
Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.
Latest articles by Ben Hayward

Top scorers in Champions League semi-finals
By Ben Hayward published
Ahead of this season's semi-finals, a look at the players with the most goals in the last four of the European Cup and the Champions League...

Best Copa del Rey final goals
By Ben Hayward published
Ahead of this weekend's Copa del Rey final, a look at some of the best goals scored in the showpiece fixture over the years...

Players with most Champions League semi-final appearances
By Ben Hayward published
Ahead of the 2024/25 Champions League semi-finals, a look at the players with most appearances in the last four of the competition...

Countries with most teams in Champions League semi-finals
By Ben Hayward published
Ahead of the 2024/25 semi-finals, a look at the countries with the most teams in the last four of Europe's premier club competition...

English teams that beat Real Madrid in European competition
By Ben Hayward last updated
After Arsenal knocked out Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, a look at all the English sides to have beaten Los Blancos in Europe...

Champions League winners without losing a game
By Ben Hayward published
A total of 12 clubs have won the Champions League or the old European Cup without losing a match. And some have done it more than once...

Virgil van Dijk goals for Liverpool
By Ben Hayward published
After another important winner for Liverpool last weekend, a look at some of Virgil van Dijk's biggest goals for the Reds...

Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City: every trophy won by the midfielder
By Ben Hayward published
With Kevin De Bruyne leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, a look at all of the trophies the Belgian has won with the Sky Blues...

Top scorers for Europe's biggest clubs
By Ben Hayward published
From legends of yesteryear to modern-day greats, a look at the all-time top scorers for some of Europe's biggest clubs...

Champions League all-time top scorers
By Ben Hayward published
A look at the all-time Champions League top scorers, including three players with over 100 goals in the continental competition...

Memorable free-kicks in the Champions League
By Ben Hayward published
After Declan Rice scored two fantastic free-kicks for Arsenal against Real Madrid, a look at some special set pieces in the continental competition over the years...

Every Manchester derby since Pep Guardiola joined City
By Ben Hayward published
After last Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford finished goalless, a look at all the games played by United and City since Pep Guardiola joined the Sky Blues in 2016...

Ligue 1 winners: French football's most successful clubs
By Ben Hayward published
After Paris Saint-Germain were crowned champions for a 13th time, a look at the most successful clubs in French football...

Tottenham trophies: all major Spurs silverware since 1882
By Ben Hayward published
Tottenham have not won a trophy since 2008. Here, a look at all the major silverware won by Spurs in their long history...

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: every El Clasico final
By Ben Hayward published
Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the Copa del Rey final at the end of April. Here, a look at the pair's previous meetings in finals...

High-scoring matches in the Copa del Rey
By Ben Hayward published
A look at some of the highest-scoring games in the history of the Copa del Rey, including a couple of memorable matches from the 2024/25 edition...

Nations that have never played in men's World Cup
By Ben Hayward published
There have been 22 editions of the men's World Cup. Here, a look at the nations never to have featured in football's biggest tournament...

Players who left on free transfers
By Ben Hayward published
With Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid this summer as his contract expires, a look at some of the high-profile players who moved on free transfers...

European nations with most World Cup appearances
By Ben Hayward published
As UEFA World Cup qualifying gets underway again, a look at the European nations with the most appearances in football's biggest tournament...

Players used in Thomas Tuchel's first game as England manager
By Ben Hayward published
England beat Albania 2-0 at Wembley in Thomas Tuchel's first match in charge. Here, a look at the players involved in the German's debut as Three Lions manager...

Lionel Messi goals for Barcelona vs Real Madrid
By Ben Hayward published
Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer in El Clásico. Here, a look at when and how he scored his 26 goals for Barcelona against Real Madrid...

Players who scored Premier League hat-tricks for multiple clubs
By Ben Hayward published
From the Premier League's inception in the 1992/93 season up until the modern day, a look at the players who scored hat-tricks for multiple clubs in the competition...

Fathers and sons who played for the same club
By Ben Hayward published
Football is full of examples of fathers and sons who both played professionally. Here, a look at some who represented the same club...
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.