Saturday, 31 October 2026
ISACK HADJAR RECEIVESA FORMAL WARNING FROM THE FIA
🚨 Isack Hadjar has received a FORMAL WARNING from the FIA!
The Red Bull driver was involved in an incident with a paddock guest ahead of FP1 in Mexico.
According to the stewards, the guest approached Hadjar aggressively while he was running late for practice. Hadjar initially tried to hold the guest back before pushing him aside.
The FIA acknowledged the invasion of his personal space, the lack of adequate security, and the circumstances surrounding the incident, but ruled that Hadjar's push breached the regulations.
No sporting penalty was issued.
#F1 | #MexicoGP
LUCKY BOY GETS A HIGH FIVE FROM FORMULA 1 CHAMP MAX VERSTAPPEN
Bro will be talking about this high-five forever. 😂
Imagine being this little guy and getting a high-five from Max Verstappen himself. That’s one moment he’ll be telling everyone about for years!
A memory he’ll never forget. ❤️
#F1 #Formula1 #MaxVerstappen #RedBullRacing #MexicoGP
- Max Verstappen Fans
ASTON VILLA TO SUE LIVERPOOL LEGEND JAMIE CARRAGHER OVER 'UNACCEPTABLE INSULTS'
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| Aston Villa are ready to begin legal action against Jamie Carragher |
Aston Villa have said that they will begin legal action against Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher over “unacceptable insults” towards the club and its fans.
The Villans released a statement on their social media on Friday night, signed by chairman Nassef Sawiris, insisting that the Premier League club ‘will initiate legal action’ against Carragher with Aston Villa vowing to ‘not allow anyone to stop our ascension’ to the top of football.
The statement read: ‘Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the Club and its fans. Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football. Nassef Sawiris, Chairman.’
Carragher received criticism from Aston Villa fans for suggesting that head coach Unai Emery would be interested in taking the Manchester United job if offered to replace Michael Carrick.
Carrick has been coming under increasing pressure in recent weeks and was given a ‘stay of execution’ after Man Utd’s recent 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Speaking on Stick to Football, Carragher said: “I think Unai Emery is unbelievable with what he does year after year. That amount of change, players needing time to settle and he does it year after year.
“But the reason I’m going to go back at Villa fans is I can’t believe that a manager who is so successful in the Europa League, take a player, if you’d won the Europa League three of four times surely you’ll then want to go for the Champions League.
“Aston Villa will never be Manchester United. I just think he didn’t do well at PSG or Arsenal, and maybe that’s because of egos in the dressing room and that sort of thing. But surely he would want that opportunity to manage a giant again. There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not.
“So Real Madrid will take Manchester United’s best player, they did it with (Cristiano) Ronaldo. And they will be teams below Aston Villa, and they’ll take their players or manager, so shut the f*** up Aston Villa fans. Aston Villa will never be Manchester United.”
After telling Aston Villa fans to “shut the f*** up”, Carragher said on social media: “It was a joke after the stick Villa fans have given me over saying Emery may fancy joining Man Utd.
“I hope these clown clips show me praising Emery/Villa like I have done for years & saying how pleased I was you won [the 2026 Europa League] in Istanbul.”
Carragher: Maybe I shouldn’t have used an expletive
Explaining it further on The Overlap, Carragher said: “I just think Unai Emery is the best manager in the league and if you’re Man Utd you’re thinking ‘what’s the best we can get?’. I’m not saying he’ll go – I’m just saying if it was me I’d ask the question.
“Certain managers are good at certain clubs and that’s Emery. He reminds me of Rafa [Benitez]. I think your own ego if someone said ‘that’s your level’ would say ‘no I’m not’. That was my point.
“It’s grew arms and legs. I ended up telling them to [expletive] which maybe I shouldn’t have done but it was all in jest because they’ve been all over my social timeline. I was saying [expletive] off my socials.”
- Joe Williams
BACKSTAGE REPORT ON CHANGES TO WWE CROWN JEWEL CARD
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| Ethan Miller/Getty Images |
WWE Crown Jewel 2026 was recently moved to a new venue in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but that's reportedly not the only change that was made to the event. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer outlined changes that were reportedly made to the show's card.
