Monday, 31 August 2026
LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, officially ending one of the greatest international careers of all time.
Inter Miami CF's legendary No. 10 confirmed the news on his social media account, calling it a "decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come.
"I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."
Argentina icon
Messi retires from international duty as a national team hero, rivalled only by the late Diego Armando Maradona.
His 125 goals, 68 assists and 207 appearances are all Argentina records, while he ranks top-four all-time in caps, top-two in goals and No. 1 in assists across international soccer.
The 39-year-old reached his greatest heights with La Albiceleste at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, leading the country to its third title with 7g/3a over the course of a memorable tournament that culminated with a legendary final win over France.
Messi also won two Copa Américas (2021, '24) with Argentina, and reached the 2014 and 2026 World Cup finals. He is the only player in history to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards (2014, '22) and the only player to start three World Cup finals (2014, '22, '26).
Thank you for giving us the most beautiful journey of our lives. Your legacy and professionalism will remain forever etched in our hearts.
Thank you, Captain. We love you 🩵 pic.twitter.com/ARfgguHjxd
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 31, 2026
Emotional end
Monday's announcement capped an emotional summer for Messi, who guided Argentina to their second straight World Cup final with 8g/4a in eight games, before falling to Spain, 1-0, in the 2026 title match.
That turned out to be his last appearance with La Albiceleste. It also came a few weeks before the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner mourned the passing of his father, Jorge Messi.
"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final," Messi concluded in his statement.
"Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."
🚨🚨 LEO MESSI ON IG 🥹🎥 pic.twitter.com/8xO5lcfI2e
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) August 31, 2026
Statement in full
Messi, the most decorated soccer player in history, addressed his millions of followers on Monday to officially announce the end of his remarkable 21-year run with Argentina:
"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team.
"It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.
"Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.
"Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad, especially the bad).
"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey, so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.
"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, alongside my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!
"Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.
"Let's go, Argentina!
"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."
Jaime Uribarri
EVERTON MAKE BID FOR MONACO STRIKER BALOGUN
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| Balogun joined AS Monaco from Arsenal in 2023 |
Everton have made an offer for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun - who is valued at £40m by the French club.
The Toffees want to strengthen their forward line before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with Balogun and Tottenham attacker Richarlison among their targets.
Richarlison is believed to have reservations about returning to Everton, the club he left to join Spurs in 2022.
But Everton are pressing ahead with their interest in United States striker Balogun and have made a bid for the 25-year-old.
Whether the offer is enough for Monaco to part with Balogun remains to be seen.
But the former Arsenal player has emerged as a key target for Everton ahead of the deadline.
Balogun was at the centre of a major controversy during this summer's World Cup.
He was dismissed for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 match and should have received an automatic suspension.
However, Fifa's disciplinary committee suspended his ban for a year - a decision that prompted widespread condemnation, particularly when it emerged US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied football's world governing body about the American's sanction, external.
Balogun, who scored three goals at the World Cup, was able to start the USA's last-16 defeat by Belgium - a decision European football's governing body Uefa called "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable".
The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee refused to answer BBC questions about the decision-making process which led to Balogun avoiding a ban.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino denied having influence over disciplinary decisions.
England's Jarell Quansah was similarly shown a red card in England's 3-2 win over Mexico following a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, and the same committee ruled he should serve a two-match ban.
It was classed as serious foul play, meaning the Bayer Leverkusen player was handed an extra match on top of the automatic one-game suspension by Fifa.
- Sami Mokbel
GABRIEL JESUS' FIRST WORDS AFTER ARRIVING IN BARCELONA AHEAD OF €10 MOVE: 'EAGER TO SCORE GOALS'
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| Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images |
Barcelona are moving a step closer to completing the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.
The Brazilian forward is set to join the club on a €10 million contract, with an additional €4 million in add-ons and Arsenal retaining a 20% sell-on fee clause.
Gabriel is slated for a medical today in Barcelona and ahead of that medical, the player appears to have already arrived in the city.
Gabriel reacts after arriving at Barcelona
Spanish journalist Victor Navarro has captured videos of Gabriel Jesus arriving in the Barcelona city this afternoon, ahead of his medical.
The forward can be seen waving the fans and even reacting to his Barcelona move for the first time after the speculations broke.
“I am eager to score many goals at Barça!” said the Arsenal forward, who is being signed as a momentary alternative to Julian Alvarez.
The Argentine was Barcelona’s top target this summer but Atletico Madrid were able to keep hold of the striker, prompting the club to sign Gabriel as an alternative.
The former Man City starlet, who was targeted by Barça way back in 2016, will be expected to operate as a number nine whenever required.
