Argentine football star Lionel Messi has returned to his home country following the death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, who passed away aged 68. Messi, 39, travelled to Argentina for his father’s funeral after Jorge’s death was reported in Rosario. Messi’s childhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, confirmed the news and paid tribute to Jorge’s important role in the footballer’s career. Newell’s Old Boys Pay Tribute to Jorge Messi Newell’s Old Boys described Jorge as a key figure behind Lionel Messi’s
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has confirmed the schedule for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, with the eight-team tournament set to take place in Dubai from August 28 to September 13. According to Cricinfo, the tournament will open with a Group A match between Hong Kong and Thailand on August 28. All matches will be played under lights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the final scheduled for September 13. India and Pakistan Set for September 5 Clash One of the
World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a major setback in her preparations for the US Open after losing to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto on Saturday. Alexandrova, the 16th seed, defeated the reigning US Open champion 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in a fiercely contested match that lasted nearly two and a half hours. Alexandrova Holds Her Nerve in Deciding Set Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, started strongly and broke early in the opening set. However,
Dubai Duty Free celebrated its long-standing partnership with Ascot Racecourse in spectacular fashion as the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup delivered one of the strongest line-ups in the event’s history. The latest edition of the prestigious international jockeys’ competition featured the debut of Team Hong Kong, who competed against teams representing Great Britain & Ireland, Europe and The Rest of the World. After a 20-year absence, Ryan Moore made a remarkable return to the competition, guiding Great Britain & Ireland to a
London: Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement worth around £18 million for a new left-back as the Premier League club continues strengthening its squad and planning for the future of its defensive positions. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has reported that an agreement is in place, with the incoming defender viewed as a player capable of providing additional competition and depth on the left side of Chelsea’s defence. The move has inevitably raised questions about Marc Cucurella’s long-term position, although the arrival of another
Leverkusen: Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly considering a summer move for Konstantinos Mavropanos as the Bundesliga club explores options to strengthen its defence ahead of the new season. The Greek international centre-back has emerged as a potential target for Leverkusen, with his previous experience in German football making him an intriguing option for the club. Mavropanos is currently with West Ham United, but speculation surrounding his future could intensify as clubs begin shaping their squads for the upcoming campaign. Leverkusen Consider Defensive Reinforcements Leverkusen
Madrid: Atletico Madrid have reportedly taken a significant step in their pursuit of Cristian Romero, with the Argentine defender agreeing personal terms with the Spanish club as speculation intensifies over his future. The development could complicate Inter Milan’s reported interest in Romero, potentially setting up a transfer battle for the experienced centre-back. While an agreement on personal terms would represent progress for Atletico, a transfer would still depend on negotiations between the clubs and the completion of the usual contractual and medical procedures.
Kerala: At an age when many people prefer a quieter life after retirement, 76-year-old Kurian Jacob from Kerala has chosen a very different path — competitive swimming on the international stage. After spending decades in banking overseas, Jacob returned to India in 2017 at the age of 67. Rather than viewing the move as retirement, he began searching for ways to stay active and eventually rediscovered a passion that had been part of his life since childhood: swimming. Today, he is an accomplished
Madrid: Real Madrid have reportedly improved their contract offer to Vinícius Júnior as the Spanish giants step up efforts to secure the Brazilian forward's long-term future amid continued interest from Arsenal. Club officials are now awaiting the player's final decision after fresh negotiations with his representatives. According to multiple reports, the revised proposal would increase Vinícius' annual salary to around €22 million, up from his current deal, as Madrid look to end months of uncertainty surrounding one of their biggest stars. However, the
Newcastle: Newcastle United have officially appointed Matthias Jaissle as the club's new head coach, ending weeks of speculation and ushering in a new era at St James' Park. The 38-year-old German succeeds Eddie Howe and takes charge just weeks before the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season. Jaissle joins Newcastle from Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, where he enjoyed considerable success, including leading the club to back-to-back AFC Champions League titles. Before his move to Saudi Arabia, he established himself as