The premium live event was moved from a temporary outdoor arena to The Venue, an indoor location, as of this week, and Meltzer cited photos and posters from the workers' building around the temporary venue. One poster showed Finn Balor next to one of GUNTHER, which Meltzer noted could be a singles match added to the show, as "WWE SmackDown" airs live on Friday, and next week's episode will be taped on Monday. He noted Crown Jewel's original lineup featured Balor vs. "The Ring General."
Meltzer also noted that the World Tag Team Championship match, which will be the first defense for The Vision's Bron Breakker and Austin Theory since the stable won the gold on July 6, against Je'Von Evans and Mr. Money in the Bank, Penta, was originally meant to be a six-man tag. The match was meant to involve Bronson Reed and Oba Femi, but was changed due to the feeling that it made no sense to do the six-man before the title bout.
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns is set to take on Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn for the men's Crown Jewel Championship, and WWE Women's Champion Chelsea Green will face off against Women's World Champion Liv Morgan for the women's title elsewhere on the card. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are also set for a Last Man Standing match.
- DAISY RUTH
Friday, 30 October 2026
DAKAR 2027 | ROUTE
👇 Dakar 2027 official route
🗓️ 9th - 23rd January 2027
🚩 Loulé/Faro - Marrakech 🏁
🗺️ 7,824 km (4,341 km of SS)
🔜 #Dakar2027
AFCON RETURNS TO 2-YEAR CYCLE AFTER CAF REVERSES QUADRENNIAL DECISION
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will cohost the next AFCON in 2027, with subsequent tournaments in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
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| CAF announced the planned Nations League would take years to generate enough revenue to sustain African football [File: Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images] |
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held every two years, not four as was planned, governing body the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced after reversing an earlier decision.
AFCON has traditionally been staged every two years, but CAF’s surprise decision last December to move to a four-year cycle was not widely welcomed.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee today unanimously decided that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations will return to taking place every Two Years,” CAF said in a statement.
Under the previous plan, AFCON would have moved to a four-year cycle, with the proposed CAF Nations League becoming the continent’s biennial competition.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said at a strategy conference in Cape Verde earlier this month that the organisation was considering returning AFCON to a two-year cycle.
CAF said the Nations League would take years to generate enough revenue to sustain African football.
“The decision by the CAF Executive Committee to reinstate the organization of the AFCON every two years aims to advance, protect and promote the interests of African football and the 54 CAF Member Associations, as well as those of African players playing for clubs outside the continent,” Motsepe said in a statement.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will cohost the next edition in 2027, with subsequent tournaments to be held in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
There will be no AFCON in 2030, with CAF maintaining its tradition of not staging the tournament in a World Cup year.
- Reuters
YOUNG BENNA BOYS PICK UP FIRST WIN AT FIFA U-15 WORLD CUP
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| Antigua and Barbuda Under-15 Football Team. |
The Antigua and Barbuda Boys’ Under-15 Football Team picked up their first win at the ongoing FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival being held in Azerbaijan when, on Wednesday, they defeated the British Virgin Islands (BVI) 3-0.
Playing at the Hovsan Competition Complex, the young Benna Boys were led by a brace from Allan Henry with Tafari Looby adding the other goal.
In their two previous encounters, Antigua and Barbuda were beaten 5-1 by Hong Kong, China and 6-0 by Mongolia. On 25 October, the U15s played to a 3-3 draw with New Caledonia but fell to their largest defeat of the tournament on that same day, going under 10-0 to Northern Ireland. Antigua and Barbuda had previously fallen 4-0 to Lebanon and 3-2 to Burkina Faso.
- Neto Baptiste
ATP ROUNDUP: ALEXANDER ZVEREV CLINCHES WORLD NO. 1 RANKING
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| September 9, 2026; New York, United States; Germany's Alexander Zverev serves during his quarter-final match against Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images |
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev secured the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for the first time with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor on Thursday in the second round of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The German did not face a break point and broke Griekspoor once in each set to reach his tour-high 13th quarterfinal of the season.
Zverev will become the 30th player to hold the No. 1 ranking when the new list is released Monday and the first German to reach the top spot since Boris Becker in 1991. The 29-year-old won the French Open and the U.S. Open this summer, and he reached the Wimbledon final.
His next opponent will be Great Britain's Arthur Fery, who defeated Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain survived four set points in the second-set tiebreaker before beating Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 7-6 (11).
No. 3 Daniil Medvedev of Russia rallied past Great Britain's Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1), while seventh-seeded Tommy Paul routed Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1. Matteo Berrettini advanced when fourth-seeded fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli retired with an injury while trailing 5-2 in the opening set.