Gabriel arrives fully fit
Apart from waving at fans and showing his eagerness to getting things started at Barcelona, Gabriel Jesus offered a critical update no his fitness as well.
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| Gabriel Jesus is soon expected to complete his move to Barcelona. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images) |
When asked about his injury situation, the forward replied, “My injury? My knee it’s perfect!”
This will serve as a massive relief for Barcelona fans who were worried about Gabriel’s recent issues with injury, which had drastically reduced his game-time.
With Gabriel now back to full fitness, it will be interesting to see whether or not the Brazilian international can rekindle his old form and make a big difference at Barcelona.
The forward’s past experience, coupled with his versatility in the final third should make quite the asset for Hansi Flick, but only if he can perform up to his level this season.
- Connell Edgar-Jones
LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Lionel Messi has RETIRED from the Argentinian national team 🥺🇦🇷
👕 207 games
⚽️ 125 goals
🅰️ 68 assists
🏆 World Cup
🏆🏆 Copa América
🏆 Finalissima
A true great on the international stage who delivered two of the greatest World Cup performances in 2022 and 2026 🙌🐐
- OneFootball
TANZANIA U-19 WOMEN’S CRICKET TEAM TARGETS WORLD CUP TICKET AS AFRICA QUALIFIER BEGINSTanzania U-19 Women’s cricket team captain Saumu Deo (centre) speaks about the team’s preparations ahead of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 2026, which will take place in Dar es Salaam from August 30 to September 5, 2026.
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| Tanzania U-19 Women’s cricket team captain Saumu Deo (centre) speaks about the team’s preparations ahead of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 2026, which will take place in Dar es Salaam from August 30 to September 5, 2026. |
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania U-19 Women’s cricket head coach Imran Nackerdien has challenged his players to become “thinking cricketers” capable of making the right decisions under pressure as they battle for Africa’s sole ticket to the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027.
Nackerdien said preparations for the tournament have gone beyond the technical aspects of the game, with players being encouraged to read match situations, make informed decisions and take responsibility on the field.
“This tournament is not just all about cricket; it’s about thinking cricketers. That’s what we’re trying to produce — thinking cricketers on and off the field,” Nackerdien said.
Tanzania today welcomes seven of the continent’s most promising young women’s cricket teams for the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1, which gets underway at the TCA Cricket Arena at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and runs until September 5, 2026.
The qualifier features eight African teams, with the winner securing the continent’s place at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027.
FOCUS ON DECISION-MAKING
Nackerdien acknowledged that playing on home soil brings additional expectations, but said Tanzania should also view hosting the tournament as a privilege and make the most of the opportunity to play international cricket in front of home supporters.
“Obviously, there is a lot of pressure being the home side, but also the privilege of being the host nation,” he said.
The coach explained that the team’s preparations have focused on helping players remain composed and think through different situations during matches.
He said the players have been trained to assess their position in a game, including keeping an eye on the scoreboard and determining how best to position themselves after a certain number of overs.
According to Nackerdien, the ability to understand match situations and respond intelligently will be critical as Tanzania faces strong opposition from across the continent.
He also emphasised the importance of unity and fighting spirit, saying both qualities will be vital if Tanzania is to overcome the challenge posed by its opponents.
SAUMU DEO TARGETS HOME-SOIL TRIUMPH
Meanwhile, Tanzania Women’s National Team captain Saumu Deo has set her sights on keeping the trophy on home soil.
Deo said the players are ready to give their best from the opening match through to the final and make full use of the support from home fans.
“We have promised that the trophy will remain at home. We will give our best from the beginning to the end, with energy and confidence,” she said.
With home advantage, strong support from local fans and a squad eager to make its mark, Tanzania will now look to turn its preparations into results as the race for Africa’s coveted ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 ticket begins in Dar es Salaam.
YADONG SONG'S TEAM PREDICTED EXACT UPPERCUT KO OF UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV
Yadong Song’s team planned for an uppercut finish throughout training camp.
Song firmly put himself in title contention in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with the biggest victory of his career, finishing Umar Nurmagomedov in the second round of the UFC Shanghai headliner. The Chinese bantamweight’s coaches identified the route to victory long before fight night.
Yadong Song explains the preparation behind his UFC Shanghai knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov
After his knockout victory, Song revealed he had specifically prepared the uppercut as a counter to Nurmagomedov's takedown attempts. “The Kung Fu Kid” claimed that his boxing coach identified where the Dagestani was vulnerable and they repeatedly worked on the finishing sequence he pulled off at UFC Shanghai.
Song explained that his team anticipated Nurmagomedov shooting with his head dipping towards the left side and worked on counters to that movement.
