ibai’s corner over.

Diego fired just wide of Gorka Iraizoz’s near post and a deflection robbed Gabi Fernandez’s shot of its pace.

Perez’s free-kick, swung in from 40 yards, almost caught out Courtois, who had to tip the ball around the post and Llorente was crowded out after failing to control the ball in the Atletico box.

Adrian curled wide before Amorebieta was booked for a nasty challenge on Falcao.

Miranda awkwardly diverted Ibai’s cross behind but the corner came to nothing. Iraola’s cross then narrowly eluded Llorente before Ibai hammered a follow-up volley just over.

Ibai brilliantly worked his way into the box but his cross was palmed away by Courtois and De Marcos spooned the rebound over.

Perez was booked for cynically chopping down Adrian and Gabi smashed a poor free-kick into the wall.

Susaeta’s fierce left-foot drive deflected wide off Miranda and at the other end, Arda wasted some neat interplay with an overly audacious chip which Iraizoz easily fielded.

Coutois preserved Atletico’s two-goal margin once more, saving from Susaeta after substitute Gaizka Toquero’s shot was blocked by a defender.

Falcao danced past Javi Martinez but Amorebieta got back to deflect his shot on to the post.

Ibai took an air-shot at Toquero’s cross before Diego put the game to bed.

The Brazilian took on Toquero and Amorebieta before firing low across Iraizoz. As Atletico celebrated, their opponents’ despair was summed up by the sight of Muniain sprawled full-length on the ground in tears.

Ibai’s long-range drive skimmed the crossbar in the closing seconds but there was no way back for Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi beat the all-time European record for goals in a single season on Wednesday night as his hat-trick helped them to a 4-1 win against Malaga.

Messi hit two penalties to tie the record and then slotted home his 68th goal of the season to overcome the 67 of Bayern Munich legend Gerd Muller from the 1972-73 season.

The Argentina World Player of the Year has now netted 46 goals in La Liga to put him two ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Pichichi trophy.

Muller finished his career with 655 goals in 709 appearances and won the European Championship in 1972, followed by the 1974 World Cup.

Meet Fernanda Maia, a ball girl who set up a goal for Botafogo on Sunday in the Campeonato Carioca final and has sprung to fame in Brazil.

Botafogo were 2-0 up on Sunday, just after the break, when a Vasco defender cleared the ball into the stands to give them some breathing space.

But, Fernanda Maia was standing on the touchline with another ball to restart the Botafogo attack almost immediately.

A quick throw to Sebastian “El Loco” Abreu saw the Uruguay striker set up Maicosuel for the third goal and all but wrap up the state championship for Botafogo.

Fernanda Maia has been credited with the “assist” for Maicosuel’s goal and has been featured by a number of publications since the match on Sunday.

Of course, it helps that Maia is easy on the eye but she has downplayed her part in the third Botafogo goal.

Maia: “I didn’t score the goal. Maicosuel did. He is quick and smart. I did what I always did.”

Since not just Botafogo play at Rio’s Olympic Stadium, the press in Brazil have been desperate to find out who Maia supports but she has refused to divulge.

And this could be just the beginning of Maia’s fame as she also announced “I want to be the ball boy at the World Cup final. Perhaps it can happen!”

Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League fixture as brilliant Barcelona crushed Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 to cruise into the last eight.

The Argentine has now scored 53 goals in 49 games for club and country this season, moving him to within seven goals of becoming the club’s record scorer.

Cesar Rodriguez struck 235 times during a 13-year stint at the Nou Camp but Messi looks set to eclipse that before his 25th birthday.

At times he appeared to be playing on an entirely different level as he brought his phenomenal tally up to 228 goals in 311 appearances – which includes 186 in his last 201 games – and condemned the Germans to a 10-2 aggregate defeat.

And his five at this stage of the competition helped Barca send out the clearest signal yet that they intend to reach their third final in four years and become the first club in Champions League history to defend the title.

Argentina great Diego Maradona believes Manchester City may stumble in the Premier League title race because manager Roberto Mancini is “too defensive.”