Swiss Indoors Basel
Swiss wild card Jerome Kym stunned top-seeded Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1) in the second round at Basel, Switzerland, while Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff eliminated fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic in another three-set upset.
Struff defeated Djokovic for the first time in nine career meetings, rallying for a 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-6 (5) victory in 2 hours, 36 minutes. Djokovic failed to convert four break-point chances in the second set before Struff forced a decider, and the German closed out the final tiebreaker with an ace.
Monaco's Valentin Vacherot also knocked out a seeded player, edging No. 3 Rafael Jodar of Spain 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (5).
Second-seeded Arthur Fils of France avoided the upset bug by rallying past American Alex Michelsen 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Sixth-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States dispatched Canada's Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-3, and No. 8 Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic defeated German lucky loser Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-4.
--Field Level Media
Thursday, 29 October 2026
MERCEDES-BENZ MARKS LONG HISTORY OF MAKING CARS FOR THE POPE
Pope Leo XIV also met with the executives of the German auto company on Wednesday.
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| Pope Leo XIV with some executives of Mercedes-Benz after his private audience with them at the Vatican on Oct. 28, 2026. (Photo: Vatican Media) |
Mercedes-Benz, the German luxury automaker, celebrated nearly 100 years of producing the popemobile — the pope’s personal vehicle.
To mark the occasion, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Mercedes-Benz executives on Wednesday. That same day, the exhibit “A Century of the Popemobile” opened at the Vatican Museums, featuring the first popemobile, gifted to Pope Pius XI in 1930, and the one in which St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981.
Evolving Papal Transportation
In his address to Mercedes-Benz, the Pope praised the company for its enduring partnership with the Vatican and reflected on how papal transportation — from St. Peter to the present — has evolved.
“Over the decades, the Popemobile has evolved from a means of transportation into an instrument of encounter, enabling the pontiff to draw closer to the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations,” Leo said.
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| Pope Leo XIV addresses the executives of Mercedes-Benz during a private audience at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media |
“In this way, your work has helped facilitate the Church’s mission of reaching out to people and bringing a message of faith, of hope, and of charity to the world.”
The Pope also encouraged them to direct their innovations toward a more sustainable world, placing their "technological innovation at the service of human dignity, care for creation, and the common good.”
From Carriages to Modern Transport
Papal transportation has evolved since the late Roman Empire, when popes were carried on the “sedia gestatoria” — ornate, ceremonial thrones carried by 12 footmen during processions and major liturgical celebrations.
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| Pope Pius XI used the Nürburg 460 Pullman, made by Mercedes-Benz, as the first official automobile to transport the pope. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Vatican Museums |
From the late 19th century onward, popes increasingly chose modern forms of transportation, with Blessed Pius IX using the first papal train in 1859. The Nürburg 460 Pullman, made by Mercedes-Benz and given to Pope Pius XI in 1930, was the first official automobile used to transport the pope.
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| The Fiat 1107 - Nuova Campagnola, in which St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News |
The word “popemobile” was first used to describe a custom-made Lincoln Continental for St. Paul VI’s 1965 visit to the United States. Popes since St. John Paul II have used the popemobile, with Mercedes-Benz adapting future models for security since his 1981 shooting.
Keeping the Pope Safe
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the exhibit “A Century of the Popemobile,” the Mercedes-Benz executives spoke with EWTN News, reflecting on the near-century-long partnership with the Vatican.
Marc Langenbrinck, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Italy, described the partnership as a privilege, especially as a Catholic.
“[This day] is just simply the most beautiful day of my career because I am Catholic and I believe, and for me it is something which is a project of a lifetime,” Langenbrinck told EWTN News.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz, explained the security and accessibility measures implemented in the popemobile.
“Well, first of all, a vehicle has to move safely, comfortably, but also safely in terms of traffic and accident risks,” Breitschwerdt said to EWTN News. “It has to be safely conceived and executed in terms of the current modern risks you face if you are in big crowds.”
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| Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz, at the exhibition “A Century of the Popemobile” at the Vatican Museums on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News |
“So we have armored versions; we have the secured glass Popemobiles, which are very, very sophisticated,” Breitschwerdt added.
Breitschwerdt, in a speech for the exhibit launch, also said that no Mercedes-Benz employee is ever allowed to sit on the pope’s seat in the Popemobile.