“My boxing coach, Rudy Hernandez, he already told me, ‘You gonna get the knockout tonight with uppercut,’” Song said in a post-fight interview. “We’ve been working on that. We know he gonna shoot from the left side and we find the uppercut.”
In the same interview, Song claimed that he’d finish current champ Petr Yan and former champ Sean O’Malley in rematches after they previously outpointed him. He also fancies himself against Merab Dvalishvili.
“I feel like I can finish everyone,” Song added. “You know, I can, I can finish Petr. I can finish Merab, you know. So even Sean's fight is very close. You know, if a rematch, I can finish him too.”
“I feel like I can finish anyone.”
Song Yadong (@SongYaDongLFG) leaves Shanghai with a massive statement win as he looks to make his case for a shot at UFC gold
Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/G8E8FUHUKb pic.twitter.com/RqmEBkWorf
— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 29, 2026
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV AFTER UFC SHANGHAI
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| Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) fights Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images |
No fighter in the UFC carries a heavier surname than Umar Nurmagomedov. It has opened doors for him, and it has been used against him in every argument about whether he's earned his place. This Saturday in Shanghai, he headlines against Song Yadong in a fight that will likely decide who gets the next crack at the bantamweight belt. Here are five things worth knowing before he walks out.
1. HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GROW UP ALONGSIDE KHABIB
The assumption is that Umar was raised inside the Nurmagomedov dynasty. He wasn't.
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov was born on January 3, 1996 in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, and spent most of his childhood in his native village — not in Makhachkala with his famous cousin. He started in freestyle wrestling as a kid, but coaching disruptions pushed him away from it, and he turned to Thai boxing instead. His younger brother Usman followed him into the same discipline.
Only later did the two brothers move to Makhachkala and join their uncle, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at Eagles MMA — the same camp that produced Khabib and Islam Makhachev. Umar went on to earn International Master of Sport status in combat sambo. Today he splits his work between Eagles MMA and American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.
He is well aware of what people say about him:
"It's not my fault that I was born as Khabib's cousin."
His full point was sharper than the soundbite — that there's a narrative he was handed everything on a silver platter and never had to take the hard road other fighters take. His answer this time was to go through the division instead of around it.
2. HIS YOUNGER BROTHER IS A WORLD CHAMPION IN HIS OWN RIGHT
Usman Nurmagomedov, born April 17, 1998 in the same city, is not a footnote. He's the former Bellator and current PFL lightweight champion, and he's still undefeated — 22 wins, zero losses, with one result overturned to a no contest. He defended the belt by knockout in July 2026 and became a free agent shortly after.
Two brothers from Kizilyurt, two world-level careers, one still chasing a UFC title. The family record speaks for itself, but so does the pressure attached to it.
3. BEFORE MERAB, NOBODY HAD PUT HIM ON HIS BACK
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| Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) celebrates after winning a UFC bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images |
This is the number that explains why Umar was fast-tracked in the first place. Going into the third round of his title fight with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov had never been taken down in his professional career. Not once.
Dvalishvili changed that, and then kept changing it, taking the decision 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 — the first loss of Umar's career. But the context matters: Umar broke his left hand during the fight and fought most of it compromised. He was competitive across five rounds against a champion who was in the middle of one of the most dominant runs the division has ever seen.
Take the Dvalishvili night out of the equation and his record on the scorecards is close to spotless. He swept Mario Bautista 30-27 across all three cards. He beat Cory Sandhagen 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 in a five-round main event, converting at least one takedown in every round.
4. THE FINISHES HAVE DISAPPEARED
Here's the problem with his résumé, and it's a real one.
Umar's last stoppage win came in January 2023, when he knocked out Raoni Barcelos in the first round. Since then: a decision over Bekzat Almakhan, a decision over Sandhagen, the decision loss to Dvalishvili, a decision over Bautista, and a decision over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324. Five consecutive fights, five trips to the scorecards.
Against Figueiredo he landed 34 significant strikes to 8, took him down twice, and never attempted a submission. That's the pattern — control, accumulate, win clearly, don't gamble.
For a fighter whose record includes seven submission wins out of 20, that shift is striking. As the level of opposition has climbed, the risk-taking has fallen off. And in a division where Sean O'Malley is sitting at No. 2 with knockout power and a bigger name, a sixth straight decision may not be enough to jump the queue.
5. BEAT SONG, AND HE'LL HOLD FIVE WINS OVER THE CURRENT TOP 15
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| Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Song Yadong (blue gloves) fights Peter Yan (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports |
If Umar gets his hand raised in Shanghai, his bantamweight résumé will read like this against the current rankings:
- No. 4 Mario Bautista
- No. 5 Cory Sandhagen
- No. 6 Song Yadong
- No. 9 Deiveson Figueiredo
- No. 13 Raoni Barcelos
Five wins over ranked opposition, plus a competitive five-round loss to a dominant champion. That's a contender's file by any standard.
