Category: Sports

Lionel Messi’s surprise visit to the Spotify Camp Nou has reignited hope among Barcelona fans around the world, and this time, the dream of his return might actually come true.

Foreign media reports claim that the Argentine legend could rejoin Barcelona on loan in January, thanks to a special “Beckham Clause” included in his Inter Miami contract.

The “Beckham Clause” is an unofficial MLS rule that lets players join European clubs during the league’s off-season from December to March.

Multiple outlets suggest Messi’s deal allows him to play short-term elsewhere, keeping his fitness sharp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Inter Miami are currently in the MLS Cup semifinals, with the final set for December 6. That timeline leaves Messi and Barcelona enough room to work out a potential short-term agreement. While finances could be tricky, optimism is high that Barcelona might find a way to bring their greatest-ever player back home.

The idea isn’t new. Stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Landon Donovan all returned to Europe during their MLS breaks. 

If Messi follows that path, Barcelona is both the most emotional and logical destination. The Argentine icon scored 672 goals and lifted 35 trophies for the club, shaping an era that defined modern football.

Since Messi’s tearful farewell in 2021, fans have never stopped dreaming of his return. Seeing him link up with rising star Lamine Yamal would make that dream even sweeter.

Messi himself recently said, “I hope I can come back someday, not just to say goodbye as a player…” – words that have only fueled excitement.

If the move happens, Messi’s return to Camp Nou in January 2026 won’t just be a transfer story. It would be one of the most emotional comebacks football has ever witnessed.

Turkish authorities have arrested eight people on Monday, including the chairman of a top-tier football club, during an expanding investigation into illegal betting on matches. 

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) also suspended 1,024 players across all leagues while disciplinary proceedings move forward.

Earlier this month, the TFF suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after investigators discovered that officials working in Turkey’s professional leagues were betting on football matches.

A foreign news agency reported that a court ordered the arrest of Eyupspor chairman Murat Özkaya along with seven others. Eyupspor compete in the Turkish Super Lig. The club did not immediately comment on the development.

In a statement, the TFF said it referred 1,024 players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK), including 27 players from the Super Lig. All 27 have been suspended. The list includes players from defending champions Galatasaray and Istanbul club Besiktas.

The federation said, “Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the PFDK, negotiations have been initiated urgently with Fifa to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, in order for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies.”

The TFF also suspended matches in the second- and third-tier leagues for two weeks. Local media reported that the TFF board will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday at 2pm GMT.

Fifa has not responded to a Reuters request for comment regarding the investigation or Turkey’s request for an additional transfer window.

TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has called the situation a “moral crisis in Turkish football”. The federation’s internal investigation revealed that 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees had betting accounts. Among them, 152 were actively placing bets.

Investigators found one referee had placed bets 18,227 times. Forty-two referees had bet on more than 1,000 matches each, while others were discovered to have bet only once.

John Cena reached a major career milestone on Monday night when he defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship on WWE Raw. 

The win makes Cena the 25th superstar in WWE history to complete the Grand Slam by winning the WWE, Intercontinental, United States (US) and Tag Team Championships at least once.

Mysterio entered the match as the reigning Intercontinental Champion after winning the title at WrestleMania earlier this year. 

He tried to control the match with constant taunts and aggressive tactics, even attempting a submission that the referee failed to catch. Cena stayed calm and kept building momentum with his signature power moves.

The finish came when Mysterio went for a Frog Splash. Cena anticipated the move, caught him mid-air and delivered an Attitude Adjustment that secured the three-count and the championship.

The moment carried huge emotional weight for Cena. He had never competed for the Intercontinental Championship on television before this match. His only previous attempts happened during untelevised house shows, which made Monday night’s match feel like a final chance as the 48-year-old star moves towards the end of his career.

Earlier, Mysterio tried to spoil the farewell run by mocking Cena throughout the buildup.

WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque stepped in and confirmed the match, setting up a showdown that ended with Cena’s latest historic achievement.

With this victory, Cena joins a select group of Grand Slam Champions that includes Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. 

The milestone strengthens Cena’s reputation as one of the most decorated and influential performers in WWE history. His career has combined longevity, championship success and the ability to deliver on the biggest stages.

The win also signals the start of a new tournament that will determine Cena’s final opponent for his farewell tour. WWE plans to highlight his legacy in the coming weeks as one of the most respected names to ever step inside the ring.