“There is a strict rule that no one — not even the mechanics who maintain the vehicles or our CEO — is allowed to sit in the popeʼs seat,” Breitschwerdt said.
- Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News | Vatican
JAY-Z THROUGH HIS ROC NATIONS SPORTS AGENCY WILL FUND SENSATIONAL THREE YEAR OLD NEVADA PIERRE'S TRIP TO SPAIN 🇪🇸
American rapper and billionaire businessman Jay-Z, through his sports management agency Roc Nation Sports, has committed to funding an international development trip to Spain for three-year-old football sensation Nevada Pierre.
Pierre shot to global fame after videos showcasing his exceptional football skills went viral on social media. He attracted further attention following a youth match in Florida where his impressive performances reportedly led to police being called to the venue.
The trip, planned for December, will give Nevada and his family an opportunity to experience specialised football training in Spain as the young prodigy continues developing his talent.
#NevadaPierre #JayZ #Soccer #RocNation #RockNationSports
REAL MADRID APOLOGISES TO CHINAOVER MBAPPÉ'S MAO ZEDONG COMMENTS
Real Madrid apologised to the Chinese people on Wednesday after star striker Kylian Mbappé sparked a furious backlash over comments referring to the founding leader of Communist China as a dictator. The club's apology came a day after Mbappé and Spain's La Liga football championship expressed regret over the remarks.
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| Kylian Mbappé has been shut out of Chinese social media Weibo after he joked about Mao Zedong. © Jade Gao, AFP |
Real Madrid apologised to China on Wednesday for Kylian Mbappé's comments poking fun at Mao Zedong, after the star striker's remarks sparked a social media storm and saw Spanish football yanked off state TV.
Mocking former leader Mao – blamed by historians for millions of deaths – is taboo in China, and Mbappé's remarks saw him become the latest foreign sports figure to anger Beijing.
Mbappé's China faux pas: When the sports world collides with the complexities of geopolitics
In a clip of a video interview with French show "The Bridge" – since taken down – Mbappé talked about being amused by an internet meme of his face photoshopped onto "some guy, think he's a Chinese dictator", an apparent reference to Mao.
Real Madrid "wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any offence caused by the recent remarks of our player Kylian Mbappé", the club said in a statement.
"The club joins in the public apology issued by Kylian Mbappé, in which the player himself expressed his regret for his words and reiterated his respect for the Chinese people," the 15-time European champions said.
The statement came a day after Mbappé issued his own apology, in French, Chinese and English, saying: "My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world."
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular briefing on Wednesday: "We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made."
La Liga, which saw the broadcast of its matches suspended in China, said Tuesday it "deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé's recent comments have caused among Chinese fans".
Earlier, the state-run Global Times said in an editorial that it was "not difficult to see that the club's longstanding tolerance of such behavior has contributed to Mbappé's latest offensive remarks".
Chinese beverage giant Dongpeng, which during this year's World Cup ran adverts with AI-generated images of Mbappé, said Tuesday it had scrapped its partnership with the player, as did dairy firms Mengniu and Milkground.
CMG, which oversees public broadcaster CCTV, said it had decided to suspend broadcasts of La Liga, the world's second-richest football league after England's Premier League.
Mbappé, 27, continued to face a torrent of criticism from Chinese web users on Wednesday, some of it racist.
"His remarks were hurtful toward China and the Chinese people, so they cannot be translated," wrote one user on social media platform Weibo.
Mbappé's original joke about Mao was not reposted – or had been scrubbed – from China's tightly controlled social media.
Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu had meanwhile frozen Mbappé's account, where he has over a million followers.
The same was done on the Weibo app, with a notice stating that "the user has been banned from following due to violating laws or the Weibo Community Convention".
Some Chinese media reports said global brands like Dior and Hublot had removed their Mbappé-related content on Weibo.
An AFP search on Dior and Hublot's Weibo page with Mbappé's Chinese name produced no results.
'Respect history'
Offline too the Mbappé brand appeared to be under threat.
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| People walk past a bus featuring French football star Kylian Mbappe © Jade GAO / AFP |
When AFP visited the Adidas flagship store in Beijing's Sanlitun shopping district, Real Madrid shirts were available for sale, but none bearing the striker's name.
Chinese state media have previously praised Mbappe as a "footballing sensation" and "talent".
His face is plastered on billboards, on soft drinks and across social media.