The catch is that the belt isn't available right now. Petr Yan reclaimed the title from Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025, and the two are already booked for a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24. O'Malley, meanwhile, is No. 2 and coming off a knockout win. Whoever wins in Shanghai is waiting in line, and the UFC will pick the fight that sells.
THE SONG PROBLEM
Song Yadong is a bad matchup for a fighter trying to make a statement. The Kung Fu Kid is 23-9-1 with nine knockouts, and while he has one stoppage loss in the UFC — a doctor stoppage against Sandhagen in September 2022 after a horrific cut over his eye — he has never been knocked out or submitted inside the Octagon. He's absorbed the best of Yan, Sandhagen, Cejudo, and O'Malley and heard the final bell every time.
He also arrives in form. In May 2026 he guillotined Deiveson Figueiredo in the second round in Macau, in front of a Chinese crowd, in his first fight on home soil since 2018. Now he's headlining in Shanghai with the entire country behind him.
Umar is a heavy betting favorite, and the safe read is that his wrestling and top control frustrate Song over 25 minutes. But safe is exactly what got him stuck in the queue. If he wants the belt in his next fight rather than the one after, he probably needs to do something in Shanghai that his last five opponents never let him do — finish.
- ROMAN ABDULLAIEV
Sunday, 30 August 2026
FILIP HRGOVIC CLAIMS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AS MOSES ITAUMA TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
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| Moses Itauma v Filip Hrgovic – The O2 Arena, © PA Wire/PA Images |
Moses Itauma was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after his IBF world heavyweight title bid ended in a ninth-round stoppage by new champion Filip Hrgovic.
Itauma was carried from the ring on a stretcher following an explosive clash for the vacant belt at The O2 that saw Hrgovic become Croatia’s first champion in the division.
The 21-year-old from Kent was in complete command of the fight but had punched himself out in search of the knockout and was exhausted when referee Howard Foster came to his rescue with trainer Ben Davison also throwing in the towel.
“Moses has gone to the hospital for a check up,” promoter Frank Warren said.
“It’s precautionary that he’s gone to the hospital. That’s what we always do to make sure because the most important thing is the boxer’s health.
“He’s there and he’s in the best place. We’ll see what happens when I’ve got a report. We’ll obviously let everybody know.
“He’s done something to his leg as well and he was quite tired. It was a high paced, fast fight for both the guys. It was just edge of your seat stuff all the way through.”
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| Hrgovic and Itauma slugged it out in the final rounds (Steven Paston/PA) |
Itauma rained down blows on Hrgovic for the first seven rounds but the wily 34-year-old was able to soak up the punishment and then took control in the eighth and ninth rounds.
Showing a granite chin and enormous heart, he won the exchanges as the rivals went toe to toe and Itauma lurched across the ring until Foster intervened.
The clash had been billed ‘Witness History’ in anticipation of Itauma being crowned Britain’s youngest ever world heavyweight champion, but his career has stalled and Warren was unable to guarantee he would be back.
“I don’t know what he’s going to say,” Warren said. “I’m sure he’s a fighting man. He showed that right to the end. At the end, that’s the type of fight it was – they were standing there just letting bombs go.
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| Itauma started well but tired (Steven Paston/PA) |
“I don’t even know how he feels mentally. Mentally, he’s going to be completely down. We’re going to have to talk to him and lift him and see what he’s like.
“It’s going to take some time. He’s going to have a nice break. It’s not even the time to talk about it with him at the moment.
“It’s something we’re probably doing in two weeks or even a month’s time, see where we go with it.”
Hrgovic must now take on the IBF’s mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who was paid step aside money to enable him to face Itauma.
“I can’t believe it’s happening,” he said. My head is ringing from everything. It will take time for my feelings to settle. But I can’t believe that after 20 years I have my dream.
“God gave me the best possible gift to fight to win a world title against the best guy in the division. The most talented guy in the division. There is no better way for me to become a world champion.”
- Duncan Bech, Press Association
SPRINGBOKS TIE SERIES 1-1 | RUGBY’S GREATEST RIVALRY
FULL-TIME | 🇿🇦 Springboks 33 - 26 All Blacks 🇳🇿
The Boks hold on in a nail-biter to draw the series level at 1-1!
