Sports

The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees have been announced, setting the stage for another major battle for football’s most prestigious individual prize. Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal are among the biggest names included in the 30-player shortlist. Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: Messi Makes His Return Lionel Messi's inclusion is one of the biggest talking points from this year's shortlist. The Argentine superstar, who has already won the Ballon d’Or eight times, is back among the nominees and will

FC Barcelona made a statement in their opening Champions League match of the 2026/27 campaign, cruising to a convincing 5-1 victory over Feyenoord at Camp Nou. Raphinha led the way with two goals, while Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also found the net as Hansi Flick’s side delivered another impressive attacking display. Barcelona Make a Flying Start in Europe Raphinha Sets the Tone Early Barcelona wasted little time taking control of the contest. Raphinha opened the scoring early after combining with

India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys at the 2026 Asian Games after wearing saffron and white kits during the recent World Cups. The decision brings back a colour that has been closely associated with Indian hockey for decades. Hockey India Brings Back the Traditional Blue Jersey The decision to restore blue comes after considerable discussion and criticism surrounding the switch to saffron. India has predominantly played in blue since making its Olympic debut in 1928, making

The UEFA Champions League delivered an exciting night of football as Aston Villa defeated Club Brugge 3-2, while AEK Athens secured a 1-0 victory over LASK. Both teams had to work hard for their wins, with Villa surviving a strong second-half response from Brugge and AEK relying on a spectacular free kick. Aston Villa Hold Off Club Brugge Aston Villa made a strong start against Club Brugge in Belgium. Pau Torres played a key role, providing two assists as Villa built an early

Lamine Yamal has made football history by becoming the first player to receive three Ballon d’Or nominations before turning 20. The Barcelona and Spain winger’s latest nomination underlines his remarkable rise from teenage prospect to one of the most recognised players in world football. At just 19, Yamal is already competing with established stars for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. Lamine Yamal’s Historic Ballon d’Or Achievement Yamal’s third Ballon d’Or nomination is a major milestone in his young career. His performances for Barcelona

England captain Joe Root has defended Pakistan ahead of the third and final Test, rejecting suggestions that Babar Azam’s side has shown “no fight” during the ongoing series. Pakistan are 2-0 down after heavy defeats in the first two Tests, but Root believes the criticism does not tell the complete story. Joe Root Rejects Criticism of Pakistan Speaking ahead of the third Test between England and Pakistan, Root said it would be disrespectful to describe Pakistan as a team that offered no challenge.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced three new associate partners for India’s upcoming home cricket seasons. Campa, SBI Life and ChatGPT have joined the BCCI partnership programme in a deal valued at more than ₹130 crore. The agreement will cover India’s home matches from September 2026 through March 2028, highlighting the growing commercial importance of Indian cricket. BCCI Signs ₹130 Crore Partnership Deal The latest BCCI sponsorship agreement involves Campa, SBI Life and ChatGPT as associate partners for

Lionel Messi is reportedly preparing for another major move in Spanish football, with the Argentina and Inter Miami star reaching an agreement in principle to acquire CD Eldense, a club competing in Spain’s second division. The proposed deal would further expand Messi’s growing involvement in football ownership. Messi Moves Closer to Buying CD Eldense According to reports, Messi has reached a verbal agreement with Eldense’s current owners to become the club’s majority shareholder. The final transfer is expected to take place after the

The India Under-19 cricket team has made changes to its squad for their upcoming home series against Australia, including a back-up keeper. Tanmay Baloda of Haryana and Aryan Savsani from Saurashtra have been included in the India U19 contingent as replacements for Rohit Yadav. The modifications were made public on September 8 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Savsani has been named in the One-Day side and Baloda in the Multi-Day team. Squad Call-Up For One Day For Aryan Savsani

Football fans in India are waiting the days.Tick Tock! Tick Tock! The official announcement of the Indian Super League ( ISL) 2026-27 season startup date a mere few days away on October 10, excitement is through the roof. This is one of the most exciting chapters in indian club football history and the next campaign - running almost right upto May 2027. Buckle in, if you thought last season was a bumpy ride! The year affords huge, sweeping structural reforms, a plethora of