Mbappé is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Guigui", meaning "turtle" in Chinese, for his resemblance to a character from the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie.
Other major overseas sports leagues have previously angered China.
China suspended sponsorship deals with the NBA while the state broadcaster pulled NBA games off Chinese television for a year in October 2019.
This followed Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeting "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong", referring to protests Beijing called separatist and seditious.
"Respecting the history, culture, social customs and national sentiments of others is a fundamental principle for cross-border interaction, a standard of conduct widely upheld by the international community," the official People's Daily newspaper said in an opinion piece.
- FRANCE 24 with AFP
Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
VIRAL 3-YEAR-OLD SOCCER STAR 'TRAUMATIZED' AFTER POLICE WERE CALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME
“They called the police on a 3-year-old because he’s too good,” Nevada’s father, Don, can be heard saying in the video.
A 3-year-old soccer star is “traumatized” after police were called to his youth soccer game in Winter Park, Florida, his mother said.
Nevada, the young player, can be seen in a viral video repeatedly scoring goals during the fall season of an i9 Sports youth soccer game. The boy’s parents can be heard talking to authorities later in the video, who were called to Nevada’s Saturday game.
“They called the police on a 3-year-old because he’s too good,” Nevada’s father, Don, can be heard saying in the video. “They called the police on a 3-year-old because he had the ball for too long.”
“It really traumatized Nevada,” said Martasia, who declined to give her last name. “He still wants to play soccer. He just doesn’t want to go back to that place. I don’t think that’s how he should be thinking, that as a 3-year-old he did something wrong.”
Martasia said her 3-year-old has been unfairly targeted over the season because of his talent — he’s playing in a league with 5-year-olds. “As soon as he started the game, they stopped the game. Other parents, the director, and some of the coaches got in a circle, and I knew they were talking about Nevada, trying to figure out how to let us know that he can’t play so the other kids could play.”
“When I walked up on them talking about that, the director said that everybody is paying money, so everybody should play. They were trying to find a reason why he can’t play. Once I started speaking up for Nevada, they just called the police,” she said.
“The parents was coming up to [the league director] saying that, ‘Oh, if my kid can’t get any playing time, then they’re just gonna go home,’” she explained.
The Winter Park Police Department confirmed officers were called to the youth soccer game by a league official due to a disturbance between the official and parents of a player. Authorities informed attendees it was a civil matter and left without incident.
Martasia believes the entire debacle should have been handled differently.
“It’s heartbreaking because now Nevada’s saying he doesn’t wanna go over there. He’s scared that he did something wrong.”
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| A photo of Nevada in his soccer uniform.COURTESY OF MARTASIA |
Martasia said the league refunded the family for Nevada’s fall soccer league registration.
“We are aware of concerns being shared regarding an incident at a local i9 Sports program, and we take them very seriously,” a spokesperson from the youth sports league said. “The respectful treatment and well-being of every child and family matter deeply to us. We have reached out to the family and have begun a review that includes speaking with those involved. While we work to understand the circumstances, we will not speculate or share unverified information. We appreciate everyone who has brought their concerns to our attention.”
Nevada, who started dribbling a soccer ball at 10 months old, trains with his father three hours a day, according to his mother. He has a sizable following on social media, where he showcases his ball-handling skills.
The incident caught the attention of Eddie Johnson, a former professional soccer player. Nevada will be joining Johnson’s Orlando-based youth soccer training program in January, his mother said.
“Now that this situation happened, he’s just gonna take [Nevada] under his wing because he has the proper program for him,” she said.
- Philip Lewis
LAMINE YAMAL'S UNCLE BLASTS HARRY KANE OVER BALLON D'OR WIN
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| Harry Kane was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner at the ceremony in London (UEFA via Getty) |
Lamine Yamal’s uncle has criticised the decision to award Harry Kane the Ballon d’Or, claiming that football fans pay to see his nephew and not the Bayern Munich and England striker.
Kane became the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Ballon d’Or at the ceremony held at the Palladium Theatre in London on Monday evening.
Real Madrid and France striker Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona and Spain winger Yamal ended up in third but also won the won the Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
The winner of the Ballon d’Or was kept a secret until Kane’s name was announced on stage by Brazil legend Ronaldo, and when the England captain left his seat to collect his award, Yamal looked visibly upset.
Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona earlier this year before winning the World Cup with Spain in the summer, is widely expected to win the Ballon d’Or at some point in his career.