Saturday, 29 August 2026
RAFAEL LEAO GREETED BY HUGE GALATASARAY CROWD AFTER MILAN EXIT
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| Rafael Leao is greeted by Galatasaray fans in Istanbul after leaving Milan |
Rafael Leao was greeted by thousands of fans as he landed in Istanbul to begin his Galatasaray adventure after leaving Milan, preferring them to Aston Villa. ‘Victor Osimhen is a really good friend.’
There was another proposal on the table from Aston Villa, but with figures significantly lower both in terms of the transfer fee to Milan and the salary for the player.
Rafael Leao welcomed by Galatasaray supporters
🎙️ Rafael Leao: Osimhen’le çok iyi arkadaşız. Hem Şampiyonlar Ligi’nde hem ligde çok iyi işler başaracağız. Heyecanla maçlara çıkmayı bekliyorum. pic.twitter.com/pGirb21qJh
— HT Spor (@HTSpor) August 29, 2026
“I hope I can give really good joy to the Galatasaray fans,” Leao told reporters as the crowds screamed his name.
“Galatasaray was looking for this deal to push through from June, the President and vice president did a really good job. Thank you to all the guys who made the deal happen.
“It’s a good opportunity for me and I will do my best.”
It had been suggested that former Napoli striker Osimhen was instrumental in helping convince Leao that this was the best step for his career following seven years at San Siro.
“Osimhen is a really good friend, I think we will do good things together for Galatasaray. We are in the Champions League, want to win the League, so I am excited,” confessed the Portugal international.
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| MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) |
Milan had been looking for €50m plus add-ons to make the sale, but ultimately had to settle for closer to €43-45m plus €2m bonus and a 20-25 per cent cut of the future fee.
The player is expected to pocket circa €12m per season in wages with Galatasaray, where he will be teammates with Nigeria international Osimhen.
- Susy Campanale
MARCOS AOÁS CORRÊA WINS FIRST EVER UEFA RESPECT AWARD
🙌 Congratulations to Marcos Aoás Corrêa, the first-ever winner of the UEFA Respect: Beyond the Game Award. 💙 Building on our Respect campaign, the award celebrates gestures of kindness, dignity, solidarity and empathy.
- UEFA
MASAI RUSSELL BROKE THE WOMEN'S 100M RECORD AT ZURICH DIAMOND 💎 LEAGUE
Masai Russell broke the women’s 100m hurdles world record with a time of 12.9 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League ⚡️🔥
Friday, 28 August 2026
FORMER QPR PLAYER BUZSAKY CONFIRMS HE IS SAFE
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| Ex-QPR midfielder Akos Buzsaky also played for Plymouth, Portsmouth and Barnsley during his time in England, scoring 33 goals in 243 appearances. SOURCE,SHUTTERSTOCK |
Former QPR midfielder Akos Buzsaky has posted a message on social media to confirm he is safe after being reported missing.
On Wednesday, reports emerged from his native Hungary that Buzsaky had been missing for more than a week, and that police were looking for him.
However, Buzsaky posted on Facebook on Friday, external to reassure people that he was OK and thanked them for their concern about his welfare.
In the message, which QPR posted on X,, external former Hungary midfielder Buzsaky said: "Unfortunately, in the last few months, there have been serious changes in my life that have tested me.
"There came a moment when I felt I had to break away from these daily routines."
He went on to say that his mother had contacted the police after a "misunderstanding".
Buzsaky added: "A soon as I learned about the situation, I stopped my retreat and informed the authorities.
"Thank you very much for all the concern and thoughts you have shown me.
"I wish everyone a nice day, and it felt really good to receive so much love!"
The 44-year-old spent five seasons at Loftus Road after joining the London side on loan in 2007.
He also played for Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Barnsley during his time in the UK, scoring a total of 33 goals in 243 appearances.
- BBC Sport
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS (𝗔𝗙𝗖𝗢𝗡) 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 | 𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡!
CAF invites qualified companies and service providers to join the official tender process for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda.
WHAT NEXT FOR ASTON MARTIN, ALONSO AND HONDA
Aston Martin has, as Fernando Alonso pointed out, found three seconds over two Formula 1 race weekends.
Alonso himself scored points for only the second time in 2026 in the Netherlands as he took the team's best finish of the season.
Plus, Honda says its new engine that arrived at Zandvoort hit its key target. Sounds promising, right?
Not entirely. Lance Stroll still says the car is a lottery to drive, and both drivers, plus team principal Adrian Newey, named the exact same problem with the engine after the race that is now a priority to fix.
The Race has spoken exclusively to Honda's F1 chief engineer Shintaro Orihara to hear the inside story of what has been done with its new engine, what's still not working, and why taking the next step could turn out to be incredibly difficult.
How good is Honda's spec 2 engine?