Taif, Saudi Arabia: Al-Nassr Women were crowned champions of the 2026 West Asian Women's Clubs Championship after defeating Al-Hilal of Syria in the tournament final, securing another major regional title for the Saudi club. Al-Nassr delivered a composed performance throughout the final, controlling possession and creating the better scoring opportunities before sealing victory to lift the championship trophy. The triumph marks another significant milestone for Al-Nassr's rapidly developing women's football programme, which has emerged as one of the strongest teams in the region
London: Leeds United and West Ham United are reportedly competing to sign Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa, with both Premier League clubs keen to strengthen their squads before the summer transfer window closes. The 25-year-old has attracted growing interest following an impressive season, with his energetic displays, ball-carrying ability and versatility making him one of the most sought-after midfielders currently playing in the Americas. According to transfer reports, both Leeds and West Ham have made enquiries about the player's availability, while negotiations with his
Casablanca: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reportedly offered Morocco the opportunity to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in exchange for political backing as he battles growing opposition ahead of the 2027 FIFA presidential election, according to multiple media reports. The reports emerged as Infantino travelled to Morocco for a series of meetings with FIFA officials and African football leaders following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell a stake in FIFA's future commercial revenues. The failed plan has triggered criticism
Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, setting up a potential transfer battle with Arsenal as both Premier League clubs look to strengthen their defensive options before the summer transfer window closes. According to transfer reports, Liverpool have identified Konsa as one of their preferred defensive targets following his consistently impressive performances for Aston Villa and England. The 28-year-old's versatility, composure on the ball and ability to play both as a centre-back and right-back have made him an
LaLiga has officially introduced a series of new refereeing rules for the 2026-27 season to improve match flow, reduce time-wasting, and ensure more consistent officiating. Several of the changes were successfully tested during the FIFA World Cup 2026 and have now been adopted for Spain's top-flight football competition. Aim of the New Rules The updated regulations are designed to: These rule changes are part of broader amendments approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). VAR Gets Expanded Powers One of the biggest
Pakistan's spin attack put the visitors in a commanding position on Day 3 of the second and final Test against the West Indies in Trinidad, leaving the hosts reeling at 103 for 6 in their second innings with a lead of just 60 runs. Abdullah Shafique Anchors Pakistan Innings Opener Abdullah Shafique produced a superb unbeaten 160, guiding Pakistan to a first-innings total of 387. His marathon knock lasted more than seven-and-a-half hours, during which he faced 323 balls, striking 15 fours and
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has officially withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open as he continues to recover from a wrist injury, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the US Open, where he is set to defend his title. Wrist Injury Delays Return Tournament organisers confirmed on Tuesday that Alcaraz will miss the August 13–23 ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati Open, despite earlier hopes of making his comeback at the event. The Spaniard has been sidelined since retiring during the second round of the
Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor has officially confirmed that it has started transfer negotiations with Mohamed Salah, with club officials hoping to complete the signing later this week. Trabzonspor Confirms Negotiations In a statement released on Turkey's public disclosure platform, Trabzonspor announced that discussions are underway to sign the Egyptian forward, who is currently a free agent. The club confirmed that negotiations have officially begun as they work towards securing one of the biggest transfers in Turkish football. Medical Expected Before Signing Speaking
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to hold a crisis meeting with senior FIFA officials in Morocco as pressure mounts following the collapse of his controversial proposal to sell part of FIFA's commercial rights. The failed plan has triggered widespread criticism from football governing bodies and cast uncertainty over his bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. Crisis Meeting in Morocco Infantino will meet top FIFA officials on Wednesday at the organisation's Africa office in Sale, Morocco, as he seeks to stabilise
Fresh from her breakthrough WTA 500 Mubadala (Washington DC) Open title, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala continues to capture global attention. Tickets for her opening match at the National Bank Open in Toronto sold out within days, fueled by overwhelming support from the Filipino community in Canada. Toronto Match Sells Out Eala is scheduled to begin her National Bank Open campaign on Wednesday at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. According to Tennis Canada, around 3,100 tickets were purchased immediately after her opening match was






