But in an interview with El Larguero after Kane was crowned the Ballon d’Or winner, Yamal’s uncle, Abdul Abdellaoui, claimed this should have been the year his nephew won the award for the first time.
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| Lamine Yamal won Young Talent of the Year for the third year in a row (UEFA via Getty) |
‘Well, the truth is it’s really sad, I feel really bad,’ said Abdul, who runs a restaurant in the city of Mataro in Catalonia, Spain.
‘My nephew was amazing, he was the best player in the world, everyone knows it. If you like football, you go to see Lamine, not Harry Kane.
‘Harry Kane is a great goalscorer but Lamine is the best player who shines on the pitch and if he’s unlucky, there’s next year.’
When asked why he felt Yamal did not win the award this year, Abdul replied: ‘Since Lamine is young, they always say he has time, he’s 19, and that’s why they’re not giving him the award. Harry, with only three days of football left, they’re saying, ‘come on, we’ll give him the award’.
‘He’s won the World Cup, La Liga, the Super Cup, he plays really well, he’s had an incredible season, he scores goals that nobody else can. Passes, assists, whatever you want.
‘Lamine will win more than one, but the sadness will pass in three days. In a few days he will be fine.’
Ballon d’Or 2026 top 10
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| (AFP via Getty) |
1st: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England)
2nd: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid and France)
3rd: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
4th: Rodri (Barcelona and Spain)
5th: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina)
6th: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia)
7th: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
8th: Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)
9th: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich and France)
10th: Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain and Spain)
- Chris Davie
VICKY LÓPEZ DEDICATES HER BALLON D'OR PRIZE TO HER LATE MOTHER | WOMEN'S YOUNG TALENT OF THE YEAR | BALLON D'OR 2026
Everything I Achieve Is Yours, Mom": Vicky López Delivers Emotional Speech After Retaining Women’s Young Talent of the Year Award 🥹❤️ 🇳🇬
The Barcelona phenom dedicates her historic back-to-back Ballon d'Or victory to her late mother in a moving acceptance speech at the London Palladium.
#BallonDor2026 #FIFAWorldCup #TalesOfAfrica
- Tales of Africa
𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜 𝗢𝗡 𝟯️ 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗡 𝗗’𝗢𝗥𝗦! 🇪🇸
The Spanish duo have dominated women’s football, winning the last six Ballon d’Or awards between them!
Alexia claimed the award in 2021, 2022 and 2026, while Aitana won in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The Six-Year Sweep (2021–2026)
The two players from Barcelona's midfield have taken turns dominating the award:
· Alexia Putellas: Won in 2021, 2022, and 2026. After suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined her for a long period, she made a strong comeback, leading Barcelona to a quadruple in the 2025-26 season and reclaiming the top spot.
· Aitana Bonmatí: Won in 2023, 2024, and 2025. She succeeded her teammate with three consecutive years of dominance, establishing her era before Putellas struck back this year.
Historical Context
· Predecessors: The award was established in 2018. The first two winners were Norway's Ada Hegerberg (2018) and the United States' Megan Rapinoe (2019). The award was not given in 2020 due to the pandemic.
· Club Dominance: All six of these awards were won while the players were with Barcelona, highlighting the club's absolute dominance in recent years.
In short, the two have not only swept the awards but also pushed each other forward, jointly creating an era belonging to Spanish women's football.
#BallonDor #AlexiaPutellas #AitanaBonmati #WomensFootbal #Spain
JAY-Z | SUPER BOWL LXI | HALFTIME SHOW | APPLE MUSIC | FEBRUARY 14, 2027
Super Bowl LXI. Los Angeles. February 14, 2027. 🔥
#AppleMusicHalftime
Monday, 26 October 2026
REAL MADRID SUPERSTAR OUTPERFORMED ENTIRE BARCELONA MIDFIELD IN ONE KEY STATISTIC DURING EL CLASICO
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| Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images |
Real Madrid went to the Spotify Camp Nou and played their best game of the season, securing a 2-1 victory and taking all three points from Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho got the starting XI spot on, with the tactics working beautifully to nullify the Catalans from playing their natural game.
Midfielder Jude Bellingham delivered an outstanding physical performance against Barcelona on Sunday, winning more individual duels than the Catalans’ entire midfield combined.
The England international won an impressive 13 duels, compared to just nine collectively managed by Barcelona’s midfielders.