Nepal are facing pressure from Hong Kong, China in their ACC Men's Premier Cup 2026 fixture at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. Hong Kong, China meanwhile entered the 50-over contest by batting first after winning the toss in search of a good score. Hong Kong Batting First After 47 overs, Hong Kong, China was at 205/7 with their experienced batter Babar Hayat in top scoring position. Hayat remained 64 not out from 110 balls while Ehsan Khan was with him on 34 from

It is a tale of grit, academia and will power as Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna has turned her sporting journey into. The 27-year-old from Haryana, who won a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, now has her eyes firmly fixed on next year's Asian Games in Japan - an important step as she seeks to achieve her ultimate goal of competing for India at the Olympic Games. Seema is not your run-of-the-mill athlete. She is originally from Dinod in Bhiwani, and

The selection decisions of South Zone at the Duleep Trophy final have come under scrutiny following Karun Nair's departure from the squad. Having missed the semi-final against North Zone, he was also not included in the playing XI for the final — an experienced batter from Karnataka. "Ekanth was unavailable for personal reasons and will be replaced by Centurion Karun Nair," South Zone coach Vikram Verma said. But Nair's comments on a social-media post about him not playing seemed to indicate he wasn't

Cricket's gaze goes squarely towards Windhoek with Namibia and South Africa set for a first-ever bilateral One Day International (ODI) series. Both teams are back to playing 50-over cricket with the Namibia Cricket Ground hosting this match, following a close-fought T20I Tri-Series at the same venue. For the hosts, this series is a crucial stop on their journey to hosting the world stage, whilst a youthful Proteas line-up seeks to take stock of themselves under bizarre desert conditions. You can think of the

With the third and final Test about to begin at Edgbaston, cricket's emotional atmosphere oozes with polarising feelings. This week is a mega opportunity for England to put the final polish on an overwhelmingly positive home summer and win 3-0 in the series. As for Pakistan, it is a fight of redemption — a chance to redeem some pride, silence the critics and turn the page on a painful two weeks. There have been no kind journeys to Birmingham for the tourists. Having

A European night under the lights at the Santiago Bernabéu really is something special. With the new league phase of the UEFA Champions League well and truly upon us, we are provided with a brutal heavyweight clash on opening night — Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan. If you are a football romantic, this fixture does it all. One of which is Real Madrid, a squad oozing with individual talent, galáctico brilliance, and an attack that can shred any defense to shreds in seconds.

Cricket in Associate circles always brings a unique brand of excitement, passion, and unpredictable drama. As the group stage of the ACC Men's Premier Cup 2026 reaches its business end, fans are gearing up for one of the most thrilling fixtures of the tournament: Nepal taking on Hong Kong at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval in Klang, Malaysia. Both teams carry immense pride, loyal fanbases, and a burning desire to secure ultimate glory in this 50-over competition. With a spot in the prestigious 2027

Australia have unveiled a formidable 16-player squad for their upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa. This crucial tour marks the first time the two sides will face off in the long format since their dramatic World Test Championship Final encounter at Lord’s, where South Africa clinched the title. With the two nations currently occupying the top two spots on the World Test Championship ladder, the series holds immense weight in shaping who qualifies for the next final. Heavyweight Fast Bowlers and Key

Pakistan cricket is set for a major rebuilding phase following a disappointing Test series in England, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) making significant changes to the team and coaching setup. Pakistan lost the first two Tests of the three-match series, suffering heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s. The results have increased pressure on the national side and prompted the PCB to make changes ahead of the final Test. Major Changes in Pakistan Team The PCB has released several players from the squad,

Australia have unveiled a robust 16-member squad for their three-Test series against South Africa. Australia have included a host of experienced international players but also younger options in a squad that should give them the best chance of another difficult red-ball tour. Pat Cummins will lead a number of key players from Australia's Test side as captain of the team. The senior pros including Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have been picked for the series. Labuschagne Retains Test Spot