From Honda's perspective, there were reasons to be encouraged by the evidence of the Dutch Grand Prix as Alonso took a best result of the season in ninth.
The revised power unit didn't have any reliability problems over the weekend and Orihara was happy that "everything was working as expected" with the cooling and lubrication elements of the revised engine.
In terms of extra power, Honda was not revealing much - although it is likely to be somewhere in the range of 10-30bhp so far.
"We achieved our internal target from the dyno and then we have confirmed the same improvement trackside," said Orihara.
However, he accepted Honda is "still far away" from F1's top manufacturers and that there is one big fix that's still needed.
It’s something the drivers, Newey and even Honda itself are aligned on.
As Orihara said: "We know that there is room to improve our driveability and this remains paramount for us looking ahead to the next races."
What exactly is Honda's driveability headache?
Driveability is a pretty generic term, but The Race has learned about the specifics behind what is happening at Honda and why the drivers need more.
In simple terms, when F1 figures talk about driveability it is about the engine responding in line with what the driver requires.
The most common assumption is that this revolves around making sure that the engine delivers power in a predictable way when a driver gets on the accelerator. But it's not just that.
Driveability also counts for corner entry, too, because engine braking is a critical element of performance, so manufacturers have to carefully manage how things operate off-throttle.
Ever since F1 became a hybrid formula - first with KERS and most recently with the turbo hybrid engines - driveability has also included how the engine braking works in conjunction with the MGU-K and energy harvesting.
The new challenge is that, when the driver lifts off the throttle or brakes, the engine switches from powering the rear wheels to acting as a generator (via the MGU-K) to feed the battery.
It's a complicated process because there needs to be an incredible amount of synchronicity between the engine feeding the MGU-K, being able to have the perfect amount of engine braking through the right combustion, plus how this interacts with the brake-by-wire adjusting how much is required of the rear brake discs.
Plus you need to add on top of this the impact of downshifts from the gearbox.
To further increase the challenge, when the battery has reached 100% capacity, or has hit a charge limit for a particular corner that the team does not want to go over, then the engine has to instantly stop harvesting - which removes a big deceleration force.
This transition phase, as the engine returns to normal engine braking behaviour, needs to be carefully managed.
As Orihara revealed: "If the driver lifts off the throttle, there is engine braking, but then the MGU-K is harvesting 350kW so the operation point is almost double.
"Then the MGU-K power is decreasing, and engine torque is also decreasing, but the driver demand is 0N. To achieve 0N it is very complicated.
"It is communication between the engine, combustion, and MGU-K control. That is one of the areas we need to improve, how we organise this combination."
If any of these driveability elements are out of kilter, then it can result in the kind of issues that Alonso and Stroll have repeatedly experienced.
The engine braking may be too harsh and that creates instability, the battery may not harvest enough, the engine could push the car into understeer, or the seamless shift gearbox may reject a downshift as it does not have the synchronisation to engage a lower gear.
The difficulties of mastering all these driveability challenges have also escalated hugely with the 2026 regulations.
This is down to two factors. The first is that the increase of the battery influence to almost 50% of the power available has meant that it is even more critical to ensure that the harvesting phase is done as well as possible.
Plus, the loss of the MGU-H - which generated energy from the turbo - has robbed manufacturers of a very valuable tool that assisted with harvesting.
This is because electrical energy could previously be sent from the two MGUs - therefore bypassing the battery totally.
Achieving good driveability requires the right software configuration, plus the right combustion characteristics for the engine not to deliver power while the driver is not on the throttle.
This is something that Honda has struggled with during 2026, not only under braking but also under acceleration. As Orihara said: "Sometimes our combustion is not stable."
The change of power unit rules for this year, as well as Honda working with new fuel and lubricant suppliers, Aramco and Valvoline, means it has not been achieving all that it wants in this area.
So there are clear gains Honda can find from improving combustion on both acceleration and deceleration.
Bringing all this together, until Honda's driveability is sorted then neither it nor Aston Martin will know what the true potential of its engine is because only then will the full power be unleashed.
That is why Alonso said it was hard to judge just how much better the spec 2 engine was.
How Honda is fixing the problems
A fix for the driveability issues requires Honda improving its calibration and introducing revamped software to ensure that the internal combustion engine is doing exactly what the drivers want.
Following the first day of track running at Zandvoort, Honda used the data to work on improvements at its Sakura R&D base overnight.
A new calibration was introduced for qualifying on Saturday, and this did produce a step forward. But more is needed.
Orihara admitted this was "still not enough for the drivers" but it has at least confirmed progress is happening, and further work will be done to make gains for the Italian GP.