Bellingham dominates the midfield battle
Bellingham’s tally was the second-highest number of duels won by any player in a single La Liga match this season.
The statistic underlines his influence in a fiercely contested encounter, where Madrid’s ability to compete physically proved an important part of their performance.
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| Jude Bellingham outperformed the entire Barcelona midfield. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) |
While Bellingham is widely recognised for his attacking movement and technical ability, his contribution without the ball deserves equal attention.
Winning 13 duels against Barcelona reflects his willingness to engage in challenges and come out on top more often than not.
Such intensity is particularly valuable for Jose Mourinho in matches where controlling space and limiting the opponent’s passing combinations are essential.
The comparison with Barcelona’s midfield is especially striking given the Catalans’ reputation for dominating central areas through possession and intelligent movement.
Bellingham gives Madrid another dimension
Real Madrid’s midfield used their physical prowess to overwhelm Barcelona in that area, and Bellingham had one of his best games of the season.
His ability to combine defensive aggression with attacking involvement makes him a difficult opponent to contain.
Against Barcelona, Bellingham was not just stupendous off the ball, but he also produced an excellent piece of skill that set up Madrid’s winning goal on the night.
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| Jude Bellingham outperformed the entire Barcelona midfield. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) |
While the number of duels he won cannot define his performance as a whole, winning more challenges than an entire midfield is not something that happens often.
The entire Madrid team looked completely switched on and were perfectly coached to nullify Barça, and Bellingham was spearheading it all.
With Los Blancos securing an important victory over their biggest rivals, the Englishman’s contribution deserves recognition.
Bellingham and Madrid have now closed the gap to Barça to just three points, and it remains to be seen whether they can use this momentum in the coming weeks.
- Pranav Kannan
DAKAR 2027 | OFFICIAL STATEMENT
𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🇸🇦
Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) have jointly decided that Dakar Saudi Arabia 2027, scheduled from 1 to 15 January 2027, will not be held in the Kingdom, following recent developments in the region.
This decision is exceptional and one-off and was taken in close coordination with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), and with the support of the FIA and the FIM.
𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗔.𝗦.𝗢. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝗔.𝗦.𝗢. 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴, 𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.
Both organisations are already working together to make this milestone an exceptional moment for the Dakar and for the Kingdom, with a shared commitment to once again deliver an iconic and world-class event to the highest of standards.
Since 2020, Saudi Arabia has hosted seven consecutive editions of Dakar, welcoming competitors from around the world on routes that showcased the Kingdom’s remarkable geographical diversity. These editions have made Saudi Arabia an integral part of the Dakar community and established a strong, long-term strategic partnership between A.S.O., SMC and SAMF. All three organisations reaffirm their commitment to continuing their cooperation, developing motorsport in the Kingdom and delivering outstanding experiences for competitors, teams and fans.
🔜 #Dakar2027
POUND FOR POUND TOP 50 IN SHOCK AS NEW STAR CRACKS TOP TEN
World Boxing News has made changes to its pound-for-pound Top 50 after O’Shaquie “Shock” Foster stormed into the world’s ten best fighters with a dominant victory over Emanuel Navarrete, sending the Mexican crashing down the rankings.
Foster’s three-belt super featherweight triumph in San Antonio earned the American a twelve-place rise from No. 21 to No. 9, the biggest move among the leading names in the latest update.
Navarrete suffered the opposite fate, falling from tenth to 22nd after losing a unanimous decision and being dropped twice in the final round.
Foster’s victory earned him the WBO and IBF titles alongside his WBC championship, leaving the American one belt away from becoming undisputed.
Foster Breaks Into the Top Ten
Foster’s arrival at No. 9 gives the United States another representative among boxing’s elite following his commanding performance against Navarrete.
At the top of the WBN rankings, Naoya Inoue retains his No. 1 position, followed by Shakur Stevenson at No. 2.
Oleksandr Usyk remains seventh, while Junto Nakatani also holds his previous position outside the Top 10.
The updated World Boxing News pound-for-pound Top 10 is as follows:
1 NAOYA INOUE
2 SHAKUR STEVENSON
3 JESSE RODRIGUEZ
4 DAVID BENAVIDEZ
5 DMITRY BIVOL
6 DEVIN HANEY
7 OLEKSANDR USYK
8 SEBASTIAN FUNDORA
9 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
10 JARON ENNIS
Foster moves ahead of several established champions following one of the most convincing victories of his career.