Afghanistan Cricket Board’s chief selector and former cricketer Asadullah Khan has strongly criticised Cricket Australia for repeatedly refusing to play a bilateral series against Afghanistan. 

He said that Australia’s stance goes against the spirit of the game and unfairly targets the Afghan men’s team, which has earned its place in elite cricket through hard work and merit.

“Cricket Australia’s refusal to play bilateral series is against the spirit of the game. Afghanistan’s team is being targeted in an unfair way. The current Afghan side has earned its place in elite cricket with strong performances,” Asadullah remarked told an Indian media outlet. 

He added that the Afghanistan women’s team has not been able to play in recent years due to circumstances in the country, and “change takes time.”

He said, “Afghanistan achieved success in world cricket on merit. Our team did not get success because of favoritism or charity. Cricket Australia and other boards are linking cricket with politics, and I believe this is not good for the gentleman’s game.”

Cricket Australia has maintained its position since the Taliban returned to power in September 2021. 

After the takeover, the Taliban placed restrictions on women’s sports, including cricket, among a host of measures that have reduced civil and human rights for women. Australia responded by suspending all bilateral commitments with Afghanistan.

Cricket Australia’s first major move came in November 2021 when it cancelled a historic one-off Test match in Hobart, which would have been Afghanistan’s first Test against Australia. 

In January 2023, Australia also withdrew from a three-match ODI series scheduled in the UAE, citing concerns over women’s rights under Taliban rule.

In an official statement at the time, Cricket Australia said it supports the participation of women in all forms of cricket and cannot proceed with fixtures when those values are not upheld. 

The ICC has also faced pressure to take a stronger stance, though Afghanistan retains its full-member status because the ICC constitution does not allow suspension of a board due to political circumstances beyond its control.

Despite these complications, the Afghanistan men’s team has continued to rise. The side reached the Super 12 stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup and made headlines at the 2023 ODI World Cup after defeating England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 

Under captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and with stars like Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the team has become one of the most competitive emerging sides in international cricket.

Asadullah Khan believes that punishing the men’s team for issues beyond their control is unjust. He said the players only want to play cricket and compete at the highest level.

Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to controversy. The megastar spurred a huge debate on the internet after boldly claiming that Argentinian legend Lionel Messi is not a better player than him. 

The 39-year-old made the statement in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, saying, “Is Messi better than me? I disagree. I don’t want to be humble.”

As soon as the clip went online, fans went wild. Social media exploded with reactions poking fun at Ronaldo’s obsession with Messi.

Fans were quick to respond, flooding Twitter and Instagram with jokes and mockery. 

One fan wrote, “Messi lives rent-free in this guy’s mind.” Another mocked him, saying, “Literally no one talks about Messi vs Ronaldo anymore except Cristiano himself in every single interview.” 

Some fans got sarcastic, commenting, “When you know you aren’t, you just proclaimed yourself the best!” while others called him the “self-proclaimed GOAT.” One exasperated fan posted, “No way he still thinks that he’s better than Messi,” accompanied by crying emojis.

Interestingly, the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has always included mutual respect. Messi once said, “Cristiano Ronaldo is an extraordinary player and it would be brilliant to be in the same team as him. I do not know if that will happen one day, but I would like it to, as he is spectacular.” He added that competing against Ronaldo pushes both players to perform at their best.

Beyond admiration, their rivalry has set benchmarks for generations of footballers. Messi’s vision, dribbling, and creativity complement Ronaldo’s athleticism, goal-scoring, and leadership. Even off the field, they maintain a professional relationship, occasionally sharing award stages and greetings.

In 2025 Messi remains at peak form with Inter Miami CF: he has scored around 29 goals and provided 20 assists in the MLS so far. 

Meanwhile Ronaldo, now at Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia, is still producing: in early data he has 15 goals and one assist in 17 matches. 

As Ronaldo chases 1,000 professional goals, currently at 952, and Messi sits at 891 with Inter Miami, fans continue debating who is the greatest. Social media is full of jokes, memes, and discussions, highlighting both the competitive nature and the emotional investment in this historic rivalry. The Messi-Ronaldo debate shows no signs of ending.

Despite the trolling, Ronaldo has expressed respect for Messi in the past, saying they share a cordial relationship and that he would love to have dinner with him someday.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the names included in the national squads for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka and the Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe tri-nation T20 event. 

Selectors did not include Hassan Nawaz in either squad.

According to the PCB, Hassan Nawaz will not feature in the ODI series and the T20 event. The board released him so he can take part in the ongoing Quaid e Azam Trophy, where the seventh round begins on November 11. 

Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for three ODIs from November 11 to 15 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The tri-nation T20 event will run from 17 to 29 November in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

The selectors added experienced batter Fakhar Zaman to the T20 squad in place of Hassan Nawaz. They did not name a replacement for him in the ODI squad.

Pakistan ODI squad for series against Sri Lanka:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha.

Pakistan squad for tri nation T20 event:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Abdul Samad, Usman Tariq.

ODI series schedule:

11 November: First ODI in Rawalpindi
13 November: Second ODI in Rawalpindi
15 November: Third ODI in Rawalpindi

Tri nation T20 schedule:

17 November: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi
19 November: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi
22 November: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
23 November: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe in Lahore
25 November: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in Lahore
27 November: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Lahore
29 November: Final in Lahore

The announcement came soon after Pakistan claimed a convincing 2-1 series win over South Africa. Pakistan defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the third and final ODI at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat but failed to build a strong total. The visitors scored 143 runs and lost all wickets in the 37th over. 

Pakistan comfortably chased the 144 run target in the 26th over for the loss of three wickets. 

Pakistan won the first match of the series by two wickets. South Africa levelled the series in the second ODI with an eight wicket win, but Pakistan finished strongly and secured the series in style.

Pakistani wrestler Arusha Saeed has brought pride to the country by winning bronze in Kurash – a kind of folk wrestling – at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games being held in Riyadh. 

As per the details, Arusha competed in the women’s 57-kilogram category and delivered an outstanding performance to secure Pakistan’s first medal at the games.

She showcased exceptional skill, talent and determination as she faced some of the world’s top Kurash athletes, proving that Pakistani women can compete at the highest international level.

The Pakistan Kurash team was led by head coach Muhammad Saad while Muhammad Rafiq and Shahzeeb Nawaz played key roles in preparing and training the athletes. Their tireless efforts and professional guidance were instrumental in achieving the success.

Nawab Furqan Khan, Pakistan’s representative at the International Kurash Association (IKA), congratulated Arusha, the coaches and the entire team. He said the achievement was a source of pride for Pakistan and demonstrated that Pakistani athletes were earning recognition in both traditional and martial sports on the global stage.

He added that Arusha’s remarkable performance served as an inspiring example for young Pakistani women, encouraging them to participate in international competitions with confidence and enthusiasm.

Pakistan defeated South Africa by five wickets in the second quarter-final of the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Pakistan captain Abbas Afridi won the toss and chose to bowl first. 

South Africa responded with 102 for 3 in their six overs. Jorich van Schalkwyk top‑scored with 40, while Abdullah Bayoumy and captain Jordan Morris managed only 1 run each. Blake Simpson and Ethan John Cunningham remained unbeaten on 26 and 29 respectively. 

Pakistan’s Muhammad Shahzad took three wickets to restrict South Africa.

Chasing the modest target, Pakistan wrapped up the game in 3.5 overs for the loss of one wicket with a total of 105. 

Opening batter Abdul Samad played a blistering innings, smashing six sixes in just ten balls to score 50. Wicket‑keeper batter Khawaja Nafay added 36, while Abbas Afridi chipped in with 12 off 2 balls including two sixes.

Earlier, Pakistan faced India in their second group-stage match. Rain interrupted the match, with India scoring 86 for 4 in six overs and setting a target of 87. Pakistan managed 41 for 1 in three overs when rain stopped play. Using the DLS method, India won by 2 runs. 

Despite the loss, Pakistan finished second in Pool C and advanced to the quarter-finals.

In their opening match, Pakistan played against Kuwait and delivered a dominant performance. Abbas Afridi again won the toss and chose to bowl. Kuwait scored 123 for 2 in six overs, with Adnan Idrees making 17 and Bilal Tahir 24, while Meet Bhavsar remained unbeaten on 40 and Usman Patel on 31. 

Abbas Afridi and Maaz Sadaqat took one wicket each. Pakistan chased the target comfortably with one wicket down. Khawaja Nafay remained not out on 25, Shahid Aziz on 23, while Muhammad Shahzad retired hurt on 14. Abdul Samad scored no runs, but captain Abbas Afridi smashed 55 off 12 balls, hitting one four and eight sixes to claim the player of the match award.

Pakistan squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2025 includes Abbas Afridi (c), Khawaja Nafay (wk), Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood, Muhammad Shahzad and Shahid Aziz.