There will be no miracle solution that solves all of the driveability headaches instantly, but it will be a case of Honda working hard on the dynos during this fortnight between Zandvoort and Monza.
It then has to continue chipping away at its understanding as it faces tracks with different corners, different energy and engine braking demands, and different surfaces.
Alonso felt there are "a couple of tenths" to come if Honda optimises the package which, based on when things went right at Zandvoort, will push Aston Martin right into regular points contention - as his ninth-place finish in the Netherlands, though well-executed, still owed plenty to an opportunistic one-stop strategy.
However, it is fair to say the overall performance of the Aston Martin-Honda upgrades has thrown up some encouraging results.
Having started the year 3.1% off the benchmark pace in Q1, Aston Martin slumped to more than 4% adrift at Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone, as rivals developed their cars.
It finally closed the deficit in Hungary, reaching Q2 with its upgraded chassis, but it was never closer to the front than at Zandvoort last weekend when the new Honda engine arrived.
Even with Aston Martin messing up its execution in qualifying when Alonso got stuck behind Esteban Ocon on his outlap, his Q1 time was just 1.4% adrift of the benchmark.
Highlighting that Q1 pacesetter, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, was only 1.3 seconds ahead, and referencing the many times Aston Martin had been more than four seconds off, Alonso said: "We improved three seconds in two races. This is amazing."
If Honda's progress does bear fruit (although there still may be struggles at power-sensitive tracks such as Monza) this will almost certainly be enough to convince Alonso to stay as he weighs up his future.
Right now, we still don't know if he actually wants to stay in this team, or in F1, in 2027.
Alonso was seen deep in conversation with team principal Newey in the Aston Martin motorhome on Sunday night after the Dutch GP, and will likely be holding talks with owner Lawrence Stroll in this gap to discuss his future.
There is a lot riding on Honda making gains - both the team's results this year and what Alonso does next.
- JON NOBLE
THE UEFA PRESIDENT'S AWARD GOES TO THIERRY HENRY | 2026
🏆 The 2026 UEFA President’s Award goes to Thierry Henry!
👏 The honour recognises professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities, on and off the pitch.
GOOD GOOD GOLF WITHDRAWAL FROM TITLE SPONSORING PGA TOUR EVENT AFTER CONTROVERSIAL AD PROMOTING NEW CALLOWWAY DRIVER
Content creators Good Good Golf pull out of title sponsoring PGA Tour event in November, saying "we recognise that we have work to do as an organisation"; Brand apologised for publishing a video for a Callaway driver last week that has been accused of portraying violence against women
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| The PGA Tour agrees with Good Good Golf's 'decision to use this time to focus on their organisation and the work ahead' |
Good Good Golf has withdrawn from sponsoring a PGA Tour event this autumn following its controversial video promoting a new Callaway driver.
The video published last week by the popular content creators was subsequently deleted after widespread criticism that it portrayed violence against women.
The video showed a man shoving a woman who was reaching for his new Callaway driver to the ground, before warning her not to touch the club as she lay on the ground.
Good Good Golf apologised in a social media statement and Callaway Golf admitted 'mistakes were made' over their handling of the incident.
The company had been due to title sponsor a new PGA Tour event in Austin in November but have now pulled out of doing so.
In a statement on Thursday, Good Good Golf said: "After thoughtful discussion with the PGA Tour and careful reflection, we have decided to step away as sponsor of the tour event in Austin this fall.
"We recognise that we have work to do as an organisation, and our focus right now is on our team, our culture and ensuring we learn from this situation.
"We are grateful for our relationship with the PGA Tour and appreciate their partnership over the years. We remain committed to earning back trust, and we hope to work together again in the future."
The PGA Tour issued its own statement and said it agreed with the decision.
"The PGA Tour has been informed of Good Good Golf's decision to step away as sponsor of the event in Austin, Texas, this fall," read the statement.
"We agree with their decision to use this time to focus on their organization and the work ahead.
"The PGA Tour believes in golf's ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all.
"The tournament will continue as scheduled from November 12-15, 2026, and we will provide an update on sponsorship plans at a later date."
Callaway cuts ties with Good Good
Earlier on Thursday, Callaway confirmed it had ended its relationship with Good Good with immediate effect.
The golf equipment manufacturer said it would donate $1m (£736,000) to "support organisations working to prevent violence against women, provide resources to survivors, and advance education and awareness efforts".
They also said they had "significantly strengthened our approval procedures to help ensure this does not happen again".
"Over the last several days, we have reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we reposted," read the Callaway statement.
"We heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people.
"Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialised, normalised, or used as entertainment."
Good Good Golf was launched as a YouTube channel in 2020 and now is among the largest content creators in the sport.