Rises and Falls
The changes extend beyond Foster and Navarrete, with Oscar Collazo climbing two places to No. 14.
Former light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev moves in the opposite direction, dropping five positions to No. 17 due to inactivity.
One of the most noticeable changes outside the Top 20 involves Sergio Mendoza, who enters the rankings at No. 32 as the unified WBC and WBA flyweight champion.
His inclusion follows a victory over Ricardo Sandoval, who falls 24 places from No. 20 to No. 44 after losing his WBC and WBA flyweight titles.
Former world champion Marlon Tapales also drops out of the Top 50 altogether.
Biggest Top 50 Movers
The key changes in the latest WBN rankings, listed in order of their updated positions, are:
9 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER 12
14 OSCAR COLLAZO 2
17 ARTUR BETERBIEV 5
22 EMANUEL NAVARRETE 12
32 SERGIO MENDOZA*NE
44 RICARDO SANDOVAL 24
OUT MARLON TAPALES
Iglesias and Schofield Miss Out
Osleys Iglesias and Floyd Schofield remain on the fringes of WBN’s Top 50 despite their growing reputations.
Iglesias has yet to secure the kind of victory over established world-class opposition that would justify his inclusion ahead of fighters with stronger records at the highest level.
Schofield’s situation is different. Despite his growing profile, there is a legitimate argument that he lost a recent contest, making his inclusion difficult to justify ahead of fighters with stronger claims.
Neither omission is permanent, but WBN will not award pound-for-pound places based on potential or publicity alone.
WBN Pound-for-Pound Top 50
The complete updated World Boxing News pound-for-pound rankings are available in WBN’s latest Top 50 list.
- Phil Jay
Sunday, 25 October 2026
ELENA RYBAKINA RETAINS NINGBO TITLE, WINS FIRST TROPHY AS WORLD NUMBER ONE
The victory helped the Kazakh take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking.
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| Rybakina's latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week. [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters] |
Elena Rybakina blazed past unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final to retain her title and lift her first trophy as the world number one ahead of the WTA Finals next month.
The victory on Sunday also helped the Kazakh take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season in which she won the Australian Open title before adding the US Open crown to reach the summit.
Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing crosscourt backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set in only 38 minutes.
World number 30 Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-time Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.
Rybakina’s latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before launching her title defence at the season finale in Indian Wells from November 8.
- Reuters
FINAL AUSTRALIAN MOTOGP AT PHILLIP ISLAND CANCELLED
MotoGP has taken the decision to cancel the final Australian Grand Prix at the world-famous Phillip Island circuit.
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| MotoGP bikes at Phillip Island. Credit: Gold and Goose. |
Sadly for MotoGP fans, there has been no final Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, after the championship’s organisers were forced to cancel today’s race due to bad weather causing visibility issues for the medical helicopter.
A statement from MotoGP said:
“Due to limited visibility affecting the operation of the medical helicopter at the Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia, the MotoGP Grand Prix race has been cancelled.
"As a farewell to the Island, the MotoGP riders will do a lap behind the safety car and stop on the main straight to greet the fans. Pitlane will open for the farewell lap at 15:45 local time."
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| Jack Miller riding in the wet at Phillip Island. |
The official cancellation of all races, including Moto2 and Moto3, comes after several updates from MotoGP throughout the day.
Organisers initially cancelled both the Moto3 and Moto2 races before confirming a new start time for the Australian MotoGP, which was two hours later than originally planned.
However, a final update soon followed confirming what was ultimately expected, which was the cancellation of the Australian GP.
Ducati Lenovo Team Manager, Davide Tardozzi, agree with the decision to cancel the race, telling TNT Sports:
“I think that, on the race track side, we raced in the past with even worse conditions. But in the end, safety first, so I think that in the worst condition I think the race direction made the most safe decision.”
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| Jack Miller performing a stoppie at Phillip Island for his home fans. |
Phillip Island has been the host of every Australian MotoGP since 1997, although this year’s race was one of the most highly-anticipated due to the series’ expected move to Adelaide in 2027.
Today’s race could have also swayed the 2026 title fight firmly in Marc Marquez’s favour, with the Spaniard due to start from pole position, while championship rival Jorge Martin was ruled out of the Grand Prix following a crash during Saturday’s Sprint.
- Robert Jones
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