Maradona is in Manchester visiting son-in-law Sergio Aguero and offered his opinion on City, who sit two points clear of Manchester United. The 51-year-old says that although the league leaders have scored 64 goals in 25 Premier League matches this term, he remains unconvinced given the array of attacking players at Mancini’s disposal.

“My heart says Manchester City, but I believe Mancini with all the players he’s got, is not daring enough,” he told reporters. “He’s a bit too defensive. Maybe because he is Italian.”

Maradona, though, is still hopeful Aguero can help City lift the Premier League trophy aloft at season’s end as United continue their title challenge.

“As an organisation, and with their style of play, I think United are more aggressive. But if I have to support one team, I’ll be a fan for my son-in-law.”

Aguero moved to City from Atletico Madrid for £38m in the summer and has quickly established himself as the club’s top striker with 19 goals in all competitions.

Maradona added: “Seeing Aguero in Madrid would make for much more interesting matches than at Manchester City.

“But he has finally found a place in the world and a team where he can fight for important things.”

Two goals from Alexis Sanchez helped Barcelona put one foot in the quarter-finals as they secured a hard-fought 3-1 win in their first leg at Bayer Leverkusen last night.

The Chilean rolled home his first Champions League goal just before the break after a smart passing move, only for Michal Kadlec to level matters just after the restart, heading home a cross from Tottenham loanee Vedran Corluka. Sanchez then cottoned on to Cesc Fabregas’ fine pass to round home goalkeeper Bernd Leno for his 10th goal in 10 matches, before Lionel Messi put the seal on a superb display by stabbing home Dani Alves’ cross.

Unknown Bolivian first division footballer Erlan Mealla has become an overnight internet sensation after scoring a goal of the year contender with an audacious overhead spinning scorpion kick (click on link to watch Erlan Mealla’s sublime strike).

The wonder goal came in a top flight Bolivian league encounter between his side Nacional Potosi and The Strongest, with Mealla’s strike proving to be the difference between the two sides.

It’s a goal that global superstars such as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of.

As the ball gets lumped hopefully towards the opposition box, Mealla shows audacious skill to bring the ball under his control.

While £35m target man Andy Carroll might have attempted to flick on such a hopeful ball forward, Mealla shows the kind of exquisite technique which usually justifies such astronomical transfer fees.

Under pressure from a defender the forward instantaneously adapts his body position to send a powerful flying backheel past the stranded goalkeeper.

The strike was reminiscent of Glentoran striker Matty Burrows’ 2011 strike which earned him a FIFA Goal of the Year nomination alongside the likes of Argentine superstar Messi.

We’ll let you decide if this is better.

Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Ballon d’Or prize for the best player of 2011, becoming only the fourth player in history to win the trophy three times.

The Argentine forward, 24, beat Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Xavi to the prize.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won an award for services to football, while Messi’s boss Pep Guardiola was voted coach of the year.

Last January, the headlines were made on deadline day when Chelsea spent £50m on Fernando Torres and Liverpool replaced the Spaniard with £35m striker Andy Carroll. Here are our suggestions for the most likely South American transfer targets during the January window.

Neymar (19, forward), Santos – Outrageously talented wonder kid whose desire for a move may have been boosted by the mauling his Brazilian club suffered against Barcelona in the World Club Cup.

Dede (23, centre-back), Vasco da Gama – Tall, strong and very quick. A giant in defence who also likes to make an attacking contribution. Linked with Real Madrid.

Leandro Damiao (22, forward), Internacional – Tall target man who enjoyed a wonderful 2011. Has been attracting interest from Tottenham, Arsenal and Juventus.

Carlos Luque (18, winger), Colon – Displays pace and tricky dribbling skills. A hit in the World Youth Cup, which Brazil won, the Argentine has been doing well at senior level.

Lucas Ocampo (17, midfielder/forward), River Plate – Tall, dynamic and skilful and can play up front or in midfield, but may not be sold until his club have been promoted back to the First Division.

Andy Polo (17, forward), Universitario – Strong and stocky bullet-fast support striker who made a huge impression in 2011. The appalling financial position of his Peruvian club could force a sale.