"We posted a video to our channels that ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand," read the Good Good apology on X on Saturday. "We have since taken that content down, and sincerely apologise.
"Good Good has always stood for making the game of golf more inclusive to all, and we will continue to ensure that is our mission moving forward".
- Sky Sports
Thursday, 27 August 2026
UEFA INTENDS TO LODGE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO
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| GIanni Infantino has been under severe pressure since his abandoned private equity scheme |
UEFA has asked a US federal court for permission to obtain testimony and documents from FIFA entities in Florida for use in a planned criminal complaint in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to a court filing.
In an ex parte application filed under US law, European soccer's governing body said it is considering criminal proceedings against Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers over a now-abandoned plan to transfer commercial rights linked to men's and women's World Cups and the Club World Cup into a new subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
UEFA alleges Infantino developed the proposal in secret with a small group of advisers and investors, bypassing FIFA's normal governance processes and failing to consult FIFA's Council, regional confederations or member associations.
The filing asks a US court to authorise discovery from FIFA (AMERICAS), Inc. and FWC2026 US, Inc., two Florida-based FIFA entities.
UEFA said the organisations may possess documents and witnesses relevant to how the FFE transaction was conceived, structured, valued and approved.
In a 56-page document filed in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, UEFA said: "UEFA and other interested parties are preparing to bring criminal claims in Switzerland against Infantino and possibly other FIFA officials and advisors for criminal mismanagement … arising out of the secretive structuring, valuation, financing, and marketing" of FIFA Forward Enterprise.
The filing of the document in New York came after reports on Wednesday that it has now received guarantees there will be no repeat of FIFA's controversial private investor plan.
This was the second condition UEFA wanted to be met for European teams to withdraw their threat of a boycott from FIFA tournaments.
The first was the scrapping of the original plan, which happened on 1 August.
Additional reporting: PA
- RTÉ
GEORGE FOREMAN'S DRUGGED WATER CLAIM AGAINST ALI RESURFACES
Regis Prograis has drawn new attention to George Foreman’s allegation that he was drugged before losing to Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle on October 30, 1974.
After reading about the story, Prograis presented it as a theory that the heavyweight championship fight may have been tampered with. He then asked older boxing followers for their opinions.
“It’s a theory that the fight was tampered with. For the older boxing guys what do yall think?” Prograis posted on X.
Foreman’s own account is more valuable than the theory raised by Prograis. The former heavyweight champion described receiving suspicious-tasting water shortly before the fight in his 2007 memoir, God in My Corner.
“Just before the fight with Ali, my trainer handed me a glass of liquid and said, ‘Here’s your water,’” Foreman wrote. “As I took a swig, I almost spit it out. ‘Hey, this water tastes like it has medicine in it.’”
Trainer Dick Sadler assured Foreman that it was the same water he had always received. The medicinal taste, Foreman said, remained when he went to the ring.
“After the third round, I was as tired as if I had fought 15 rounds,” Foreman wrote. “What’s going on here? Did someone slip a drug in my water?”
No test results or other evidence ever supported his account. Sadler died in 2003 and was unable to answer the version Foreman publicized four years later.
Ali Forced Foreman Beyond His Usual Script
Foreman had destroyed Joe Frazier in two rounds to win the heavyweight championship and stopped Ken Norton in the second. Those performances encouraged him to attack Ali with the same expectation of an early finish. Kinshasa produced a different fight. Foreman threw heavy punches from the opening bell, while Ali blocked shots with his arms, leaned away from others and struck him repeatedly with straight right hands. Many of Foreman’s widest punches either missed or landed without their full force.
Loose ropes helped Ali lean farther back, but the idea that Angelo Dundee deliberately loosened them remains disputed. Dundee complained about their condition and attempted to have them tightened. Ali still recognized how they could be used once the fight began.
That fatigue has a physical and tactical explanation without introducing an unidentified substance. Foreman maintained a knockout pace against an opponent who refused to disappear, forcing him to work longer than Frazier or Norton had.
Over time, his explanations for the loss included the loose ropes, referee Zack Clayton’s count and dissatisfaction with his corner. The drugged-water story later became the most serious of them.
By the eighth round, Foreman’s punches had lost much of their force. Ali landed a fast combination and dropped him for the knockout. Prograis has revived an old piece of boxing folklore, but the film continues to show Ali winning through cleaner punching, patience and control of Foreman’s aggression.
Muhammad Ali watches as George Foreman lies on the canvas during their heavyweight championship fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, on October 30, 1974. Foreman later alleged that his pre-fight water contained an unidentified substance. Photo: El Gráfico/Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- Boxing News 24 Desk
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